Herbert Eugene Plews

Herbert Eugene Plews, a dedicated Montanan and long time resident of Colorado, passed away of natural causes December 12, 2014 at the Frasier Meadows Retirement Community in Boulder, Colorado. He was 86 years old.

Herb was born in Helena Montana on June 14, 1928 to Marie Catherine Ohlandt and Herbert Plews, both of East Helena. He grew up in East Helena, and with encouragement from his father, who pitched for an amateur team, he soon developed a similar passion for baseball. Herb attended Helena High School and played baseball during the summers with local American Legion teams.

After high school, Herb attended the University of Illinois (Urbana–Champaign) where he played baseball with the Illini going on to be team captain his senior year. Herb was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and graduated in 1950 with a degree in physical education. Fresh out of college he signed with the New York Yankees, playing 15 minor league games with the Kansas City Blues, before sustaining a skull fracture from a pitch, that ended the season early and sent him back to Montana. With the outbreak of the Korean War, Herb was drafted and was stationed in Japan at Camp Drake, north-west of Tokyo.

From 1953, after his tour of duty, to 1955 Herb suited up for the Yankee farm clubs once again, playing in Birmingham (AL), Norfolk (VA), and Denver. In early 1956, Herb was traded up to the Washington Senators, and made his major-league debut on April 18 of that year. Herb played more than three exciting seasons of major league ball with the Senators before being traded to the Red Sox in June of 1959, where he played 13 games. Herb finished out his professional baseball career over the next five years playing for several AAA clubs which included stops in Minneapolis (MN), Toronto, (CAN), Birmingham, Honolulu (HI), Tacoma (WA) and Little Rock (AR), and although he would not return to the majors, Herb’s passion and dedication to the sport never waned.

In the off seasons, Herb would return to Montana and work part time at the post office, delivering the mail. In 1955 he married Shirley Mae Williams, also of Helena. As they began their life together, Shirley moved around with Herb during his baseball career and seldom missed a home game.

After retiring from baseball in 1965, Herb and Shirley returned to Helena where their son Reese was born, and Herb worked full time at the local cement plant. They lived in Helena until 1969, when Herb, learned from friend and former Cleveland pitcher Bob Lemon that a new cement plant was being built in Colorado. Remembering his days as a Denver Bear and the beauty of the “front range,” he applied for a job. The family moved to Boulder Colorado in 1969, where he began work at the then Martin Marietta Cement Plant east of Lyons Colorado, where another friend and former Cleveland outfielder Dale Mitchell was plant manager. In 1970 the family moved to Longmont where they made their home for many years. During his post baseball career Herb enjoyed yard work and continued a daily regiment of physical fitness, including jogging, with Shirley following on her bicycle, and playing handball weekly in Boulder at the YMCA or university.

After Herb’s retirement, he and Shirley continued to enjoy their time together, going for walks in the neighborhood, traveling in the USA and Canada, and visiting Japan three times. In 2006 Herb, Shirley and pet turtle Sparky left Longmont and moved to Frasier Meadows. After Shirley’s passing in 2009 Herb was supported by family and the strong community at Frasier Meadows. He visited Japan again for extended holidays with his son’s family, and began building model ships.

During his years after baseball, Herb followed the sport closely, continuing to make many new friends along the way, all with a keen interest in baseball and his career. Up until this death, he enjoyed reading and responding to the numerous fan letters and autograph requests he received. He was so thrilled that people today were learning about and researching baseball from when he played the sport. Herb was a charter member of both the Helena Sports Hall of Fame (2003) and the Helena Senators Baseball Hall of Fame (2014).

Herb is survived by his son Reese, (Kaoru) and grandchildren Nasa and Ami, and pet turtle Sparky, all of Tokyo, Japan.

A memorial service to celebrate Herb’s life will be held at Frasier Meadows’ Phillips Chapel, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder, Colorado on Thursday, March 12, 2015 at 2:00 pm with Chaplain Bob Ritzen officiating. A reception in the Frasier Sky Lounge will follow. Private inurnment will take place at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Longmont Humane Society at 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont, CO 80501 or the Colorado Reptile Humane Society, 13941 Elmore Road, Longmont, CO 80504.