Metheny, Arthur A Guide to the Arthur "Bud" Metheny Papers RG 2-8B1

A Guide to the Arthur "Bud" Metheny Papers RG 2-8B1


[logo]

ODU University Archives

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Telephone: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

Lou Sundberg

Repository
ODU University Archives
Identification
RG 2-8B1
Title
Arthur "Bud" Metheny Papers 1930-1991, undated Date acquired: 12/11/1979
URL:
https://archivesguides.lib.odu.edu/repositories/3/resources/301
Quantity
3.40 Linear Feet
Quantity
9 Hollinger document cases boxes
Creator
Metheny, Arthur Beauregard "Bud" (1915-2003)
Language
English
Abstract
Coach Metheny was the head baseball coach from 1948-1980 and head basketball coach from 1948-1965. He was also the Athletic Director at Old Dominion from 1963-1970.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restrictions.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Arthur "Bud" Metheny Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Arthur "Bud" Metheny

Method of Acquisition

Gift. Accession #A79-57

Accruals and Additions

An addition to the collection, Accession #2015-47, was added by Carrol Hudson on 8/4/2015.


Biographical or Historical Information

Arthur Beauregard "Bud" Metheny was born July 1, 1915 in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Frances Davis of Norfolk on February 14, 1942. They had two children, Eileen and John. Metheny and his wife of 61 years, both passed away on January 2, 2003.

Metheny was a pitcher for his junior high school and American Legion teams. His father, a railroad worker, moved his family to Calverton, Virginia where Metheny attended Calverton High School. Upon graduation at 17, his mother signed a professional baseball contract for him with the New York Yankees organization. Metheny attended the College of William and Mary on a New York Yankees' scholarship where he played ball for four years. He graduated in 1940 with a B.A. in biology and physical education and in 1952, received his Masters in physical education.

After college, Metheny played minor league ball, switching from the pitchers mound to the outfield. He played for Norfolk and Kansas City, winning the pennant with both teams and Newark when the team won the Little World Series. He was called to the big leagues in 1943 and made his debut with the New York Yankees on April 27, 1943. That same year, the New York Yankees won the World Series. Metheny was the last player to wear the number 3 (Babe Ruth's number) before it was retired. In 1946, Metheny's contract was sold to the Boston Red Sox and he went back to the minors.

Metheny launched his managerial career in 1948 with the Boston Red Sox Class "D" team in Baxley, Georgia. He received a call from Joseph "Scrap" Chandler, then Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary Athletic Director, offering Metheny the head coach position. Metheny accepted the position, which began his 32-year career at Old Dominion. Metheny continued to play minor league Class "B" ball in 1949-50 for the Portsmouth team and managed the Newport News team in 1950.

Metheny was the head baseball coach from 1948-1980 and head basketball coach from 1948-1965. He was also the Athletic Director at Old Dominion from 1963-1970. In the 1950s, Old Dominion competed in the "mythical" Little Eight Conference, which was composed of Virginia colleges. In 1962, the college joined the Mason-Dixon Conference, continuing to compete in Division II until 1976, at which time the university moved into Division I and joined the Southern Division of the Eastern College Athletic Conference.

During Metheny's tenure as head baseball coach, his teams had winning seasons in twenty-seven out of thirty-two years with a record of 423-363-6. Included among those victories were two NCAA Eastern Regional Championships, eight Little Eight Conference Championships and four Mason-Dixon Conference Championships. Metheny was honored by the NCAA as the Eastern Regional Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1964. He was also chosen as the NCAA National Coach of the Year for 1964. As head basketball coach, Metheny compiled a 198-163 record and posted sixteen winning seasons.

In 1984, Old Dominion honored Metheny by adopting a New York Yankee style uniform with blue pinstripes. Old Dominion's baseball stadium also bears his name. Metheny was inducted into the College Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in January 1983 in Dallas, Texas. He is a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the William and Mary Hall of Fame, the Old Dominion University Hall of Fame, and the Tidewater Baseball Hall of Fame.

June 1, 1915 Birth in St. Louis, Missouri

1932 Graduated from Calverton High School in Calverton, Virginia

1932-36 Minor League Baseball Player

1936-40 College of William and Mary

1940-43 Minor League Baseball Player

1943-46 Outfielder for the New York Yankees

1946-48 Minor League Baseball Player and Manager

1948-80 Old Dominion Head Baseball Coach

1948-65 Old Dominion Head Basketball Coach

1963-70 Old Dominion Athletic Director

1980-2003 Retirement in Virginia Beach, Virginia

January 2, 2003 Death in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Note written by Lou Sundberg

Scope and Contents

This collection consists mainly of baseball and basketball score books, individual and team statistics, team rosters, brochures, newspaper clippings, and photographs collected by Arthur "Bud" Metheny while head coach of the baseball and men's basketball teams as well as athletic director at Old Dominion. There is also material on the 1965 NATO Games.

Part I and Part II of an oral history describing Metheny's time at the Norfolk Division of William and Mary and Old Dominion can be found in the ODU Libraries Digital Collections.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into four series: Series I: Basketball; Series II: Baseball; Series III: Sporting Events; Series IV: Photographs.

Subjects and Indexing Terms


Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Back to Top

Container List

Series I
Series I: Basketball
1963-1985
Scope and Contents

This series contains Old Dominion's basketball records from 1964-1985. The information includes score books, team rosters, brochures, NCAA standings, and assorted newspaper clippings.

Back to Top
Series II
Series II: Baseball
1951-1991, undated
Scope and Contents

This series contains Old Dominion's baseball records from 1951 through 1991. The material includes team and individual statistics, score books, and student papers on the history of Old Dominion baseball.

Back to Top
Series III
Series III: Sporting Events
1964-1965
Scope and Contents

This series contains Arthur Metheny's records on the 1964 Tidewater Games and the 1965 NATO Games. The information contains correspondence, rosters, and newspaper clippings. Material is arranged chronologically.

Back to Top
Series IV
Series IV: Photographs
1930-1990
Scope and Contents

This series consists of two bound books of basketball team photographs. Material is arranged chronologically.

Back to Top