Tough coach DePizzo will return to dugout

The 84-year-old, a coach for 50 years, is recovering from an accident.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- For many of his 84 years, Sam DePizzo has spent his summers on a baseball field, either as player or coach.
He's been hit by baseballs, tossed by umpires and bitten by mosquitoes.
He's shivered through chilly night games and baked during hot afternoon games.
But Sam never tripped on dugout steps and fell.
Until recently.
It was an unfortunate situation, but Sam DePizzo's love for baseball puts him in that danger.
Prior to a recent Class B League game, DePizzo, as a coach for the Mink Financial team, tripped on the top ledge of a dugout at Cene Park and went down flat two or three steps below.
Sam said he bruised his ribs, sprained a thumb and scraped his knees. He may have also hit his head.
"I must have been out," said DePizzo, who recalled being woozy before an ambulance was called.
He spent several hours in an emergency room waiting for X-rays.
"I fell. It was my fault. The concrete's harder than my head, I guess," quipped DePizzo.
Soon back in dugout
He'll soon be back in the dugout, though, as a bench coach with Rondinelli Tuxedo's Class B team.
"I still want to keep going," said DePizzo, who a few weeks ago christened his 50th consecutive sandlot season.
His last 37 seasons have been in Class B. The previous 13 were in Little League, Pony, Babe Ruth and Colt.
DePizzo began coaching for sons Nick and Ralph, but he didn't stop after Ralph's final "B" season in 1971.
Sam, who has lived in Boardman the past 17 years, grew up on the East Side. He was a 21-year employee of the Youngstown Water Dept., retiring in 1985.
He played ball in the Army during World War II in El Paso, Texas, but also spent two years in India and Burma and three months in Africa.
A career highlight
A highlight of DePizzo's career was a runner-up finish by his Mayor Vukovich team in the Babe Ruth Senior World Series in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
"We were regional champs in Cincinnati, then went to Tennessee for nine days and lost in the finals."
Some of those on the World Series team were Bob Tinkey, Scott Knox, Tom Abbas, Willie Micco, Jim Katschke and the Jones brothers from Campbell.
One of DePizzo's prize players during earlier "B" days was hard-throwing Jeff Wallace of Minerva.
The lefty played for the Pirates, Tampa Bay and Red Sox, but blew his arm out.
Sam was well-liked by most of the kids he helped.
"I would never holler at a kid. I'd call them up by themselves and tell them about mistakes they made, especially mental errors. I always got along good with them."
DePizzo's ribs still hurt and his knee is swollen, but are his "B" days done?
No.
"I told Tony Gorvet to let me know if anyone wants a coach. If everything goes well, I'll be in there next year. I'm in good shape."
bassetti@vindy.com