Szalay, Lou “Casey”

Lou “Casey” Szalay – (1988)

 

LOU “CASEY” SZALAY

Good things that sustain fond memories came early in life for Lou Szalay.

Prior to his baseball career and before he ever heard of Mudville or Stengelese, Lou acquired the nickname ”Casey”. In 1930, before 2,500 fans at Lakeview Park, he was presented an Elgin wrist watch from Nielsen Jewelers along with a new bat and glove from the Lorain Amateur Baseball Association. Casey had won his first batting championship in Class D with a lusty .683 average.

By 1934, Casey had become a standout in Lorain’s Class A league. His Duskey Bros. team won the title, and Casey was picked for the All-Star squad. Considered one of the best outfielders in the state and batting over 300, Casey was summoned to tryout at League Park with the Cleveland Indians under Manager Walter Johnson.

Offered a contract, Casey was sent to the Indians’ farm club at Monessen, Pa. with Tommy Henrich. Early in the season, while attempting a diving catch, he hurt his left shoulder extensively. He returned to Lorain, and unable to stand the inactivity while healing, he played in the Class A League.

During the 1936 season with the Lyon Tailors, Casey played in the Cleveland Class A against Bob Feller, Jim Wasdell, Ray Mack, and other prominent sandlotters who reached the Majors.

By 1939, Casey had shifted to fast pitch softball. For 8 consecutive years as an outfielder, he was a member of the championship team including CIO, Carek Meats, Hahns, and Sobel Jewelers. In 1946, the Sobel Jewelers aggregation won the Lakewood AA title and went to the state semifinals where Casey batted .438. Four other years he played in the State Tourney, in 1943 he reached the finals and the semis in 1945 and 1946. During 1947 and 1948, Casey moved on to the National Fast Pitch League and was prominent with the Lakewood Nats and the Allmen Transfers. He batted against some of the world’s best pitchers including Bill West, Tod McKinney, Cyclone Warken, Dizzy Kirkendall, and John ”Yash” Skolnicki. All told, Casey played baseball and softball for 29 years, participating with 20 championship teams.

To finish his career in the diamond sport, Casey coached baseball for 8 years in Lorain. He brought home another 8 titles from Little League on up to Class A.