Area Red Sox fan awaiting dream

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- When the World Series begins Saturday night in Boston's Fenway Park, no one in the Valley will be cheering harder for the Red Sox to end the "Curse of the Bambino" than William "Dibbie" DeAngelo.
A member of Ohio's Softball Hall of Fame, DeAngelo, 85, was born in 1918, the last time the Red Sox won the World Series.
He's watched his beloved team lose four seven-game World Series since 1946: to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946 and 1967; the Cincinnati Reds in 1975, and the New York Mets in 1986.
Remembers Buckner's error
"I can see that ball going under his hands forever," DeAngelo said of first baseman Bill Buckner's error in Game 6 against the Mets.
Buckner's 10th inning error cost the Red Sox a chance to clinch the championship. Two nights later, they lost Game 7.
"I dream of it sometimes, that was horrible," said DeAngelo, adding that postseason homers by Yankees Bucky Dent (1978) and Aaron Boone (2003) also occupy space in his Red Sox haunted hall of fame.
And then there is Cardinals pitcher Bob Gibson, the star of the 1967 Fall Classic.
"Gibson was one of the greatest ever," DeAngelo recalls. "That was a tough series."
Watched all games
Despite the late night starts this week, DeAngelo said he stayed up to watch each game of Boston's historic victory over New York in the American League Championship Series.
Boston became the first major league team to overcome a 3-0 playoff deficit and only the third professional sports team to do it, joining the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs and 1975 New York Islanders.
DeAngelo was glued to the set even though Sunday's game didn't end until about 1:25 a.m. Monday and Monday's marathon Game 5 lasted nearly six hours.
"I wouldn't miss any of the Red Sox-Yankees games," DeAngelo said. "You never give up on the Red Sox."
A 1937 graduate of The Rayen School, DeAngelo was a passionate baseball and softball player.
Played locally
A 40-year employee of Youngstown Welding, he played shortstop for such Youngstown teams as Ritz Bar, Central Bar, Golden Eagles, DeBartolo's and Harrison Post.
While serving with the U.S. Army's Ninth Infantry Division in Europe during World War II, DeAngelo managed the division's softball team.
DeAngelo said his first baseball love was Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics and when Jimmy Foxx was traded to the Red Sox, DeAngelo's loyalty shifted with him. Ted Williams became one of his favorites.
His love for the Red Sox eventually became a family affair.
"I brainwashed them all," said DeAngelo of his children Bill, Tom, Joe and Deborah.
"She's as happy as anyone," DeAngelo said of Deborah, an assistant coach at Youngstown State. "She called me as soon as Game 7 ended."
Never been to Fenway
DeAngelo said he and his wife, Lucille, who died 21/2 years ago, came close to making a trip to Fenway.
"We had tickets once, but that was the year of the strike [1994], so we ended up getting a refund," DeAngelo said.
Even though baseball's economic scheme favors rich clubs like the Yankees and Red Sox, DeAngelo says the sport needs a salary cap.
"No player is worth $25 million a year," said DeAngelo, referring to Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
Admitting that nothing is better than beating New York, DeAngelo hopes this is the year the Curse is lifted.
Bellhorn favorite
Despite the presence of pitchers Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez, outfielder Manny Ramirez and designated hitter David Ortiz, DeAngelo says his favorite player second baseman Mark Bellhorn.
"They're all pretty good," DeAngelo said. "Ramirez carried them for a while but he's been slacking off. I like Bellhorn even though he led the league in strikeouts. He's a quiet kid, never says much.
"Getting [pitcher Curt] Schilling was the big plus -- he's hard nosed," DeAngelo said. "Pedro's arm is getting a little weak -- he showed it in Game 7."