One of the most important awards given out at the Little League World Series each year is the Jack Losch Team Sportsmanship Award.
The 20 participating teams vote on it, as well as the team hosts, volunteers, members of the media, and the Little League staff, the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award recognizes the team that exemplifies a tremendous amount of sportsmanship both on and off the field, including the team’s time in the dormitories, dining hall, and interview room as well as their performance on the field. It is a real mark of respect to the team that wins it. But who was Jack Losch?
Jack was an accomplished local multi-sport athlete. He achieved his first athletic prominence as a member of the 1947 Maynard Midgets Little League team. The team won the first Little League World Series in 1947. In the championship against Lock Haven, he had two hits.
Losch was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Williamsport High School, graduating in 1952 and earning a place on the University of Miami Hurricanes football team, where he starred in three sports. He was named to that school’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1987.
He played for three seasons (1953-1955) as the team’s starting halfback and defensive back. The highlight of his Miami career is that he holds records for the longest run from scrimmage, 90 yards vs. Bucknell in 1955, and the rushing average per carry, 9.06 in 1955, both of which still rank among the top in Hurricane history. He was UM’s top sprinter for three years in track and played catcher for the Canes baseball team.
It was this record of excellence that caught the eyes of Packers scouts who drafted him as the eighth player taken in the First Round of the 1956 NFL Draft. Future legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr was not picked until the 17th Round.
In addition to Starr, Losch was picked ahead of future NFL Hall of Famers and standouts such as Lenny Moore, Forrest Gregg, Sam Huff, Jim Katkavage, Don Chandler, J.C. Caroline, Fuzzy Thurston, and Willie Davis.
Losch played for Green Bay for only one season, 1957, appearing in 12 games while rushing for 43 yards (2.3 yards per carry) and making 7 receptions.
In April 1957, Losch joined the United States Air Force, where he spent three years as a jet pilot. He did not resume his NFL career due to an injury, which I believe may have involved his kidney. He worked for 37 years at General Motors Corporation, retiring in 1996 as Director of Fleet Services.
He died May 27, 2004, at the age of 69. The award that bears his name was established that same year.
I knew Losch slightly. He graduated from high school with my dad. They were both very active on their high school class reunion committee. I served with him briefly on the board of directors of the West Branch Sports Hall of Fame, where he had previously been enshrined. Jack is one of the athletes who is honored on Williamsport’s Athletic Walk of Fame. I always found him to be a very interesting, enjoyable, and purposeful man. I believe that the award that bears his name is well named.
