“We Have Entered a New Era.”
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THE FAIIRLEIIGH DIICKIINSON UNIIVERSIITY FALL 2011 BASEBALL ALUMNII NEWSLETTER “WE HAVE ENTERED A NEW ERA.” What a week for FDU Baseball. Alumni Game, Hall of Fame Banquet and Naimoli Dedication… Plus the 2011-2012 Varsity Debuts vs. Felician. By: Coach Gary Puccio Many of last year's seniors participated were joined by fellow Hall baseball in the game which was very competi - member Dennis O'Brien. Turco was the From October 1 to October 8, it was tive. FDU newcomer and cleanup hitter last inductee, and he did not disappoint quite a week to be an FDU Knights Sean Yoshikawa drove home two runs in his acceptance speech. The win - baseball fan. On Saturday, October 1 for the current Knights to lead the squad ningest pitcher in FDU history was both at 11 AM, the team held its annual to a 3-0 victory. poignant and humorous in thanking all alumni game. Despite threatening those who were instrumental in his weather, the turnout was solid. Players Turco Inducted to HOF career. Hall of Famer Charlie Linfante, representing all six decades of Knights Later that evening at the Park Ridge whose father coached Lou, presented baseball history showed up for the day. Marriott, the annual Hall of Fame Turco for induction. Impressively, five Hall of Famers were Dinner was held. Always a classy and (continued on page 4) also in attendance: Jon Bittmann, special event, this year managed to be Charlie Linfante, Steve Dembowski, one of the best evenings ever. Baseball Don Patlen, and the newly elected Lou was well-represented again, as the five Turco. Hall of Famers from earlier in the day 1 Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund Makes a Difference As many of my teammates know, shortly after my retirement from Pfizer in 2000, my wife Adele and I decided to establish the Harvey Woods Scholarship Fund (HWS), named after my former Coach and Athletic Director, in appreciation for the baseball schol - arship I received way back in the mid- 60s. Without that scholarship, I would have been unable to attend college on a full-time basis, and most certainly would not have been able to play in a Division I program. Our thoughts were to provide an additional scholarship for the baseball team with firm restrictions limiting it to candidates who have Lou Turco, ’73, All-Time Winning Pitcher, demonstrated outstanding success on Joins Hall of Fame the field, the ability to manage college level studies, be of good moral character Honored at the annual banquet on Turco’s record was 19-7 with 140 and have financial needs. October 1, Lou Turco became the thir - strikeouts and 79 walks. He also is in teenth baseball player and seventh the top three in history for innings I am proud to say that many former pitcher to be inducted to the Fairleigh pitched with 254.2 and also has 12 FDU baseball players have contributed Dickinson Division I Athletics Hall of complete games. In his sophomore to the program to help it continue to Fame. Nominated by fellow HOF year he made the Division All-Star grow. Since we began the program, member, Charlie Linfante (’62), Lou Team Honorable Mention and was the four student-athletes have benefited gave a rousing speech during which Met Conference MVP his junior year. from the HWS and have expressed he thanked Charlie’s late father Vince Turco was also all conference for two their appreciation for the opportunity. for helping him become the Knights all years and a member of the Bergen I would like each of you to think back time leader in wins. Lou also credited County Baseball Hall of Fame while to when you were playing and to reflect John Orsino, Varsity head coach from finishing his career by playing with on the impact that FDU baseball has 1970 to 1976 and 1980, for teaching the Yankees for a year. had on your life, and to make a contri - him a variety of “secret” pitches that bution to the fund so that others may helped him keep batters off balance. benefit from the program as you have. During his four years on the mound, Sincerely, Dennis O’Brien, Class of 1965 . Second Annual “First Pitch” Dinner Park Ridge Marriott, February 18, 2012 Head Coach Gary Puccio’s second Mike Mongiello (’89); catcher Joe annual First Pitch Dinner at the Park Pearn (’86), and first baseman, Steve Ridge Marriott is set for February 18, Stuart (’89). 2012. “We’re looking forward to an even bigger crowd than the 110 people Coach Puccio also alerted players, family who attended last year’s dinner,” said members and alumni to expect the fun Coach Puccio. The 2010 dinner was of this season’s dinner to go on for a highlighted by the introduction of 7 bit longer. “We have a lot more players members of the Knights 1970s All to introduce this year, including 19 Decade team. “Our players really got freshmen who during the fall season a kick out of meeting the All-Decade proved that they will add important guys,” Coach Puccio recalls. “This depth and strength to our squad.” year, we’re going to honor the All Decade team of the eighties.” Tickets for the dinner are $75. Members of the 80’s All Decade squad To reserve your ticket email Coach include four Hall of Fame players: out - Puccio at [email protected]. fielder Mike Hennessy (’90); pitcher Or phone 20 1.692.2245 Coach Harvey Woods 2 Two Hall of Famers Head Fifties All Decade Team Nominees Hall of Famers Bill Pollack hitter (with a great arm, (’60) and Don Patlen (’55) as well) that topped all headline the list of 25 batters for the decade players nominated for the with a .415 single season Knights 1950’s All Decade BA? Which Knight from team. Including players the ‘50s racked up a 330 on teams from 1951 to career BA? And who is 1960, the list vividly illus - the pitcher from those trates the skills of FDU early years that compiled legend Harvey Woods, an enviable 2.10 career both as a coach and a ERA? recruiter. Online voting at www. fduknights.com Take a look at the runs from November 28 nominees’ complete to January 15, 2012. career stats posted at www.fduknights.com to see if you can identify the first pitcher to win 7 games in one season. Who’s the heavy Top vote getters will be announced early in 2012. FDU '50S All Decade Team Nominees OUTFIELD POS. YEARS G AB RHHR RBI AVG. Bill Fiorelli OF 54-56 56 236 46 66 2 26 .280 Ralph Guadagno OF 59-60 32 57 17 17 1 10 .298 John Kelleher OF 51-54 72 278 57 71 7 53 .255 Frank Pinto OF 56-58 66 253 48 70 3 46 .277 Fred Roedel OF 51-54 75 247 34 66 3 39 .267 Ira Schwartz OF 57-59 67 252 61 73 9 61 .290 CATCHER Phil Kutt C 57-59 68 279 67 92 2 51 .330 Tony Maisano C-OF 57-58 40 107 18 32 0 15 .299 Frank Monello C 53-56 76 303 49 71 3 52 .234 INFIELD John DeSantis IF 56-58 51 133 18 40 0 19 .301 Frank Gilabert*** IF/P 58-60 47 151 30 44 5 41 .291 Jim Livolsi IF 54,56 34 102 16 32 0 13 .314 Don Margolin IF 55-57 63 248 41 72 4 41 .290 Jim Miller IF 52-55 74 264 59 73 5 43 .277 Don Patlen IF 52-55 73 274 68 88 9 70 .321 Joe Prieto IF 58-60 47 138 30 39 7 31 .283 PITCHER POS. G IP RHSO WL ERA Frank Buono P 51-53 20 66.2 30 32 34 62 4.32 Frank Gilabert IF/P 58-59 47 163.2 28 92 48 14 4 3.01 Russ Hughes P 51-52 15 107.1 28 69 57 92 2.35 Bill Pollack P 59-60 17 160.2 44 166 101 14 3 2.46 George Zuchniewicz P 52-53 11 73 17 36 33 73 2.10 3 (continued from pag e 1) Naimoli Family Baseball facility. I thought about how many second out. On the play, the tying run Complex Dedication new recruits came this year and will scored. However, the rally was thwart - come here in the future. They will look ed, and FDU went on to score three at Mr. Naimoli's ball field and decide more times in route to a 5-3 win in the While the alumni game and Hall of that FDU is where they want to play opener. Sean Yoshikawa, a junior col - Fame dinner were special enough, there their collegiate careers. Though my lege transfer from California, drove was more to come. assistants and I will do the work in home two runs in the victory. recruiting those athletes, it is really Mr. On Wednesday, October 5, the dedica - Naimoli's gift that will make getting The second game was a true pitching tion of the Naimoli Family Baseball those players a reality rather than a duel, as Brendan Butler and Mike Complex completed the trifecta. With dream. Eliasen pitched six innings of three hit Vince Naimoli himself in attendance, ball allowing only one run. However, the ceremony began at 4:30 PM. Singer We are also determined - we are with FDU leading 3-2 in the eighth and Kerene Limage, a freshman at FDU, set focused on the ultimate goals of play - two out, Felician hit a home run to the tone for a classy and superb presen - off appearances, NEC titles and the straight away center field to tie the tation when she brought down the ultimate - getting to the NCAA tourna - game.