Erie’s Sam Jethroe featured prominently in display at Negro Leagues Hall of Fame

In summer, many families head to see interesting sites, which is how three area residents and one former Erie couple wrote to say they had recently toured Kansas City's Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. They were pleasantly surprised to see an expansive display on the career of Erie's Sam Jethroe.

Born and raised in East. St Louis, Illinois, Jethroe spent the final five decades of his life in Erie. That was after he starred for the Cleveland Buckeyes, helping to lead them to a Negro League Championship. Jethroe made it to the Major Leagues in 1950, winning National League rookie of the year honors with the Boston Braves.

More:MLB's recognition of Negro League records includes Jethroe, others with Erie ties

He played nine more seasons of professional baseball before settling in Erie on a fulltime basis. Until then, he’d worked at GE and at the Pope Hotel during the offseason. Jethroe later opened Sam Jethroe’s Steakhouse on Parade Street and remained in business there until the Redevelopment Authority forced him to move.

Jethroe starred in the Glenwood League well into his late 40s, and I never heard one word of complaint from him even though he was treated poorly by the big leagues and later by the city of Erie. Jethroe, who died in 2001 at the age of 84, benefitted when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947. But he would have had a long career in the big time if there had been no barrier at all.

● One of stars of the Glenwood League whom Jethroe played against was Bill Moniak, whose grandson, Mickey Moniak, was recently traded by the Philadelphia Phillies to the Los Angeles Angels in a deal for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

Mickey Moniak was one of baseball’s brightest young prospects, and he got off to a hot start for the Angels before fracturing his finger while bunting. It reminded me of his grandfather, whose minor league career in the Boston Red Sox system was cut short by injury.

● Frank Scozzie, a longtime administrator in the Erie School District, died recently at the age of 76 after a long and valiant fight against cancer. Frank was a good guy who helped so many people in his role at the school district. He also had a sharp eye for talent and recruited Joe Kimball to join the district after Joe had been unfairly ousted as Mercyhurst University’s football coach.

For subscribers:Frank Scozzie dies; longtime Erie schools administrator used wit to bring others together

Kimball, under Scozzie’s watchful eye, went on to become an assistant principal and principal at Erie high Schools. In time, he returned to Mercyhurst as the university’s athletic director. "Nobody could ever say I didn’t know how to pick ‘em," Frank said the last time I saw him.

● Erie fans who watch Cleveland Guardians baseball on TV are amazed by the bitter political ads in Ohio. J.D. Vance, the “Hillbilly Elegy” author who’s running as the Republican candidate in that state for U.S. senator, is getting creamed on the commercials. They make the political ads in Pennsylvania seem like child’s play.

Ohio Senate race:Tim Ryan is raising, spending more money than J.D. Vance

● Speaking of the Guardians, I wonder what they plan to do with the 25,000 Franmil Reyes bobblehead dolls they planned to give away at a September game. Reyes was banished to the minors last week and the Chicago Cubs picked up his contract.

More:Chicago Cubs claim Guardians DH Franmil Reyes off waivers

● Guardians radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton gave a nice little shout-out to Dan Ross, the Erie native who now works in the clubhouse for the Detroit Tigers. Hamilton said what a terrific young man Ross is and he credited his parents, Darrell and Jane Ross, who still live in Erie.

● Congratulations to Lou Bizzarro on his recent induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Lou compiled a great record while fighting in the late 1960s and ‘70s. He took Roberto Duran into the 14th round before losing to the champ at the old Erie County Fieldhouse. Duran was a brilliant fighter then at the very top of his game.

More:Erie ring great Lou Bizzarro inducted into Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame

Bizzarro, who followed in the footsteps of his brother, Johnny Bizzarro, probably would have been better known if he’d had more out-of-town bouts.

● Rock star Jon Bon Jovi, whose mother grew up in Erie, showed up last week at a karaoke party in South Bend, Indiana. Bon Jovi, a longtime Notre Dame football fans, laughed when a group of Irish players stood up and sang his band's song, “Livin’ On a Prayer.”

More:Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi gives Notre Dame football a pep talk

Bon Jovi said that, judging from the quality of the singing, he thinks the players should stick to football.

'I've rocked them all:'Bon Jovi's 1987 concert for 15,000 at Erie's Veterans Stadium

● Celebrate Erie starts Friday in downtown Erie, and the X Ambassadors will kick off the musical entertainment that night. Ja Rule and Mýa perform on Saturday, followed by country musician Jimmie Allen on Sunday.

More:Music acts Ja Rule, Mýa, Jimmie Allen, X Ambassadors to headline main stage at CelebrateErie

Kevin Cuneo can be reached at kevin.cuneo1844@gmail .com.