The 1968 Stroh’s softball team: (front row, from left) bat boy Ed Doyle, Dick Zrakovi, Bill Doyle, Dave Bulliner, Marv Stephenson, Jim Hanzek. Second row: coach Rex Baxter, Jim Doyle Jr., Jerry Peters, Tom Peek, manager Jim Doyle Sr. Back row: Bill Weber, Howard Burtofl, Ron Huntoon, Chuck Doyle, Clarence Williams (sponsor representative).
It was the Year of the Tiger, and Ernie Harwell was telling everyone to “Hang on to your Stroh’s, here comes the ninth. “It was 1968, Harwell was giving radio play-by-play of the Detroit Tigers’ march to a world championship, and Stroh’s Beer was a major sponsor of the broadcasts.
Back then, the Detroit brewery also supported softball teams around the state, and one of them was a little dynasty in Flint. The Stroh’s fast pitch team, managed by Jim Doyle Sr. and starring three of his sons, won its seventh straight Flint Class AA championship that year and went on to claim the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association state title. Much like the Tigers 23-year drought between World Series, it was Flint’s first state title since 1954.
The Brewers, as they were nicknamed in Flint Journal accounts, dominated league play with a 22-1 record and swept the state tournament in three games. Unaccounted for are numerous weekend tournaments the team traveled to or hosted to sharpen their skills.
Pitching almost every game was Jim Doyle Jr., a 34-year old Buick employee, and the best fast pitch hurler in the area. Doyle had the biggest year of his career to that point, going 22-1 in city play and winning two of the three state tournament games. Doyle had been pitching in men’s leagues since age 13 and was clocked at over 100 mph. “His riseball was his best pitch,” said third baseman Marv Stephenson. “By the time it got to you, it was going up over your bat.” “If it went up at the right time,” Doyle said. “If it didn’t, it went the other way.”
In league and state tournament play alone, Doyle had a 0.55 earned-run average and 11 shutouts. His 252 strike outs in 152 innings left his defense with long stretches of inactivity. “I was glad I was an infielder,” said second baseman Bill Doyle, Jim’s younger brother.” “At least I got to throw the ball around the infield.” But the defense was there when needed. Stephenson went 52 chances without an error at one stretch, despite playing in close to take away the bunt.
Dave Bulliner was good enough at shortstop to move Bill Doyle out of a 15-year stint at that position. Jim Hanzek was one of the best first basemen around, according to Stephenson. “Throwing to him, l didn’t worry,” said the third-sacker.” “If it was in the dirt, he’d get it. If it was up over his head, he’d jump up and get it. Maybe that’s why I got the fielding record.”
Jerry Peters caught Doyle’s pitches, and Howard Burtoft, Ron Huntoon and Chuck Doyle were in the outfield. Dick Zrakovi was a strong utility infielder and Tom Peek a capable sub. Most were good hitters, with Bill Doyle owning a couple of city batting titles with .396 and .402 marks. Stephenson and Burtoft supplied some power, and Jim Doyle could crank one out on occasion, too.
The team had fallen just short of the state title the previous two years, again paralleling the Tigers, who lost the 1967 pennant on the last day. But 1968 was their year. Stroh’s only city loss came July 25 against runner-up Fisher Bros. Sand and Gravel before 500 fans at Whaley Park. Bill Weber, who had pitched with the Brewers the previous year, beat Doyle 2-1. Stroh’s also lost a tune-up for the state tournament on Aug. 18, bowing 4-3 to Bay City in 17 innings despite 21 strikeouts by Doyle.
The team picked up Weber for the eight-team state tournament in Kalamazoo. Stroh’s drew a first-round bye when Ann Arbor was disqualified. The Brewers beat Midland 7-2 in their first game, scoring four runs in the second inning. Doyle pitched three perfect innings, then Weber finished up, hitting a home run in the fifth. Doyle pitched the final two games, shutting out Ann Arbor 1-0 with 14 strikeouts on Saturday. Doubles by Chuck Doyle and Burtoff scored the only run. The Ann Arbor club came back through the losers’ bracket to reach the finals, but Doyle beat them again on Sunday, 4-1 on a four-hitter. He fanned only five, but Bill Doyle made a leaping catch at second and Stephenson speared a liner on his knees at third. “It was one of those years that everything clicked,” said Bill Doyle. “You can’t explain that kind of stuff sometimes. We’d been there before. l think that had a lot to do with it. You could just relax and play ball.”
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