background in local semi-pro baseball and thetr devotion to the game was unparalled. Ol Timer Presideits in the 19405-19505 Each of the men was dedicated, charismatic and colorful leaders of thetr day. They each hada great baseball 1945 1947 Sousants Program FIRST ANNUAL BASEBALL G4 1949 Eonsantr Progra 3“ ANNUAL BASEBAL| 1951 Sanat Pg Fi - 8ih ANNUAL BASEBALL GAME 1h Ana 2 " BASEBA) son erncace tines 2. Onlnd OX Tien 5 ‘SnAg 3, 52,230 FM Past Presidents 1943-Marty Dury 1944-Bill Haack 1946-Dan Collins 1948-Al Harman 1953-George Stanton 1955-Dink Schomacher 1956-Bert Leroux 1957-Merv Sifva 1958-Bill Nunes 1959-Hank Foge ‘The Old Timers Annual Baseball Game between San Francisco & Oakland ‘The San Francisco unit was founded in 1941 and the Oakland unit in 1944. The founders of these organizations had one purpose and one purpose in mind...to continue the friendships developed in their youth on the Ball Diamond. Thanks to our founders of these organizations that were bound to succeed because of the strong foundation on which they were built. FRIENDSHIP. Fd Mulvihill”4 2ygrounds and Baseball Diamonds Dedicated to Men of Of the Ol Timers Association rae ACErle’s name was put on the main diamond at West Sunset Playground on Sunday June 8, 1980. The San Francisco Old Timers played the Oakland Old Timers at the 1:00 am game | followed by the feature game Between Ellis Brooks and New Pisa Restaurant as | more than 1,000 spectators ‘were on hand for the cere- monies. The field announcer wwas the great Sam Levin || who iad been doing the public address announcing of semi-pro games for more than 40 years was on fiand || to fend his magic to the day. On May 22, 1982 Portola Park was officially named “Joe Gaggero, Sr. Field. Over 400 people attended ae the ceremony including mee many of his former planers EDWARD “SPIKE” HENNESSY DEDICATION CEREMONIES FUNSTON PLAYGROUND SUNDAY, APRIL 13, 1958 | The main oe at 7 Se “oy ee Funston Field was name: E rer Miss Hennessy Filed in a ceremony WILLIAM “POP” BOWARDS District field known as on Sunday April 13, 1958. eee Dedication Ceremonies aoe errace ee “Spike” Hennessy was a legendary ae ground was rename youth 6aseball coach for hundreds | SAI n ya “pop” Edwards Field of city Kids, many of whom went on May 25, 1965. Pop to play professional baseball and ‘was also one of those star in the Major Leagues. Mona ei ie | be sands of | San Francisco kids ‘The Old Timers Baseball Associa- learn the game of tion was responsible for getting baseball. These field's dedicated to these great men.The Verdi Club Days n the good old days of the Verdi club the Associa~ tion was truly a social club for the old ball players. Bach meeting was spiced up with singers, dancing ladies, for- mal dance with the wives and lof course KP duties. The din- Iners were prepared by mem: bers who took turns cooking. Manny Piriano was the longest “Chef” as he prepared meals for about 15 years. And there were others like ‘Pop” Edwards and his wife, Goose Gosland, Danny Andreiti and several wives along the way. The KP Duties lwere handled by Andy Dur- Imanich who would call about 15 volunteers per month to do the clean-up work. Ifyou did- rom 1945 t 1990, KP In’t work when it was your tis, serve yourself turn you or canceled three an the monty talent Se , times you got bounced from [shows were the feature.. » the Association, ‘The 1960s to the 1970s _the Old Timers Association was politically active in overseeing that baseball had an important role in San Fran- cisco culture. Each president during that time made a commitment to stay in touch with the San Francisco Parks & Recreation Depart ment to make sure baseball fields were kept in good condition for youth and adult leagues to play. These men served as president during that time: 1960-Marty McGuinn —_1964- Bill O’Brien 1968-Andy Durmanich _1972-Gene Gaviglio 1976-Vin Greely 1961-Walter Lister 1965- Tony Gomez 1969-Art Dikas 1973-George Jarvis 1977-Joe Dutto 1962-Tony Patch 1966 - Bob Preston 1970-Walt Spaelti 1974-Ery Delman 1978-Bill Tandy 1963- Rugger Ardizoia 1967- Goose Gosland 1971-Terry Tatarian —_—-1975-Al Lera 1979-Bill CorbetBenefit Games of gas Greyhounds, ot Chemists to en Play Today, : = |, tm the 1940s - 50s semi-pro baseball flourished as leagues , played all over San Francisco, the Peninsula, the East Bay and 7 in all the small logging towns in the North Bay. More than 200 teams would be playing “Sunday Ball” practically the year around when baseball was “the” sport to play. <4 ay Area Sondlot Schedule Today i a |WITH THE SEMI-PROS. Uhisnicle Sporting Green [PAGE GH WIONDAY, PENINSULA LOOP REORGANIZATION Hos. RUNNER IS REDDING DENIKE’S. TAVERN 4001 THIRD STREET Comer Galees Avenue Cyril Denike, Prop. Golden Gate Park 1944-45 Big Ree Champions |In S&, those were the good ol’ days wgues for them. joran and all hen the real Major Lé placed our Seals. It was a sad day in 1961 when Seals Stadium was demolished and made way for a shopping center and that’s the day our | = childhood was taken av‘The Ultimate Old Timer Award Starting in 1998 an award was created to honor the man who de- votes e and energy to better the Association. The men that have been honored through the years have been the back bone of {the Association, giving their time, talent and soul in helping make ‘the organization better for all. Listed below are (back row L. to R) +h Baptista, 2008, Rugger Ardizoia, 2003, Pete Dalton, 2004, Leo Martinez, 2006. (Seated front row L to R) Frank St-azzullo, 2009, Ernie Golding, 2000, Dante Santora, 2010, Dante Santora, 2010, Don Benedetti, 2007. To the left are Walter Lister, 1998, Andy Durmanich, 1999, Gene Gaviglio, 2001 andAlGref, 2005. Not pictured Bud Dolan, 2002. Man-of-the-Year Award Each year the Association honors the Man-of-the-Year award to the deserving person (s) for their contributions to the Old Tim- ers. Listed below are those men: Gary Bader Tom Doonan Ken Mooney Rich Baptista Hal Fox ‘Manny Piriano Hank Barron Jerry Gostand Nick Poppin Nick Cannuli George Jarvis Tony Rey Gene Caputo Bill Jessen Dante Santora Bill Dif Bill Jones Frank Strazzullo Art Dikas Bob Mitchell Vince Tudoni Other Association Presidents 1980-George Roza 1993-Jim Griffin 2006-Bob Woodall 1981-Joe Gaggero 1994-Gary Bader 2007-Mike Reyna 1982-George Carey 199S-Tom Doonan 2008-Bob Isola 1983-Emie Golding 1996-Bob Lagomarsino 2009-Bob Simi 1984-Phil Stowz 1997-Dave Longa 2010-Frank Brady 1985-Dino Restelli 1998.Bill Jones 2011-Ken Mooney 1986-Pete Dalton 1987-Don Benedetti 1988-Leo Martinez 1989-Al Graf 1990-Jack Gustafson 1991-Morey Christman 1992-Dean Mahone) 1999-Tony Patch, Jr. 2000-Rich Ford 2001-Manny Piriano 2002-Don Callopy 2003-Nick Cannuli 2004~ Hank Barron 2005-Jerry Gosland. Pictured to the left 1942 President in Albany, NY play- ing Class D ball is Ed Kenna, Sr. the Good Guy Award The Good Guy Award also honors those members who provide service to the Association. Through the years the Association has honored more than 47 such men. The services they have performed rightly entitled them to called “Good Guys”. Past Presidents Honored in February 2011 Back row (L-R) Tom Doonan, Jerry Gosland, George Jarvis, Bill Jones, Gary Bader, Frank Brandy, Bob Isola, Manny Piriano, Rich Ford. Front row (L-R) Pete Dalton, Hank Barron, Leo Mar- tinez, Dave Longa, Bob Simi, Nick Cannuli, Rugger Ardizoia and Ernie Golding. Pictures are Art Dikas, Jim Griffin, Don Cal- lopy, Bob Woodall and Mike Reyna,Sate oe By storm! City’s M ‘What Became of Bushville? The Sad Demise of Bush Baseba City s Mr. Baseball Boe wigs te gi pimerimwmrenicaee megurgiesneees| ENS 50-year caree {= 6 OM Riey Henan, “ ae ae rea Eckerley song” SM — those who played 4 centene j a tone even re gs: aed Eon eae a eave Bore ee aaa at ats ha ams en Gerad Norther (Caitornin Baseball Managers! Ray Cheso/Murcain Team Made [Bruin Hit Helps Anita Derby Choice Court’ Era} the Bushers would scour the four local newsp pers to catch a glimpse if their name appeared in a box seore of the ‘games played on Sundays. The demise of semi-pro baseball started in ‘the middle *60s when many of the long-time players got older, it of the City or started families. ‘The leagues narrowed dawn to the fer and Summer leagues which was comprised of former pro-b: 4 1s or Young prospects and college players wanting to show off their Jf ls to scouts. The days of many classifications of leagues played at ‘most of the baseball diamonds in the City also was reduced to just two parks, Big Rec and Funston Field. The large crowds and wonderful announcer, Sam Levin was no longer at his table at the Graham field.Galileo beats Washington for the San Francisco title game 5-4, Gali- leo right-hander Dylan Nelson ices a five-hit complete game vietory. Dylan is the 2010 scholar ship recipient. Laura Buckbinder of Washington HS was the girls reeipi- ent. As a pitcher she went 12-3 and 28 a hitter she had a .687 batting average. ~ovell baseball coach Joba Donohue San Francisco Old Timers Baseball Associstion’s High School Scholarship Program The Old Timers Association started the scholarship program in2008 with the help of member Clarence Grider, who personally donated $2,000 per year as a tribute to the Association and a family commitment. Mr. Grider has been the primary benefactor of this worthy program that annually pays $1,000 each to the deserving boy baseball player and girl softball player from the San Francisco Unified School system. The criteria for selection is the student achievement on the diamond and in school. Everyone selected must be a student leader as well as competent athlete. A special achievement was reached in 2010 as member John Donohue won his 600th baseball game coaching at Lowell High School. ‘Tre win places Coach Donohue in the top six in wins among California high school baseball coaches. Under his direction the past 28 years Lowell has won the AAA City Championship 11 times and the Transbay Championship 3 times.