Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

Reliving the glory days

Remembering the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth World Series Champions


The surviving members of the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth World Series Championship team are recognized at a ceremony at the Cayce Museum Friday, August 16. They include Glenn Culley, Delmar Faust, Stump Gaddy, Russell Dixon, Freddy Stone, Randy Stewart, Neal Cockrell, Jimmy Chavis, Russell Gaddy, Johnny Knotts, and Brian Knotts.

The surviving members of the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth World Series Championship team are recognized at a ceremony at the Cayce Museum Friday, August 16. They include Glenn Culley, Delmar Faust, Stump Gaddy, Russell Dixon, Freddy Stone, Randy Stewart, Neal Cockrell, Jimmy Chavis, Russell Gaddy, Johnny Knotts, and Brian Knotts.

The Cayce Historical Museum held a grand opening ceremony Friday, August 16 for a new exhibit honoring the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth Little League World Series Championship team Friday, August 16.

“We are thankful to the museum for this gift to the community,” Cayce Mayor Elise Partin said during the ceremony. “You don’t have to be around them for long to hear the joy that comes from talking about those memories but also to hear about the teamwork and the pride in Cayce. That’s amazing enough. What’s even more amazing is this year’s Cayce-West Columbia baseball team that went far in the Dixie Youth playoffs kept referencing this upcoming museum exhibit and the team. Not only did this team bring glory to Cayce in 1964, but it also keeps energizing the next generation. This gift from the museum is not only showing where we’ve been but also where we can go.”

Eight surviving members of the team Glenn Culley, Delmar Faust, Neal Cockrell, Stump Gaddy, Freddy Stone, Russell Dixon, Jimmy Chavis, and Randy Stewart were present and spoke to the crowd. Bat boys Brian Knotts, Johnny Knotts, and Russell Gaddy were also present for the ceremony.

Among the artifacts in the exhibit is the 1964 World Series trophy.

Among the artifacts in the exhibit is the 1964 World Series trophy.

Guest speaker Joe Pinner recognized those who were deceased including coaches Harold Knotts and Fritz Steele and players Harold Knotts, Earl Bass, John Coward, Terry Harper, Jimmy Huggins, and Rusty Wright. One surviving member, Tommy Mack, was unable to attend the ceremony.

The 1964 little league team, made up of fifth and sixth graders, finished with a 22-3 record. During the South Carolina State tournament, Cayce had to defeat the team from Union twice. Prior to losing to Cayce, Union had gone undefeated in the tournament. After earning the two wins, Cayce represented South Carolina in the world series in Columbus, Mississippi.

It took the Cayce team nine games to claim the championship, three of those were against a team from Halifax, Virginia. Cayce dropped the first game, before winning the next two. Those two games included a two-hit performance from Harper on the mound and a grand slam by Bass to win the championship 8-2.

The 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth Little League team poses with a picture of the World Series Champions banner.

The 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth Little League team poses with a picture of the World Series Champions banner.

The team received a parade, a trip to the Governor’s Mansion, and an appearance on Pinner’s Mr. Knozit Show.

Those in attendance at Friday’s ceremony got an opportunity to view the exhibit first hand.

Those in attendance at Friday’s ceremony got an opportunity to view the exhibit first hand.

Delmar Faust, Freddy Stone, and Glenn Culley talk about a team picture that is part of the exhibit.

Delmar Faust, Freddy Stone, and Glenn Culley talk about a team picture that is part of the exhibit.

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