Jim Clark :: 2024 Cy Butler Award Recipient
Jim Clark with Mike Jeffery
Jim Clark is in the Ohio Hot Stove Hall of Fame. He coached all three (3) of his sons for LaPorte Hot Stove from 1966 to late 1990s. He was a huge part of that organization holding many different positions and was integral to the merger of LaPorte and North Eaton Hot Stove merging.
Jim coached freshmen baseball at Midview High School and then became involved with Grafton Hot Stove as his grandchildren started playing baseball. He coached and held every board position that Grafton Hot Stove needed in his years of service. He has worked and prepared fields for Grafton Hot Stove (now Grafton Midview Hot Stove) since 2000. Grafton Hot Stove merged with Belden Hot Stove in 2010 which added more fields and preparation, but he accepted all of the responsibility with a smile. Jim was also integral to the merger of Grafton Hot Stove and Midview Youth Baseball in 2021 that finally combined all of Midview into a single Hot Stove organization.
Grafton Midview Hot Stove would like to nominate Jim Clark for the Cy Butler Award. Jim volunteers so much of his time every day to prepare fields and keep our park clean. He drags and lines four fields daily for the youth of Grafton Midview to enjoy the sport of baseball and softball. He takes great pride in our park and spends countless hours every day to improve our park. He manages our fields, orders items needed for the fields, and does all the scheduling on our online calendar. Jim makes sure we are on track with our maintenance, schedules, and all our daily needs. Jim Clark is a valuable member of our team, and we could not exist without Mr. Clark.
Randy Hendrickson :: 2024 Hall Of Fame Inductee
Randy Hendrickson with his family
Coming Soon!
Francis Stuart :: 2024 Hall Of Fame Inductee
Francis Stuart
Francis Stuart lived a life of service to family, community and country and was an avid sports enthusiast.
He grew up and attended school in Spencer and excelled athletically. He played baseball for Spencer High School as a left-handed pitcher. In May of 1941, his pitching led the team to the State quarter finals.
After graduation, he was drafted into the US Army serving in the South Pacific with his company supplying munitions. While there, he also continued playing baseball as many of the soldiers did. A person told a scout for the Cleveland Indians about him.
After the war, he was signed by the Indians and played for one of their minor league teams. He developed shoulder problems and was released.
Once he returned home, he helped found the Lorain County Suburban Hot Stove League. He was an original member of the board when it was formed in 1954 and served as the second President of the new organization when he was elected to succeed the first board President, Alden Hopkins in February of 1955. He also helped organize Hot Stove baseball in Spencer, Ohio, and coached local teams.
He must have been very proud of his contributions to Hot Stove as he noted in his autobiography, " I was one of the original ones who organized the Hot Stove baseball in Medina and Lorain County. I coached the team in Spencer for a few years." He loved attending games and supporting his family members that played Hot Stove baseball, among other sports.
He continued his service to the community in many other areas, serving on school boards, and as Superintendent of Sunday School at his church.
It is our honor as the board of Black River Youth Sports (fka Spencer Hot Stove) to nominate Mr. Stuart for the Ohio Hot Stove Hall of Fame.
Bob Beckham :: 2024 Hall Of Fame Inductee
Bob Beckham has been involved with Ohio Hot Stove Baseball for over 30 years. He was a huge part of Keystone Hot Stove, Belden Hot Stove, Grafton Hot Stove, and now Grafton Midview Hot Stove. Grafton Midview Hot Stove would like to nominate Bob Beckham to the Ohio Hot Stove Hall of Fame.
Bob has coached multiple levels of baseball and softball. He has held many different board positions. He is a strong member of our board serving as Field Manager at Belden Fields and Trustee.
He is an awesome liaison with Belden and puts in countless hours at Belden Fields every day. Bob works to update online calendars with our other manager and keeps Belden Park looking amazing. When he finishes Belden Field, he heads over to Reservoir to help get those fields ready as well!
Bob will volunteer in any way needed and has done this in each organization he has been a part of Hot Stove starting with Keystone Hot Stove over 20 years ago. Bob Beckham is quiet and direct but always kind. He is there to help! He served as personnel director, field manager, coach, trustee, and more.
Bob Beckham with Pat Anderson
