Chuck Eisenmann

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Chuck Eisenmann
Pitcher
Born: Charles Paul Eisenmann
(1918-10-22)October 22, 1918
Hawthorne, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died: September 6, 2010(2010-09-06) (aged 91)
Roseburg, Oregon, U.S.
Batted: Both
Threw: Right
MiLB debut
1940, for the Los Angeles Angels
Last MiLB appearance
April 29, 1953, for the San Diego Padres
Teams

Charles "Chuck" Paul Eisenmann (October 22, 1918 – September 6, 2010) was an American baseball pitcher and dog trainer who played in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) from 1940 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1953 after serving in the United States Army. He is best known for being the owner and trainer of multiple dogs, most notably London, who starred in the Canadian television series The Littlest Hobo.

Early life and career[edit]

Chuck Eisenmann was born Charles Paul Eisenmann[1] on October 22, 1918, in Hawthorne, Wisconsin,[2] to German immigrant parents Richrd and Marie (Mary). He had a total of nine siblings,[3]: 2  including two older brothers who both served in the United States Navy.[4] Shortly following his birth, Eisenmann's family would move around and eventually settle in Parkland.[3]: 2  He graduated from high school in 1937 and joined the Army shortly afterwards,[2] where he became a military baseball pitcher in the Schofield Barracks league's 8th Field Artillery Regiment team while serving in Honolulu between 1937 and 1938.[4] Eisenmann was noticed by Detroit Tigers scouts during this period,[2] who bought him out of the military to play professionally.[4] He boarded the SS Lurline on November 18, 1938, sailing to California.[5]

Baseball and military career[edit]

In 1939, Eisenmann took spring training at the Tigers camp in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he injured his arm.[4] While playing as a member of the Lake Charles club, Eisenmann was one of the 88 minor league players who Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis declared as free agents on January 14, 1940.[6][7] The following month, on February 19, 1940, he was signed on to the Los Angeles Angels roster of the Pacific Coast League.[8][9] He pitched for the team until May 13, 1940, when he was transferred to the Western International League to pitch for the Vancouver Capilanos,[10] later moving to the Yakima Pippins mid-season, where he remained the following year.[4] In November 1941, the San Diego Padres bought Eisenmann's contract,[11] where he remained for the beginning of the 1942 season after showing an impressing performance during spring training.[4] Although he became of interest to the Spokane Indians,[12] he would re-enlist in the Army on April 11, 1942. He was sent to England as second lieutenant after graduating from training school.[4]

As a member of the 827th Signal Service Battalion unit stationed in London, Eisenmann oversaw the athletics department in the Special Services Division,[4] where he organized military baseball teams.[2] The most notable team organized by Eisenmann was the CBS (Central Base Section) Clowns, a successful team represented by Central Base Section members of the US Army.[4] He coached for the United States army team for the Tea Bowl I football match against Canada, which took place in London on February 13, 1944.[13] After he was discharged in late 1945,[2] Eisenmann returned to professional baseball, albeit he did struggle while doing so. He rejoined the San Diego Padres to play for the 1946 season,[4] but was later assigned to the Tulsa Oilers on June 17.[14] On June 4, 1947, he was sold by the Padres to the Memphis Chicks. Eisenmann pitched for Memphis until being picked up by the Chicago White Sox in September 1948, but was returned to Memphis after spring training the following year before having the chance to play for them. Although the White Sox recalled him in September 1949,[4] he was part of an exchange between the White Sox and the Brooklyn Dodgers on September 30 which saw the Dodgers' Chico Carrasquel be traded for Eisenmann, Fred Hancock, and $35,000 towards the Montreal Royals.[15][16] He pitched for the Mobile Bears in 1950, and in 1951 for the Triple-A International League Ottawa Giants and later the Syracuse Mets after the New York Giants bought him, later sending him back to the Tulsa Oilers in 1952, who released him after the season. He appeared in three games in 1953 as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Seals, who released him on April 10. He appeared in an additional five games after rejoining the San Diego Padres, who then released him on April 29, ending his professional career.[4] He then pitched for and managed the Kearney Irishmen in the Nebraska International League.[17] In 1956, Eisenmann attended the Bill McGowan School for Umpires, but would only umpire for a single season. In August, Eisenmann started pitching for the Bismarck Barons in the Mandak League.[4]

Dog training[edit]

In 1947, Eisenmann was a nightclub owner in Los Angeles, where he bought his first dog,[18] who he named London, which was where he served in the Army.[19] London was initially bought to be a watchdog but would instead be trained by Eisenmann and later start a career in acting.[20][21] However, other sources that have also mentioned London's age would put his birth around 1953,[22][23][24] with Eisenmann buying him Hollywood.[24] Eisenmann taught London how to count, spell, and understand thousands of words. London was mostly knon as being a German Shepherd, but according to The Bismarck Tribune writer Curt Eriksmoen, he was actually a Tamaskan.[2] Eisenmann would train London to perform tricks during baseball games.[25][26] During a baseball game on June 26, 1955, London gave the pitcher his jacket upon reaching base,[27] which angered two umpires later that day. An argument ensued,[28] during which London pushed one of the umpires. The incident led to a feature on Life magazine on July 25, 1955, which gained London popularity.[29][30][31][32] London was also featured on the television show You Asked for It.[33] He was dubbed by some as being "probably the smartest dog in Hollywood."[34] In 1957, London was injured when a delivery truck collided with Eisenmann's vehicle.[35]

Eisenmann and London would go on to spend time in Hollywood,[36] where London appeared in the 1958 film The Littlest Hobo,[20][37] which was received well by critics.[38] London later appeared in the 1960 adventure film My Dog, Buddy as well as the 1961 film Just Between Us and Marks of Distinction.[39] During development for My Dog Buddy, two of London's offspring were given away,[40] with another one, a dog named Lance, performed a stunt for Just Between Us.[41] London had three additional sons, Thorn, Toro and Little London "Litlon",[42][43] with Thorn occasionally serving as a double actor for London.[44] In 1961, Eisenmann filed a $35,000 lawsuit against the delivery firm who owned the truck involved in the 1957 collision. He appeared in court with London on February 27, where he alleged that London's injuries, a broken leg and a bumped head, limited his acting abilities.[35][45] On March 2, the jury reached a verdict in favor of the defense.[46]

London starred in the 1963 Canadian television series The Littlest Hobo based on his 1958 movie, but by this time Eisenmann had three more dogs, Toro, Litlon and Thorn, who also played in his spot.[47] By April 1964, London had been the father of 286 dogs, including another one of Eisenmann's dogs who was also named London.[48] By 1966, the original London was retired,[49] and he died at the age of 17.[50] David Malcolmson wrote a biography about London, titled "London: The Dog That Made the Team".[51] In the summer of 1967, one of the London dogs were featured on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[52][53]

Toro had two sons, Hobo and London,[54] who starred in the 1969 Romanian movie Silent Friends.[4][55] By 1971, Eisenmann had another dog, Venus.[56] London would go on to star in the 1977 comedy film The Billion Dollar Hobo.[57] During a revival of The Littlest Hobo from 1979 to 1985, the titular Hobo was played by another one of Eisenmann's dogs, Beau.[58]

Eisenmann wrote four books about dog training.[59]

Personal life and death[edit]

In 1946, Eisenmann lived in Superior, Wisconsin.[60] He would later live in Kearney, Nebraska,[20] where he spent time as a sports writer for the Kearney Hub.[61] He moved to Roseburg, Oregon, around 1982,[57] where he died on September 6, 2010, at the age of 91.[62]

Bibliography[edit]

  • 1968: Stop! Sit! and Think: The Only 20th Century Manual for Educating All Dogs. Macdonald-Redmore.
  • 1983: A Dog's Day In Court. Bryant Press. ISBN 0969151810.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Had Him In Camp". The Ottawa Journal. 16 January 1964. p. 13. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Eriksmoen, Curt (14 February 2010). "Movie dog, London, got early start in Bismarck". The Bismarck Tribune. p. 21. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Chuck Eisenmann - Baseball, War and the Littlest Hobo" (PDF). Baseball in Wartime. April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "BIW - Chuck Eisenmann". www.baseballinwartime.com. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Lurline Departures". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 18 November 1938. p. 6. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Landis Declares Ninety-Three Free Agents". Harrisburg Telegraph. 15 January 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Minor League Players Freed By Ruling of Judge Landis". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 15 January 1940. p. 14. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Angel Hurlers Reach Camp". The Pomona Progress Bulletin. 20 February 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Los Angeles Acquires Two More Pitchers". The Spokesman-Review. 20 February 1940. p. 24. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  10. ^ "L. A. Releases Pitcher". The San Francisco Examiner. 14 May 1940. p. 25. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  11. ^ Gemmell, Ron (23 November 1941). "Sport Sparks". Statesman Journal. p. 6. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  12. ^ Walton, Dan (11 April 1942). "Sports Log". The News Tribune. p. 18. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Tea Bowl Game Set for London". Stillwater News-Press. 31 January 1944. p. 6. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Three Padre Players Dropped From Roster". The Spokesman-Review. 19 June 1946. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Lane Has Made 154 Trades as Chisox General Manager". The Montgomery Advertiser. 9 February 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Carrasquel 27th Chisox To Sign". The Tampa Tribune. 23 January 1955. p. 26. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Ex-Nebraskan In Top Billing For 'Hobo' Show". Fremont Tribune. 13 September 1958. p. 15. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  18. ^ Clements, Jim (19 August 1970). "His Dogs Aren't Trained, They're Educated". Waterloo Region Record. p. 13. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  19. ^ Dempsey, Lotta (13 June 1981). "Little hobos keep senior 'teacher' busy". The Toronto Star. p. 118. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "London Returns as Movie Star". Kearney Hub. 20 August 1958. p. 7. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  21. ^ Dixon, Opal (24 August 1961). "It May Be A Dog's Life But London And His Two Buddies Are Enjoying It". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. p. 48. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  22. ^ "London Returns as Star Of 'Littlest Hobo' Movie". The Grand Island Independent. 28 October 1958. p. 20. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Movie Dog To Appear At Village". Progress-Bulletin. 20 February 1959. p. 23. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  24. ^ a b Alexander, Preicles (11 April 1960). "Canine Film Star Speaks Up". The Times. p. 18. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  25. ^ "A Dog's Life". The Bismarck Tribune. 7 August 1958. p. 16. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  26. ^ Bottrell, Andrew (3 April 2013). "Playing ball in Flat Rock". The North Platte Telegraph. p. 20. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Semi-Pro Ball Held Spotlight from 1889-1955". Kearney Hub. 1 October 1963. p. 34. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Semi-Pro Baseball Once Prominent". Kearney Hub. 11 August 1973. p. 6. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Life Magazine Features Canine And His Master". Lexington Clipper-Herald. 25 July 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  30. ^ Anderson, Tom (15 February 1956). "Just For The Record". The Grand Island Independent. p. 15. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  31. ^ Rukavina, Mitch (5 July 1956). "London's Debut". The Daily Plainsman. p. 13. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  32. ^ Lindstorm, Don (22 July 1955). "Highlights of the Day". Holdrege Daily Citizen. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  33. ^ Worsham, Ralph E. (10 April 1959). "Famed Dog Will Give Special Show At Santa Ana Boys' Club". The Orange County Register. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  34. ^ "Clever Canine". Austin American-Statesman. 6 April 1960. p. 11. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  35. ^ a b "$35,000 Asked For Injury To 'Talking' Dog In Crash". Longview Daily News. 28 February 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  36. ^ "NOW They've Done It". The Shelton Clipper. 30 October 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  37. ^ Lambert, Bruce (30 June 1965). "Intellectual Approach Best For Dogs, Trainer Claims". The Boston Globe. p. 18. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  38. ^ "London to Appear With Film at Fort". Kearney Hub. 15 August 1958. p. 8. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  39. ^ "London Is Hollywood Film Veteran Now". Kearney Hub. 12 December 1961. p. 6. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  40. ^ "Canine Star's Pup Can Be Won in City". Austin American-Statesman. 16 April 1960. p. 3. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Paradog Thrills Throng". The Tulsa Tribune. 25 July 1961. p. 2. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  42. ^ Wright, Carl B. (13 March 1963). "Newswriting is dog's life, say three sons of London". Globe-Gazette. p. 30. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  43. ^ Alexander, John (26 July 1967). "Dogs Featured At Fair Are 'Little Gentlemen'". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 1. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  44. ^ Norman, Jerry (21 April 1960). "Rin Tin Tin Move Over, London Can Talk, Type". San Angelo Standard-Times. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  45. ^ "Movie Dog Testifies In Trial". The Memphis Press-Scimitar. 28 February 1961. p. 26. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  46. ^ "Dog Stifles Grown After Jury Defeat". Progress-Bulletin. 3 March 1961. p. 10. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  47. ^ Louks, Bob (22 April 1966). "'Cold nose' for news fails on Citizen newsroom visit". The Ottawa Citizen. p. 17. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  48. ^ Shiels, Bob (28 April 1964). "'Littlest Hobo', Brothers In City; Dogs' Intelligence 'Astounding'". Calgary Herald. p. 24. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  49. ^ MacKenzie, Jim (16 September 1966). "Littlest Hobo Is No Bum!". St. Catharines Standard. p. 9. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  50. ^ "- And it all began in a baseball camp". The Ottawa Journal. 13 October 1971. p. 37. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  51. ^ "TV Topics Mailbox - The News Answers Reader Questions". The Buffalo News. 22 July 1967. p. 42. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  52. ^ "The TV Topics Mailbox". The Buffalo News. 17 February 1968. p. 42. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  53. ^ Dolezal, Jean (10 January 1988). "Repetition is the key to successful dog training". The Times-Mail. p. 46. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  54. ^ Creery, Tim (6 June 1970). "Real-Life Drama For Little Hobos". Calgary Herald. p. 52. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  55. ^ Curtis, Linda (10 July 1974). "Littlest Hobo alive, well". The Calgary Albertan. p. 5. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  56. ^ "'Going to the dogs' pays off for Charles". Edmonton Journal. 16 September 1971. p. 54. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  57. ^ a b Stanley, Doug (19 January 1987). "Dogged training shows results". The Spokesman-Review. p. 15. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  58. ^ Stanley, Doug (9 March 1987). "Trainer says dogs are stars because they really think". Roseburg News-Review. The Columbian. p. 8. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  59. ^ "Educated dogs think, learn". Statesman Journal. 18 January 1987. p. 15. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  60. ^ "Ball players go their way; some to winter here". Tulsa World. 15 September 1946. p. 38. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  61. ^ Charlesworth, Walter (20 July 1955). "NIL Race 'To Dogs'". Omaha World-Herald. p. 19. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  62. ^ "Newsmakers". The Spokesman-Review. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2024.

External links[edit]

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