The Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame will now consider honoring baseball greats and contributors from the years prior to 1928, when the club became known as the Red Wings. The newest of the "old-timers" chosen is John Ganzel, who lists number one for all-time victories among Rochester managers (see attached chart.) The Ganzel family of 10 children included five boys who all excelled on the ball diamond. The eldest, Fred, spent many years on independent teams. Charlie enjoyed 14 years in the big leagues, serving on two championship clubs in the 1890s. George played six years in the minors while Joe played and managed within the minor league circuit. John Ganzel was the youngest of the boys, born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1874. Kalamazoo historian Keith Howard says the Ganzel men made their mark in the early days of America's emerging favorite pastime. "The Ganzel's would come to be known as Michigan's 'First Family' of baseball," he notes. "Indeed some of the most well known and highly respected sports heroes of their day. And at 6-feet and 190 pounds, John Ganzel was quite a large man, which was unique for the time." In seven big league seasons first baseman John Ganzel played nearly 750 games, hit .251 and led the league in fielding three times. He made his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1898. Next came stops in Chicago with the Orphans and in New York with the Giants. In 1903, he joined a new organization: the New York Highlanders, who would be christened the "Yankees" ten years later. On opening day '03 Ganzel drove in the franchise's first run. In the field six days later, he started the team's first triple play. And on May 11, 1903, Ganzel slugged New York's first home run in team history. His .277 batting clip that year was more than 20 points higher than the league average. In 1907 he led the National League with 17 triples while playing and managing for the Cincinnati Reds. Player/manager Ganzel arrived in Rochester in 1909 with the town desperately in need of a winner. The club was coming off a dreadful eighth place finish and hadn't taken a pennant since 1901. Ganzel inspired the team both at bat and from the bench. His .305 hitting average led the Rochester Bronchos and the team surged to a 35-win improvement (90-61) to claim the Eastern League championship. The city responded with celebration. The Hotel Osburn hosted a team dinner and the next evening the players were honored with skits and songs at the Baker Theatre. And the Genesee Hall featured the Bronchos at a bowling tournament; Ganzel's five-man squad rolled a respectable 840 in the opening match. At a another banquet Ganzel received a gold watch fob. A benefit fund awarded the 16 Rochester team regulars $200 apiece ($1500 bonus to Ganzel), reportedly the largest amount ever for a minor league pennant winner. Ganzel signed up for two more years and he wouldn't disappoint. Rochester went back-to-back and then made it a three-peat by rolling to league titles in 1910 and 1911, winning a total of 190 games. To start off the 1913 season, fans pitched in to present "Big Jawn" Ganzel with a Hudson 6 automobile. But despite winning 86 games in 1912 and another 92 games in '13, the club came in second both years. A new major baseball circuit- the Federal League- was formed in 1914. Higher salaries lured players from the American and National Leagues and the minors suffered considerable defections. Rochester lost Hack Simmons, the 1913 International League batting champ and pitcher Kaiser Wilhelm, coming off an 18-win season for the locals. Ganzel guided the 1914 Rochester Hustlers to 91 wins but the team fell to third place in the standings and was losing fans. During the year, a Rochester newspaper reported that Ganzel turned down a chance to pilot the AL's Cleveland Indians. Still, after some delay in negotiations, the manager agreed to return for his seventh Rochester season. But attendance continued to wane at Baseball Park at Bay Street in 1915 and the team started losing more games than they won. Early in the season, club officials apparently turned down an offer from Ganzel to quit. But in mid-August, with the Hustlers floundering in sixth place at 44-55, the manager's resignation was accepted. "There is nothing more of consequence for me in minor league baseball," Ganzel told the Rochester Union and Advertiser before moving on to Brooklyn to manage the Tip Tops of the Federal League. Some of the hitting stars during Ganzel's tenure included Tex Erwin, Fred Osborn and Emil Batch. Wally Pipp hit .314 and smashed 15 homers with 27 triples in 1914. Pitching featured George McConnell, Tom Hughes and Bobby Keefe. The Red Wings Media Guide still lists the 42-game hitting streak by Jack Lelivelt in 1912 as an all-time club record. McConnell tossed a no-hitter in 1910 and notched 30 wins the next year- a franchise high since 1900. Rochester players led the league in stolen bases in 1910 (Dan Moeller, 47) and in 1912 (Cozy Dolan, 78). Ganzel's act was a tough one to follow. The team didn't raise a pennant flag again until 1928 when Billy Southworth led the Red Wings to the first of four consecutive International League division titles. John Ganzel did return to the minors- to manage for parts of another six seasons. In 1938 he joined Orlando of the Florida State League and performed various jobs with that club until he retired in 1952. Ganzel died in Orlando seven years later at the age of 84. A hundred years ago, John Ganzel was the toast of Rochester town. (Along with owner/financier Charles Chapin, who backed the purchases of quality players.) It was a time that oozed baseball spirit in the city, reflected by this September 28, 1909 blurb in the Rochester Union and Advertiser: "We met a fellow on the car this morning who said he hadn't seen a game this season. We are keeping his name under cover, as we do not want his neighbors to think he lacks anything." Bill Flynn is a member of the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame Committee. TOP 5 ROCHESTER MANAGING LOG games wins loss pct. John Ganzel 1,016 593 423 .584 George Stallings 1,045 581 464 .556 Joe Altobelli 853 502 351 .589 Billy Southworth 853 495 358 .580 Al Buckenberger 857 451 406 .526