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Austintown pays tribute to Wally Bell
By Greg Gulas
AUSTINTOWN
On arguably Major League Baseball’s greatest weekend, it was only fitting that Austintown Township honor one if its own major leaguers.
With the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum getting set to welcome its 2014 class today, Austintown Township Park got the jump Saturday on MLB’s festivities by naming its main field, “Wally Bell Field.”
It was a fitting tribute to its native son and former MLB umpire, who remained passionate about his home town right up until he died of a heart attack in October.
Longtime friend and fellow MLB umpire, John Hirschbeck, a Poland resident, said Wally has to be smiling down at today’s honor.
“We worked together for 11 years and he’s such a big part of my family. He had such a big heart you just couldn’t ask anything of Wally that he would say no to,” Hirschbeck said. “When on the road he let people know that everything in Austintown was the very best — from Trax Lounge to pizza to its residents. I can assure you that he is looking down today telling everyone that this is my weekend because they’re naming a field after me in my hometown.”
Hirschbeck’s father, Jack, who is spending a week in the Valley, said Wally always had a story to tell.
“I rode in the car with him on many road trips and he was just a great guy. I loved his stories and enjoyed him. I just hope that he enjoyed me,” the elder Hirschbeck added.
Erma Adams, whose husband, Danny, had open heart surgery around the same time Bell did in 1999, called Wally a very caring individual.
“My husband and Wally had the same heart surgeon and he would always give Danny words of encouragement when they were doing their rehab. That is something we will never forget,” she stated.
Longtime area official Brian Meenachan and current assigner Bill Sferra, recalled Wally as a student of the game; even when he was young.
“He’s done so much for so many people over the years. this is a fitting tribute to a life well-lived. I knew Wally for over 30 years and when I needed something, he was always there for me. That I will never forget,” Meenachan said.
Sferra recalled a high school game when Bell was playing for Austintown Fitch.
“It was a bang-bang play and he proceeded to tell me that I missed the call because I didn’t have the right angle. Not many high school players would have said that to an umpire.” Sferra said.
Bell’s sister, Becky Hulings, said after her brother’s funeral she realized more than ever how wonderful and beautiful a community in which she and her brothers were raised.
“If only you knew how appreciative my brother would be of this honor. Wally loved baseball and in naming this field in his honor, I hope that those who play here share the passion that he did for the game,” Hulings said.
Rob Conklin, director of athletics at Austintown Fitch, added that it was a beautiful day to honor a beautiful person.
“He was such an ambassador for both Fitch High School and Austintown, I always felt it a distinct pleasure when he walked through my doors and we had an opportunity to just sit and chat,” Conklin said.
Joe Brooks, Tom Price, John Rorick and John Mang were close friends who would take Bell to the airport when he was heading out on a road trip.
“We always tried to take care of him and he sure took care of us,” Brooks said. “We’d go to spring training and I think it was his way of thanking us for all that we did for him. We had to be the oldest entourage for any of the Major League umpires.”
Price, who fixed Bell’s glove during his playing days, later designed a sternum pad from condensed rubber that fit under his chest protector to absorb any shock from a batted ball after his heart attack.
“Wally was impatient and just had to get back to work. I just felt good later when he told me that he had gotten hit with a ball several times and the pad that I had designed was excellent protection,” Price said.
Gary Conroy, an Austintown Fitch alum (class of 1975), reminded many of the story when his father Mickey, now 91, was a Little League umpire and Wally was just getting started in the profession.
“When he worked with my father at Libbee Field, Wally would show up and just beg my father to let him work the plate. He said that was the one way for him to get better,” Conroy said.
Son Jason, daughter Lindsey and fiancee Renee Rouser thanked everyone who had a part in the ceremony.
“If my father had a wish it would have been to have a field named after him,” Lindsey said.
“He loved baseball and with a field now named in his honor, I know that he would be pleased and thankful,” Jason added.
Rouser talked of Bell’s love for baseball.
“We cannot say thank you enough to everyone who donated their time, effort and energy to this project. I know Wally would have been pleased and humbled,” she said.
Childhood friend Ray Klempay played Little League with Bell and just knew he’d make it to the show.
“We were probably 16 years old at the time and I saw him out after he had worked a game. He still had his umpiring uniform on and proceeded to tell me that he loved this stuff,” Klempay stated.
“I guess he never really took his equipment off after that because he could always be found working a game.”