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Roland Sheldon
By Ron P. Coderre
This week RPC sends along a sporty shout out to Pomfret resident Paul Nelson. A former standout Putnam High School athlete, when Pomfret kids were educated in Putnam, Nelson remains active in the Pomfret Lions and with golf at Quinnatisset Country Club.
The UConn men’s basketball 66-62 victory Nov. 9 over a Top 25 ranked Michigan State University team was an impressive start not only to the season but also for first year coach Kevin Ollie, who recorded his initial coaching victory. Following more than 26 years at the helm, the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun afforded Ollie an opportunity to head up the Husky’s program.
The icing on the cake for Ollie and his charges, which are ineligible for postseason play in the Big East and NCAA tournaments, was the fact that the game was televised nationally on ESPN. Played in a hangar, which normally houses a huge C-135 aircraft, the game was played at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany in front of 3,100 enthusiastic military personnel. Even more impressive was the pregame buildup and ceremonies, which served as a prelude to Veterans Day 2012.
The singing of the German and U.S. national anthems by A2C Melissa LeCore demonstrated the respect that the military has for the people of Germany. Her renditions, respectfully and impeccably presented, set the tone for the evening and the appreciation that everyone in attendance had for the effort to put the game in front of the huge television audience and bringing it first hand to the troops.
The words of Tom Izzo, MSU coach, poignantly pointed out the value that the meaning behind the appearance provided a greater significance to the participants and the country. Paraphrasing the emotional Izzo, he noted that the visit opened the eyes of his players and himself. Watching the Team Ramstein troops go through their daily routine and visiting “wounded warriors” on the base hospital gave Izzo and his players a deeper appreciation for the troops and the effort they put forth every day in defending our country’s freedom.
Anyone who missed the game on television missed a most touching patriotic moment as well as a historic victory for coach Kevin Ollie, who it appears should have a contract that extends beyond one year.
Woodstock Academy Hall Inducts Former Yankee Hurler…
Woodstock Academy inducted its first Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Class Oct. 20. Fittingly, a member of the initial group was Roland “Rollie” Sheldon from the Class of 1954. Sheldon is the singular Centaur athlete to have achieved the highest athletic stature of any Academy grad.
Sheldon, who currently lives in Lees Summit, Mo., played in the Major Leagues from 1961 to 1966. In 1961, 1962, 1964 and the beginning of 1965 Sheldon was a member of the New York Yankees, prior to being traded to Kansas City and ending up in Boston for his final season of 1966. During his Major League tenure he posted a career record of 38 – 36 with a 4.09 Earned Run Average. He appeared in 160 games, starting 101 with 17 complete games, four of which were shutout performances.
Sheldon posted 23 of his victories with the Yankees, 14 with KC and one with the Red Sox. His rookie season he had an 11-5 record with back-to-back shutouts at one-point during the year. In 1965 with Kansas City he was 10-8. He pitched his final game in September 1966 as a member of the Red Sox. He was traded to Cincinnati following the close of the season but never played for the Reds.
The “Rollie” Sheldon story and his ascent to the New York Yankees reads like a Frank Merriwell novel. Following his graduation from Woodstock, Sheldon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where his athletic career as a baseball and basketball player blossomed. Upon his discharge in 1958, the 6-foot, 4-inch Sheldon received a scholarship to Texas A&M, where he played for one year before transferring to UConn.
As a Husky he played varsity baseball and basketball. He was signed off the Storrs campus by the Yankees and played a season of Class D ball. In spring training 1961 Sheldon was so impressive he won the prestigious Dawson Award and was elevated to the Major League roster, making a seemingly impossible jump from Class D to the Bigs.
As a Yankee he played alongside of such greats as Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard, Billy Martin and Moose Skowron. He was a member of three World Series teams, the 1961 and 1962 champion Yankees and the 1964 team that lost the Series four games to three to the St. Louis Cardinals. In that series Sheldon appeared in two games, pitching 2.2 innings without giving up an earned run.
From humble beginnings on the farmlands of Woodstock to the bright lights of the Big Apple to his retirement in Missouri, “Rollie” Sheldon has been a credit to Woodstock Academy.
High School
Football Inequality…
A quick review of the local high school football season after eight games reveals a stunning fact — northeast area gridiron squads are having a difficult time getting in the WIN column. Of the four local programs, Plainfield, Killingly, Woodstock and Quinebaug, the teams have a combined 11 victories out of a potential 33 games. By my calculations that’s a winning percentage of 33 percent.
Individually the picture is even bleaker. Plainfield with a 5-3 record is the only team with a winning record. Unfortunately, despite some talented players, coach Pat Smith’s charges have a difficult time finding wins when they step out of the area. Even in the CIAC Playoff Standings, the Panthers are the only one of the four teams who makes an appearance. Even then, Plainfield ranks 14 out of the 15 teams who are rated.
On the other end of the spectrum, Woodstock Academy has been unable to even come close to being competitive and is winless at 0-9. The poor Centaurs have been on the receiving end of some very harsh losses. Whenever they do hit pay dirt, it’s usually late in the game when their opponent’s starters are on the bench resting for the next game.
The Killingly Redmen, once a vaunted program, have struggled since the formation of the Eastern Connecticut Conference, which by the way, has an extremely difficult time in figuring out this inequality, especially in football. The Redmen of coach Chad Neal has two victories. Even against opponents of similar size they shrink, witness their most recent 28-14 loss at the hands of the Griswold Wolverines.
The hybrid Quinebaug Pride, composed of players from Putnam, Ellis Tech and Tourtellotte, has four victories even while competing in the CSC. Playing teams scattered around and across the state, with no significant rivalry ties, the Pride haven’t fared well against the tougher teams in the conference.
Members of the local media, many who consider themselves gurus and football savants, have offered a variety of patchwork solutions. For every potential solution put forth or discussed by local athletic directors, there is a counter argument or proposal, which doesn’t allow them to let’s say, snap the football. It’s time for a good hard look at the situation, where someone has to make a tough decision. But the current picture isn’t very rosy and certainly doesn’t engender fan enthusiasm or participation.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: Who said, “Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing.”