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A Return to Little League
It's been a few years since I've been around a Little League baseball diamond. As a graduate of the program back in 1960, I'd always found a way to keep in touch. When I was sixteen and seventeen, I was the official scorer for the South Platt Fox Hill Field, earning $10 a game for keeping score and official statistics. Later I became an umpire and then Chief Umpire, while serving on the Board of Directors.
As my North Country Cable Network business grew, we videotaped Little League baseball games some summers, broadcasting them on the local public-access channel. It's hard to go anyplace in the North Country without running into someone who doesn't have a connection to Plattsburgh Little League.
Many years ago my brother Goose took over as Chief Umpire and last week he was in a pinch. All of his umpiring staff had other commitments, so he reached into the bottom of the barrel and dug up my name. I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. I hadn't set foot on a Little League field in about five years.
But I figured that if I could help him out in a pinch like this, he would be beholding to me for awhile. And my birthday is just about two weeks away. So I agreed to dust off my umpires indicator and put on my blue umpires shirt for one game of Little League baseball.
Umpiring on the bases at the Fox Hill Field with Goose at home plate, I felt a little uncomfortable. Most of the players didn't know who I was. They didn't know I had spent about thirty years umpiring youth baseball. They didn't even know that Goose was my brother.
My first call came on the first pitch of the game, a come-backer to the pitcher, who threw the batter out at first base by about fifteen feet. Every call after that seemed like a close one, a bang-bang play, as they say. The closer the play, the louder I yelled, to make it seem like I knew what I was doing.
Before long, I was comfortable, eating salted sunflower seeds and spitting out the shells. And, not that I wasn't concentrating on the game at hand, but I started thinking back on the history of that Little League baseball field.
I looked up to the top of the hill and I could have sworn I saw Cliff Staves, one of the founders and original coaches of Plattsburgh Little League, looking down watching the kids play. And I looked over at the dugouts and I'm sure I saw my Dad, Ray Gagnon, wearing his Nitzi's cap and giving Harold Beauharnois and Billy McNeil some pointers on pitching.
And I saw Bob Burke and Pickles Proctor. And Donnie Goff and Frannie and Mac McGarr, longtime coaches of the Firemen's team, and Paul Drollette and Gerald Burdo and Calvin Miller. They've all left their imprint on Plattsburgh Little League.
At the other side of town there were great coaches like Al Billups and Doc Girard and Hector Duquette and, for several years, Paul Senecal and Wayne Beebie coached the city champs.
I thought about the umpires who had passed through the program and realized that my own brother Goose has been involved in Little League as either a coach or umpire dating back to 1969. He was gone a few years for the military, but as long as Goose has been around Plattsburgh, he's been involved in Little League.
But that night, as I stood near second base ready to make a call, I could swear I heard Gordie Coryea calling "Strike." Gordie would put in a full day working for the city and then be there almost every night at six for a Little League game. Ducky Drake has been umpiring for many years, as has Len Duquette, who enjoyed umpiring youth baseball so much he got certified to umpire high school games.
And as a little nine-year-old lefthander threw strikes for the Pepsi team last week, I remembered twelve-year-old Tommy Pelkey firing bullets past helpless Little League batters. And Tony Fazzone and Mike Hewson and Gus Terry, whose parents, Don and Cricket, were longtime officers of Plattsburgh Little League.
I remembered guys who could put the ball over the fence, almost into the Saranac River. Guys like Steve Parrish, whose father Bob was a great Little League President for a time, and Tim Kelley and Steve Jock and Robbie Calkins, a great catcher. The King brothers, Craig and Chris, were great. They inherited their hitting talent from their Dad Carl, the legendary "King of the Hill" at Our Lady of Victory Academy in the late Fifties and early Sixties.
And there were other great hitters like John Mousseau and TJ Mussaw and Jason Miller.
In the first years of Plattsburgh Little League there were no two better sluggers than Lanny LaValley and Eddie Garrant. They lost a few baseballs in their lifetime.
The game last week ended with a score of something like 20-10, but it didn't matter. It was nice to see that all is well with Plattsburgh Little League. There are still dedicated coaches and kids who love to play the game. There are still supportive parents, watching every move their kid makes.
Jake Sherman, the current league president, does an outstanding job. Even though his son has graduated from the program, Jake stayed on as president. He's a great role model and leader.
And at the end of the game last week, there were a lot of smiles for a game well played and a job well done. For over fifty years Plattsburgh Little League has been making kids smile and planting memories.
Comments
Hi Foxy,
I love your blogs about Little League. It's so important for those of us involved today to remember that we are the stewards of a great tradition, and we should treat the program with the appropriate care and respect. I encourage my own son to read your blogs so that he realizes he is part of something bigger than himself, or myself or any of the current board members and coaches.
I am not a Plattsburgh native, although my roots are now deeply planted here. I love hearing people's memories - some leaders (if not pillars *smile, laugh, joke*) of the community - reliving the times when they were an 11-year-old second-baseman. I might not have known many of them back then, but, I know most of them now.
I hope and pray that current players will remember their days in the program as fondly as previous generations apparently remember theirs.
And I think I can safely speak for the current board of directors when I say that - any time you want to start putting more games on North Country Cable, you're more than welcome at the ballpark!
-Tim Dodd
(Foxy's note: Thanks, Tim -- Tim Dodd currently serves on the Board of Directors of Plattsburgh Little League.)
Posted by: Tim Dodd | June 2, 2008 4:22 PM
Hey Foxy - as always, your writings have transported me back to the days when life seemed so simple. Although I never played Little Leage ball (girls not allowed back then!) My dad was coaching and would let me be the "bat girl" on occasion...much to the chagrin of my older brother Mike!! I guess he figured it kept me from heckling him from the stands!! My hats off to all of the coaches and officials who have contributed their time and skills to keep such a great organization going strong.
PS. Thanks, Crusher, for the reminder of the Stoweaway reunion...missed the last one but I'm dusting off my dancing shoes for this one!!
Posted by: Kerry Flynn | May 30, 2008 8:24 AM
Great blogs Foxy. We are short umpires in HS baseball and softball. Would love to have you and THE GOOSE join us next year.
Oh by the way, I was talking to my cousin Mike O'Connell and he said REUNION # 2 on August 2 at Taboo in downtown Plattsburgh. Can't wait. Hope to see you there.
(Foxy's note: Crusher, thanks for the offer, but I don't think I can stand up long enough for a 6 or 7 inning game. Would the CVAC consider 4-inning games?)
Posted by: Crusher | May 29, 2008 12:17 AM
Great blog Foxy! You forgot to mention the arm of Eddie Hart! I'll never forget my first year of Little League and I had to stand in that batter's box against him. . .Of course I was hit by a pitch. . .right in the toe! It was back when Bailey Avenue field faced East.
I will be sure to let my father know you mentioned him as one of the great coaches of Plattsburgh Little League! My brother on the other-hand can find out for himself. . .needless to say the Millers are still a competitive bunch!
Hope everything is going great for you Foxy! Hope to be home in July!
(Foxy's note: Seems to me, now that I think about it, you were a pretty good hitter, too, Kelly M. Yes, big Eddie Hart was a quite pitcher. You are correct.)
Posted by: Kelly M | May 28, 2008 5:07 PM
Little League was the best summer experience anyone could have while growing up in Plattsburgh. There was always that North end – South end rivalry that existed all year, right through to the all-star games at the end of the season. The fields at St. Peters, Fox Hill, South Platt, and eventually Bailey Ave. were all meccas of baseball in those days.
Other awesome players from my era that haven’t been mentioned: Jimmy Rivers, Matt Sames, Tony Fassone, Mike Dynko, Mike and Chris Rose, all the Sullivan brothers, the Beebe brothers, Mike Ellis, the Klugman brothers, the Ryan brothers, and the list just keeps going and going. And there were no shortage of coaches either: Mr. Ryan, Mr. Rose, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Senecal, Mr. Beebe, Mr. Dynko…all taught us the skills that we are now passing on to a new generation of Little Leaguers and Cal Ripken players in our own communities.
The wildest thing I remember about Little League is when I was 12 and playing in my last all-star game at Fox Hill. I lined three shots all at Harry Reed. Nothing could get thru him. I used to call him ‘The Vacuum.” Late in the game a foul ball was hit to left field where I was playing and I was bound and determined to catch that ball. I did! And then I slammed into the fence, scratching my neck and face, putting a 2 inch gash over my left eye (a scar which still produces a conversation piece every once in a while), and damn near knocking myself out.
But I held on to the ball for the out!
(Foxy's note: Great memories, great names, Kern!)
Posted by: Kern | May 28, 2008 2:09 PM
Well Foxy, now that I have wiped the tears away from my face, I can tell you what your blog meant today. Today is Memorial Day. In addition to honoring the memories of veterans both known and unknown, we also remember the people who are the threads in our tapestry of life. You mentioned Gordie and Carl, who I know are still watching North Country sports. I'm sure if an unsuspecting ref makes a "bad" call against one of Carl's grandchildren, he or she will feel a strange sensation akin to a slap up side of their head and wonder where in the heck that came from! Ken and I have had the pleasure of watching our girls play grasshoppers and softball and our grandchildren, nephews and cousins play Little League and baseball through the years, and hope to do so for many more years. We thank everyone you mentioned and those you did not who have given so unselfishly of themselves over the years for our children - whether in the sports or other arenas. On a personal note, thank you for caring so much about us and recording memories that will be treasured for many many years to come. Keep up the good work and "play ball!"
Always, miss d
(Foxy's note: Thanks for your thoughts here, miss d. I've been missing you. Was nice to see you and Ken yesterday. Loved that hug.)
Posted by: miss d | May 26, 2008 1:10 PM
Foxy,
You really do justice to one of the greatest programs in the history of Northern New York State. The commitment of coaches, umpires and league officers of Little League has, over the last 50 years, put Plattsburgh on the NYS baseball map. In 1969 Post 20 won the American Legion state chanpionships with Little League alumni like Tim OConnell, Randy Senecal, Larry Carpenter, Lynn Tusa, John Hart, Harold Bleau, just to name a few. In 1989, PHS Hornets won the NYSPHSAA Class B title almost exclusively with Plattsburgh Little League Alumni. In the late 90's and early 00's the Hornets made 4 more trips to the Final Four. Great Coaching during their Little League years by Mike Flynn, Hector Duquettte, Don Terry and a host of others were instrumental in our boys' successes. Also, you can never count out the men who gave of their time in the the thankless jobs as umpires.
By the way Foxy, My first recollection of the Fox Hill Field was seeing my Dad and your Dad (Mr. "G") shingling the roof on the building that still stands.
Joe Staves
(Foxy's note: Thanks for your comments on the succcess our local baseball players have found. Makes me just wish we had the climate to allow even more time to play such a great sport. We sure would like to get another local guy to the big leagues!)
Posted by: CStaves | May 26, 2008 9:44 AM