John "Hoyt" Wilhelm
Class of 1973
Baseball
 
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education (History) – Oneonta
Masters of Arts in History – College of St. Rose
 
Athletic Bio
Three-year member of the Baseball team
Three-Time First Team All-SUNYAC
SUNYAC Championship Teams, 1970 & 1971
Finished his Career as a .300 Hitter
 
Professional Bio
History Teacher at Cohoes High School (38 years)
Served as President of the Cohoes Teacher's Association
Served 40 years in the New York Army National Guard – Retired 2010 as a Sergeant Major
Presently working part time for New York State Homeland Security
 
Personal Reflections
When I arrived on the Oneonta State campus in the fall of 1968, little did I know that this was the start of the four best years of my life.  As it turns out, baseball was going to play a major role.
 
We played our freshman year under coach Don Flewelling.  Coach "Fluzie" was fun, and while the varsity team was going undefeated in the SUNYAC, and winning another championship, we "Baby Dragons" held our own, finishing 9-1.  I played every inning of every game, either in the outfield or pitching.  I was 6-1 with one save but I did have our only loss, a 6-1 defeat to Cornell University.  I did so well as a freshman that when I reported to varsity fall baseball in 1969 I thought I was going to be Coach Axtell's indispensible "star".  Well, that feeling lasted about 10 minutes when coach Axtell pulled me aside and told me that if I wanted to play baseball for him at Oneonta I would have to cut my hair and sideburns.  I was told not to come to practice again until I "looked like a ball player".  Coach Axtell was a disciplinarian.  Each year before the season started, Coach had a meeting and explained the rules: no foul language, no drugs, no alcohol, no long hair, sideburns, mustaches, or beards (although on Coach's' form it was always misspelled as "breads" - so I guess we couldn't have any breads either).  We all signed our names agreeing to Coach's rules.  "I'll never come out looking for you breaking these rules", Coach would say.  "Your word is your worth".  I can't believe how many times in my 38 years as a high school history teacher and baseball coach at Cohoes High School I used Coach's very words.
 
It was the 1970's - every male on campus had hair over their ears and most had lots of facial hair, but not Coach Axtell's baseball team.  No, we all stood out and grew closer together.  We were like a family, and members of a family knew everything about each other and did everything to help when one of the family members was in need.  Maybe that is exactly what coach was trying to do.  My two best friends on that team, Ray Ellis, 2nd/3rd baseman from Staten Island, and Jeff Bray, my catcher from Schenectady, are still my two best friends 46 years later.  Whenever we get together, some of our best memories of Oneonta and the team always come up:
 
-  In our senior year (1972) we played the University of Virginia as part of our southern pre-season trip.  We always played pre-season in Virginia, and Oneonta had never won a game on a spring trip.  We were winning 2-0 going into the 9th inning and I was pitching great, everything was working.  A small college like Oneonta beating the University of Virginia would be amazing.   In the 9th inning, however, I personally lost the game.  A walk, a base hit and a bunt that I fielded and threw into right field tied the game.  Another base hit and it was all over.  We never did win a game in Virginia.
 
-  Our junior year trip to Virginia was cut short when it snowed.  Coach got mad at us for having a snowball fight at Washington and Lee College as we were loading the vehicles to come home a couple days early.
 
-  At Hampden Sydney College in Virginia, after making three errors in the same inning, Ray Ellis became a fan favorite.  "Hey #15" in that Southern drawl, "You can do it all".  Yea, that crowd got on my case too.  After the 3rd inning until the end of the game my new name was "Stumpy".
 
-  At Trenton State in 1972 Coaches' father came to watch the game.  During the game, Trenton had a runner at third when the batter hit a line drive to left center field. I ran to the ball, stretched and made a diving catch.  Without a doubt the best catch I ever made.  I got up and fired the ball to the infield, but the base runner had already crossed home plate and was on his way to the dugout.  Well, apparently Coach and his father thought the player left early at third and came out to argue.  Coach never argued with the umpires, but on this occasion, when the dust had settled both Coach and his father were ejected from the game.  When it was all over I yelled into the infield and said to Ray Ellis, "Well?"  He said, "Well what?  I said, "What about my catch?"  Ray said, "What catch?"  Best catch of my life down the drain.
 
-  Diving into snow banks in the parking lot in March chasing fly balls during practice.
 
-  Playing home run derby during practice (coach always called it home run city). We would hit balls over the left field fence into the construction site of the new student union building.
 
-  Standing behind coach in the gym making faces at the catchers while coach was throwing them "dirt drills"
 
-  Standing in line at the Royal (out of season).
 
-  Standing in line with the "Townies" at 8:00 am on Saturday morning at Sam's waiting for them to open (out of season also).
 
-  Following the messages left in the Campus Newspaper by our biggest fan, Annie Hoyer, discussing the games, promising to see us on the field in T.U.P.
 
-  Doc Spartano coming to Oneonta and joining the team in our junior year.  Doc had been in the navy and was 10 years older than us, and soon became the "mother hen".
 
-  Coaches Axtell and Flewelling helping to get my girlfriend, and now my wife of 42 years, Suzanne, admitted to Oneonta so I wouldn't have to transfer to Oswego.
 
-  Marching in anti war peace protests on campus and into the city.
 
-  In May of 1970, after the Kent State Massacre, the college closed early.  We did not have to finish our classes or take finals but were credited for our courses on a pass-fail basis.  As there were no classes, all of the students went home…all except the baseball team.  We still had two weeks of games and practice left.
 
-  Collecting all of the team's chicken bones after a team dinner at Brooks and dumping them on first baseman Bob Antalek's (known on the team as The Gull) bed.
 
-  Seeing Coach Axtell's wife and sons Jimmy and Johnny at our games wearing their "all purpose shoes".
 
-  Bobby Hill's famous pick up line "Hi, I'm Bobby Hill; how do you like me so far?
 
-  Tom "Smoke" Raymor calling a horse race.
 
-  Mike Baran playing his guitar in his Elvis vest at team parties at our apartment.
 
-  Carrie Davis finding a giant dead roach I put in his Oneonta blazer pocket as we were eating at a diner.
 
-  Juddy Magrin traveling with the team and writing about us in the Oneonta Star.
 
 -  Me doing "hog calls" for the guys before "lights out".
 
-  All of our girl friends freezing in the bleachers at home games.  It's funny how well these girls got along.  I guess they had to because the guys were so close; we were always together.
 
Yea, 46 years ago, the best days of our lives.  We remember those days like they were yesterday.  Of course when we get together now, those home runs went further, the pitchers threw harder, and we all ran faster.  And Coach always had his hand on his chest, which was the green light sign that we were on our own to steal that next base.  All we have to hear is Oneonta baseball and Coach, and a smile comes to our faces.
 
Wilhelm, along with five former student athletes will be part of the 16^th SUNY Oneonta Athletics Hall of Fame class to be inducted on Saturday, Sep. 13.  This year's class will bring the number of inductees to 115 and eight Honorary.  The induction will take place in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House and will begin at noon.  The induction is free and open to the public.