Sometimes I feel like I was born about five decades too late. All my life, the 1950s and 1960s have always been intriguing to me and I can’t seem to get enough of the time period.

While playing high school football, I wore No. 19 and sported a flat-top in honor of Johnny Unitas. I know and think it’s cool that April 6 is not only my birthday, but that of Merle Haggard as well. My iPod includes selections from Chuck Berry.

But the biggest reason I love the 50s and 60s was not for the music, the great television shows or just because I’m a nostalgia nerd. No, it’s for the baseball. It was the glory era of the sport and was the focal point of Ken Burns’ phenomenal, nine-part Baseball documentary.

It also led me to a summer project.

In Wednesday’s edition of the Bristol Herald Courier, a story appeared on Dante, Va. native Harry Perkowski. The left-hander pitched eight seasons in the major leagues, mainly with the Cincinnati Reds.

The story is the first in a series of stories scheduled this summer on ex-big leaguers from Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. Profiles of Abingdon’s Gail Harris and Wythe County’s Jim Archer will appear in the BHC in the coming days.

I also need your help. If you have any information, know any family members or how I could contact them, have pictures or just want to share some stories, please feel free to e-mail me at

Here are some players that I am particularly interested in:

Deacon Phillippe: He was born in Rural Retreat but moved to the Midwest a short time later. Biggest claim to fame was starting the first World Series game in history, 105 years ago.

Bernie Creger: Wytheville native appeared in 15 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1947.

Tracy Stallard: Right-hander from Coeburn compiled a 30-57 record in his big league career. Is best known for allowing Roger Maris’ 61st home run in 1961. What isn’t well known is Stallard lost that game 1-0. Or that Maris hit home runs off two Southwest Virginia players that summer – Jim Archer from the Max Meadows community of Wythe County and Stallard.

Dave Hillman: Born in Dungannon, Va. and last I heard, was living in Kingsport. Played in the majors from 1955-1962

Charlie Caldwell: Born in Bristol, but moved to New Jersey in his youth. His lone appearance in the big leagues came in three games in 1925. Better known for his football accomplishments at Princeton University.

Billy Baldwin: Born in 1951 in Tazewell and later played in the big leagues in the mid-1970s.

Johnny Watson: Like Baldwin, was born in Tazewell. Appeared in four games for the Detroit Tigers in 1930.

Limb McKenry: Right-handed pitcher spent two seasons in the majors (1915-16) and was born in Piney Flats.

Lew Flick: One of the few players born in Bristol, Tenn. to reach the majors. Played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1943 and 1944 and is buried in Weber City, Va.

Scotty Barr: Another Bristolian, who also played for the Philadelphia Athletics as a utility player. His big league time included a brief stint in 1908-09.

Walker Cress: Born in the Ben Hur community of Lee County, but spent most of his life in Louisiana and passed away in Baton Rouge in 1996. Played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1948 and 1949.

Nick Cullop: Chilhowie native pitched in the majors from 1913-1921, including a stint with the New York Yankees. Buried in Smyth County.

Lefty Thomas: Born in Glade Spring and pitched for the Washington Senators sparingly in 1925 and 1926. It’s pretty neat that the Washington County native was in the same pitching rotation as the legendary Walter Johnson. According to several Web Sites, buried at Knollkreg Memorial Park in Abingdon.

That’s a long list. Hopefully, some baseball historians reading this can help me gather information and get in touch with the players still with us or their families.