Calhoun Co. names day after Thomas Cheney - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Calhoun Co. names day after Thomas Cheney

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CALHOUN COUNTY -

Calhoun County has named a day after a major league baseball player who was born there.

County Commissioners declared September 12, 2012 as Thomas Edgar Cheney Day recognize and honor his historic all-time achievement to major league baseball. Calhoun County will now celebrate September 12th as Thomas Edgar Cheney Day. It marks the 50th anniversary of the day the Calhoun County native set the single game major league strike-out record for pitching 21 strikeouts.

"In 1962 when he pitched for the Washington, Senators against the Baltimore Orioles, and nobody ever struck out 21 batters in a baseball game," said Calhoun County Commissioner Chairman Richard West.

As a young boy in Morgan, Cheney was known for his ability as a High School and an All American Legion baseball pitcher.

"He grew up in and around Morgan, GA, on the square, and his brother was Sheriff of this county for 15 or 20 years I guess," said West.

After being traded several times, Cheney became one of the best pitchers in the American League until an elbow injury led to his premature retirement from baseball.

"He had an injury, and elbow injury, when he was fairly young, I guess he must have been 32, 33 and had to retire from baseball, and he came back and lived in Cordele," says West.

West says this proclamation gives the county an opportunity to celebrate a national baseball hero who represented Calhoun County well.

"Well we honor somebody who was born here, grew up here, lived here and is buried here, that is something that we in America, do, to be proud of who we are and who our community is," says  West.

He says there will also be a presentation at Cooperstown in New York at the baseball hall of fame on September 12th, celebrating Calhoun's hometown hero.

Cheney's brother, Charles Cheney was Sheriff of Calhoun County for 15 years. He was killed in a freak accident while clearing land on a bulldozer. A tree limb fell on him and killed him instantly. He was killed during his 16th year as Sheriff in October 1993.

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