FC baseball: State championship plus 50 years

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BROOKHAVEN — Motorists making their way along U.S. Highway 98 near Franklin County Upper Elementary School more likely than not breeze past the gold sign embossed with black letters across the street without so much as a glance.

As important as any roadside historic marker where local history is concerned, this particular sign recalls a milestone in the lives of Franklin County High School’s baseball team — a run that ended with the Bulldogs claiming the Class A state title in 1973

On Saturday, May 27, members of the team who claimed that crown 50 years ago hosted a gathering at Georgia Blue restaurant in downtown Brookhaven to visit and remember the times they will never forget.

“Getting together is something that I have anticipated and been wanting to do for the last five years or so,” Randy Martin, a member of the team said.
“It’s hard to put into words what it means to see each other face-to-face again and to go back to a time that none of us will ever forget. When you see these guys, it seemed like the stories just flowed ... even after 50 years ... and I would not have traded this moment for anything.”

Martin said this past weekend’s reunion brought a lot of laughs, but also caused him to tear up when he recalled particular moments that “brought us together not only as a team, but as brothers.”

Teammate Martin Cupit shared those sentiments and noted the thing that made this incarnation of the Bulldogs’ baseball program special was the fact that these rural country boys had something to prove.

“The thing that I remember is that there were no superstars on our team ... just guys that had a great work ethic and wanted to go out and do their best whenever they took the field,” Cupit noted.

“We really bonded over the course of that season and put Franklin County’s athletic program on the map.”

Teammate Vince Woodcock in quoting a line from the movie, “The Shawshank Redemption,” said the best way to characterize the 50th anniversary gathering of his teammates was “(I am) so excited I can’t sit still or keep a thought in my head.”

Woodcock, who helped spearhead the gathering, opened the floor to reflections on players and games played during the historic run.

“There were so many wonderful guys that were part of the baseball program and I don’t think any of us would change a thing about who we played with during this time,” he noted. “Seeing most everybody here is really something for us to enjoy and renew old friendships.”

Woodcock said he did not actually get the chance to play in the title tilt because he was in the hospital undergoing a knee surgery.

“This is the first time for me to see all of you together in 50 years and I am thankful you are here,” he continued.

Woodcock said the 1973 Diamond Dawgs could only be described as a hodgepodge of personalities and talents who had a passion for the game.

“Remember that this was a time shortly after integration and people were scared to death to even talk about it,” Woodcock went on to say. “For us, it wasn’t about color, but it was about baseball.”

Player Bruce Calcote spent a good portion of the gathering sharing clippings he had brought from local newspapers as well as photographs that had not been seen by many in attendance since they originally appeared in print.

“It’s difficult to say just what this moment means in my life as I look around and see the guys that I spent a great deal of time with,” Calcote said.

“This group will always have a special place in my heart and nothing can top looking them in the eye and swapping stories.”

Rex Sullivan conducted research into the 1973 season especially for the program, and presented a number of facts and figures about his Bulldogs’ teammates.

“We opened the season against Cathedral and lost 5-4 before playing Loyd Star that afternoon and won, 9-6,” Sullivan said.

“From there, we played Monticello and Randy (Martin) pitched a no-hitter and we still lost by a 1-0 margin. We beat Tylertown, 10-0, in a district game before going back to play Loyd Star and won that one, 6-4, and then on to Wilkinson County, where we won, 13-3.”

In returning to Monticello, FC lost a 7-6 decision and then results of several games were missing, based on Sullivan’s research.
In the playoffs, FC faced off against St. Joe in Jackson and lost the first contest by a 3-1 margin before bouncing back for a 5-4 win in the second game and claimed the series with a 9-4 victory in the third outing.

“Against Southeast Lauderdale in the next round, we went to Meridian and beat them 13-3 in the first game,” Sullivan said. “We came back home for the second game and lost 6-4 in 12 innings and Bruce (Calcote) struck out 19 batters.”

The deciding game against Southeast Lauderdale was won by the Bulldogs, 3-1, and Martin threw a one-hitter.

In the title series, Franklin County battled Bruce and claimed the deciding contest in the title tilt with a convincing 4-2 victory, according to Sullivan.

Many in attendance said they felt like they had the chance to win a state title when, during the regular season, FC downed South Natchez twice — and that team was a state champion.

What makes this story even more amazing was the fact that Franklin County baseball, at one point prior to the championship, did not have a field to play on.

But, for player J.B. Brown Jr., it wasn’t about having the best or the finest facilities when it came to playing a game he and his teammates loved — it was more about everybody contributing to the desired outcome and representing Franklin County.

“Everybody played with heart because they wanted to be out there,” Brown continued. “That’s what stands out to me about that time.”

Also in attendance at the program was the FCHS Head Baseball Coach — Ed Zumbro — who took his team to the promised land.

“He took a rag-tag bunch of guys with a few seniors and one or two juniors and won the school’s only state championship at that time,” Woodcock said.

“The long and the short of it was this — everybody had a place and for such a time as that we are grateful to have been part of the quest and we thank Coach Zumbro for leading us.”

Zumbro said he was thrilled to be in the midst of those who made his 1973 baseball campaign one for the record books.

“It is an honor and a privilege to see everyone and swap stories — whether they were true or a little off,” Zumbro said.

“When you get a chance to relive moments like these, it is truly special because we share a bond that has stretched across the miles and through the years. These guys will always mean the world to me and I am proud to see what fine men they became.”

The players in attendance at Saturday’s program all signed a bat that was given to Zumbro and everyone received two hats — one emblazoned with “1973 State Champions” and the other with the style-of-the-time from 1973 with a gold capital F.