Article Contributed on: 6/9/2006 6:00:51 PM
On the 90th anniversary of the retirement of the Golden area's last homegrown player from baseball's most decorated franchise, another has been summoned to follow in his footsteps.
Mark Melancon, the pitcher who helped Golden High School achieve greatness, was chosen on June 7th by the New York Yankees in the 9th round of baseball's amateur draft. If he signs with them, he will be the second Golden High ballplayer to join the Yankees organization. Personally I think 90 years is quite long enough to wait for people around here to be part of this historic franchise, though Melancon is the first to be drafted by them, as his predecessor joined them in a different era long ago.
Roy Hartzell, the first Golden Yankee, was one of baseball's better utility men, playing 2nd base, 3rd base, shortstop and outfield for the Yankees from 1911-16. Batting left handed and throwing right, Hartzell set the Yankees franchise record with 91 RBI in 1911, and on July 12, 1911 set an American League record batting 8 RBI against the St. Louis Browns. Over his career Hartzell batted .252, and had over 20 stolen bases for the Yankees each year from 1911-14, and also was captain of the Yankees. He was born in Golden on July 6, 1881, played high school ball on the South School grounds at 14th and Cheyenne, and made his major league debut 100 years ago this year on April 17, 1906 with the Browns. His last game was on July 25, 1916. He was the brother of
Lester Hartzell, the great Colorado School of Mines quarterback/running back who led the team to several 1890s championships as well as the legendary 103-0 thrashing of the University of Colorado.
If Melancon makes it to the Yankees, he can become the 4th Golden area athlete to play in the majors, after
Albert Jones,
Roy Hartzell and
Steve Reed. He would be our first homegrown player in nearly a century, and the first homegrown pitcher in over 100 years, after the lefty they called Cowboy Jones, pitching with the Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Cardinals from 1898-1901. Melancon making it to the Yankees certainly would not hurt Golden High's reputation, making it a program that sent 3 to the majors!