|
|
|
 History |
|
The Hawks a Proud, Winning Tradition
The original Newark Hawks Athletic Club started in Newark's predominately Italian North Ward shortly after World War 2. The club played baseball, basketball, and softball in recreation leagues throughout Essex Co. As the members grew older they left the neighborhood, some were drafted into the armed forces and others went on to start families in other communities. One such member was Clifton resident Joe Santosuosso. Aside from playing for the Hawks Joe played for Barringer High School and was selected to the all city team. He played short stop and batted .400 his senior year. He was invited by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Braves (now Atlanta) to tryout. Although making it through two days of cuts in Boston he decided to pack it in and not return for an additional day of tryouts as requested of him. It was time to pursue a different path and start a family. The original Hawks continued to stay in touch throughout the years. The Hawks Baseball Club of Clifton was started by Joe and his son Dave as a tribute to the original club and to an era gone by, an era before organized little leagues, when every neighborhood had a team and baseball was truly the American pastime. The new Hawks Baseball Club was formed in the fall of 1997 and went on to compete in local leagues such as the AABC Mickey Mantle league and the AAU Sunday doubleheader league comprised of some of the most competitive teams in New Jersey. They also competed in the NJ State AAU Tournament as well as a number of out of state tournaments in Florida, Connecticut and New York. In 2000 as 16s the club won a silver medal in the NJ State AAU Tournament, losing an exciting, hard fought, twelve inning contest that was played over two days in two cities to the Mariners of Holmdel but still earning a berth to the AAU Nationals. They have played at such venues as Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Yogi Berra Stadium, Waterfront Park, and Skylands Park. The initial purpose of the club was to give players leaving Little League the opportunity to continue playing throughout the summer and fall months at a competitive level and as a feeder program for the high school. Today the club gives former and present day college players an opportunity to hone their skills and play at a competitive level over the summer months. Many members of the original 1997 team played for the 2000 and 2001 league champion Clifton Mustangs and have played at the college level holding key positions on their respective teams. Co-founder Joe Santosuosso died on May 13, 1999 and has not been forgotten. He has passed on his knowledge and great passion for the game to these players. It was Joe's hope that these new Hawks would share in the camaraderie that existed between his Hawks and that they would take with them memories of summer days gone past. The Hawks continue to compete in the North Jersey Amateur Baseball League,a semi pro wood bat league affiliated with the National Amateur Baseball Federation and have done so since 2003.
|
|
