Chapter One

Early Years

This photo is of me taking batting practice on a clay dirt field with a simple backstop. We had no grass and no mound. The building in the background is the cafeteria. In the spring, there was usually a lot of wind, and I had to pitch according to the wind. I hit about .500 in high-school. Our teams were not very successful due to lack of players. We only had 10 boys in the whole high-school playing sports. I started playing baseball during recess in the lower grades and always enjoyed playing the game.

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“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

Our high-school basketball team was more successful. When I was a senior, we went to the simi-finals in the state championship games. There were only 5 in my graduating class. Two of us, Raymond Gilbert (#88) and myself (#99), were given full scholarships at major universities. My brother Von is #44, and Raymond's brother, Lainiel, is #77. Both are freshman. I went to Oklahoma University and Raymond went to Oklahoma City University. I had the gift of shooting accuracy. Both of my brothers followed my footsteps in both baseball and basketball.

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1

2 3 4 5 6 7 7

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

The photo on next page was taken in 1952, just after the Altus American Legion team won the State Championship. I am in the middle just behind the trophy and both of my brothers, Von and Kerry Don, are batboys. On this team was Eddie Fisher (behind me in the middle of the back row), who had 15 years in the Big Leagues and myself. We enjoyed great support from the community as well as great sponsorship from Bill Williams (who is on the back far right next to Elwood Riley, our coach.) Elwood Riley, was later selected to the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame as a coach. We also had won the State Championship in 1951.

jump to chapter

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 7

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

In the next photo are local people from the little town of Dodson, Texas, just two miles from the McDaniel farms just across the state line. These people were listening to KMOX radio from St. Louis which broadcast the St. Louis Cardinal games. This was when Von and I were playing for the Cardinals in 1957. People would park their cars or pickups on hills to get better reception. In the photo are Ralph Hudson, Ross Swift and family, Jo Hunt and family, Zee McKinney, Ross Bennet and Floyd Tysch, the local banker.

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“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Lindy McDaniel

20 Years in the Pen

Chapter One

Early Years

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

Chapter One

Early Years

“Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.”

Ephesians 6:2-3

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