43
Bill Sferra’s diamond life honored
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
In the 49 years that Bill and Claire Sferra were married before she passed away, there is no way of knowing just how many dinners he was late for because of umpiring and running leagues and tournaments.
It’s safe to estimate that number is in the several hundreds range.
“My wife Claire put up with [a lot],” Sferra said Wednesday before the 11th annual Mahoning & Trumbull Fast-pitch Senior All-Star Game at Youngstown State University’s softball complex. “But it was a good experience, I enjoyed it.”
Sferra has spent much of his 76 years either on or near a baseball or softball diamond. From playing men’s fast-pitch when he was in his teens to umpiring games and then becoming an assigner of umpires, Sferra knows his way around a ballpark.
The Mahoning Valley Coaches Association, sponsors of the annual senior all-star softball classic, is honoring Sferra’ service to baseball and softball by changing the name to the Bill Sferra Fast-pitch Classic. Sferra threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Wednesday’s doubleheader.
The Ursuline High graduate was a catcher and played 10 seasons in the Youngstown Fast-Pitch League. He started playing when he was still in high school.
“I was one of the youngest guys in the league,” Sferra said.
In 1958, he led the league in hitting and finished his career with a .300 batting average.
“I was always the catcer,” said Sferra of playing for Costello Paints. “I caught a lot of real good pitchers — Tony Landis, John Burkley, Newly Rowan.
“We were always No. 2 to the Sons of Italy team,” Sferra said. “We were neck-and-neck for probably five straight years.”
His umpiring skills have been recognized with top assignments. Over the years, Sferra umpired in 15 regional softball finals and 10 state finals.
In 1999, Sferra was named the “Umpire of the Year” by the National Federation of High School Umpires Association.
In addition to umpiring, Sferra has spent a lot of time as league director. He replaced Fred Vicarel as the director of the Men’s Fast-Pitch League. He also developed the men’s Saturday Slow-Pitch League that at one time blossomed into more than 30 teams.
He started NSA softball travel tournaments in the area.
“It’s still going strong,” Sferra said of youth fast-pitch softball.
Among the changes he’s observed is how young players are when they start playing travel ball.
“To succeed, you almost have to get started at 9,” Sferra said. “They have to work hard to keep up.”
Sferra continues to serve as the assigner for the All-American Conference for football, basketball, baseball and softball. In 2013, he was inducted into the Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame.
And now he has a classic to go with his name.