Walt Bubien
Walt Bubien
WALTER JOHN BUBIEN was born in Camden, New Jersey on January 9, 1925 to John and Anna Bubien. The family, which included younger brother Richard and half-brother Edward Giedryc, lived at 1219 Mount Ephraim Avenue when the Census was taken in 1930. The family later moved to 1263 Atlantic Avenue.
Walt Bubien attended Camden High School, where he lettered in three sports: football, baseball, and basketball. He also played baseball for the Polish American Citizens Club. He was a member of the 1942 Camden High School team coached by Billy Palese that outscored its opponents 220 to 8, including a 9-6 win over New Brunswick for bragging rights as to the State Championship, as no official title was then in place.
After high school both he and teammate George Savitsky went on to the University of Pennsylvania playing under coach George Munger. George Savitsky went on to become a four-time All-American tackle, the only college football player of the 20th Century to be named All-American in all four years of eligibility, and likely to be the last to ever hold that distinction. Walt Bubien played football and was the captain of the baseball team at Penn, where he was a pitcher.
With the war on, Walt Bubien went into the Navy. He returned to Camden after the war and after making a good impression during spring training with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1946 he played minor-league baseball in the A’s farm system for a year, first for the Lexington A’s of the Class D North Carolina State League, and then with the Class A Savannah Indians of the South Atlantic League.
Walter J. Bubien completed his education at the University of Pennsylvania as a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Walt Bubien and family moved to Needham, Massachusetts where they stayed for four years before returning to New Jersey, settling in East Brunswick. Before retiring, he was employed in Corporate Compensation for Johnson & Johnson in New Brunswick.
Mr. Bubien was a founder of the East Brunswick Chess League and played golf on the Seniors Team at Tamarack Golf Course.
Walter J. Bubien, Sr. died Thursday, October 2, 2008 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. He was predeceased by his wife, Theresa (Taraser) Bubien who died in 2000, and his two brothers, Richard Bubien and Edward Giedryc. He is survived by his three daughters, Theresa L. and her husband, Thomas Nichols, Susan Thomas, and Joan L. Bubien, his son Walter Burien, 10 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.
Family Photos
1933 — The Bubien Family: Walter, Anna, John, Richard, Eddie
1942 — Senior Prom at Camden High School. Walter and his soon-to-be wife, Theresa.
Polish Outslugs Robins for Third Straight Aaron League Victory
Camden Courier-Post —
MATERA LEADS BARRAGE AS MATES WIN BY 10-7
Raps Triple and Pair of Singles in 12-Hit Attack; Winners Start Fast
GREENY GOES ROUTE
After a slam-bang battle, Polish-American C. C. outlasted the Camden Robins 10-7, to retain its undefeated stride in the Aaron Twilight League last night at Broadway and Everett.
It was victory No. 3 for the Whitman Park clubbers, first-half champions, and enabled them to join Victor with the highest number of games won. Incidentally, it was the first defeat for the Robins and left Victor and Polish as the only unbeaten nines.
Polish Scores Early
Polish got off to a fast start by crowding over three runs in the first and four in the second. Three more were added in the fifth frame of the seven-inning conflict. Walt Greeny, who went the full route for the winner, was reached for nine blows. The Robins scored once in the second, followed by two in the third and four in the sixth.
Big John Banks and Golden Sunket were on the firing line for the Negro representatives and were found for an even dozen base knocks.
The winners started pounding the ball in the first frame. A double by Bill Narlesky ignited the fuse. Wally Bubien walked and Jesse Kozieja cracked a single to admit Narlesky. Joe Matera singled to center, permitting Bubien to cross the payoff station. Matera went to second as Kozieja was out trying to make third, Sunket to Webster. Matera stole third and came all the way home when Faulks’ throw sailed into left field.
Matera Gets Timely Triple
A single by Greeny sparked the second inning uprising. He was forced at second by John Bugowski. Narlesky singled and Bubien drew a free ticket to load the hassocks. Kozieja singled to right, scoring Bugowski and Narlesky. Matera then delivered a long triple to counter both Bubien and Kozieja.
In the three-run fifth, Matera continued his hitting spree with a line single. Joe Jaworski also smote a blow of the same variety. Both registered on Pawella’s two-bagger and the latter moved around to home on Bugowski’s single.
The Robins’ six tallies happened when Walt Nowak and Narlesky fumbled grounders by Bill Moore and Miller, respectively. Oliver Fullard walked and “Sonny” Collins unleashed a single to score Moore and Miller. Banks added a safety to allow both Fullard and Collins to dent the platter.
Matera, with a triple and two singles, paced Polish’s attack. Narlesky also helped with a brace of hits. Amos Webster, Moore, Collins and Banks each came through with a pair of base knocks, all of which were of the one-base variety with the exception of a double by Webster.
In Hitting Mood
Camden Courier-Post —
JOE MATERA — Ex-Camden High baseball and football star, cracked out a triple and two singles last night as Polish-American C. C. won its third straight Aaron League game at the expense of the Camden Robins. The score was 10-7. Joe’s three-bagger came with two mates aboard.
Polish A.C.C. Routs Campbell's, 13-0, to Retain Aaron League Sunberth
Camden Courier-Post —
‘SOUPMEN’ HELD TO ONE WALLOP BY BIEGALSKI
The Polish American Citizens Club took undisputed possession of first place in the Aaron Twilight League by shellacking Campbell’s Soup, 13 to 0 at Broadway and Everett streets in one of three games played last night.
Victor was ousted from first place when the Collegians scored a 6 to 1 victory at State street and River road, while Defiance A.C. won its first of the final half in defeating Twelfth Ward, 7 to 4.
John Biegalski was far too tough for the “Soupmen” last night, allowing only a single hit that coming in the sixth inning when Al Scharnagl laced a single into left field. Biegalski fanned six and walked three and was also given fine support by his teammates.
On the other hand the Polish crew slapped the offerings of Al Ushka and the veteran Harry Watson for 16 bingles. Ushka gave up 13 hits and 11 runs. Bill Narlesky, Stan Kozieja and Stan Pawella each collected three hits apiece. The Polish crew, in winning its fourth straight, scored 11 of its runs in the first four innings.
Collegians Rally to Win
The Collegians, trailing 1-0, pulled the game out of the fire with a six-run spunge in the fifth inning, chasing Gorski from the hill and also taking their cuts against Connie Nicholson.
The Collegians socked the two Victor hurlers for seven timely bingles but were aided considerably in their scoring by six miscues. Joe DeLuca led the attack for the Collegians with four for five. Jim Stubbs worked on the hill for the Collegians and limited Victor to seven scattered blows with Al Litwa, Tom McLaughlin and Harry Thuerer sharing the honors with two hits apiece.
Camden Courier-Post, July 24, 1941 — continuation
Camden Courier-Post, July 24, 1941 — box scores
Polish-American Scores Sixth Straight Victory in Aaron League
Camden Courier-Post —
BLANKS TWELFTH WARD AS GREENY STARS, 3-0
Three close, well-played games resulted in the Aaron Twilight League competition last night. Polish-American C. C. blanked Twelfth Ward, 3-0, at Broadway and Everett street, St. Joan upset Victor A. A., 1-0, at Camden High field, and Defiance nipped the Collegians, 4-5, at Thirty-fifth street and Farragut avenue.
Walt Greeny, elongated hurler, pitched the Polish to their sixth straight victory to keep their record unblemished. Only six hits were chalked up against Walt.
Johnny Phillips was on the mound for the Loeblemen and was nudged for 10 base knocks.
Greeny also led his team in the hitting with a double and two singles in three trips to the plate for 1.000 average. Davis and Tozar with a pair of hits each led the losers.
Bubien Clutch Hitter
The Whitman Park aggregation manufactured two markers in the second inning when Kozieja opened with a triple to right and after Nowak fanned scored on a single by Bubien. Bubien stole second and tallied on Jaworski’s one-base crack to center.
In the third Narlesky singled to left, Matera poked another to center, Narlesky holding up at second, and after Kozieja whiffed, Nowak grounded out, advancing both runners. Bubien beat out an infield smash to score Narlesky.
The loss dropped the “Warders” to fourth place.
Camden Courier-Post, July 30, 1941 — box scores
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942
Walt Bubien — Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — Click to enlarge
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — page 18
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — page 19
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — page 20
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — page 21
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook, June 1942 — page 96
Service Dept.
Lawrence, Kansas Journal-World —
Buckley Field, Colo., boxers recently tried out a G.I. version of Col. Russ Newland’s round ring and reported “a noticeable speeding up of the action.” … In 16 appearances as pinch hitter for the Bainbridge, Md., navy team, Walt Bubien, former Penn baseball captain and football end, hit safely ten times, drove in ten runs and scored eight. … Elbie Fletcher now is tutoring him on first base play. … Lt. Doyle Nave, whose pass gave Southern California a 7-3 victory over Duke in the 1939 Rose Bowl game, recently encountered Lt. Dan Hill, center on the Duke team, somewhere in the South Pacific. Hill, athletic and gunnery officer aboard an airplane carrier, had brought a boxing team to meet the boys on Nave’s carrier. The result was the same as in 1939—Hill’s boys won the first fight and then dropped six.
Bubien Another “Gehrig”
Trenton Evening Times —
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — (INS) — Al Simmons, Athletics’ coach, describes young rookie First Baseman Walt Bubien as a “second Lou Gehrig.”
Bubien, a University of Pennsylvania product fresh out of the navy, has shown considerable batting and fielding finesse in his first crack at the majors.
Walt Bubien's Minor League Baseball Record
| Year | Team | League | Lev | Aff | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BA | SLG | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Lexington A’s | NCSL | D | PHA | 28 | 90 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 0 | .244 | .322 | 29 |
| 1946 | Savannah Indians | SALL | A | PHA | 29 | 51 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .137 | .176 | 9 |
| 1 Season | 57 | 141 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | .206 | .270 | 38 | ||||
Photos
1955 — Walter & Theresa Bubien in front of their home off Mt. Ephraim Avenue