The Boston Park League, by John Hinds
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Boston Park League bvlohnHinds Hall fter 65 years of continuous existence,the Although official records are not kept, the Baseball oldest Boston Park League has been many things of Fame recognizesthat the Boston Park League is the to many people. The one thing that it amateurleague in continuous existencein baseball. who remains for all those who have played and This rich history is acknowledged in the players for the presentplayers, is familY. have gone on to play in the major leagues' They include the Organized by the City of Boston Mike Fornieles who played for the Supreme Saints and and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Red Sox; Vito Tamulis, the St. Augustine team the I-eaguewas established to give top high Yankees; Johnny Broaca, the Yankees; Tom Earley, Casey Club and the Red school, college and older players the opportunity to hone Boston Braves; Joe Mulligan, the Bob Giggie, the their skills. Sox; Joe Callahan, the Boston Braves; team and the League play starts the third week in May and continues Boston Braves; Curt Fullerton, the Charlestown to the end of July. Playoffs follow regular seasoncompeti- Boston Braves. League and the majors tion. In a unique format, the top four teams make the play- Catchers who played in the and the McCormack offs. The last-place team drops to the Yawkey League, and include Pete Varney, the White Sox Paul team and the White the winner of the Yawkey Division replaces the last-place Club; George Yankowski, the St. and the Cleveland team in the Senior Park League. Sox; and Jim Hegan, Mass Knitting on include first During the 1993season, play was conductedon six fields Indians. Infielders from the League who went and Kansas in Boston: Dick Casey Field in Dorchester,Fallon Field in basemanArt McManus of the Supreme Saints the Roslindale Roslindale,the field at Cleveland Circle, Rogers Field in City; secondbaseman Andy Spognardi, Mass Brighton, Kelley Field in Hyde Park and Noyes Field in East Rosebuds and the Red Sox; shortstop Eddie Pellagrini, Richie Hebner, Boston. Knitting and the Red Sox; and third baseman ADSL, the Brighton Dodgers, Great Scott, the Larkin the JohnsonBombers and the Tigers. 'rt Club, Mass Envelope, Palmer Mobile, the Serra Club, Towne Outfielders Club and the Triple D's have fought it out this season. Jim who played in Mello, manager of defending league champion Mass the Park League Envelope calls it "the most competitive play in several and th6 majors years." include Si Rosen- Although Boston has experiencedtension in the inner thal of the Casey city, the League has provided a wholesome environment for Club and the Red many players according to Josh Powell, co-director of the Sox and Tyler ADSL team in Dorchester. LaForest of Lin- "There is not much structure for players in the minority chon and the Red community after the age of 12. With all of the distractions Sox. it's easy for kids to go astray. The Park League not only gives kids a chance to participate and learn from skilled FormerRed Sox coaches,but it also provides them an opportunity that they pitcherand current might not get otherwise," said Powell. Powell has been a broadcasterfor player and managerin the Leaguesince the mid '60s. RedSox Spanish For John Kelliher, who has been involved with the radio,Mike League since its inception as a player, manager and official, Fornieles,pitched "the intensity of play in the League" has provided it with the forthe supreme spirit that has kept it going. Kelliher is the general manager Saintson his way for the Mass Envelope team. tothe majors. 11 THE BOSTONPARK LEACUE especially in the inner city," said Miller. Above all, the All-Star Game will be one that Jim Mello, manager of the Mass Envelope team, will never forget. Mello insertedhimself as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning. There was one out, a runner on, and his team tied with the tntercity Star, five all. The1993 Boston Park League All-Stars at Fenway.Photo courtesy of NormanReynolds. Mello had two strikes on him when he was thrown an inside fastball. Although they never made it to the expenses,and most of that goes into "I knew I hit it out the minute I made big leagues, other notable alumni equipmentand umpires. We wouldn't contact. I took a couple of stepsdown include former Boston Mayor Ray be able to meet thoseexpenses without the first base line and watched as it Flynn of the McCormack Club and cur- the help of both the Red Sox and the went over the wall in left and landed rently at the Vatican; Bishop Joe Yawkey Foundation," said Mortimer. by the light tower," said Mello. Maguire of Springfield; Pat Harrington, Another shot in the arm came this Continuedon Page43 the current Boston Park League seasonwhen League President Commissioner;Johnny McDonald of Eddie Miller's dream was ful- ]r the St. Paul's Club: Art Nowell of the filled, and the League's All- t; SupremeSaints; Bill Cleary of Harvard Star Game was played at and the St. Paul's club. Still others Fenway Park. who have contributedover the years "Eddie has allowed us to are Avi Nelson of the ADSL club, Jack realize dreamsthat many of us Concannonof the McCormack club, never thou-ehtpossible." said Steve DeOssie of Mass Envelope: Mortimer. Hughie Duffy of the Kennedl' club: "lt's hard to describe Roberto Feliz and Billy Brooks of il,hat plal,in-eat Fenway Park ADSL andthe BuffaloBills. meant to all of the people Walt Mortimer secretary/treasurer involved in the League. But it of the Leagueand an active participant demonstratesthe commitment since 1954, says it was a tough go for that the Ref,Sox have.lg help- the League to stay in existence when ing people throughoutBoston the City of Bostonwithdrew financing for its operationsin 1982. ParkLeague alumnus and for-. In steppedthe Yawkey Foundation merRed Sox Coach Richie and Bill Gutfarb along with John Hebnerplayed 18 years in the Harrington and the Red Sox. "The maiors.Photo courtesy League incurs about $20,000 in of BostonHerald. NEW JK-Sff SAUCE ENGLAND'S FAN/ORITE 13 All-StarGame hero and Mass Envelope ManagerJim Mello receives a congratual' toryhug from his mother following his explosivegame-winning home run in the lastof the eighth at Fenway July 12. Photocourlesy of NormanReynolds. Most players work one if not two jobs and have families. The familY environmentis one that the League promotes.This is especiallyevident at theADSL "A lot of our play'ers -sames. tn and their familiesbrin-e their ditferent ethnicfoods to the and sharewith -same Continuedfrom Page 13 each other after the games," says "It was a fantasticopportunity for Powell. the younger kids to play in FenwaY The Boston Park League broke the Park," said Mello who travelsfrom his color barrier well before the major home in Topsfield to work in Braintree leagues. Men like Cannonball every day and then plays in the League Jackman, and Lefty Matthews of the five nights a week. His scheduleis not Colored Giants set the pace for the unusualfor the players. minority players. Top players in the League this "The thing that most people don't year include Genaro Castro, Pablo realizeabout this Leagueis it isn't just Reyes,Kenny Pires, Kevin Bailey and fun and games. It's a very serious, RosentoRentas, all of the ADSL team. emotional, competitive environment. Others include Mark Christiani and With the talent in the League,you have Mike Caristaof the SerraClub. Matt to give 100 percentevery night," said Ferrullo,Jeff Januaryand Neil Bisson Powell. of Mass Envelope.Budd Tar lor and For 65 ).ears.a lot of men.\\'omen Jeff Toussantof the To*ne club and andchildren have been sirins 100per- Jim Mulrv of TripleD'.. centi6-i darsa rear. Total Hits BB Years PeteRose 5,822 4,256 1,566 .*.1963-86 Ty Cobb 5,440 4,191 1,249 't1905-28 CarlYastrzemski 5,264 3,419 1,845 1961-83 Stan Musial 5,229 3,630 1,599 1941-44,46-63 HankAaron 5,173 3,771 1,402 1954-76 Babe Ruth 4,929 2,873 2,056 1914-35 Ted Williams 4,673 2,654 2,019 1939-42,46-60 Evergdqgthe Hersld's sporrc shff delluerc- \ fDprhInslghts qnd unlqqe percpectlues Into the fqselnqtlngwotld of bqsebqlf. Theydon't miss e play and neitherwill you! BosroNlIpnarn.