Doug Wabeke, who won four National Junior College Athletic Association championships at Grand Rapids Community College and was inducted into theNJCAA’s Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, died at his ...

WZZM-TV Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek. Grand Rapids Community College's 'Golden Bat' trophy returns to owner after more than 20 years. Posted: May 27, 2025 | Last updated: May 27, 2025 ...

All of that, happening during his one-year tenure on the Grand Rapids Community College baseball team. He said all of those memories came back with the discovery of a golden bat earlier this month.

In an article reporting his death on Dec. 11, 1950, the reporter hailed him as “the best-known baseball figure in Grand Rapids and western Michigan” for nearly half a century.

Dan Skirka coaching career. Skirka's first coaching position was with Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2008, with the team advancing to the NJCAA World Series.

While the Black Sox may be viewed as Grand Rapids’ “Black ... College Sports. Horse Racing. UFL. Cycling. ... He took over the team in 1906 and became the face of the Black baseball community.