As a journalist on magazine stories, Hank Nuwerplayed first base in professional baseball games for the Montreal Expos’ Denver Bears, the now defunct Indianapolis Clowns and the vintage baseball New York Mutuals (Cooperstown Hall of Fame vs. Ozzie Smith’s team of local athletes).
Below: Hank Nuwer at first base v. Orlando Twins. Phil Rosenberg (former Univ. of Buffalo Bulls pitcher) pitching for Denver Bears.ct Indianapolis Clowns and the vintage baseball New York Mutuals (Cooperstown Hall of Fame vs. Ozzie Smith’s team of local athletes).
Below: Hank Nuwer at first base v. Orlando Twins. Phil Rosenberg (former Univ. of Buffalo Bulls pitcher) pitching for Denver Bears.
Above: Hank Nuwer, first base (#14), pregame baseball warmup, Indianapolis Clowns vs. Iowa All Stars, Cedar Falls, Iowa, August 1986, Ozark Magazine, Nuwer, 40th birthday at game. Iowa beat the Clowns, 1-0.
Above: Batting practice, New York Mutuals prior to vintage baseball game against Ozzie Smith’s All Stars, Cooperstown, New York. The entire game was filmed by the Baseball Hall of Fame and excerpts were used for the opening of the Internet program “Discovering Our American Spirit: Finding Common Ground in the National Pastime.” This interactive Internet program, featuring Ozzie Smith, Hank Nuwer, the NY Mutuals and students from San Diego High schools, was filmed live in April 2005 and seen by an estimated 17 million grade school students. Co-sponsored by Ball State University and Professor Roy Weaver who presented Ozzie Smith with BSU award.
Above: Hank Nuwer (cap) and New York Mutuals’ vintage baseball teammates, April 2005, Cooperstown, New York; Nuwer, age 59.
Below, Buffalo State baseball road trip, New Paltz, NY motel: teammates Larry Phelps (P), Dave Smolinski (SS), Hank Nuwer (OF)
Hank Nuwer was elected to the Ball State Journalism Hall of Fame.
Above: Hank Nuwer (#2), batting practice, thrown by Felipe Alou, 1981.
Above: Nuwer and Manager Felipe Alou. Below, Hank Nuwer, batting practice, Denver Bears, 1981
Finals – Denver Bears 4 games, Omaha Royals 0
The Denver Bears of the American Association ended the 1981 season with a record of 76 wins and 60 losses, finishing second in the league’s West Division.
The Bears scored 733 runs, best in the league. Denver yielded 666 runs. Dave Hostetler led the squad with 27 home runs, and Dan Briggs walloped 15 or more, too. Dan Briggs drove in 110 runs.
Norm Angelini, Greg Bargar, Dan Briggs, Dave Campbell, Harry Chappas, Hal Dues, Rick Engle, Terry Francona,
Above: Hank Nuwer (left), Terry Francona (second from left), Denver Bears vs. West Palm Beach Expos, Daytona Beach, Florida (from Ball State Journalism Alumni Magazine, color added to b and w photo), 1981.
Continued…Mike Gates, John Hale, Dave Hostetler, Bob James, Tony Johnson, Wallace Johnson, Skip Lockwood, Brad Mills, Willie Mueller, Dan Norman, Bob Pate, Luis Quintana, Steve Ratzer, Bob Reece, Pat Rooney, Bryn Smith, Chris Smith, John Tamargo, LaRue Washington, Tom Wieghaus and Rich Wortham were all players from the 1981 Denver Bears who played in the Major Leagues during their careers. Felipe Alou served as manager.
Below, Cheektowaga Central High School (NY) varsity baseball.
Above. Hank Nuwer, check-swing. Batting practice, Indpls Clowns. Below, Nuwer taking practice swing before at-bat for Indianapolis vs. Iowa All Stars, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 1986
