Fossie, Orville

 

Orville Fossie – (2000)

 

Lorain’s history of turning out standout athletic talent ranks right up with cities of comparable size around the country. And when some of it’s baseball players from the pre- and post-World War II era are discussed, one name that is always brought up with fond recollection is Orville Fossie.

Among those who remember Fossie as perhaps one of the finest offensive and defensive catchers ever nurtured on Lorain sandlots is Ed Molnar, himself a product of that era who went on to become a birddog scout for the Cleveland Indians. He remembers having played with or managed teams that featured Fossie for 20 years.

When batting averages are posted for those years, Fossie’s name consistently showed him hitting .300 or better. As a catcher, he has been likened to the late New York Yankees catcher and Ohio native Thurman Munson for his ability to throw out base runners attempting to steal from a crouch position behind home plate. Unfortunately, a home plate collision seriously injured his throwing shoulder.

Fossie’s sandlot career began in 1937 with the Greenwood Inn team followed by the Hungarian Reformed Church team in the City Class B League. He moved up the City Class A League ranks while playing for the Chick Dairy team who he remained with for 13 seasons. He would later play with Ed’s Indians, Lorain Glass and ultimately finish with the powerful National Tube team. Many of these teams went on to compete in NABF (National Amateur Baseball Federation) tournaments.

World War II interrupted Fossie’s hometown sports career, but he proved his mettle in the U.S. Marine Corps by earning a starting role with an awesome Fort Brady baseball team loaded with professional ballplayers.

Upon returning to Lorain, Fossie became sandlot manager over a 10-year span following his Kohlmyer Hardware team from Class G through Class D and the Class G Fairless nine. He also played basketball and YMCA volleyball. Fossie died in 1994 at age 73.