Emil Bildilli

Emil Bildilli was a Major League pitcher for just five years. He signed with the Monessen, Pennsylvania team in 1936. Emil played for the Terre Haute Tots in the Three I League finishing with a 7-7 record in 92 innings. Emil was also with Johnstown Johnnies in the Middle Atlantic League where he finished 5-4 in 45 innings. Emil didn’t get his official Major League debut until 1937, when he was sold to St. Louis. His debut was a sad sight for everyone. Emil made it to the forth inning and was taken out after giving up 5 runs. Emil pitched in only 4 games that year with St. Louis, while giving up 12 runs. The St. Louis Browns then sent Emil to Springfield for the 1938 season to get some extra work in. Emil led the league with 185 strikeouts with a 3.07 ERA and an 18-4 record. The St. Louis Browns wanted Emil back in their rotation, but only got a 1-2 record in five games that season. In 1939, Emil pitched for San Antonio Missions. Having another great season with a 22-9 record. Emil pitched 287 innings that season with a 3.20 ERA.

The St. Louis brought him back for another go. Emil appeared in 28 games, with 11 starts and 17 relieving situations. His best performance was against the Yankees, throwing a two-hitter at Yankee Stadium. That 1940 season, Emil was 2-4 with a 4.60 ERA. The Browns sent Emil Bildilli to Toledo to play for the Mud Hens, posting a 5-9 record.

After that season Emil decided to quit baseball and take a job working for the Muncie Indiana Fire Department. Emil continued to play semi-professional baseball on his days off. But on September 15^, 1946, Emil fell asleep while driving and sideswiped a tree and plowed through a fence. Suffering from multiple injuries, Emil died the next day, on his 34^th birthday. Emil was 4-8 in 41 games and a lifetime ERA of 5.84 in 148 innings pitched.

Gerstmeyer High School

Gerstmeyer High School was open from 1925 to 1971. Only having five principles in its 46 year span. The reason for the closing in 1971, was the consolidation between Gerstmeyer and Garfield high schools to start Terre Haute North Vigo High School. Gerstmeyer's mascot was a black cat and their school colors were black and orange. Below is a picture of Gerstmeyer's typewriting class in 1945.

The high school was located on Locust street where the IGA currently is. Looking up the address for Gerstmeyer High School, I noticed that 12th street used to run between the current IGA and Chauncey Rose Middle School. Chauncey Rose Middle School is on the corner of Locust and 13th, as well as a memorial of Gerstmeyer.

Gerstmeyer's gym burned down in 1930. The plan for a new gym was introduced in 1943, but was not built til 1950. Gerstmeyer shut down in 1971, and one year later, Chauncey Rose junior high school was built. Gerstmeyer was torn down except for the new gym, which is still used by the Chauncey Rose Middle School. The junior high school taught 7th, 8th, and 9th grades and was altered to 6th, 7th, and 8th grades when it was switched to middle school.

Memorial Stadium

Memorial Stadium is currently the home stadium for our Sycamore football and soccer teams. But Memorial Stadium was once a home for many minor league teams. Back in 1925, The Terre Haute Tots played the first game at the stadium and the last baseball game was played in 1956.

The inventions of the television and air conditioning allowed fans to watch the games in the comfort of their own homes, instead of being out in the dreadful weather conditions. The stadium was used for high school and college football and baseball teams, professional boxing, circuses, fireworks, ice skating and other small events.

Memorial Stadium transformed from a minor league baseball field to a football stadium for our Sycamores in 1967. Which would make Memorial Stadium the first intercollegiate field with AstroTurf nation wide. The only remaining parts of the baseball stadium is the outfield wall and the arches.

'100 year flood'

On June 7, 2008, 15 inches of rain fell in less than 12 hours causing one of the worst floods Terre Haute has seen. It had been over 100 years since the last flood in the area. Many homes and businesses were ruined; and roads were torn apart with large chunks missing. Many people were stuck sitting on their roofs while they were waiting for help because their house had been taken over by the water. Many houses in Terre Haute had around a foot of water inside them, which made them unsafe, causing many people to abandon their houses. The river looked like an ocean with the amount of flooding. Levees were breaking and this was causing even more flooding.

Many businesses were a tremendous help; these include the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and the United Way. These places helped with food, clothing, housing, and even appliances to get their homes started again. There were 17 counties in Indiana that were declared a natural disaster area. The flood killed 200 people statewide and displaced over 200,000 people.

Indiana State Normal School

Indiana State Normal School was built in 1865 and opened in 1870. Normal School was created to train high school graduates to become teachers; while establishing standards or norms teaching.

Indiana State Normal School changed names is 1929 to the Indiana State Teachers College. Thirty-two years later they renamed the school to Indiana State College because they started offering more degrees other than teaching degrees. Four years after that the school was named Indiana State University to further expand their growing community.

Indiana State Normal School was destroyed by a fire on April 8, 1888. The fire was reported around 8:30 am and there were about 600 people inside the building at the time, due to classes just starting that day. The fire was very rampant destroying nearly everything in the building. The only pieces that were recovered were 13 microscopes, 3 physics pieces and a couple library books. There was only one day of classes missed because the community came together and allowed them in to their businesses to hold class. The community also gave money to help rebuild the damaged property.

ISU Baseball's First Reconstruction

Indiana State University's first baseball field was built in 1977. One reason for the build, was the convenience of a field closer to campus. The baseball team originally played at memorial stadium which is where the football stadium currently is. This made it undesirable for students to attend the games. Another reason for the newly built field was to provide the Sycamores with their own field, rather than sharing with other community based teams. The Sycamores first game on the new field was March 29, 1978.

The Field is named Bob Warn Field; named after the most successful coach ISU has had. Bob warm coached from 1976-2006. Bob Warn had a career record of 1,050 wins, 711 losses, and 9 ties.

Now it being 2010, the baseball team is finally getting the first reconstruction in 33 years. The work started around October of 2009 and should be completed before our first home game this season. The reconstruction consists of new locker rooms, new concessions, new grand stand bleachers from dugout to dugout behind home plate, along with new dugouts and infield turf. And even though the field is not completed yet, I have provided you with the most recent picture of the field.