Warren’s own Tom Tellmann made his major league debut on June 9, 1979, for the San Diego Padres. He was a closing pitcher for their minor league team in Hawaii when he got the call up to replace a teammate who was going on the DL. Starting pitcher Eric Rasmussen was hit by a line drive in the first inning and Tellmann got the call in the bullpen to relieve him.

He went three innings that day and gave up five earned runs, including a home run by Ted Simmons, who would go on to become Tellmann’s teammate for the Milwaukee Brewers four years later. After he left the game, he laid down on the trainers table and cried, believing he blew his opportunity and would never get back to the majors.

A year later, he did indeed make it back, and this time as a starter. In that first start, he threw a complete game, gave up zero earned runs and had an RBI single to beat the legendary Phil Neikro of the Atlanta Braves, 3-1.

People often use the expression “it’s a small world” and that was the case at that particular game. Tom Tortellot, a teacher at Warren High School when Tellmann went there, was at that game and caught the first foul ball of the game. He made a diving catch to secure the ball and received an ovation from the crowd. Tortellot waited outside the gate after the game to let Tellmann know it was him who caught the ball.

Tom Tellman is pictured during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Tellmann’s greatest moment came in the first ABC Monday Night Baseball game of the season in 1983, which had legends Howard Cosell and Al Michaels calling the game.

“Since it was a nationally televised game, I knew my parents would be watching and they hadn’t seen me play since high school in 1971, 12 years earlier,” Tellmann recalled.

The Brewers were up 9-7 after eight innings versus the California Angels.

“I went into the locker room, which was empty. The night was only in the 40s and I hadn’t broken a sweat. I got on my knees in front of my locker and prayed that I would not lose the game with my parents watching”

Tellmann went out for the ninth inning to face the top of California’s lineup. Hall of Famer Rod Carew led off the inning and Tellmann struck him out.

“There was no celebrating when I played and after Carew swung and missed, I made a small hop and clapped my hands together before I landed. When I realized what I had done, I said to myself ‘I hope no one saw that.'” Tellmann recollected.

Former Baltimore Orioles manager and then ABC color commentator Earl Weaver saw it and remarked, “There’s a happy man.”

While in Milwaukee, Tellmann had the opportunity to have Thanksgiving dinner with the great Bob Uecker, who was an announcer with the Brewers. You may know Uecker from his work on the television show Mr Belvedere, or his popular Miller Lite commercials, or from the classic baseball movie “Major League.”

When asked what his favorite ballpark was, Tellmann replied “County Stadium in Milwaukee. It was a very fair ballpark. During my two years in Milwaukee, I was 8 and 0 at County Stadium and only gave up three home runs there.”

I asked Tellmann what he thought about recent changes to the game, designed to speed up the game and bring in new fans.

“The game has evolved to the point that I can’t watch it anymore,” Tellmann said. “The introduction of the rule changes literally ruined the game.”

My final question was about Paul Skenes and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I had back surgery in January of ’86 and was recuperating at home, watching a Cubs game on TV. I saw this rookie named Greg Maddox pitch and literally said to myself, ‘This kid, barring injury, is going to be exceptional.’ A couple of years ago, I watched an inning of a Pirates game and saw Paul Skenes and had the exact same reaction.”

“The problem is that the Pirates are a small market team with a diminutive market share, unlike the Yankees and Dodgers. Everyone will be disappointed when the Pirates are unable to keep him when his contract runs out. They just don’t have the revenue base to resign him.”

Tellmann moved back to Warren when his parents became ill in 1995. He coached the high school program for three seasons, with the 1997 Dragon squad going 17-4. He ran a baseball school in Falconer where he put 45 area players in college. The summer of 2024, he was the pitching coach of the Jamestown Tarp Skunks, which he described as a “great experience.”

As baseball season moves into high gear and Little League season starts, Warren County’s next Tom Tellmann may step onto the field for the first time. It’s the season of hope when all things and fairy tale stories like this are possible.

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