Forty-nine years later, most of the specific play-by-play memories have faded for Charles Griggs and Gary Moore.
But their trip to the 1964 Western Boys Baseball Association World Series in Santa Susana, Calif., was more about the friendships deepened and bonds forged through the game they love than it was who got how many hits or made so many outs.
“That was a great time of my life because when I was a young man, baseball was everything to me,” Moore said. “I loved playing baseball.”
Griggs, an employee of Lowe’s in Pocatello, and Moore, an 11-year veteran of the Pocatello City Council, were members of the Optimist All-Stars during the 1964 season. They, along with current Pocatello resident Dick Droghei (who was unavailable for comment), went on a magical run that led them to an appearance at a world series event in Santa Susana, Calif. (Los Angeles area).
“I remember being excited, of course, and feeling really good because you had done something not a lot of people had done,” said Griggs, who pitched for the team. “When you’re part of a good group of people, you are doing something that has not happened a lot.
“I wish a lot of people could experience something like that.”
The Optimist All-Stars team was comprised of Pocatello-area kids, all around 12 years old. The group won the state crown in August of 1964 by defeating Alameda Park 5-0.
That victory sent them to Salt Lake City for a regional tournament. From there, they secured their spot in the Western Boys Baseball Association World Series. The squad went 1-2 in California, dropping the consolation championship game.
Moore, who played first base and catcher for the All-Stars, has one vivid memory of the trip.
“We were just young kids, and we traveled on a bus that didn’t have air conditioning,” he said. “It was an exciting time of my life. It was a great experience.”
“It was something you will never experience again in your life,” Griggs said. “You were there and you participated, win or lose. You didn’t feel hate or animosity. You felt good about being able to compete.”
The few days spent in California were extra special for Griggs. His father, Shoster, was a resident of Los Angeles at the time and the two had a chance to reunite. It was Shoster after all, who helped garner his son’s interest in baseball at a young age.
Shoster was born in Oklahoma, but came to Pocatello to work and became a member of the Pocatello Sluggers, an all-black baseball team that played from the 1948 to the early 50s. The squad was mostly World War II veterans.
Griggs, who picked up the nickname Butch during his younger years, became a stellar baseball player as a teen.
“The thing I remember about Butch is he was always an outstanding athlete,” Moors said. “He was a great kid.”
One old newspaper headline read “Butch Griggs fans 18 for new record.” Other stories told of Griggs’ antics and heroics on the diamond.
Griggs christened the new Halliwell Park on Alameda Road (its current location) in 1969 by hitting the first ever home run in its existence.
The Optimist All-Stars' success during the 1964 season can be attributed to the amount of baseball the team played. The entire city of Pocatello was a baseball Mecca during the time.
“We all lived and breathed baseball,” Moore said. “We played down at Optimist Field, which is down by City Hall nowadays. When I was a young kid, we also had a minor league baseball park. That whole area was a baseball area.”
And the amount of time spent together led to friendships. When Griggs and Moore came together late last week for what Moore described as “the first time in a while,” the conversation went right back to baseball and their adventures together.
“It was so long ago, and I just remember us as a group being close,” Griggs said. “Being together and going to people’s houses to eat, talk and walk around was great. That’s what you do when you’re a team.”
The members of the 1964 Optimist All-Stars team are Charles Griggs, Gary Moore, Kevin Hansen, Dick Droghei, Robert Grimes, Leslie Mossman, Mike Farnhan, Joe Broussard, Leonard Bell, Todd Jackman, Ricky Peck, Steve Teeples, Mickey Shepard, Nick Case, Joe D. Shepard, Frank Broussard, Kent Bybee, manager Jake Farnhan and coach Frank Droghei.
“When you’re that age and you live and breath baseball, it was awesome,” Moore said.