Cobden- 60 Years Later

Anyone who is an Illinois basketball fan has heard of the 1964 Cobden Appleknockers. And certainly anyone who considers themselves a Galesburg Silver Streaks fan regrets they have heard of Cobden. The Streaks led tiny Cobden in the Elite 8 game with only minutes to go, only to lose to the Appleknockers. Cobden went onto lose to Pekin in the State Championship game 50-45. 

I had an opportunity during the Thanksgiving holidays to go drive around Cobden one afternoon, and then to go back to watch Cobden play in their own Thanksgiving Tourney. I was 12 years old when Galesburg and Cobden played, I was curious to see what Cobden was like 60 years later. 

Cobden- The Town

Cobden in 1960 had a population of 918. In the 2020 census, Cobden had 1074. Despite these numbers, on the population sign they list 1200. 

Running down the middle of Cobden is one set of railroad tracks. There is no train station or passenger service today. In 1964, the basketball loaded up and took the train to Champaign for the State Tourney. 

On each side of the tracks are in effect, two main streets. On one side, there is a bar and a gas station with convenience store. If I were actually a professional writer, I would have gone in the bar and had a few beers to talk to the locals. On the other side of the tracks is the post office, a couple of stores that may have been antiques or thrift type stores, then an auto repair and supply store. And right next to the tracks was a basketball full court. 

Cobden- The Economy

Cobden’s main employers are orchards, Rendleman’s Orchard in Alta Pass, just south of Cobden. (Alta Pass students go to Cobden.) Then the Flamm Orchard outside Cobden. Cobden’s population is 51% Hispanic and 49% white. By my count, there are 16 wineries within 10 miles of Cobden. Again, a professional journalism would still be in Cobden drinking wine. I can picture Tom Loewy sitting at a winery, getting the inside story!

Cobden- The School

In 1960, there were 147 students in Cobden HS. Today, there are 173 students in Cobden HS. 

Cobden has a beautiful JR/SR High School, and tremendous outdoor facilities. I am not sure when the HS was built but my guess, the last 10 years. Their baseball filed is good as any HS had.

They opened their new gym just last December. Two Cobden fans that I talked to said that they had hoped to refurbish the original gym that the 1964 team played their game in. Unfortunately, the State of Illinois produced too many hoops to jump thru so that they had to build a new gym. 

Cobden- The Gym

Walking into their gym, I was overwhelmed by the gym and the memorabilia. I made friends with the person collecting money at the door. She was a GREAT woman, she told me it was $5, even though they had $3 for senior ticket.  I told her she had made me so happy thinking that I was not a senior.

She also sold Cobden shirts, sweatshirts, socks and caps. It took me about 15 minutes going thru the gear. I got myself a couple Xmas presents, which I have already wrapped with the tag- “To Evan, From Santa.” And I got my brother a t-shirt. 

They had a wall wrap around the top of the wall and headed down a hallway. It had pictures of great teams- basketball, girls basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball. There were action pictures of Galesburg vs Cobden.

There is a spot in the middle where they have the 1964 trophy, the team picture, and the plaque from the IBCA HOF. They have 7 trophies from State competition. Softball has won 3 State Championships, while baseball has taken first and second. 

I felt like I was in a basketball museum. The only school that I have seen do a better job of displaying their history is Sterling HS. 

Cobden- The Appleknockers

According to the sign in the gym, originally the nickname the Appleknockers was not picked by Cobden. They say it was opposing teams who called them the Appleknockers as kind of put down. The attention the nickname drew in 1964 and the pride the community has in the agriculture workers caused the nickname to stick. 

Cobden- Basketball History

Since 1964, Cobden did not win another basketball Regional until in 2020 with Coach Wendell Wheeler. That is the only Regional title that Cobden has won in the last 60 years. Wheeler is in the IBCA HOF with over 400 wins. He coached at Cobden only four years, they were the last four of his 26 year career. He is the only coach in the last 60 years to finish his Cobden career with a winning record. 

A unique thing is that they have a “State Championship Trophy” for 2021. As you may remember, 2021 was the COVID year. Cobden finished 18-0 and ranked #1 in the AP poll. They have a trophy to commemorate that season. The trophy looks identical to an IHSA trophy except with no IHSA logo. 

Cobden- The Introductions

I decided to film the introductions, thinking maybe the “Hoosiers-like atmosphere” would be cool. It turned out to be the best part of the night. I had my camera focused on the huddle and all of sudden I heard a chanting. I turned the camera, and there was a man in bib overalls and a straw hat chanting somehing. He would pause and the entire crowd (my guess about 600 in a gym that held 1000) chanted,”Oooo, aaah.” Then he repeated and they repeated. This went on for about 60 seconds. Finally, it finished. 

Once the game started, I went up to the top of the bleachers and talked to this man. If I got it correct, his name is Mitch Alsit. He explained the tradition. Years ago a man by the name of Danny Balance started the routine as the “Appleknocker man.” Balance came up the routine. 

It starts out with kind of a musical melody of “Mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty Applenknockers.” He gave a sample of it, it was definitely a song with “mighty”repeated five times, followed by “Appleknockers.” The crowd then does the “oooo, aaah.” After he repeats that 5-6 times, he finishes with, “Appleknocker pride.” At that point the crowd screams, “Get some!”

Mitch said he started doing this with the 2015 State baseball champs. He was at the championship game and they were struggling. For whatever reason, when they came in from the field one inning, he struck up the routine. The crowd responded, and the baseball team scored 5-6 runs and won State. Mitch has been doing it since. 

Cobden- This Year’s Team

The night I was there, Cobden moved to 4-0. They have quick guards, and a couple big post players who know their way around the basket. Coach Karl Sweitzer has a nice team that was fun to watch. It was a great atmosphere with people with a lot of pride. 

Cobden- The Appleknocker Man

When I was getting ready to leave. I said to Mitch Alsit that I really enjoyed my night in Cobden. His reply, “Go home and tell people you met the Appleknocker Man.” 

Quincy and your Devil- move over. The best pre-game tradition in Illinois is “The Appleknocker Man” in Cobden.