Legends of Baseball to Hold Final Reunion at Tomcat Bourbon and Brewhouse
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
Tomcat Bourbon and Brewhouse is one of the most frequented places in our humble little town of Ashland Kentucky. Located at 2018 29th Street, the Tomcat Brewery as so many lovingly call it, is no stranger to hosting exciting events and are continually supporting our local youth’s teams and community. So, it should come as no surprise to hear that this well-known establishment will be host to what many are calling “the biggest event of the year.”
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, Tomcat Bourbon and Brewhouse will be hosting the “Grand Ashland Stan Musial Homecoming Reunion.” Stan Musial nicknamed “Stan the Man,” was an American baseball player who is widely considered one of the greatest and most consistent hitters in baseball history. Musial made his major league baseball debut in the latter part of 1941 where he played a total of 22 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. Musial has three World Series titles under his belt, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, and shares the Major League's record of 24 for most All-Star Games played with baseball legends Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.
During his career, Musial racked up a total of 3,630 career hits, 1,951 runs batted in, 3,026 total games played, had 10,972 chances at bat, scored a total of 1,949 runs, which includes a total of 725 doubles, and hit an impressive 475 career homeruns. At the time of his retirement, Musial had a total of 17 major league records, 29 National League Records, and nine All-Star game records. With a record like that, it’s no wonder Musial was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom award, which is the highest civilian award that can be bestowed upon a person by the US government. Stan Musial passed away on January 19, 2023, shortly after receiving this honor.
Musial was once described as, “representing more than two decades of sustained excellence and complete decency as a human being” by the famous sportscaster, Bob Costas. With such a legacy of excellence, it wasn’t long before “Stan Musial Baseball Leagues” began to pop up all over the US. In fact, we actually had our own “Grand Ashland Stan Musial Baseball League” right here in Ashland, Kentucky.
The Grand Ashland Stan Musial Baseball League was founded about 40 years ago by David Withrow and Mike Tussey. Both Tussey and Withrow had coached many years coming up the different ranks of little league. It wasn’t until sometime around 1981 that the area had a real need for a league for those in between graduating high school and going off to college to play during the summer months. “There was just no place in the summer months… June, July, and August for these athletes to play. There was just no outlet for them to hone their skills and continue playing to prepare for their college career,” noted Tussey. It was Tussey’s and Withrow’s hope to create such a league that would not only offer those caught in that in-between stages of their baseball careers but also create a type of feeder system. One day while over at Withrow’s house, Tussey brought up the idea of creating a league for these boys. The two tossed around different leagues they could possibly join and the two ultimately settled on the Stan Musial League. The closest Stan Musial League at the time was located in Barboursville WV, so Tussey reached out to the head coach of the Barboursville league and inquired about joining the league. Tussey was told that if he could provide a place to hold games in Kentucky that he could join their local league.
Tussey quickly went to work and reached out to various city officials. The Ashland Park Board was able to secure a spot for the league to hold games a couple of days a week. “CP1” better known as Central Park Field One became the home field for the Grand Ashland Stan Musial League. Withrow and Tussey wasted no time getting started and, in the winter of 1981, the two went to work raising funds for things the team would need such as uniforms.
In 1982, the league was officially formed. Over the course of the next nine years, the Grand Ashland Stan Musial Baseball League would go on to win several championship titles. They earned the titles of the 1985- Cocoa Beach Expo Champions, 1988- AABC Kentucky State Champions, 1988- West Virginia Buck Stove Champions, 1990- AABC West Virginia State Champions, and earned a total of six league championships. To say that they brought a sense of pride to our area was an understatement. The community loved having the league in the area and was very supportive of the team. In fact, they respected them. Tussey stated, “That’s a type of respect that you just can’t pay for. It has to be earned.”
Tussey reached out to the Beacon recently to invite everyone out to the Grand Ashland Stan Musial Baseball Homecoming Reunion. This will mark the group's 41st and final reunion. Please join us as we celebrate the legacy that these men leave behind, and may it serve as a sort of guidebook and inspiration for future players of the great American game of baseball.
Tussey is hopeful that the players and their families from 1982 to 1991 will be able to come out to reminisce, celebrate, and honor all they have accomplished. “You don’t want to miss this! Please join us on August 26, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Tomcat Bourbon and Brewhouse to help us honor all our team members and their families,” an excited Tussey proclaimed. At 7 p.m., there will be a special presentation from our honorable Mayor Matt Perkins that you won’t want to miss. During the event, you can take part in a delicious dinner menu, great local entertainment that will be on the patio stage at Tomcat Bourbon and Brewhouse, karaoke, games, team photos and special team exhibits.
“Blood, sweat, and respect. The first two you give… the last one you earn.”- Dwayne Johnson