THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 11, 2022 Page 7 Medford, that won the Gold Medal, defeating Russia at Squaw Valley in 1960. Brother Bert became a Malden Police Offi cer. Ralph Billings, Donnie & Robert Davidson, Dickie Kelly, the Garrant brothers, Oscar Spear, Bobby Keefe, the Leonard brothers, Billy McGrath, Tommy DeLue, and the Coleman brothers Tommy & Billy who later became Councilman for Ward Four, where Coytemore Lea sits. The third Coleman, Jimmy, is in the MHS Sports Hall of Fame. The Coleman brothers never ended, they just kept coming. “Then there was Dom, Joe, and Sonny Presterone. Dom later changed his name to Prestone and became the professional boxer, John Forde. Billy McLaughlin, Bobby McCarthy, and Tommy Dennen also. Wow! Don’t get me started! Ronnie King, Chris McGadden, and the ‘teaching’ Sherry twins, Jimmy & John, David Le Cain, Larry Scofi eld, and the Maxwell brothers Bill, Doug, and Bruce. There was Steve Mikhov, (Court Offi cer) Larry Bendell, Bobby Sibley, Parker & Paul Dunne, Lester Schneiderman, Wayne Carney, and Jackie Carl. “It wasn’t just the ‘Boys of Summer,’ as a few of the girls could play just as well as the boys. Ann Tibbetts, Jacqui Siegel, Nancy Pica, and Nancy Fowle were talented. Larry Culleton, a hard-throwing lefty, was chased by the New York Yankees but hurt his arm his senior year of high school. The Joyces, Lonny & Gary. Gary coached in Little League, then in the Babe Ruth League for many years. Jimmy Ministeri, Paul & Billy Carty, also in MHS’s HOF. Stu McInnis, Walter Brooks, Dickie Lutz, Paul MacDonald, and Anthony Dainys all found time for the national pastime at the Lea. Donny Schultz and Aldo Agnoletti came off the Main Street side of Waitt’s Mount to play. Dr. Fox’s son, Jay, when he wasn’t practicing his trombone also. The list goes on and on. “It was a diff erent time. No uniforms. No coaches, no umpires. Hand-me-down equipment. Their skills were honed by playing from sunrise to sunset. And yes, in the Summer Parks City Program where Coytemore did compete against the parks and playgrounds across town. Edgeworth, Maplewood, Amerige, Faulkner, Linden, Forestdale, and Suffolk. The only handicap: none of the other parts of town would come to Coytemore. Forcing us to play all away games. “Before the MDC put the swimming pool in, every winter Malden would build a berm of earth, maybe 200 feet by 75 feet and fl ood the area for ice skating. The depth of 4 to 5 inches assured parents their off spring would not drown. After World War 2, located closer to Clifton Street, clay tennis courts were erected. But seldom used. Once those fences came down, it opened up things for baseball. “Once the MDC Pool was built, in the early 1960’s, most everything ended. For a long while, little went on at “The Lea.” The hurricanes of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s had knocked down many of the stately elms on the west side of the park. Eventually, the brook was covered with a culvert. The water now runs under a pagoda. The bridge is long gone; a basketball court now sits over the creek that once was. “Today, most of the season fi nds the bare legs of little soccer players racing around the old pasture called Coytemore Lea.” Bob is lifelong Malden, a neighbor of Coytemore Lea Park, and one of the best friends the youths of Malden have ever had. Ever! Love ya, Bob. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character “Columbo” would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – Malden was a hotbed for outstanding baseball players when I was growing up; from all corners of the city, we produced some of the most formidable athletes on the North Shore, nurtured by passionate adults from Little League right up to Intercity League competition. I think it is time to revisit Malden’s all-time greatest baseball players from the late 1960’s through the late 1980’s. Without further ado, I bring to you my squad. Please feel free to disagree: • Right-handed starting pitcher: Dave Caiazzo. • Left-handed starting pitcher: Richie Howard. • Long relief: Ruffi no Mugica. • Set up guy: Shawn Brickman. • Left hand specialist: Sammy Steed. • Middle guy: Dan Cook. • Spot starter: Billy Smeglin. • One pitch and out guy: Keith Forbes. • Two pitch and out guy: Buddy DeMontier. • Closer: Kevin McGlinchy. • Starting catcher: Billy Croken. DiSario. • Bullpen catcher: Dommy • Sideline catcher: Paul Abbatinozzi. • First: Rob Santo. • Second: Johnny Salmon. • Third: Bobby Foley. • Shortstop: Mike Ploumbidis. OUR OFFICE HAS MOVED TO 519 BROADWAY, EVERETT SABATINO INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: Rocco Longo, Owner WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM • Left: Dennis Damiano. • Center: Steve Carpenter. • Right: Carmine Cappuccio. • Right hand pinch hitter: John Vitale. • Left hand pinch hitter: Jimmy Coleman. • Pinch runner: Bobby Langston. • Late inning outfi eld defensive specialist: Scott Rutledge. • Late inning infi eld defensive specialist: Matt Chiccuarelli. • Extra inning outfi eld defensive specialist: Bobby Harrison. • Extra inning infi eld defensive specialist: Steve Carlin. • Right hand designated hitter: Bobby McVicar. • Left hand designated hitter: Michael Langston. • Manager: Bob Rotondi. • First base coach: Frank Adorn Sr. • Third base coach: Larry Collins. • Bench coaches: Joe Saia, Steve Freker • Hitting coach: MacDaniel “Mac” Singleton. • Bullpen coach: Bob Rosano. • Scorekeeper: Harry Mehos. • General Manager: Eddie Larson. • Batting practice pitcher: Steve Ring. • Bat boys: Kevin Killion, Jimmy Walker, Johnny Bionelli, Frankie Fantauzzi, Kevin Larson.
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