SUNNYBRAE LITTLE LEAGUE: View the Guestbook.
6. - Posted May 13, 2008 5:36PM
neminus
| Vivien Karousatos, grandmother of Anthony Bencivengo |
5. - Posted March 4, 2008 7:07AM
DNugent
| More thoughts about the early days of the Sunnybrae League. Of course at it's founding it was not a "Little League" in fact it was founded because "Little League" and "Babe Ruth League" did not take all kids who wished to play baseball. They would hold tryouts where only the very best players were picked to play on a limited number of teams. And even if you were selected at an early age you would almost always just ride the bench as there was no rule saying all the kids had to play in a game back then. From the first Sunnybrae took ALL kids who wanted to play baseball. Wanting to play was the only thing that mattered. And each kid had to play a given amount in each game he showed up to play in. Now that was quite some time BEFORE "Little League" had their participation rules. So I can laughingly say that I never was a member of Sunnybrae "LL". It was merely "The Sunnybrae League" independent of connection with Williamsport. So Sunnybrae should be very proud of the fact that from the very first it took in all kids who wanted to play baseball. P.s. The league did hold tryouts however, but these were just to get a look at the kids abilities and managers would choose them as in "choosing up sides" to try and balance the playing abilities through the league. Don Nugent |
4. - Posted March 3, 2008 9:35AM
DNugent
| Yes, I was a team member of the very first year of Sunnybrae League. Although it is my clear recollection that the league play started in the year 1958. It may have been in planning or organizing earlier. That seems a reasonable assumption as the league seemed to operate quite smoothly from the start. The idea for the league was started by a lawyer who lived on Beaumont Rd. Many many other men, primarily members of the Sunnybrae Civic Association quickly got behind it. My father Donald Nugent Sr. being the manager of my team. Teams were in several divisions by age of the players. I was in the oldest division for those 11 through 15 years of age. For some strange reason only the 13 and under players were allowed to pitch in that league! We were the "Red Sox" sponsored by Lakeside Shell where my Dad took our car for lubes, etc. My father was given a certain amount of money from the league with which to buy bats, catchers equipment, order shirts, (no pants were issued, we wore whatever, jeans etc.) and hats. This must have been quite a generous amount or he put in some of his own money, because we went to a sporting goods store in downtown Trenton and came home with at least 20 wooden Louisville Slugger and Adorondack brand bats. Dad let me select all the bats, which were major league models. My favorite was the Eddie Matthews. The bats did not last all that long as we promptly broke almost half of them the first practice game. (At Yardville School) But that was a result of holding the bats improperly, i.e. not having the grain of the bat hitting the ball. On the very first opening day there was a parade through Sunnybrae of all the teams, all the divisions, managers, players, and many many parents. We marched from the front entrance near Yardville Heights School (at that time the only paved entrance) to a playing field the league built which stood about where Sunnybrae Blvd. now ends (at least where it is no longer divided. I would say that field was about 100 yards North West of that point. The field was layed out by the surveying people doing the work for the construction of Sunnybrae which was nowhere near finished at that point. It was a standard 90 feet between bases, 60 foot 6 inches from pitching rubber to home plate. It was surrounded by snow fence and had some small bleachers. There was a speech by the league president, the lawyer whose name I sadly regret I cannot recall. Pictures were taken of the first managers, umpires, league officals. (I have only a very few pictures, just of my team, and a few snaps of the first tryouts which were held at Switlik Park.) After the opening invocation (Yes we prayed for all who were there that day and all who would EVER play in Sunnybrae League!) It was PLAY BALL!!! In that first "game" it was our team, the Red Sox vs. the Orioles. But these were just "exhibition" games, 2 innings each for 2 teams representing each division. We retired the Orioles 1,2,3 in that first inning. Then they walked the first 3 of our hitters. I was up next and I hit a pop fly to left field, which by all rights should have been caught, but was misplayed and fell for a "gift" double. I do not remember the rest of that game except that we "won". I have many other memories, fond memories, of those long ago days. So I say God Bless the Sunnybrae Baseball League and all who play, coach, manager, umpire, and sponsor in the league. My very best wishes for at least 50 more years of baseball fun! Don Nugent Sunnybrae Red Sox 1958 Sunnybrae Lakeside Shell 1959 |
3. - Posted July 2, 2007 4:34PM
magyarb
| I played baseball at Sunnybrae from 1994 to 1996. I was on the championship winning team Gem trophy's. Heres to 50 more sunnybrae |
2. - Posted April 21, 2007 8:03PM
coachmarty
| BAYONNE LITTLE LEAGUE |
| Good luck in 07. Please visit our website and sign the guestbook. |
1. - Posted November 4, 2006 1:16PM
prez
| Sunnybrae Little League |
| 2007 marks Sunnybrae Little League's 50th anniversary! Did you play for Sunnybrae Little League? If so, we want to hear from you! Tell us the year(s) you played (we hope to hear from someone who played the very first year at SLL!) and special memories you may wish to share.... |
