Kirhofer’s Sports, led by its manager Cody Wyeth, won the championship of Boys Baseball of Aurora last summer. It was the second consecutive title for the minor league team which includes 9- and 10-year-olds.
While not Earth-shaking news in the world of sports, it was important for the team members, coaches and parents.
But more than that, it was just the latest chapter in the story of the Wyeth family and its contributions to baseball and to providing positive and constructive life experiences for hundreds of area youngsters.
It began almost 70 years ago when the late Ace Wyeth began coaching in Aurora’s Pony League in 1957. It continued through the decades as Ace’s sons Jay, Jamie and Joel served Aurora’s Boys, Pony and American Legion leagues. And the family’s volunteer service continues to the present day with Ace’s grandson Cody.
With the help of Ace’s sons, I was able to examine the family “coaching tree” and its accomplishments through the decades. The numbers were really amazing in terms of years of service, numbers of players coached, games played and won and numbers of championships won.
Ace Wyeth transitioned to coaching in Legion League, and managed the Home Savings team from 1965 until 1985. His teams won nine championships and finished second four times. He probably coached more than 200 players in his tenure, and his record was 362-106. According to Jay Wyeth, there were many more victories won in games played outside of the league.
Joel Wyeth, who began umpiring in Aurora’s summer leagues in 1985 and has been a Boys Baseball of Aurora board member and umpire assignor since 1987, had special memories of his dad’s baseball years.
“He was always trying to make the players’ experience a special one,” he said. “He created a scrapbook of team highlights every year, and always had an end-of-season banquet to celebrate the players. He truly treated every player like they were his sons.”
Jay Wyeth was first to continue the family tradition when he began to manage the Platt Electric team in Aurora Pony League in 1981. He continued for an amazing 30 years, won 11 championships and had an overall record of 515-133. He also coached more than 200 youngsters during those years.
Jamie Wyeth managed teams in Pony League for 12 years from 1983 to 1994. His teams won four championships and finished second three times. He probably coached between 80-90 players during those years. Jamie followed those years by coaching his own sons for three seasons in the Boys Baseball of Aurora minor league division.
Cody Wyeth is now managing his Boys’ minor league team for an eighth year, and he estimated that his record is about 70 wins in 95 games. He had previously been an assistant coach for four seasons, and has coached about 100 players during those years. Cody has also been the Yorkville High School freshman coach for the past four seasons, and has coached 100 players in his role there.
But lost in all the numbers and in statistics which measure success with wins and championships is the overall positive contribution these men have made to this community.
I began officiating baseball in Aurora’s summer leagues in 1966, and have known the Wyeths both on and off the field during the many years. More than for their unparalleled knowledge of the game, Ace, Jay, Jamie, Joel and Cody have been wonderful leaders just by being who they are.
They have been positive role models and true gentlemen in every respect. I don’t remember that there was ever yelling or screaming, and never bad language. And none of them ever berated a player or an umpire for making a mistake.
I asked the Wyeths to each give a brief summary of his coaching philosophy.
“My main focus was to ensure that my players were better prepared than the other teams, and in making the routine plays most of the time,” Jamie Wyeth said. “I wanted to make the experience fun and provide opportunities for players to develop friendships.”
“I want to help players learn for their sports as well as for life, as we all stop playing sports at some point in life,” added Cody Wyeth. “I would say that I always coach to grow the person, not the player. Development lasts longer than any stats or wins and losses.”
I asked Joel Wyeth to reflect on his role as both the son and father of successful coaches and mentors.
“I am very proud of Cody, and as a manager he reminds me a lot of my dad,” he said. “He is always trying to make the game fun, and he truly cares for each individual.
“One parent told me that Cody ‘had magic’ dealing with the kids, and called Cody ‘the baseball whisperer.’ What he does with his team is really special,” he said.
Tom Strong is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.