Albany Twilight League History

Text Box:

Albany Twilight League

Bleecker Stadium

Clinton Avenue

Albany, New York 12207

518-438-2166

albtwilight@albanytwilightleague.com

Text Box: The Albany Twilight League was founded in 1930 by the "Father of Twilight Baseball", George Elwell. The first league Commission consisted of James Ronin, William Louden and two former major league players; Matty Fitzgerald Sr. and Ed Phelps Sr. In 1931, Claude Tibbitts became President and the Twilight League officially began its first competitive season with a roster of 10 teams. The Legendary Schuylers under the direction of Charlie Callahan became the first league champions. In 1932, Joe Tholl, who had been the league Secretary, took over as President and guided the Twilight League for 16 seasons . Two years later, another major event occurred with the completion of the Bleecker Stadium Bowl, and its first and longest resident, the Albany Twilight League moved in. During the 1940's, the Twilight League did a masterful job of continuing competitive baseball on the most advanced amateur level in spite of the loss of hundreds of young men to the Armed Forces, some of whom were killed in action. In 1947, a Navy veteran and former league Secretary, Joe Thomas came on board as Twilight League President and guided the league into the decade of the 1950's. With the new President and the new decade, came a new force in Twilight League play. Gone were the Graves and Rodgers, The New York Central's and the McEnaney Oilers; now the fans cheered to the exploits of the Roxy Cleaner's and their guiding force, Chuck Yanni. Within the span of nine years, this baseball dynamo would win five league crowns. During this period of Roxy domination, the league witnessed two new league presidents. First, Lloyd Maranville, was elected in 1953 and served until 1958. Lloyd was succeeded by Andy Schnert, who presided over the Twilight League in the 1960's. Probably President Schnert's most significant and lasting accomplishment was his convincing Mayor Corning to install lights for baseball at Bleecker Stadium. The Twilight League was immediately given a new lease on life. The crowds improved tremendously. No longer were players and fan required to go without supper so they could be at the ballpark by 6 p.m.; the more leisurely 7:30 p.m. start was scheduled. The 1960's also witness the domination of the Twilight League by two senior sponsors; Mike's Submarines and Finkle's Jeweler's. Together they combined to win 6 pennants in seven years. In 1966, Andy Schnert retired. The league appointed George Clemens his successor. After a brief tenure, George passed away and John Brousseau succeeded to the Presidency, serving until 1970. The beginning of the 1970's, the era of the college ball player arrived. Team ranks became swollen with players from all local institutes of higher learning. With the election of a new president, Bill Leorchick, in 1971, two teams began a series of victories which dominated the Twilight League into the 80's. The Schenectady Sons of Italy, managed by Tony Ross, captured three league crowns in five years. The Oppenheim Post 1019, managed by Tim Lane won the honors in four out of five years, to finish out the decade. Coinciding with the Oppenheim win streak, the Twilight League chose a new President, Jack Joyce. President Joyce has been an avid baseball fan since boyhood and was formerly a Major League Scout for the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the 1980's the Sons of Italy and the Oppenheim Post VFW continued their winning ways by capturing eight more league titles, totaling a unbelievable 15 since 1973.

Ed Delehanty took over for Jack Joyce in 1981 and served throughout the 1980's as league President. Ed oversaw the Twilight League's re-entry into the American Amateur Baseball Congress. Highlighting the re-entry Apex Printing won the North Atlantic Regional title and finished in 3rd place during the 1989 Stan Musial World Series.

The 1990's witnessed a multitude of new sponsor, Apex Printing managed by Ken and Norm Hayner won three league titles and four Upper NYS Championships in the first half of the decade..

In 1996 Bill Miles, Jr. succeeded Ed Delehanty as league President and presided over a period of four different Twilight League Champions to close out the decade.

Beginning in the year 2000 the Twilight League switched to the use of wooden bats which substantially sped up the game and improved overall play.

All Stars Academy managed by Dave Perry captured the decades first two league titles, follow by Davies AC winning the league championship in the 2002 and 2003.

In 2005 the Albany Twilight League celebrated its 75th Anniversary. With the new addition of the South Troy Dodgers the league is back to a field of eight teams playing in two divisions. Enthusiastic crowds, close pennant races, local, state and national tournaments, past and future professional players, all are a part of our proud history and tradition. May our glorious tradition of baseball excellence continue for another 75 years.

Text Box: LEAGUE OFFICIALS Current President: Bill Miles V. President: Bruce Barkevich Secretary: Steve Heiser Treasurer: Casey O’Connor Public Relations: Joe Altieri Special Events: Tom Yovine Web Master: Sean McGuirk Presidents Claude Tibbitts (1931) Joe Tholl (1932-47) Joe Thomas (1948-52) Lloyd DeMaranville (1953-57) Andy Sehnert (1958-65) George Clemens (1966) John Brousseau (1967-70) Bill Lecorchick (1971-74) Jack Joyce (1975-80) Ed Delehanty (1981-95) Bill Miles (1996–Present) Vice Presidents John Humphrey (1931-36) Fred Linnhoff (1937-52) Bill Egan (1953-54) Jack Burgess (1955-59) Jack Burgess (1960) Harry McAllister (1961-64) George Clemens (1965) John Brousseau (1966) Tucker Jones (1967-68) Lou Gould (1969) Bill Lecorchick (1967-70) Bob Lawson (1970-73) Jack Joyce (1971-74) Lou Cioffi, Jr. (1975-79) Dick Barrett (1974) Bob Murphy (1991-96) Art Eastman (1997-2000) Bruce Barkevich (2000-Present) Secretaries Joe Tholl (1931-36) Joe Thomas (1937-43) Lloyd DeMaraville (1944-45) Joe Thomas (1946-47) Ross Cox (1948-50) James Kissane (1951-52) Bill O’Brien (1953-54) Ben Bond (1955-76 Ed Delehanty (1977-80 Doug Dickinson (1987-94) Bill Miles (1995) Bruce Barkevich (1996-2000) Steve Heiser (2000-Present) Treasurers John W. Hickey (1937-51) Joe Lanahan (1952-76) Lou Mineau (1977-95) Jeff Segel (1996) Len Rockenstyre (1997) Jamie Janetsky (1998) Tom Yovien / Ben DiBiase (1999-2001) Casey O’Connor (2002-Present) Statisticians Dave Skelley (1981-87) Bill Miles (1988- Present) Public Relations Joe Alterie (2001-Present) Special Events Tom Yovien (2002-Present) Web Masters San McGuirk (1999-Present)

Text Box: LEAGUE OFFICIALS Current President: Bill Miles V. President: Bruce Barkevich Secretary: Steve Heiser Treasurer: Eric Biehler Public Relations: Joe Altieri Special Events: Tom Yovine Web Master: Eric Biehler Commissioners Jack Joyce Curt Hayner Chris Hermedes Bob Haith Ed Delehanty Fred Pidgeon Dave Skelley Tim Lane Dick Barrett Bob Murphy Joe Putorti Mark Massaroni Lou Mineau Rev. Peter Young History Presidents Claude Tibbitts (1931) Joe Tholl (1932-47) Joe Thomas (1948-52) Lloyd DeMaranville (1953-57) Andy Sehnert (1958-65) George Clemens (1966) John Brousseau (1967-70) Bill Lecorchick (1971-74) Jack Joyce (1975-80) Ed Delehanty (1981-95) Bill Miles (1996–Present) Vice Presidents John Humphrey (1931-36) Fred Linnhoff (1937-52) Bill Egan (1953-54) Jack Burgess (1955-59) Jack Burgess (1960) Harry McAllister (1961-64) George Clemens (1965) John Brousseau (1966) Tucker Jones (1967-68) Lou Gould (1969) Bill Lecorchick (1967-70) Bob Lawson (1970-73) Jack Joyce (1971-74) Lou Cioffi, Jr. (1975-79) Dick Barrett (1974) Bob Murphy (1991-96) Art Eastman (1997-2000) Bruce Barkevich (2000-Present) Secretaries Joe Tholl (1931-36) Joe Thomas (1937-43) Lloyd DeMaraville (1944-45) Joe Thomas (1946-47) Ross Cox (1948-50) James Kissane (1951-52) Bill O’Brien (1953-54) Ben Bond (1955-76 Ed Delehanty (1977-80 Doug Dickinson (1987-94) Bill Miles (1995) Bruce Barkevich (1996-2000) Steve Heiser (2000-Present) Treasurers John W. Hickey (1937-51) Joe Lanahan (1952-76) Lou Mineau (1977-95) Jeff Segel (1996) Len Rockenstyre (1997) Jamie Janetsky (1998) Tom Yovien / Ben DiBiase (1999-2001) Casey O’Connor (2002– 2006) Eric Biehler (2007-Present) Statisticians Dave Skelley (1981-87) Bill Miles (1988- Present) Public Relations Joe Altieri (2001-Present) Special Events Tom Yovine (2002-Present) Web Masters Sean McGuirk (1999-2006) Eric Biehler (2007-Present)

Walter Adey

Harry Allan

Tim Andi

Bernie Aviza

Charlie Bennet

Don Berti

Ben Bond

Paul Bradley

Jack Burgess

Jerry Carinci
Jim Carr
Matt Cater
John Cerutti

Kris Clemens
Curt Coons
Art Cotugno

Rich Cronk

Ed Delehanty

Lloyd Demaranville,Sr.

Lloyd Demaranville,Jr.

John Dieckleman

Doug Duell

Al Duffy

Harold Finkle
Buddy Flesh

John Germann
Henry Haack

Bob Haith
John Haith
Clarence Hall

Bill Hansen

Bill Harrell

Curt Hayner
Norm Hayner

Ken Hayner

Irv Heald

Rob Helm

Chris Hermedes

Mike Hetman

Lefty Hill

Jerry Hinman

Gary Holle

Don Howard

Art Huston

John Huston

Jack Joyce

Tom Kane

Fred Kowalik

John Krawiecki, Jr

Joe Lanahan

Tim Lane

Ed Lange

Bill Levy

Charlie Leonowicz

Bill Lorenzo

Wally Lozano

John Lynch

Gene Madaio
Tony Madison

Mark Massaroni

Ron Massaroni
Pierce Mahar

Tom Matthews

John Mayotte

Richard McDonald
Tom McGuire

Fred Miggans

Art Mitchell

Joe Mosely

Bob Murphy
Jack Murphy

Manny Ned

Ed Nichols

Bob Norton

Doug O'Brey

Jim O'Brey

Mike O’Brien

Dan Pelitier
George Perry

Fred Pidgeon

Skeeter Piela

Frank Potochney
Joe Putorti

Lloyd Race
George Rafferty

Mike Rhodes

Ken Ringer

Toni Rossi

Al Rotundaro

Harry Rourk

Nick Scattareggia

Andy Sehnert
David Skelley

Chuck Sohl
Pop Spencer

Karl Steffen

John Stokoe
James Schwind

Izzy Tabachneck

Joe Thomas

Joe Tholl

Sammy Tork

Red Tramback

Tony Vizzie

Edsall Walker

Gary Walcott

Bob Weaver

John Wilhelm
Jack Weaver

Chet Wisniewski
John Wojtusik

Chuck Yanni

Albany Twilight League Hall of Fame