Doc Blaisdell Has Contributed Services To Raider Football Teams for 23 Years

The quiet little man whose humanitarian instincts far exceed his desire for financial gain from his profession, has watched Jamestown High School teams come and go for 23 years.

Outside of the war years when he was in the service you can count the number of games he’s missed on the fingers of one hand.

Always perched on the Raider bench, satchel at his feet, he’s usually the first one out there when a player fails to get up.

Dr. Harold A. Blaisdell is no longer a “good fan” to the Raiders. He’s an institution.

“I’ve had some great thrills watching these boys for more than two decades – I feel I have remained younger doing it, glorying in their victories and sharing the despair of their defeats.”

How did it start?

“Well, years ago some of the boys started coming to my office with their injuries. Then I started going to their football games. I’ve being going ever since.”

Simple, just like that.

Only One Serious Injury

Doc has been around so long most of the boys take him for granted. Few realize there are not a half dozen high schools in the nation boasting a practicing physician as their guardian angel.

“I’ve always been plagued with a deep seated fear one of the boys would be seriously injured and no one would be there to give him the proper preliminary treatment,” Doc explained further.

His fear, in that respect, has never been realized. Back some years ago Harold Corcoran threw his leg out of joint. That was the most serious injury to a Raider during the quarter of a century Doc has watched them perform.

Few football players get seriously injured. Most of the time it’s a case of having their wind knocked out. We let them relax, give them a shot of smelling salts, perhaps take them out for a time. But I always want to be around, just in case.”

Helps “Enemy” Too

Sitting quietly and watching his beloved Raiders isn’t Doc’s only contribution to Jamestown High School football. He shows up more than an hour before game time. There are ankles to wrap, workout bruises to examine – details by the hundreds. Once the game is over Doc heads for the shower rooms. Players are checked minutely. Even the mildest injuries are examined. Many are treated on the spot. If necessary, they are removed to Doc’s offices or the hospital. The same procedure is followed at halftime.

Jamestown opponents, too, have felt and appreciated Doc’s expert care. Three times he has left JHS games to rush injured visiting players to the hospital. Once the “foe” goes down and doesn’t get up Doc snatches his little black bag and sprints out on his mission of mercy.

They’re all Doc’s “boys” regardless of which side of the scrimmage they line up on.

But don’t try to discuss great teams and great players of the past with the soft spoken little man. He refuses to “get out on a limb.”

He admits such boys as Roger Olson of the current raiders, Rocky Malpede, George Jackson, the fine Negro ace; Howie Wiquist, now director of athletics in Jamestown schools; and Sam Hammerstrom are among the finest ever turned out under the Red and Green banner.

Fast Connections

Sometimes Doc has a close call. A few years ago, for instance, he was in Cleveland. JHS was playing in Meadville. Doc grabbed a train to Youngsville, managed to catch a bus for Meadville, then taxied to the football field, arriving just as the opening kick went downfield.

Several times he flew to games during the years he held a private pilot’s license. Once he offered to take the entire team up for a ride if they would show up at the airport. They were all there right on the dot and each got his ride.

“One fellow,” Doc laughed, “froze to the throttle and I had to cut the motor and do a dead stick landing. Who was he? Well, I guess I better not tell because he is a well-known Jamestown resident now.”

Doc thinks Jamestown has been fortunate in having two great character building coaches.

“We haven’t turned out the greatest high school teams in the country, but I know many boys who were starting to veer off the straight and narrow. They straightened out under Denton Moon, a great character builder. Sam Hammerstrom has picked up right where Dent left off.”

Doc thinks Jamestown will win tonight. But win or lose, the little man with the black bag will be on hand ready to minister to the battle bruised of either side.