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Images: #TBT Gallery looks back at suburban high school baseball

If a high school athlete wanted to play a boys spring sport in the early 1970s, his options were basically narrowed to several choices, one of which is considered America's past time sport of baseball.

Water Polo, lacrosse and boys volleyball didn't exist as IHSA sports and were only beginning as club sports in the spring season during the 1970s. "It's safe to conclude that there were more athletes available to a sport like baseball" said Aaron Gabriel, Daily Herald high school sports editor.

Furthermore there were more two and three sport athletes during the 1970s, many years before players would chose to specialize and focus to play one sport year round.

Bob Frisk, retired Daily Herald high school sports editor, worked over 50 years covering high school sports for the newspaper.

'The 1970s weren't boom years for high school baseball in Herald City. We had better success with baseball athletes in the 1950s, '60s and '80s," Frisk said.

Frisk recalls that Barrington had very good teams in the 1970s coached by Joe Plaskas and Kirby Smith with several 20-plus win seasons. Plaskas won 29 games in 1976 and Smith won 26 in 1978.

One marquee name playing in Herald City in the 1970s was former Cubs manager Mike Quade, a 1975 grad of Prospect who was a three-sports high school star in football (quarterback), basketball (point guard) and baseball (shortstop). "Needless to say he was the Herald's Athlete of the Year," Frisk said.

Larry Monroe, a 1974 Forest View grad, was a first-round pick by the Chicago White Sox. He pitched eight games in 1976 before hurting his arm and never made it back to the big leagues.

Later in the 1970s Buffalo Grove's Mike Marshall was a sixth-round pick of the Dodgers in '78 who finished with a solid 11-year big league career.

Got an idea for a suburban #TBT Gallery? Share your ideas and photos with us at tbt@dailyherald.com. Share your favorite and memorable #TBT photos with us on Instagram using #tbtsuburbs.

Arlington plays Buffalo Grove during boys baseball action, May 1977, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Conant plays Barrington during boys baseball action, May 1972, in Barrington. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Arlington plays Buffalo Grove during boys baseball action, May 1977, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Fenton plays Rolling Meadows during boys baseball action, May 1970, in Bensenville. Daily Herald file photo
Fremd plays Conant during boys baseball action, May 1971, in Hoffman Estates. Daily Herald file photo
Fremd plays Conant during boys baseball action, May 1971, in Hoffman Estates. Daily Herald file photo
Arlington plays Forest View during boys baseball action, May 1972, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Conant plays Barrington during boys baseball action, May 1972, in Barrington. Daily Herald file photo
Conant plays Barrington during boys baseball action, May 1972, in Barrington. Daily Herald file photo
Conant plays Barrington during boys baseball action, May 1972, in Barrington. Daily Herald file photo
Arlington plays Buffalo Grove during boys baseball action, May 1977, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Fremd plays Conant during boys baseball action, May 1971, in Hoffman Estates. Daily Herald file photo
Hersey plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1973, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Hersey plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1973, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Hersey plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1973, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Hersey plays Wheeling during boys baseball action, May 1971, in Wheeling. Daily Herald file photo
Elgin plays American Legion Baseball in 1970. Daily Herald file photo
Prospect plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1971, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Prospect plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1971, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
Prospect plays Forest View during boys baseball action, April 1971, in Arlington Heights. Daily Herald file photo
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