[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S961-S962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING EARLE B. COMBS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the remarkable 
life and career of one of baseball's greatest legends, and a native of 
the Commonwealth, the late Mr. Earle B. Combs. Known far and wide to 
fans as the Kentucky Greyhound, the Silver Fox and the Kentucky 
Colonel, Earle was a prime example of a gentleman who knew the value of 
hard work and determination.
  Earle began his journey to greatness as a child on his father's farm 
in Pebworth, Owsley County, KY, where he and his siblings would play 
pickup games with homemade baseballs constructed out of leather and 
rubber trimmings from old, worn-out shoes and tightly wound string, and 
bats made with tree limbs found around the yard. Each spring, when 
warmer weather came, the rolling hills of farmland and hollows provided 
Earle with the perfect setting to develop a love for America's pastime.
  But, as he grew older, he decided his calling in life was to teach. 
In 1917, Earle left his hometown of Pebworth to attend Eastern Kentucky 
State Normal School, now Eastern Kentucky University, and received his 
teaching certificate in 1919. To help pay for his education, Earle 
returned to eastern Kentucky to teach in one-room schools in Kentucky 
towns like Ida May and Levi. That was until destiny had other plans.
  In 1918 after a faculty-student baseball game, Earle's abilities 
caught the eye of Dr. Charles Keith, an Eastern Kentucky State Normal 
School dean and former pro player, who recommended he try out for 
Eastern's team. After successfully landing a spot on the team, Earle's 
talent on the field started to gain him some much-deserved attention. 
In the summer of 1921, after his last season on Eastern's team, Earle 
played semiprofessional baseball in several Kentucky towns until he was 
offered a contract with the Louisville Colonels.
  During his 2 years with the Colonels, Earle's miraculous talent 
earned him his career-long reputation as a line-drive hitter with 
reckless base-stealing ability. In 1924, this reputation traveled north 
all the way to New York, where the New York Yankees bought the young 
and talented Earle for $50,000.
  In the years that followed, Earle became a leadoff hitter for the 
famed Yankees ``Murderers Row,'' a lineup of the late 1920s and early 
1930s, and a member of the 1927 World Championship Yankees team where 
he played alongside other greats by the names of Babe Ruth and Lou 
Gehrig. He was errorless in the 16 World Series games in which he 
played throughout his career, and ended with a career batting average 
of .325.
  Earle retired in 1935 after sustaining a brutal outfield injury the 
year before, but remained a coach for the Yankees until 1944, during 
which he trained other baseball greats such as Joe DiMaggio. He was 
named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, in 
1970.
  Earle coached for several other teams before returning to Madison 
County where he served as a banking commissioner during Governor A.B. 
Chandler's second administration and on Eastern Kentucky University's 
board of regents for 19 years, serving as chairman for 2 of those 
years. Earle was a leader both on and off the diamond. He was known as 
a loving family man, a successful businessman, and above all, a true 
gentleman. He was a devoted father and grandfather and a loyal husband 
to his childhood sweetheart, the late Ruth Combs.
  He valued hard-work and knew the importance of higher education. 
There is no question that Earle was someone who forever changed the 
game of baseball, who left an impression on those he taught, and who 
left a lasting legacy in both his community and throughout the 
Commonwealth.
  The Booneville Sentinel recently published an article introducing a 
new

[[Page S962]]

portrait of the late Earle B. Combs that was hung on the outside of the 
courthouse in Owsley County, KY, on December 30, 2010. What an honor 
for this athlete and legend from his hometown and home county. I ask 
unanimous consent that the full article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

             [From the Booneville Sentinel, Jan. 12, 2011]

               Earle B. Combs Portrait Hung at Courthouse

                          (By Rosalind Turner)

       Boonesville and Owsley County officials honored one of the 
     community's most famous sons Thursday, December 30 when a 
     portrait of the late Earle B. Combs was hung on the outside 
     of the Owsley County Courthouse.
       Earle B. Combs, a native of Pebworth and the son of James 
     Jesse and Nannie (Brandenburg) Combs, was a major league 
     baseball player, a member of the 1929 New York Yankees and 
     was named to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, In 1917, 
     Combs left Owsley at age 17 to pursue a degree in education 
     at Eastern Kentucky Normal School (Eastern Kentucky 
     University). Though he earned his degree in 1919 and taught 
     at one-room schools in Ida May and Levi, he eventually 
     changed his career path to play baseball.
       In 1924, he earned a position as the centerfielder and 
     leadoff hitter for the famed New York Yankees ``Murderers 
     Row'' lineup of the late 1920s and early 1930s, according to 
     the Earle Bryan Combs official website. He was a member of 
     the 1927 World Champion Yankees team, which also featured 
     baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, and is considered 
     by many to be the greatest team in baseball history.
       As the portrait was installed on the side of the 
     courthouse, the outgoing Owsley County Judge-Executive Cale 
     Turner and Booneville Mayor Charles Long were joined by one 
     of Combs' grandsons and two great-grandsons.
       ``We are so honored,'' said Craig Combs of Richmond, a 
     grandson with very fond memories of his grandfather. ``Thank 
     you so much.''
       Craig Combs praised Turner, Long and others who were 
     instrumental in seeing the project to fruition. In March, 
     Craig Combs came to Owsley to speak to Holly Shouse's class 
     at Owsley County Elementary School about his grandfather. He 
     said that he was later contacted about the courthouse project 
     and gave his permission for the officials to proceed.
       ``I was very honored,'' he said. ``I was thrilled that you 
     (the project planners) were going to include grandfather.''
       Turner said that it has been a long time goal of Mayor 
     Long's to have a portrait in the city honoring the famed 
     baseball player.
       ``We're tickled to be here and we're tickled that (the 
     community) thought enough of him to put his picture on the 
     side of the courthouse. (It shows) obviously, how proud they 
     are of grandfather,'' said Craig Combs, who was accompanied 
     by his sons, John. 17, who plans to study vocal music at the 
     University of Louisville, and Christopher, 22, who played 
     baseball at Madison Central, graduated from the University of 
     Evansville and is currently working on his Ph.D. at the 
     University of Texas in aerospace engineering.
       Earle B. Combs has had many honors bestowed upon him, but 
     for his grandson, this one is especially meaningful. ``Coming 
     from his hometown and his home county, this is something very 
     special,'' said Craig Combs. ``I appreciate Judge Turner and 
     Mayor Long for being so kind to us when we came down.''
       Long said he is very pleased to see the community finally 
     honor its famous son with the portrait at the courthouse.
       ``This has been a dream of Mayor Long's,'' said Turner. 
     ``He has brought it up at numerous meetings.''
       The portrait by Robert Johnson of Madison Avenue Designs in 
     Georgetown joins other murals at the courthouse depicting 
     important Owsley County scenes.
       Turner acknowledged the assistance of Jo'e Short, Kacey 
     Smith and Cassie Hudson, members of the Action Team. These 
     ladies wrote the application to the Flex-E ARC grant program 
     after attending the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea College 
     that got the ball rolling. ``This would not have happened 
     without the grant,'' he said. Additional matching funds for 
     the project came from the Owsley County Fiscal Court, the 
     Owsley County Action Team and Farmer's State Bank.
       As a legendary baseball player, businessman and member of 
     the Eastern Kentucky University board of regents, Craig Combs 
     said his grandfather was much respected. However, his 
     grandson remembers more than baseball and business.
       ``He was just Pop to me,'' he explained, recalling nights 
     spent With his grandfather and grandmother (Mimi), Ruth 
     McCollum, also a native of Owsley County, on their farm in 
     rural Madison County.
       ``It was a magical time to grow up and be around them 
     because they cared so much for us. He was just a regular, 
     loving grandfather.''
       Craig Combs recalls the stories about his grandfather's 
     baseball career and said he became the family's baseball 
     historian.
       ``It was a wonderful upbringing to be around them. To be 
     their grandson was so special.''
       Craig Combs said he remembers his grandfather very well. He 
     was 18 when Earle B. Combs passed away. Earle and Ruth Combs 
     had three children. Earle Jr., Charles and Donald Combs. Mrs. 
     Combs died in 1989.
       Still a student, Earle Combs started playing baseball at 
     Eastern. That led to playing semi-professional ball in such 
     Kentucky towns as Winchester, High Splint and Lexington. 
     While playing for the Lexington Reos of the Bluegrass League, 
     he drew the attention of the Louisville Cardinals (American 
     Association), where he honed his skill in 1922 and 1923. In 
     1924, he was a rookie for the New York Yankees, patrolling 
     center field between Babe Ruth and Rob Meusel. The following 
     season, he was installed as the leadoff hitter in the famed 
     ``Murderers Row'' Yankee lineup. He kept that position for 
     the remaining 11 years of his career. During his career, he 
     batted over .300 nine times, had 200 or more hits three 
     times, paced the American League in triples three times and 
     twice led all AL outfielders in putouts, He had a career 
     batting average of .325. In the outfield, he was known as 
     ``swift and sure-handed,'' according to the Earle B. Combs 
     official website.
       A favorite of Yankee fans, nicknames bestowed upon him 
     included ``Kentucky Greyhound,'' ``Silver Fox'' and 
     ``Kentucky Colonel.'' After an injury, he retired in 1935 and 
     coached for the team until 1944. The first year he coached, 
     he trained his replacement, Joe DiMaggio. He coached for 
     several other teams before retiring in the mid-1950s and 
     returning to his Madison County farm. He served as Kentucky 
     banking commissioner during Gov. A.B. Chandler's second 
     administration (1955-59). He served on Eastern Kentucky 
     University's board of regents from 1956-1975 and was chairman 
     from 1972-74. A dormitory at EKU (Earle Combs Hall) bears his 
     name and the school gives an athletic scholarship in his 
     honor. He also is a charter member of EKU's Athletics Hall of 
     Fame.
       Earle B. Combs was named to the National Baseball Ball of 
     Fame in Cooperstown, NY in 1970. His baseball career included 
     being part of nine World Championships as a player and coach 
     in New York.
       Many from Owsley County, including Mayor Long and Judge 
     Turner who watched the portrait go on the courthouse wall, 
     are proud of the numerous honors and accolades bestowed upon 
     this Hall of Fame baseball player. They are also gratified 
     that he found fame for himself while practicing the values he 
     learned growing up in Pebworth in Owsley County, Ky.

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