Chuck Eisenmann

Charles Paul Eisenmann (October 22, 1918 – September 6, 2010) was an American professional baseball pitcher and dog trainer who played in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) from 1940 to 1942 and again from 1946 to 1953 after serving in the United States Army. He is best known for being the owner and trainer of multiple dogs, most notably London, who starred in the Canadian television series The Littlest Hobo.

Early life and career Chuck Eisenmann was born Charles Paul Eisenmann on October 22, 1918, in Hawthorne, Wisconsin, to German immigrant parents Richrd and Marie (Mary). He had a total of nine siblings, including two older brothers who both served in the United States Navy. Shortly following his birth, Eisenmann's family would move around and eventually settle in Parkland.

Baseball and military career In 1939, Eisenmann took spring training at the Tigers camp in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he injured his arm. The following month, on February 19, 1940, he was signed on to the Los Angeles Angels roster of the Pacific Coast League. He pitched for the team until May 13, 1940, when he was transferred to the Western International League to pitch for the Vancouver Capilanos, later moving to the Yakima Pippins mid-season, where he remained the following year. where he remained for the beginning of the 1942 season after showing an impressing performance during spring training. he would re-enlist in the Army on April 11, 1942. He was sent to England as second lieutenant after graduating from training school. After he was discharged in late 1945, On June 4, 1947, he was sold by the Padres to the Memphis Chicks. Eisenmann pitched for Memphis until being picked up by the Chicago White Sox in September 1948, but was returned to Memphis after spring training the following year before having the chance to play for them. Although the White Sox recalled him in September 1949, He pitched for the Mobile Bears in 1950, and in 1951 for the Triple-A International League Ottawa Giants and later the Syracuse Mets after the New York Giants bought him, later sending him back to the Tulsa Oilers in 1952, who released him after the season. He appeared in three games in 1953 as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Seals, who released him on April 10. He appeared in an additional five games after rejoining the San Diego Padres, who then released him on April 29, ending his professional career. In 1956, Eisenmann attended the Bill McGowan School for Umpires, but would only umpire for a single season. In August, Eisenmann started pitching for the Bismarck Barons in the Mandak League. who he named London, which was where he served in the Army. London was initially bought to be a watchdog but would instead be trained by Eisenmann and later start a career in acting. However, other sources that have also mentioned London's age would put his birth around 1953, Eisenmann taught London how to count, spell, and understand thousands of words. London was mostly known as being a German Shepherd, but according to The Bismarck Tribune writer Curt Eriksmoen, he was actually a Tamaskan. During a baseball game on June 26, 1955, London gave the pitcher his jacket upon reaching base, which angered two umpires later that day. An argument ensued, during which London pushed one of the umpires. The incident led to a feature on Life magazine on July 25, 1955, which gained London popularity. London was also featured on the television show You Asked for It. He was dubbed by some as being "probably the smartest dog in Hollywood." In 1957, London was injured when a delivery truck collided with Eisenmann's vehicle.

Eisenmann and London would go on to spend time in Hollywood, where London appeared in the 1958 film The Littlest Hobo, which was received well by critics. London later appeared in the 1960 adventure film My Dog, Buddy as well as the 1961 film Just Between Us and Marks of Distinction. During development for My Dog Buddy, two of London's offspring were given away, with another one, a dog named Lance, performed a stunt for Just Between Us. London had three additional sons, Thorn, Toro and Little London "Litlon", with Thorn occasionally serving as a double actor for London. In 1961, Eisenmann filed a $35,000 lawsuit against the delivery firm who owned the truck involved in the 1957 collision. He appeared in court with London on February 27, where he alleged that London's injuries, a broken leg and a bumped head, limited his acting abilities. On March 2, the jury reached a verdict in favor of the defense.

London starred in the 1963 Canadian television series The Littlest Hobo based on his 1958 movie, but by this time Eisenmann had three more dogs, Toro, Litlon and Thorn, who also played in his spot. By April 1964, London had been the father of 286 dogs, including another one of Eisenmann's dogs who was also named London. By 1966, the original London was retired, and he died at the age of 17. David Malcolmson wrote a biography about London, titled "London: The Dog That Made the Team". In the summer of 1967, one of the London dogs were featured on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Toro had two sons, Hobo and London, who starred in the 1969 Romanian movie Silent Friends. By 1971, Eisenmann had another dog, Venus. London would go on to star in the 1977 comedy film The Billion Dollar Hobo. During a revival of The Littlest Hobo from 1979 to 1985, the titular Hobo was played by another one of Eisenmann's dogs, Beau.

Eisenmann wrote four books about dog training.

Personal life and death In 1946, Eisenmann lived in Superior, Wisconsin. He would later live in Kearney, Nebraska, He moved to Roseburg, Oregon, around 1982,