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Earl Bartholome

BIRTHPLACE: Valley City, ND

BORN: June 21, 1913

DIED:  January 27, 2002

TEAMS/ASSOCIATIONS: Rochester Mustangs, Cleveland Barons, Minneapolis Millers

 

Bio

Earl Bartholome went on to star at Minneapolis West High School, where he played on three consecutive high school championship teams from 1929-1931.  After a stint with the Flour City amateurs, Bartholome turned pro with the Minneapolis Millers.  From there went to Rochester, of the then International League, for one season before spending the next decade with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons.  It was at Cleveland that his greatest mark on the game was made.  A center, he was a deft stick handler, smart skater, accurate shooter, and expert back checker.  His most outstanding seasons where 1944 and 1945, when he finished sixth and fifth in the AHL scoring race with 67 and 81 points respectively.  During his stay with the Barons the club captured the Calder Cup championship trophy on three occasions.  

Bartholome is the only American born professional to appear in more than 500 games with one team.  An example of his adeptness on ice is this extract from a press account of an early Miller's game. 

"There was a scrimmage beyond the Hibbing blue line when the rookie center, alert to any opportunity, hooked the puck from the mass of players, cleared out and then skated prettily and unmolested toward Turner.  The Hibbing goalie was not ready for the blow and before he could set himself, Bartholome drove the puck into the meshes."  The Minneapolis skater returned to his hometown in 1946 and played four seasons with the Millers before retiring from the professional game.  He continued as an amateur for four more seasons.