An Early Multi-Sport Star, Dodez Remains A Legendary Scot Today

Long before Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders gained notoriety for starring in multiple sports, many young men in the 1920s participated for three teams at the college level.

Wooster had several of these student-athletes, and one who not only competed but excelled in football, basketball, and baseball was Maynard Dodez (pronounced do-DEE), a member of the Class of 1927.

Dodez, known as Min to his friends and teammates, totaled eight varsity letters ´ two in football, three in basketball, and three in baseball ´ and received the second-ever Manges Award given to the top senior student-athlete at the school upon graduation.

In football, Dodez was a regular at right wing and became a favorite receiver of legendary quarterback Pete Blough as a senior, while also playing defensive end. Basketball saw him start three winters at what is now known as the shooting guard position, where he totaled 109 and 150 points in the 1925-26 and 1926-27 seasons, respectively ´ considered very good production in those days.

Despite being a legitimate star in those sports, baseball was by far DodezÂs specialty.

Legendary Scot coach John Swigart, who still ranks third in all-time victories at the school, once said, ÒMin was a born baseball player ?? none better ever played for me.Ó Although no individual statistics are available, Dodez was described in various publications, as being Òeasily the best hitter on the teamÓ all three years and had the ability to Òscoop up a scorching grounder and fire it to first before the batter started on his wayÓ. A defensive stalwart, he was elected captain of WoosterÂs 1927 squad, which posted a record of 11-2, including a 4-3 win over mighty Ohio State.

After his career with the Scots, Dodez got a tryout with Major League BaseballÂs St. Louis Cardinals, and is believed to have spent a season in their farm system. Local historians believe that he would have been able to play at the Triple-A level of minor league baseball today.

Following that stint, he remained active in sports. To go along with his golf and fishing interests, Dodez was part of a Firestone team that participated in the national amateur basketball tournament.

Professionally, Dodez worked several different jobs and moved around, including stints in Dover, Del., and Sharon, Pa., before settling in as a manager at a B.F. Goodrich store in Akron, Ohio.

In 1942, he changed careers and became a foreman for the Eaton Manufacturing Company ´ a maker of steel ´ while making his home in Massillon, Ohio, where he remained until his death.

Personally, he enjoyed spending time with his family at a cottage in Canada. On June 20, 1973, Dodez passed away after suffering a massive stroke, and was survived then by his wife, Mary, and two sons Ramon, a 1952 graduate of Wooster, and Leon.