SANDLOT BASEBALL

SANDLOT BASEBALL
Hernandez salutedfor Class B work
Fanfare:
In the late 1960's and early '70s. I used to shag baseballs at Pemberton Park for the Commissioner of the Class B League at the time, Bob Crawford. He used to keep score on his tiny little bench behind the screen on the first base side of an aging ballpark. During the '60s and '70s Pemberton was a hot bed of activity. The McCauley Awnings teams of first Art Mirto, and then Mel Weaver, with players like Dave Dravecky pitching won title after title. The Campbell AC teams with the Zetts brothers were contenders as was a team called Excel Auto Glass, led by a man named George Kelso. Kelso brought in two men to help his team. They were named Bob Jones and Dr. Raul Hernandez. As much as they tried they could not knock off the dynasty of McCauley, so they decided to try another avenue, and thus Ohio Carpet was formed in the Class AA league.
Bob Jones sold his Jones Oxygen team to a man named Bob Cene, and the Astro Falcons was formed.
The Ohio Carpet teams of the '80s were very talented as they waged war with John Zizzo's Miller Brewing clubs, Bob Richards' Trolio squads, and the Forest City Auto Part teams of Billy Sattler and Don Christian. The huge crowds at Pemberton each night for either Class B or AA games would hear the voice of Pemberton Park (Bob Roth) urge on the famous 50/50 raffle with "Fabulous Flo has your dough, or Red has your bread" being the sayings of the norm.
In the late 1970s Pemberton Park was slowly decaying. The city had no money for new lights which were needed. At this time the B league was seeing the Astro teams of Bob Cene, and a new powerhouse from Western Pennsylvania, Fabulous Goldsteins Furniture with Mike Goldstone, start their rivalry. Still around was the Campbell AC team with Sam DePizzo at the helm.
At this time, Bob Cene, along with Bob Jones, Mike Goldstone and Dr. Raul Hernandez, got together and signed a note for the financing of the new lights for Pemberton Park. This was the first step in what turned out to be a complete remodel of the aging park. A new backstop and pressbox were added as the crowds continued to come.
I became the voice of Pemberton Park in the mid 1980s, along with Angelo "Gobby" Mosco as the head groundskeeper, and with Jim Devlin in the box with me as scorekeeper. The Astro Falcons, Goldsteins, Livi Steel and Morris Sports waged war at the field. Doc returned to the B league with his Ohio Carpet team, now Youngstown Propane.
During the high school season, the phone would ring in the press box. On the other end would be a booming baritone voice who would ask, "Red who is pitching today?" The voice was that of Bob Cene. In a little while he would come through the tunnel and take his seat behind the screen. Then a second call would come, and in a raspy voice would come the same question from Mike Goldstone. A little while later he would show up through the portal and join Bob Cene at the game.
The phone would then ring a third time and a gentleman in a Spanish accent would say "This is Doc Hernandez, who is playing today?' He would soon come in through the portal and join the other two for the games that day. The three would spin tales about baseball and the condition of Pemberton Park.
These are the gentlemen who saved the Class B league for the area, first by funding the lights, then with all their support of their teams over the years.
One by one all three of these men have left us. First was Mike Goldstone, then Bob Cene, and now we have lost the third, Doc Hernandez.
Goldstone helped to send countless players that played for his teams to college, while we still today can see just what Bob Cene did -- three lighted fields in Struthers that anyone would love to play on. Now we have lost the third, a great lover of the game and supporter of this league and youth baseball. We will miss you, as we do the others.
Ronald "Red" Baker
Youngstown
GIANT EAGLE CLASSIC
LPGA supporterirked by column
Fanfare:
I have always enjoyed reading The Vindicator because of its high journalistic standards, but I am very disappointed in an article appearing in your paper on July 15. This article was written by Joe Scalzo and ridiculed the "unknown golfers" of the Giant Eagle LPGA who are playing this week at Squaw Creek Country Club. We have an opportunity to show the nation what a wonderful community we have, and this reporter took that opportunity to belittle these hardworking professional athletes. Many people did not appreciate his humor.
Each athlete, regardless of their money winnings, brings so much to the LPGA and their talent and commitment should be recognized without insult. We, as a community, have invited these professional athletes to entertain us, and then, the local press belittles them once they get here. Mr. Scalzo's negative reporting on the quality of these athletes insults them and us, the supporters of the LPGA.
One example is his insensitive comments about Pat Hurst. Ms. Hurst was the USGA Junior Champion, USGA Amateur Champion, NCAA Individual Champion, LPGA Rookie of the Year, three time Solheim Cup member, a major championship winner - the Nabisco Dinah Shore, and in her spare time she is married and the mother of two children. And in contradiction to Scalzo's statements that "nobody is going to pay $15 a day to watch her golf," just this week, four amateur golfers happily paid thousands to play with her in the pro-am.
Every rookie has a chance to become something remarkable in the LPGA, and it is through tournaments like ours they get their first exposure. We should all be proud to be a part of the LPGA Tour, and support the women who give so much for the sport they love. Remember the next Nancy Lopez is playing in our hometown this weekend. Don't miss this opportunity to see her.
John B. Taylor
Warren