26th Annual Alumni Reunion & Hall of Fame Dinner

The Boston Park League hosted the 26th Annual Alumni Reunion - Hall of Fame Banquet on November 9th, 2007 at Lantana's in Randolph, Ma. A cocktail reception began at 6:30pm, followed by a family style roast beef/turkey dinner at 7:30pm. 300 guests were in attendance.

The highlight of the evening was the induction of 6 more members into the Boston Park League Hall of Fame. The league recognized a number of players, alumni, and friends of the Park League with the presentation of special awards for outstanding achievement. The 2007 league all star team was also honored.

A number of former HOFers and friends made donations to the league, which were greatly appreciated.

2007 Hall of Fame Inductees and Awards

John Blaine - Pitcher (Mass. Envelope/Palmer Club)
Mike Browne - (Umpire)
Marty Canavan - shortstop (ADSL/Larkin Club)
Jeff January - catcher (Mass. Envelope)
Bill MacDougall - outfielder (Towne Club)
Kevin O'Leary - pitcher/firstbaseman (D's, Flynn, & Palmer Club)

The 2007 BPL Champion Boston Padres received the Bill Stewart Jr. Championship Trophy, winning their first league title, beating the Stockyard, 4 games to 3 in the finals. Manager Ed Neal, along with coach Gerry Ferria, accepted the award.

The Palmer Club received the Hal Crosby Trophy for having the best regular season record of 24-8. Manager Derek Grudinskas accepted the award.

The John Kelliher Playoff MVP Award was presented to Padres pitcher Darwin Mesa, who won 2 games in the championship series, and batted .462.

Special Awards

Bob Cusick MVP Award - Matt Boudrow, Pitcher, Palmer Club
Dick Casey Sportsmanship Award - Dave O'Sullivan, IF, Hines/ADSL
Hank Geary Achievement Award - Matt Noone, Head Baseball Coach, Babson College
Red Johnson Alumni Award - Reverand Jim Keurulainen
Dan Roberts/Dick Clegg Umpires Award - Charlie Campbell
Gerry McCarthy Coaches Award - Ed Neal, Manager, Boston Padres
Thomas Yawkey Sportsman Award - Jerry Trupiano
Bill Benson Rookie of the Year Award - Dan Zailskas, Pitcher, Stockyard
John Kelliher MVP in the Championship Series - Darwin Mesa, Pitcher, Boston Padres
Johnny MacDonald Defensive Player of the Year - Gregg Stack, Catcher, Palmer Club
William J. Stewart Jr. Championship Trophy - Boston Padres
Hal Crosby Regular Season Championship Trophy - Palmer Club
Jean Yawkey/BPL Baseball Scholarship - Jason Whittier, Cannon Club/UMass Amherst

Hall of Fame Banquet Pictures

Hall of Fame dinner pictures from 2000 to 2005 can be viewed by accessing our auxiliary web site at http://groups.msn.com/bostonparkleague.

Baseball Poems

We invite you to read the 2 poems below that were recited at previous Park League Banquets.

"Our First Love"
by Gerald F. Kenneally
Back on November 1, 1991, Gerry "Radi" Kenneally, a 2nd baseman for the 1956 Champion McCormack Club, was inducted into the Boston Park League Hall of Fame. On that night, Gerry recited a poem that he wrote, just for this occasion. He did so from memory, without reference to written notes.

I have come tonight to relive an old dream;
So I've put it in verse to show what I mean,
For like many of you here within this hall,
I fondly recall those days playing ball.

In our youth, it gave purpose to our life,
shaped our character to face later strife;
So now that we're older with time to see,
Those days playing ball were precious to me.

For it is tough to get sixty, stout and slow;
Looking down a bumpy road, no where to go.
One takes a moment to think about his past;
Knew that those good times would never last.

Yet there is little harm in what I do,
Though age has made us melancholy or blue.
We escape life's demands in reverie,
And we dream of our youth as it use to be.

Just picture that scene in those days gone by,
When we were the gleam in our Father's eye,
How he did lob that ball to us underhand,
As we stood perplexed with bat in hand.

Then he taught us to swing and to stand.
We were so proud in our uniform and matching belt,
With that old Braves hat and his worn out glove;
As he planted that seed of our first love.

Oh weren't we lucky when we were small,
That he encouraged us to play some ball.
We'd rise in the morn to do some chore;
Then we'd sneak away early long before.

We would call for friends along the way,
And get them right out of bed to play;
Then all of our gang would stay at the park,
To practice our game until it was dark.

Oh weren't we lucky with that big brother,
Who hit those hard grounders off our knee,
And seemed to delight in our agony,
As he urged, "keep it in front on thee."

The next one he'd hit harder than before;
He seemed to relish our pain more and more,
As he challenged us with that stern cry,
"You can master your play with another try."

Oh weren't we lucky that we tanned in the sun,
As every day, that practice would be fun.
We learned to hit, to catch and field,
And prayed that our time would never yield.

We played each day as was our fashion,
Nurtured that love that became our passion.
We sought perfection emulating a pro;
And always gave what we could - a decent show.

Oh weren't we lucky that we did find,
That many of our pals were a similar kind.
Who loved the thrills of this fine game,
Who practiced their skills, enjoyed their fame.

They too had to labor long, hard, and well;
Just to hear some obnoxious fan yell -
"That bum's last play was surely great,
but you should see him at the plate."

Now just recall, the thrill that it was,
As each ballgame became a special cause;
And every at bat, another crucial test;
As we rounded each base as if possessed;

Shook off superstitions that second-guessed.
Oh, how we loved to hear that crowd roar,
As we raced around third base to score.
We vowed our game would last forevermore.

For we had to be that person at the plate,
With the sacks loaded and the inning late;
We guessed the kid would throw his curves,
As we fought to steady down our nerves.

When that crowd screamed, we heard no noise;
In deep concentration, we held our poise.
We just had to avoid that double play,
And safely reach base would make our day.

10.

Yes, we were driven to star at this game;
Swore the next play would honor our name,
And not mistake that brought us shame.
As we avidly awaited our moment of fame.

But their reliever soon slammed the door,
As we sat and stared at the locker room floor;
Yet given enough time, we learned to cope;
That with another dawn, there came new hope.

11.

So salute all players of varied abilities,
And team mates from different nationalities.
For in joint pursuit, we overcame rivalries,
By blending talent and personalities.

For that's what it meant to be part of a team,
Working together to capture our dream.
Oh wasn't it great to be that young boy,
When playing baseball was our ultimate joy.

12.

But now that I'm older, I watch the game -
try not to be critical or place any blame;
Yet soon, I'm screaming at what I see -
"If only Joe Morgan listened to me."

All the other kibitzers, we can agree,
That our Sox should have four runs, not three,
In a flash, my mind starts playing tricks;
I'm at bat, at Fenway Park, it's 1946.

13.

As reality returns, I love all these scenes;
For now these memories are our field of dreams.
So I come here annually to see some old friend,
And pray that these good times will never end.

I just yearn to hear some old timer say-
"Walt Mortimer was a player in his day."
Then that rebuttal that Kenneally will shout-
"He was not that good, just an easy out."

14.

Now that is what my story is about,
That my ramblings have left me little doubt,
That this game of baseball has given me
A lifetime of love, filled with ecstasy.

So if ever we meet, may we just recall,
That these simple words try to say it all,
Oh weren't we lucky when we were small,
When our Dad threw us a black taped baseball.

"We Thank You Lord, for Baseball"
by Father Bill Schmidt

In his own eloquent words, he said, We thank you Lord, for baseball. For the emerald green grass that recedes into the evening shadows, for the warm summer evenings with cooling breezes, for rain delays pregnant with the possibility of play. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For the startling crack of the ball against the bat, for the streaking pitch that evades the batter's swing, for the fielding plays improbable and memorable. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For base hits and grand slams, for sacrifice flies and perfect bunts, for double plays and stealing home. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For fastballs and knuckleballs, for sinkers and sliders, for the grace to deal with what life throws at you, with faith and hope undiminished. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For friendships forged on fields of dreams, for an encouraging word after striking out, for perseverance in hope during long batting slumps. We thank you Lord, for baseball. The first cold beer at Santarpio's Pizza, for the post game analysis at the Pleasant Cafe, for remembering mosquito repellent when playing at Kelly Field. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For life's lessons learned on city fields, for the sights and sounds of the city around us, for the focused attention on the continually unfolding drama of the game. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For car trunks equipped with coolers after games at Cleveland Circle, disparaging the "open container law" with public drinking: "Good Lord, what were we thinking?" We thank you Lord, for baseball. For all the memories of seasons past, for all the players, coaches, sponsors, and fans of past generations, legendary figures connected to us still by their love for the game: Father Joe Fahey and Father Leo Pollard rooting on the Towne Club, and a fond remembrance of Edgar Grossman and John Kelliher of Mass. Envelope days. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For the personal achievements and the total team efforts, for the patience honed by disappointing losses, for the championships that crowned extraordinary seasons. We thank you Lord, for baseball. For colorful new vocabulary words learned at Park League games, words that I never could use in church, or in the company of women and children. We thank you Lord, for baseball. The blessing that has brought us together this night, may it continue to work it's particular magic, during all the season that lie before us. Amen and Play Ball!!! 11/8/02

26th Annual Alumni Reunion & Hall of Fame Dinner

2007 Hall of Fame Inductees and Awards

Special Awards

2007 Park League All Star Team

Hall of Fame Banquet Pictures

Baseball Poems