Union Little League the first Fifty Years

The words "Little League Baseball" have meaning to just about everyone in this day and age, though their interpretations may differ considerably

Back in the autumn of 1953, however, Little League denoted hardly more than a registered trademark, and a relatively scarce one at that. Spawned during the post-war boom in the late 1940’s, Little League Baseball Inc. had achieved only a token foothold in New Jersey by 1953, though national headquarters lay relatively close by in Williamsport, PA.

While the national pastime rode a crest of popularity in the early 50’s, organized baseball for 8-12 year olds was not exactly a popular concept. A rapidly expanding Union Township abounded in young families with children but to set up a regularly scheduled league complete with its own playing field, equipment and uniforms was a dream even the most ardent baseball fans were afraid to tackle.

Fortunately a small group of dedicated citizens – Wilbur Groves, Al Bell, Joe Collins, Walter Erhardt and Marco DiGiovanni – had the perseverance to actively pursue this dream. Not being a household word as yet, the words "Little League" did not readily draw volunteers, sponsors and donations out of the woodwork at first.

Frequent meetings were held during the fall of 1953 and, one by one, individuals genuinely dedicated to the youth of Union joined up as charter members

Collins, then a New York Yankee first baseman, lent credibility and prestige to the newly created Union Little League as its first commissioner. Bell, a former pro umpire, who eventually became the League’s first President, gave the group sound guidance. His vision of the League’s great future attracted many new members getting them deeply involved in making the fledging league succeed.

Then came Don Lutz, Harold Bailey and John Spahr, who handled all the paperwork. There were many others, most of whom served as coaches during the first year, but all of whom devoted their time and effort to make this idea a success.

In places like Collins’ basement, DiGiovanni’s storage room, and the conference room at the Union Center National Bank, the organizers held almost nightly meetings to recruit coaches and other volunteers and build the foundation of the League’s operation.

With a great deal of enthusiasm and funds personally contributed by these men, they purchased a charter from Little League’s National HQ in Williamsport, PA, and Union Little League was officially born in October of 1953.

After receiving their charter, the founding fathers were now ready for their next seemingly impossible task. Sponsors had to be found to fund the League’s many initial expenses, and Wilbur Groves pushed hard to obtain four, one for each of the planned four teams. Only four teams were originally planned, as many felt there would not be enough boys to fill the roster spots. Besides, obtaining financial backing for what was then an unheard of concept, was like pulling teeth.

The men now began to scour the Township for a suitable playing field for their new league. Elastic Stop Nut Corp, on Vauxhall Rd., donated an old softball field (now ESNA field #1) and Solomon’s Sport Shop in Elizabeth agreed to supply the uniforms and equipment mostly on credit and promises. Throughout the winter of 1953, the men cleared snow from the field and worked tirelessly to prepare it for spring.

It was now early April, and provisions had been made to field a four-team league on the hastily repaired field at Elastic Stop Nut. But what about players? Who could be sure that enough boys would come to the first ever tryouts?

With fear and premature misgivings, the founders showed up early at 7:30 AM hoping to get enough kids to fill rosters. Unexpectedly they were deluged with hordes of boys beyond their wildest dreams and the crew worked from 8:00AM until dark, rating over 600 candidates for only 60 roster spots. Not having the heart to disappoint 90% of the boys, four more teams were hastily created and uniforms obtained.

Then on Monday, May 3, 1954, the 16 coaches of the eight original teams gathered in a room at Mack Camera Service (DiGiovanni’s business), the temporary clubhouse. They were anxious to select their players for the season. In those days a complicated auction system was used as compared to today’s simpler draft, and with prior experience non-existent, they learned the pitfalls of Little League coaching together. Thus, on a sunny May afternoon in 1954, with rented bleachers and borrowed equipment, the first call of "play ball" was heard and 120 boys were playing Little League Baseball in Union. These 120 boys represented the first generation of Union Little Leaguers and since a half-century has lapsed, some of the names still remain familiar in sports circles throughout Union and other parts of the state. Some of the original players have passed kids of their own through the program, and many became Little League coaches both in Union and elsewhere.

Even before the first season of 1954 drew to a close with the Yankees beating the Braves in a best two of three township "World Series," the seeds were sown for expansion and prosperity. The league organizers knew an additional field would be needed for further growth.

Harold Hall, the President of a company on Lehigh Ave, then known as Metals Disintegrating, donated a briar patch across from his plant for use as a second field. It defies imagination how the original members converted that seemingly useless, hilly briar patch into now what is one of the most attractive LL parks in the State. It took all summer and fall, but the hard work gave the organization more cohesiveness and its members a sense of purpose and achievement. Appropriately named Hall Stadium, the field was ready for use for the 1955 season. Fittingly, in the mid-80’s, Hall Stadium was chosen as the site of the taping of "Little League’s Official How To Play Baseball" video, as well as several TV commercials - a tribute to our past field directors and our current field director of 15 years, Bill Morrison, whose tireless efforts do not go unrecognized.

Continuing to expand its scope, the League fielded a full complement of eight farm teams in 1955, and grew to three major leagues, each with four teams. Subsequent expansion brought four leagues, with a total of 16 major league teams and 16 minor league teams. Due to the expanded number of teams and schedule, a second diamond was constructed at ESNA in 1962 (now known as ESNA #2), aided greatly by Ed Weber’s timely assistance.

In 1969, recognizing the special needs of eight and nine year olds, Union Little League cut back to 15 major and 15 minor league teams, divided into three leagues and added six training league teams, for a total of 36 teams, fielding nearly 500 boys and girls. In subsequent years the format has changed to meet the needs of the youth of the township. Currently there are two leagues consisting of 12 major league teams, 12 minor league teams, six eight-year-old training league teams and four seven-year-old training league teams.

In addition, thanks to the vision and hard work of John Dennis and others, baseball doesn’t stop in June after the regular season is over. A summer baseball program was begun in which 8, 9, 10, and 11 year-old All Star players are selected to participate in tournaments throughout the county. Besides competing to go to the Little League World Series, the 12-year-old All-Star Williamsport Tournament teams also participate in the Cooperstown Dream park tournament held at the site of Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. This is a rewarding experience for not only the players but for the coaches and parents as well. All other Union Little Leaguers also have the opportunity to play in a summer league program with towns in our area.

A Fall Baseball program is also open to all players that have played in our spring and summer seasons. Teams are formed and the players get an extra six weeks of baseball on Saturdays and Sundays during the fall months.

Union Little League took another major step forward in 1992 by adding its Challenger Division, fielding baseball teams devoted to the physically and mentally handicapped children of Union and other surrounding towns.

In 1998, in a further vision of improvement, board member Frank Araneo, spearheaded a major fundraising drive to completely refurbish the two fields at the ESNA complex (now also known as the Hickory Manor fields). His hard work and the work of many others is evident in the beauty and professional appearance of these two fields.

Little League coaches come and go, mostly as their children enter and later graduate from the League. Important and as helpful as most of these volunteers are, the real backbone of this and all other Little Leagues, for that matter, consists of the perennial members – those who no longer (and in some cases never did) have children in the program. Many current members of the League have supplied over 20 years of service, and through the years hundreds of concerned adults have followed the tradition and worked to maintain and improve the concept of Little League. But the real tribute to the men and women behind the scene is the very existence of the League itself, which has flourished without the benefit of taxpayer money, and without any salaried positions. Fundraising activities and sponsors maintain the Little League and all the work is done by volunteers.

So now we begin our 50 season. Three outstanding private fields, many long-time members and 35 teams stand as tangible evidence of the scope of Union Little League’s success, but the record shines even more brightly in terms of caliber of play. Many District Championships have been won and several Sectional titles, as well. But it was in 1976 that an All-Star squad from Union’s American League placed the crowning pinnacle of success on Unions first 50 years by attaining District, Sectional, State, Regional, and Mid-Atlantic championships and was just one victory away from the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Many additional awards and trophies fill our clubhouse. They are truly a tribute to the excellence achieved by Union’s young players on the field over the years.

During the 50-year history, the simple philosophy of doing something for the youth of the community has prevailed, and today, the Union Little League offers one of the finest Little League organizations in the nation.

HERE IS A LIST OF THE ORIGINAL EIGHT TEAMS FOR THE 1954 SEASON, THEIR SPONSORS, COACHES AND "CREAM OF THE CROP" PLAYERS:

Yankees– Sponsored by Metals Disintegrating and coached by Russ Hosp and Tom McEvey.

Players: Russ Hosp, Steve French, Walt Erhardt, Fred Kiebler, Norm Barsky, Steve French, Steve Gleitman, Robert Kremp, Walt Treibel, Don Bushell, Mel Vogler, Kurt Elste, Howard Leary, Russ Alber and Hal Koerber

Indians – Sponsored by International Paint Co. and coached by Charles Robinson and Leon Reisher. Players: Robert Wilson, Tom Popola, Ricjard Reisher, Larry Smith Charles Chicarelli, Dave Dalton, Bruce Stano, Bill Martin, Ron Naso, John Martin, Jay Garfunkel, Paul Braskin, Danny DiMartino, Rich Silverman and Jim DiGiovanni

Tigers – Sponsored by Spencer Wire Co. and coached by Les Horbelt and Ted Bubnowski.

Players: Larry Kacheirjess, Tim Thomas, Bill Schmidt, Tony Marzarello, Pat Catino, Craig Mueller, Bill Aicher, Don Aicher, Ken Lakind, Werner Jehle, John Spahr, Ron Mikolajski, John Kotsun, and Skipper Case

Red Sox – Sponsored by Elastic Stop Nut Corp. and coached by Martin Williams and Robert Heuschkel. Players: Russ Hawke, Bob Heuschkel, Rich Heuschkel, Bob Grimshaw, George Grimshaw, Bill Regan, Alan Anderson, Joe Costello, Dave Lindsey, Walt Allen, John Grabko, Rich Schroeder, Wayne Mergott, Dean Ellison, Allen Lenox

Giants – Sponsored by The Rotary Club and coached by Bob Graham and Don MacKenzie.

Players: Bob Graham, Ted Bubnowski, Ed Hackney, Bob Johnson, Dennis Raczynski, Ken Kreutler, John Grambar, Guenther Forst, Jess Gardner, Jan Kolska, Dan VonSpeckelson, Bob Martucci, Bill Hausmann, A.W. Wright, John Magod

Dodgers – Sponsored by the Exchange Club and coached by Ray Goldberg and Walter Erhardt.

Players: Tony Loria, Frank Holtz, Al Steinginga, Jim Zeiss, Ken Zeiss, Art Santorini, Francis Peterson, Larry Dropkin, Gary Magin, Herb Bopp, Randy Teufel, Norman Mann, Pete Francis, Walt Schaub, Jay Barnstein

Cardinals – Sponsored by the Kawanis Club and coached by Bill O’Connor and Joe Kreidweiz.

Players: Paul Twords, Doug Carpa, John Kreidweis, George Martin, Ray Adams, Billy Donelly, Bill DeMarco, Ron Steinberg, Ed Napiewacki, Mike Sielicki, Alan Phillips, Ron Boyko, Gordon Marshall, Billy Liebiedz, George Galante

Braves – Sponsored by Pyro Plastics and coached by Ed Gatsch and Joe Calabrese.

Players: Charles Fastnacht, Bob Loeb, Bill Banit, Tom Banit, Ian Nelson, Ed Gatsch, Mike Battone, Tom Berger, Walt Sellers, Doug McManus, Fred Sachs, Bill Boettcher, Jim Gibney, Roger Kramer, Dennis Kimmerle