CURTIS HANSON

FASTPITCH SOFTBALL HISTORY – 1930s (inducted 1984)

 

 

From his daughter, Sherron –

 

I sent five things: a picture of the  '30 charm, two pictures of my Dad on two Olson Jewelry teams-'30 and '33, and digital pictures of the two trophies that Dad received-one for the Fort Dodge Hall of Fame and the other for the Iowa Hall of Fame.  If you can hotlink my Dad's name on your website with any of these pictures, it would be great.  I could also send you a disc copy if the email isn't satisfactory.  The charm read NW- DBT-Champs-30 (Northwest Diamond Ball Tournament).

 

As I indicated, I got the copies from Al Nelson.  He had visited with Irv Kawarsky, and Irv gave him my address.  I'd purchased one of Irv's book about the history of Iowa's fast pitch.  Irv sent me a note about the book in April '94,  and I got the package of clippings within six months from Al .  Al's research focused on his dad, but the clippings he sent also included some of my Dad's baseball history.

 

When you look at the names in the picture, you'll notice that some of the names are the same.  I believe Stan and Pete Nelson were brothers.  Art Nelson could be a relative to the Nelson's, but I don't know.  I THINK he was a neighbor of my Dad's, but I do know that he was the best man at my parent's wedding.  Howard Hanson was my Dad's brother.

 

Baseball was a major part of my Dad's life.  He would listen to two games on the radio and watch TV at the same time.  My first trip to a professional game (it was a LONG time ago) was to Minneapolis; it was the Twins vs. the Yankees.  My Dad was almost hypnotized when Mickey Mantle walked out. 

 

You mentioned giving the charm to Olson's Jewelry.  That my be an option.  One of my friends (who was in Fort Dodge in June) told me that Olson's is still in business and is owned by a son-in-law, Karl Johnson.  The family may still be interested in the memorabilia.  I'll write to them to see if they have any interest.  I would suspect they may have some trophies, but who knows how current family members feel about the past. 

 

Thank you again for any help,

 

Sherron Hanson Kolb

Prescott, AZ 86303