Lonnie Warneke, nicknamed "The Arkansas Hummingbird," was a Major League Baseball pitcher whose journey took him from rural Arkansas to a standout career in the big leagues.
Born March 28, 1909, in Owley, Montgomery County, he was the fourth of five children to Louis "Luke" Warneke and Martha Belle Scott Warneke. His parents’ influence and their deep Arkansas roots were central to his life and kept him grounded throughout his rise to fame.
Luke Warneke, Lonnie’s father, was a towering figure at 6-foot-6, born in 1872 in Arkansas to German immigrant parents who had settled in the region after arriving from Saxony in the mid-19th century. A farmer by trade, Luke homesteaded 160 acres in Montgomery County, cultivating the land with a no-nonsense work ethic that he passed down to his children.
Known for his physical strength and practical nature, he also introduced Lonnie to baseball by playing catch and encouraging his early interest in the game.
Martha Belle Scott Warneke, Lonnie’s mother, was born in 1875 in Arkansas, descending from Scots-Irish settlers who had moved into the area generations earlier. She married Luke in 1896, and together they raised their family in the rugged Ouachita Mountain foothills.
Martha managed the home and five children—Ollie, Kate, Virgil, Lonnie, and Fred—while Luke worked the fields. Known for her resilience and resourcefulness, she instilled in Lonnie a love for the outdoors, often taking him along on walks to gather herbs or tend to chores
She lived to see Lonnie’s early baseball success before her death in 1940, followed by Luke in 1944.
Growing up, Lonnie hunted and fished with relatives, building strong family bonds. He attended school in Owley through ninth grade, then moved to Mount Ida High School.
There, his baseball career began—starting at first base in 1926 before stepping onto the mound in 1927 during an emergency against a Graysonia team, where his pitching talent emerged.
After high school, Lonnie moved to Houston to live with his sister Kate and her husband, Buck Weaver, to pursue baseball. He stayed tied to his family, visiting often.
In 1933, he married Erma Charlyne Shannon from Montgomery County, reinforcing his family foundation in the area. Charlyne was a school teacher in Norman, Arkansas, when she married Warneke. The couple meet at a football game in Norman. Three days after their nuptials, a photo ran in the Milwaukee Journal on Feb. 15, 1933. The couple was honeymooning in Hot Springs/
Warneke’s professional career kicked off with the Chicago Cubs in 1930, after a strong minor league run with the Class D Alexandria Reds (12-2 in 1928) and the Houston Buffaloes (17-10, 3.00 ERA in 1929).
He debuted in relief on April 18, 1930, against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing three runs in two innings. His first start came on April 29, 1931, earning a win against the Reds. In 1932, he went 22-6 with a 2.37 ERA, leading the NL in wins, ERA, and shutouts (four), finishing second in MVP voting and pitching in the World Series.
Traded to the Cardinals in 1936, he earned three straight All-Star nods (1939-41) and threw a no-hitter against the Reds on August 30, 1941. Over 15 seasons, he compiled a 192-121 record, a 3.18 ERA, 1,140 strikeouts, and 445 walks in 2,782⅔ innings, appearing in five All-Star Games and two World Series.
World War II briefly disrupted his career—he enlisted in the Navy in 1942 but was discharged due to ulcers, returning to pitch until retiring in 1945.
After hanging up his cleats, Warneke returned to Arkansas, settling in Hot Springs with his wife Charlyne and their two children, Charles Lewis (born 1936) and Lonnie Patricia (born 1938).
His post-baseball career took an unexpected turn when he transitioned into umpiring. From 1949 to 1955, he worked as a National League umpire, bringing his deep knowledge of the game to the other side of the diamond.
He officiated 914 regular-season games, earning respect for his fairness and sharp eye--skills honed from years on the mound. His umpiring stint included working the 1952 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, a rain-shortened affair, marking a rare instance of an ex-player calling the shots at such a level.
In 1956, Warneke stepped away from baseball entirely but remained active in his community. He briefly ran a sporting goods store in Hot Springs, catering to local athletes and outdoorsmen, a nod to his lifelong love of hunting and fishing.
By 1963, he entered public service, winning election as Garland County Judge. He served two terms, from January 1, 1963, to December 31, 1972, overseeing road maintenance, county budgets, and local disputes.
Known for his straightforward approach, he tackled practical issues like improving rural infrastructure, drawing on the same work ethic his father Luke had instilled in him.
During his tenure, he earned a reputation as a no-frills leader who preferred action over politics.
Warneke’s later years were spent quietly in Hot Springs, where he enjoyed time with his family—Charlyne, his kids, and eventually grandchildren.
His daughter Lonnie Pat recalled him as a hands-on father and grandfather, often teaching them to fish or sharing stories of his playing days. He remained a local figure, occasionally recognized for his baseball past, but preferred a low-key life.
Health issues, including the stomach ulcers that had sidelined him during the war, lingered, and he passed away on June 23, 1976, at his Hot Springs home at age 67 after a brief illness.
His gravestone, marked with "Arkansas Hummingbird" and adorned with an iris bouquet at his funeral, stands as a tribute to his legacy in baseball and beyond.
