Class B League fixture is voice of experience

The manager-turned-sponsor has seen a metamorphosis in his 36 years.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The DL in the major leagues has been around a long time. DL in the Class B League has been around 36 years.
The former is the disabled list; the latter is Don Livi, who began as a manager in 1967 and as a sponsor in 1977.
He represents the last in a line of recognizable local amateur baseball figures who left an imprint on the league.
Could you call him the league patriarch?
"I guess," said Livi, 69. "Most of the guys know me."
Livi, whose managing-career highlights include two National Amateur Baseball Federation championships and a runner-up finish, still attends league meetings.
Respected opinion
"I'm a special person those guys listen to. I'm the one who nominated Tony to be president and I think he's doing great job," Livi said of current Class B president Tony Gorvet.
Livi came on the scene when Bob Cene, Mike Goldstone and Rudy Granito were building their Class B resumes.
"Bob did a great job creating three fields," Livi said of Cene's legacy. "That's awesome. What he did down there [Struthers] is really great."
Goldstone emerged as sultan of the Fabulous Goldsteins empire with team uniform colors that resembled Pittsburgh's black and gold.
Both men were instrumental in steering late teens into college baseball programs.
Toward the same end, Granito diligently worked behind the scenes with emphasis on the post-season NABF tournaments.
"We were there from the start," Livi said. "I'm the only guy left now who was part of that regime."
Livi has sponsored a team in the Little B League since its inception, and he now has a first-year entry in the Youngstown Babe Ruth League.
The Ruth team's coaches are Bill Sattler and Andy Timko Jr.
Turning back clock
When Sattler was a 17-year-old Livi pickup for the NABF tournament in Cincinnati, he pitched multiple innings in a short time and gained MVP honors. That year, Livi lost to the Cincinnati MasterChargers and pitcher Leon Durham, who later joined the Chicago Cubs.
"He won three games and had a .357 batting average," Livi said of Sattler, who went on to join the Montreal Expos organization.
Timko was a former Livi player who played in the minors after being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
Livi has other good memories.
Former Brookfield High and Ohio State football star Marcus Marek was Livi's regular first baseman.
"When he was going to OSU, they wanted him to forget baseball," Livi said. "He told them he'd report when he got done with baseball."
Another special season, Livi recalls, was when 17-year-old Bernie Kosar played third and pitched.
"We were 28-3 that year and finished state Connie Mack runner-up. When he was 18, he wanted to concentrate on football. I told him he was crazy because he was a good baseball player."
Needless to say, Kosar didn't return for his final season.
Playoff regular
Livi estimates that his teams -- perennial playoff qualifiers -- won a dozen Class B championships.
Connell Steel Erectors and Bradley Sporting Goods were the first teams Livi managed, winning a crown his second year.
"We had some good-hitting teams," said Livi, who mentioned the names of Livi postseason pickups Chip Furlong, Ken Lisko and Bob Jones, among others.
Livi's perspective on the game has changed throughout the years.
"In the spring, we used to go look at players," Livi said of recruiting. "Nowadays, if you go to look for players in the spring, nobody's left. They're already on teams. The recruiting is awesome. They're grabbing these kids right out of PONY League.
"Plus, everybody has a year-round program inside with batting cages," he added. "There's more to offer now. It's good. That's the way it is these days."
Other changes
In addition to the early bird getting the worm, the abolition of the 20-mile radius rule opened a can of worms.
Before the expansion of boundaries, recruitment was limited to 20 miles. Livi took advantage of being Niles-based when he culled talent from throughout Trumbull County.
Some teams were suspicious of his acquisition of Buzzy Bell of Hartford.
"Those guys actually measured 20 miles," Livi said of narrowly complying with the rule. "We couldn't even get a guy from Champion. Now you can get them from anywhere."
He said the biggest change has been the influx from Western Pennsylvania.
"It's very competitive," said Livi, who prefers to stay close to home.
"We play with what we have around here. Maybe we won't win with it, but I'd rather have kids locally than get them from outside."
Livi now watches his grandchildren, including a 16-year-old who could be Niles High's catcher next season.
bassetti@vindy.com