MAIN STREET HARDY

Mr. Elwin Charles “Preacher” Roe played in the Cardinal minor league system through 1943.  He was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1944 and was the opening day pitcher that year. In 1945 he led the National League with 148 strikeouts.  He use to spend his winters teaching math and coaching high school basketball.  He truly enjoyed coaching because he was good with kids and the kids loved him. During 1946 right here in our little town we had some excitement when legendary baseball great Preacher Roe, while coaching the local girls basketball game for Hardy, Arkansas, was knocked unconscious during an altercation with a referee.  What is interesting is because of that he lost his short term memory from this accident and most of his pitching skills had to be learned all over again. 

Upon being pressed to sue the official for damages, Preacher responded, “I can’t sue somebody for something I can’t remember happening. How do I know why he hit me if I can’t remember what I did?” Preacher’s best seasons at Brooklyn were still to come.

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