Search This Blog

Saturday, March 23, 2013

1946: INDUSTRIAL LEAGUE 1946 CHAMPIONS

Don Slabicki and I were regular visitors to Wetzel Field, and probably saw this game. Memories of Wetzel field are very vivid. I remember my Industrial League was Reynold "Rennie" Funari; a fellow Yankee fan.

13 comments:

Tony S said...

I have always believed that Trenton was a great baseball city and continues to be to this day. Seeing these photos of "old"teams allows me to know what helped build that heritage. If any photos of the 1948 Schroths, my idols by the way, I would love to see any photos that yet exist. My Grandpop was a fixture on those rickety wooden bleachers erected outside the fence across from Jumior Three.I saw my first game ever in Shibe Park in 1944. I have loved that sport ever since. Mo Cunningham worked for my father and Willie Mays, a former Trenton resident, shows up where I work almost every day. Long live this tradition.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

WELL TONY I'M GLAD TO SEE YOUR FINE TRIBUTE TO THE SCHROTHS. AS A KID, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO DO, GET SELECTED TO PLAY WITH THE SCHROTHS. MY BROTHER "CHUCK" AND I BOTH MADE IT, I PLAYED IN 1936 AND HE WAS ON THE GREAT TEAM IN 1948 THAT WON THE AMERICAN LEGION WORLD SERIES IN INDIANAPOLIS. HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE GONE FAR IN BASEBALL BUT A CAR ACCIDENT KEPT K THAT FROM HAPPENING. HE WENT ON TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECAME A HEART SPECIALIST. IN THAT GAME AT INDIANAPOLIS IN 1948 WE SAT NEAR DIZZY DEAN, THE GREAT PITCHER OF THE CARDINALS WHO PITCHED BATTING P[RACTICE FOR THE KIDS.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

ONE MORE THING TOM...REYOLDS FUNARI WAS OUR NEIGHBOR ON FRANKLIN STREET IN 1937 AND PLAYED A GREAT GAME AT FIRST BASE. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF GOOD PLAYERS IN OUR NEIGHORHOOD INCLUDING THE MASTERPOLA WHO PLAYED FOR THE TRENTON PROFESSIONAL TEAM. IN MY OLD AGE I THINK A LOT ABOUT THOSE DAYS. THANKS A LOT FOR THE MEMORIES.

Tom Glover said...

KEEP THOSE GREAT COMMENTS COMING, TONY AND RALPH. THAT'S WHAT THIS WEBSITE IS ALL ABOUT.

TOM

Ron Bound Sr said...

Pete Rossi...was he from Rossi's Bar? I remember every year when they got a new Caddy, we Franklin St kids would go down there to check it out. Ralph, where were you on Franklin St? I was at 645, until 1954. Mom and Dad were neighbors of Tom's on Hartley Av, before I was born. Small world. Great to see this group picture and remember the games at Wetzel Field, just around the corner. Chased balls many a summer.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HI RON....WE LIVED AT 235 FRANKLIN ST. THE ROSSI AT ROSS'S BAR WAS MY FRIEND GIL ROSSI, A PRETTY GOOD FIRST BASEMAN. SPEAKING OF CHASING BALLS, IN THE 30'S FRANK CALORIDO CHASED BALLS AT ALMOST EVERY GAME AT WETZEL. I RECALL ONE GAME WHEN MY TEAMMATE TONY MIKARSKI SAID HE WOULD CHASE BALLS INSTEAD OF PLAYING SO HE COULD EARN A FEW BUCKS. WETZEL WAS MY SECOND HOME IN THOSE DAYS AND THE MEMORIES ARE FOREVER WONDERFUL. REGARDS.

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

ONE MORE THING TOM....I KNEW ALL THOSE GUYS ON THE ROEBLINGS TEAM AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WERE NOT IN THE SERVICE. I WAS STILL IN THE NAVY IN 1946 AND GETTING READY TO BE DISCHARGED.

Tony S said...

Speaking of Hetzel Field, am I wrong in saying I saw the Little Bigger League World Series (later known as the Babe Ruth League)played there sometime in the early 50's?

Tom Glover said...

Tony:
I think you are getting Hetzel Field confused with its rhyming companion, Wetzel Field. Hetzel on No. Olden Avenue and Wetzel on Morris.

Tom

tony S said...

Thanks. All this time I never knew there were two of them. One is never to old to learn!

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HEY TONY, I'M GONNA BE 94 YEARS OLD IN AUGUST AND STLL LEARNING A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT THE EARLY YEARS AND THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED WITH ME IN VENTURES. REGARDS.

Anonymous said...

Ron:

The Pete Rossi referred too in the photo, worked at JA Roebling. He was their activities director. When Roebling sold to Colorado Fuel & Iron, and Pete was let go, he latched onto Arthur Holland and became his gofer in City Hall. It has been said, that he was a half decent athlete, although not in the Luccarella catagory.

Mike Kuzma

RALPH LUCARELLA said...

HEY MIKE....I APPPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT ABOVE BUT THE ROSSI NAME WAS WELL KNOWN IN SPORTS. THERE WERE PETE, MARIO, GIL, KAYO AND PAUL. AND THEY ALL EXCELLED IN BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL. THANKS A LOT.