Class of 2010
Jack Skipper
Jack Skipper, born in Riddlesburg, PA in 1924, was a 1942 graduate of Robert P. Smith Vocational High School in Yellow Creek where he was a member of the basketball, soccer and baseball teams. Jack played shortstop on the Robert P. Smith 1941 championship baseball team which was undefeated with an 8-0 record.
After graduation in 1942, Jack served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force until 1945.
He began his semi-pro sandlot baseball career in 1946 playing with Six Mile Run/Hopewell and Broad Top in the Veterans of Foreign War Leagues which quickly formed after the war.
In the late 1940's, Jack began to build a reputation in the county as an outstanding baseball player. He was invited to try out with the Johnstown Johnnies who was a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jack signed a minor league baseball contract with the Johnnies on May 17, 1950 but was officially released on May 27, 1950 because of a dispute over his playing time.
During the years 1950 thru 1953, Jack played for the Everett Legion baseball team in the Interstate/Greater County/Independent League where he led the team in RBI's and stolen bases. In 1953 he led the Greater County League in batting .489. He helped to lead the Everett Legion baseball team to two county baseball championships.
Effective in 1954/1955, Jack played, coached and managed for Hopewell in the Bedford County League where he effectively built a dominating Hopewell baseball team which won approximately 255 games in a thirteen and one-half year period, winning four Bedford County and/or Huntingdon County baseball championships along with seven runner-up spots. Throw in a couple of thirds, too!
Hopewell had no team in 1962, so Jack played for Broad Top in the Huntingdon County League winning one more county baseball championship.
Jack set a Hopewell batting record in 1964 hitting .533, the best average for over 100 years. (In 1872, Hopewell organized it s first baseball team.) It is proposed that Jack's lifetime batting average for all games with Hopewell is .418, while his proposed lifetime batting average for all teams and for all games is .426.
The late Bedford's Johnny Baker, who pitched Bedford and Everett to numerous Bedford County baseball championships, often said that Jack Skipper was the best player that he played against or with.
Several old timers remember being at Memorial Park in Everett in 1950 when Jack stole home against a touring major league all-star team including Nellie Fox, Dick Groat, Carl Furillo, and others. The major leaguers were furious, while the local fans cheered loudly.
He retired from baseball in 1971 but continued to play some soft ball for a few years. Living in Saxton, PA, he faithfully supported the local high school sports programs and enjoyed all sports.
Jack was employed by Stoudnour Petroleum Inc. for twenty five years as a truck driver, retiring in 1991.
In 1986, he married the former Jessie Dickinson. Jack passed away on December 29, 2009 leaving us with wonderful baseball memories and records. Most importantly, his baseball playing/coaching/managing morals and ethics may have been beyond reproach! Thank you Jack!
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Jack Skipper, born in Riddlesburg, PA in 1924, was a 1942 graduate of Robert P. Smith Vocational High School in Yellow Creek where he was a member of the basketball, soccer and baseball teams. Jack played shortstop on the Robert P. Smith 1941 championship baseball team which was undefeated with an 8-0 record.
After graduation in 1942, Jack served his country by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force until 1945.
He began his semi-pro sandlot baseball career in 1946 playing with Six Mile Run/Hopewell and Broad Top in the Veterans of Foreign War Leagues which quickly formed after the war.
In the late 1940's, Jack began to build a reputation in the county as an outstanding baseball player. He was invited to try out with the Johnstown Johnnies who was a farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jack signed a minor league baseball contract with the Johnnies on May 17, 1950 but was officially released on May 27, 1950 because of a dispute over his playing time.
During the years 1950 thru 1953, Jack played for the Everett Legion baseball team in the Interstate/Greater County/Independent League where he led the team in RBI's and stolen bases. In 1953 he led the Greater County League in batting .489. He helped to lead the Everett Legion baseball team to two county baseball championships.
Effective in 1954/1955, Jack played, coached and managed for Hopewell in the Bedford County League where he effectively built a dominating Hopewell baseball team which won approximately 255 games in a thirteen and one-half year period, winning four Bedford County and/or Huntingdon County baseball championships along with seven runner-up spots. Throw in a couple of thirds, too!
Hopewell had no team in 1962, so Jack played for Broad Top in the Huntingdon County League winning one more county baseball championship.
Jack set a Hopewell batting record in 1964 hitting .533, the best average for over 100 years. (In 1872, Hopewell organized it s first baseball team.) It is proposed that Jack's lifetime batting average for all games with Hopewell is .418, while his proposed lifetime batting average for all teams and for all games is .426.
The late Bedford's Johnny Baker, who pitched Bedford and Everett to numerous Bedford County baseball championships, often said that Jack Skipper was the best player that he played against or with.
Several old timers remember being at Memorial Park in Everett in 1950 when Jack stole home against a touring major league all-star team including Nellie Fox, Dick Groat, Carl Furillo, and others. The major leaguers were furious, while the local fans cheered loudly.
He retired from baseball in 1971 but continued to play some soft ball for a few years. Living in Saxton, PA, he faithfully supported the local high school sports programs and enjoyed all sports.
Jack was employed by Stoudnour Petroleum Inc. for twenty five years as a truck driver, retiring in 1991.
In 1986, he married the former Jessie Dickinson. Jack passed away on December 29, 2009 leaving us with wonderful baseball memories and records. Most importantly, his baseball playing/coaching/managing morals and ethics may have been beyond reproach! Thank you Jack!
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Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2010
Class of 2010