By Clint Cox
Photo Caption:
Charles Tatom, 79, took in a day of festivities and baseball at Chipola on Saturday. Photo by Clint Cox
Charles Tatom, 79, took in a day of festivities and baseball at Chipola on Saturday. Photo by Clint Cox
The many fans that turned out this past weekend, especially Saturday, were thrilled to get a autograph or photo of current major league ball players that are Chipola alumni (see article on page B3 and photos on page B4). But also sitting in the stands on Saturday was a member of the Indian’s first baseball team back in 1949. Charles Tatom, 79, shows no signs of slowing down and can be sited frequently at Chipola basketball and baseball games. Tatom was a catcher on the 1949 Indian’s baseball squad, the first Indian team to take to the diamond.
"I came to Chipola in 1948 on a football scholarship and lettered in all three sports (football, basketball and baseball)," Tatom proudly said on Saturday. He had moved to Greenwood at an early age from Dothan but then returned to Alabama for his senior year of high school. "I went to Pike County to live with my grandparents who needed help. But I also wanted to play football and could at Pike County (Greenwood had no football team)," explained Tatom as how he came to Chipola. And while today’s athletes are to be admired for their great athletic abilities and skills, Tatom said the athletes of yesteryear weren’t too bad either. "We had some tremendous athletes back then. A lot of them went on to play at major colleges and the professional leagues as well," said Tatom.
So if you are taking in a Chipola basketball or baseball game and see Tatom, sit spell with him and let him take you back to yesteryear in Chipola athletics. Take my word you’ll enjoy the trip.
"I came to Chipola in 1948 on a football scholarship and lettered in all three sports (football, basketball and baseball)," Tatom proudly said on Saturday. He had moved to Greenwood at an early age from Dothan but then returned to Alabama for his senior year of high school. "I went to Pike County to live with my grandparents who needed help. But I also wanted to play football and could at Pike County (Greenwood had no football team)," explained Tatom as how he came to Chipola. And while today’s athletes are to be admired for their great athletic abilities and skills, Tatom said the athletes of yesteryear weren’t too bad either. "We had some tremendous athletes back then. A lot of them went on to play at major colleges and the professional leagues as well," said Tatom.
So if you are taking in a Chipola basketball or baseball game and see Tatom, sit spell with him and let him take you back to yesteryear in Chipola athletics. Take my word you’ll enjoy the trip.
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