ED NOTE: This story comes to us courtesy of noted local baseball author Dan Genovese. It tells a story of the 1975 13-year-old New England regional champions hailing from Westfield, Mass.
By DAN GENOVESE
Special to The Westfield News
As you walk the grounds of historic Bullens Field and pause and wonder, who were these successful teams that have gone before 2016 that are engraved on the granite’s near the concessions stand, there is one team that stands out as pioneers that make these national tournaments possible.
At that time, on a national level, Babe Ruth Baseball experimented in many regions with 13 year old “prep” leagues in order to keep the 13 year olds “interested” in the game as they had to deal with not only a 90′ diamond but older, more experienced players. In 1975 Westfield did not have a 13 year old “prep” league but instead developed its first 13 year old all-star team from its 13 to 15 year old pool to compete in the first 13 year old tournament “concept” and ultimately earn the right to represent Westfield and New England in the first Thirteen Year Old World Series. “The series was trial run,” according to Westfield coach Mickey Stefanik, “they wanted to see how the players would act on and off the field.” So in essence we were guinea pigs in the annals of Babe Ruth Baseball history as a “true” world series did not take place according to the record books until 1980. What we did, according to Babe Ruth Baseball offices today was a “test program.” We were away from home, with host families, we were thirteen and it was the summer of 1975…what could go wrong?
1975 WESTFIELD BABE RUTH BASEBALL TEAM
It was the summer of ‘75, Nixon was a bad memory, Vietnam had just ended, we were engulfed at the movies by Jaws, disco was taking over the airwaves, and two Red Sox rookie sensations (Lynn & Rice) were huge inspirations to us. We were all about the fashion of shaggy hair, stirrup socks (the norm since the early twentieth century and slowly making a comeback), white Spot-Bilt metal spikes (were standard issue spurred on by the Oakland A’s dynasty of the early 1970’s) and heavy flannel uniforms we wore during regular season play, no light-weight wicking material, united with same colors and logos (although a few players had the first polyester uniforms). At some point we were coined the “rag-tag” team from Westfield. This was a rallying cry of sorts for this playground hardened, neighborhood type kids, not a watered down team of talent interrupted by summer lacrosse, soccer or video games…we were ball players…the best of the best. Even at the young age of thirteen we knew the game. We were rock stars of Westfield, although no one knew it. During that summer the Westfield News was on strike. This was the only way people in Westfield got their news on happenings about town. There was no internet of course and the Springfield paper didn’t care. It was as if we didn’t exist and we were in the midst of something special and no one knew it or followed it with only a few key supporters.
The All Stars Come Together
After being selected by regular-season league coaches we began our practices in early July under the coaching staff of Mike Stefanik, Keith Enko and Phil Riverin Sr. Smart baseball men that instead of a browbeating style of intimidation they gave us plenty of space and freedom but stepped in when direction or control was needed. This was not necessarily the first time this group got together, at least as a whole. In the summer of 1974 the core of this team were strongly represented in both the Westfield North and Westfield South Little League All-Stars and again in the spring of 1975 when both middle schools had travel baseball teams (this was the last year before tax cuts eliminated middle school sports).
Game One – Elimination Round vs Longmeadow @ Longmeadow / Mid July
Game one did not start off so well for the Westfield All-Stars. First game jitters got to Russ Eyer as he gave up four runs in the first three innings. Trailing 4-1 heading into the top of the fourth Westfield rallied and loaded the bases for Mr. Clutch Bill Gamache, who lined a bases clearing double to the fence to tie the game. With the game still tied heading into the final inning, Gamache walked, reached third on a pick-off play gone bad and while on third danced (likely doing the “Hustle” the popular disco hit of the summer) around and forced the pitcher to attempt another pick-off play at third that again went wild and Gamache scored the lead and ultimately the winning run for Westfield. Game One to Westfield.
Game Two – Elimination Round vs Leominster@ Westfield / Mid July
Played at the Trade School Field (now Jachym Field) started out much the same as game one as Leominster came out swinging and got to Westfield starter Todd Collins for four runs in the first inning but settled down nicely after that. Westfield remained shut out until the third when the heart of Westfield order produced four singles and a bases loaded triple to right center by right fielder Dan Genovese (hey that’s me) tied the game. In the fourth Westfield would score five more runs for a commanding 9 to 4 lead but in the sixth Leominster would rally back until fireballer Randy D’Amico came in to shut the door. Game two to Westfield and on to the Western Massachusetts Championship Round at Amherst
Game Three – Western Massachusetts Championship Round @ Amherst vs Amherst / Early August
In the days leading up to the Western Massachusetts Championship single elimination tournament we practiced in some pretty thick heat as we were in a nasty heat wave and it was yet to peak. The saving grace was that the opening game against the host team would take place at 5 p.m. Still in the upper 90s by game time (it had reached 100 degrees earlier in the day) we were sweltering with… most of us in heavy wool uniforms and wool hats. Some 400 brave souls attended the game.
The game was a rematch of sorts from a year previous when Westfield came from behind and scored six runs in the last inning to defeat Amherst in dramatic fashion in a Little League All-Star match-up that featured four players in the Westfield line-up and five players in the Amherst line-up. Revenge was most likely on the minds of the Amherst coaches and players.
In the rematch, Westfield scored first with a two-out triple from Gamache and a Mike Daniels single. That would be Westfield’s last run until the sixth inning. Westfield starter Randy D’Amico was throwing heat in the heat and struggled with control with seven walks but managed to strike out four, allow just two hits and one run. The highlight of the first part of the game was Westfield’s triple play in the first. With runners at first and third for Amherst, D’Amico stabbed a line drive shot up the middle for one, threw to Todd Marcyoniak at third for the second out, who then threw across the diamond to Andy Varelas at first for the third out. This would take the wind out the Amherst sails for a few innings.
Al Miles, usually a master of control, came in the fourth to pitch, but it was clear the heat was affecting him as well. He lasted just two innings, giving up five runs on two hits while walking seven and striking out one batter. Gamache, doing the catching (left-handed), was called upon for the last two innings to slow the Amherst train down. Going into the last inning down by five runs (eerily familiar to last year’s game), Westfield would post another wild comeback scoring six runs. With one out, six consecutive hits had the Amherst coaching staff sweating profusely. We just knocked off host Amherst.
We now had to rest-up for the next day’s game at 4 p.m. with a temperature predicted at 102 degrees.
Game Four – Western Massachusetts Championship Round @ Amherst vs Norton – Worcester / Early August
August 2nd was the hottest day on record in the state of Massachusetts. In western Massachusetts a 107 degree reading was recorded…a great day for baseball. By 4 p.m., the game time temperature had cooled down to a mild 102. A three-run triple by Varelas and a two-run double I slammed is all we needed as Varelas pitched flawlessly in the dangerous heat by allowing just three hits and 10 strikeouts. A pool was all we need to prepare for the Western Massachusetts Championship Game.
Game Five – Western Massachusetts Championship Round @ Amherst vs Oxford / Early August
Third day in a row we would play a game in a massive heat wave although on this day it was a cool 98 degrees at game time. Our opponent for the Western Massachusetts Championship was against a team from Oxford. These guys looked intimidating, the coaches looked mean, the uniforms were all coordinated in modern polyester…one player even had a mustache! At this point these guys had rolled their opponents. I think I had heat stroke as I can’t tell you the final score but it was a “see-saw” back and forth battle and starter Gamache hung in there for the win giving us the championship. It was time to celebrate and prepare for the New England Regionals.
New England Regional Championship – South Weymouth Massachusetts
While we practiced and prepared for the New England Regional Tournament we had to come to grips with the understanding we would have to stay with host families, a very new experience.
On the day before the tournament began, all teams met at South Weymouth High School for a meet and greet kick-off BBQ where we met our foster parents and family and see our “home” for the next four days. Teams from all over New England states were represented while Massachusetts had two other teams, the host team and the Eastern Massachusetts champions. We later had a quick practice to prepare for the first game.
Game Six – New England Regional Championship @ South Weymouth vs Stamford CT / Mid-August
In our first game we were given the title of “underdog” while Stamford was called the “powerhouse” of which both titles did not stick. We would score in every inning but two in support of Varelas. The hitting star was Mike Daniels by going 3-for-4 and a massive seven RBIs while scoring two runs. That was easy.
To keep us occupied that night all teams participated in a bowling tournament.
Game Seven – New England Regional Championship @ South Weymouth vs Essex Junction, VT / Mid-August
This game was over early as Westfield scored five runs in the top of the first inning, single runs in the third and fifth and two more in the sixth with offensive prowess supplied by Varelas and I, both going three for four while the pitching of Gamache kept the Essex batters at bay allowing just four hits as Westfield won 9-1.
The final nail in the coffin was a halted late game rally by Essex. With runners on first and second and no outs, Essex hit a soft fly ball in the right-center gap. Left-handed Daniels raced over from center with a bead on the floater, waved off the right fielder, grabbed the ball going away from the play and fired a rocket to Todd Collins at third to catch the runner at second attempting to tag. Collins never had to move and the runner never had a chance to slide – he was out long before he arrived. Wisely for Essex the runner at first tagged and moved up to second. The next batter sent a single up the middle and the runner on second was waved home but Daniels’ arm again was showcased as he threw a laser to John McGuirk to stop the runner from scoring on the fly. Daniels made the third out in the inning as well corralling in a fly ball.
So often is the case after a spectacular defensive display the fielder usually will lead off the next inning. Mike Daniels remembers distinctly the PA announcer boomed “now batting, the arm we just witnessed twice in the top of the inning…”
We now waited to see who we would play for the championship.
Game Eight – New England Regional Championship @ South Weymouth vs Greater Lawrence, MA / Mid-August
Not only was the New England Regional Championship on the line but since a state champion was not crowned, the winner of this game would take both titles as well as a trip to New Jersey for a national title. Westfield would draw first blood in the second inning by scoring two runs and another run in the fifth to give Westfield a 3-0 lead while Varelas kept the Lawrence bats quiet until the top of the sixth when Lawrence would score four runs to take the lead and seemingly take the wind out of Westfield’s sails. Lawrence would hold Westfield scoreless in the bottom of the sixth and it would be up to Randy D’Amico, the Westfield reliever who came in to stop the bleeding in the sixth, to keep the game within reach.
It was now nail biting time as D’Amico did just that and was now Westfield’s last chance. Down by one run in the bottom half of last inning, the first part of the inning was a blur but the rally had begun and with two runners on base Mike Daniels had singled home the tying run and with John McGuirk now at third and Daniels at first perhaps the rarest of walk-off plays would happen. The plan was for Daniels to draw a throw to first to get in a dramatic do-or-die rundown (there was less than two outs) to score McGuirk. According to Daniels he was going regardless. As noted in an earlier post these are playground hardened, sandlot players and could and would win at any cost by any means possible. While Daniels was dancing back and forth at first the pitcher froze and balked! McGuirk strode home with the winning run and the players rushed the field in disbelief. We had won the State and New England Regionals and were heading to New Jersey for a chance at the national title. Upon return to Westfield we were greeted to cheers at “The Green” by our parents, family members and Mayor Rhodes.
World Series – Hamilton Township, New Jersey
By the time we hoisted the New England Regional Championship trophy on August 17th we had almost two full weeks to prepare for the first ever unofficial 13 Year-Old Babe Ruth Baseball World Series in Hamilton Township, New Jersey where we would again be required to live with host families. We also learned that our games would be played under the lights, something we had never done before which required us to practice under lights locally which proposed a challenge to our coaching staff. We scrambled to find places but we ended up at both Westfield State University (with the original concrete-hard Astro Turf) and McKenzie Field in Holyoke. We also faced the challenge of financing the trip and thanks to the generous donations of the Elks Club in Westfield and others the need was covered so we loaded on a bus to Hamilton Township, New Jersey. I distinctly remember while riding the bus seeing the original Giants stadium under construction in the distance as we traveled into New Jersey.
Another key memory during that Labor Day Weekend was my host family 16-year-old brother. That weekend was most famously known in the history of New Jersey when Bruce Springsteen became the rage as their favorite son had just released ‘Born to Run’ a few days prior. It was constantly blaring on the radios and was the talk of the teen set at the time. Honestly we had no idea who he was. “Have you ever heard of Bruce Springsteen?” was one of the first things he said to me. For the most part he was a local sensation but not nationally until that weekend. So much for KC and the Sunshine Band!
Game Nine – World Series @ Hamilton Township,New Jersey vs Morristown, NJ / Labor Day Weekend
There was no tournament format, we played just one team. Remember this was a trial concept. Varelas started for Westfield and did an admirable job and we had the bases loaded twice during the game but could not plate a run against Morristown and we took our first loss 4-0.
Game Ten – World Series @ Hamilton Township New Jersey vs Morristown, NJ / Labor Day Weekend
We finally managed to score our first run when in the third, a triple by Russ Eyer and a single by Pat O’Connor and then again in the sixth when Todd Marcyoniak singled, stole second and came home easily on a double by D’Amoco. With Westfield down 8-2 going into the bottom of the seventh it was do or die. John McGuirk would start with a single and moved to third when I singled. I would steal second and Steve Krutka would then single home McGuirk. I scored the final Westfield run on a sacrifice fly by Marcyoniak but by then the magic was gone…the long, strange trip was over. Westfield had lost 8-4.
Reflections
The weeks following our trip to New Jersey we would gather three more times to receive various accolades and would go our separate ways as school had begun. Some entered high school while others had another year of middle school. We were moving on. In a way it was the end of the innocence.
Over the next few years there would be more reunions of sorts in the form of all-star teams, high school, Legion, college and softball. In fact, in an interesting twist, I have the pleasure of today playing ball on the same team as a son and nephew of one of my 1975 teammates, a constant reminder of a great team of the past.
This wasn’t just a story of a successful baseball team but instead a study into the brotherhood of ball players that’s now 41 years removed. We’re fifty-four now, some have left us, others are engrained in the community and others I don’t know where they are, even in this age of Facebook. We certainly had opportunities to be “boys” but we behaved admirably that summer. In a way we feel we have contributed to the future success of Babe Ruth tournaments.
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“As far as I’m concerned they are the champs!”
Phil Riverin Sr. / Team Manager
About the author
Dan Genovese is a member of the 1975 Thirteen Year Old Westfield All-Star team, author on Westfield’s extensive baseball history and re-founder of the Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Base Ball Club.
