 | ANTHONY "TONY" ARNONE
The Nino's Lounge baseball team, sponsored by Anthony Arnone, was a prime contender for League honors from 1966-1971. Besides sponsoring regular season play, Tony also sponsored pre-season and post-season games and barbecues between Nino's and Canton All-Star Teams and paid for team trips throughout the State. In 1969 Nino's qualified for the AABC Tournament (State) in Lakewood and in 1970 finished fourth in the NABF Tournament in Louisville, KY.
|
 | KINGSLEY "KING" CROWE
Born on an Indian reservation in Ontario, Canada, "King" came to Akron in 1945 at age 18 after a youth career of only hockey and softball because of the lack of youth baseball in Canada. His first true diamond experience was with Goodyear Heights Merchants in '46-47; Barberton Farber Clothes '48-50; and Creston '51-52, where he developed to a .300 plus hitter and an outstanding defensive first baseman. He played the next six years with Krispy Kreme, making the All-Star Team four times and again in 1960 with J.O.U.A.M. before closing out his career with Brimfield '61-63 in the Portage County League.
|
 | EDWARD G. "EDDIE" ELIAS
A left-handed smooth fielding first baseman and switch-hitter, Eddie began playing in the West Akron Youth Leagues, and then the D League, which led to an 8-year career in AA ball. In between, he was an All-City basketball player at West High and played football and baseball there before lettering at Akron U in basketball and baseball. He played for the Mansfield Cubs, but a knee injury curtailed his pro career. Elias finished his career as co-player/manager with Frank Roppollo for the Kalmer Dance Studio team after AA seasons with the Slovene Center, Tiny's Orphans, Club 55, Stenbridge A.C., Case Poultry, and the Ravenna Vets, and was named to four All-Star teams.
|
 | SALVATORE "SAL" GAGE
A South High grad who moved from playing and managing softball into the baseball umpiring ranks, where he became one of the best. For twenty years, 1962-1982, "Sal" was "callin' em" on the sandlots for Little League, High School, AA and College games, and worked many State and Regional tournaments. All the players felt comfortable and confident when Sal worked the plate. He was a hitter's umpire.
|
 | J.T. "IKE" HARWELL
An outstanding outfielder who also handled all infield spots during his career, which began on the east side in the 1920's, and carried over from East High into the Industrial and City A Leagues. Ike was always a leader on strong contending teams. He played for Post# 209, McClure Grocery, Majestic Radio, Killian Celtics, Goodyear, and got in four years of service while playing for seven championship teams.
|
 | JEROME HORNING
A hard-nosed catcher, who was also All-City with North High's State basketball champs in 1935. Jerome also had many championship seasons on the diamond with the American Legion, North High, and Killian Celtics teams, and he played with Charleston and Thomasville in the Mid-Atlantic League before turning to umpiring and refereeing--baseball, basketball and soccer for 42 years on the local scene.
|
 | HARRY KELLER
Made his mark early as a pitcher and then later as a third baseman/outfielder after pitching National A.C. to Y-League titles in '41-42. From there he hurled for the Kenmore American Legion and led Kenmore High in becoming the first Akron area team to qualify for the State Finals in 1945. Later that summer, pitching for the Kenmore Taverns at age 17, he was drafted by the Akron Orphans and won a game in the NABF Finals--the youngest pitcher to do so. After a stint with the Army, he played for Army-Navy 268, Orphans, Zanesville, Macrae Finishing, Souvenir Beer, Old Dutch, Howe Construction and Portage County, making five All-Star teams.
|
 | PETE KOUSAGAN
A powerful, hard-hitting outfielder who had All-Star years with the Post# 209 and Krispy Kreme championship teams, and also pounded the ball for the Riggs-Lamar and Zoff Heating teams. Besides that, Pete had solid years with the Butler Yankees (Penn-Ohio), Fostoria (Ohio State League), and other pro teams including Grand Rapids, Terre Haute, Nashua Dodgers, Newport News, Forth Worth, Bakersfield, Duluth and Pueblo, Colorado teams.
|
 | MIKE KURA
During the time Mike was in charge and for almost 30 years, youth baseball flourished in the Firestone Park area and was the standard bearer for all groups in the city, under his leadership as field manager or general manager of 18 youth teams. Not only were his teams successful in the area, but they became State powers as well from the class H thru the class D level. Mike spent countless hours promoting and building the competition and the growth of the Greater Akron Baseball Federation and AABC Leagues in our area. Two of his most successful title teams were Lockhart Construction and the Firestone Park Kiwanis, both teams winning numerous District and State titles and becoming National finalists.
|
 | RAY PROTICH
Began with Allenside A.C. at age 9, and had a pair of no-hitters and seven one-hitters with A.C. in five years before becoming a three-time All-City hurler at Kenmore High '50-53, where he won 53 games. After a year at Akron U and a stint in the service, he pitched for the Red Peppers, Zoff Heating, champion Krispy Kreme, where he was team MVP in 1958, and one year with the Reds Florida State D team where he had an 11-4 record. He had another no-hitter in the service, where he posted a 17-4 record; struck out 18 with a two-hitter against West High while at Kenmore; and had a 19-inning 3-hitter in the Florida State League.
|
 | JOHN SIPKA
Outstanding catcher in the twenties through the forties and later a manager of Little League and Pony League teams, John was not a big guy ... but played and coached the game big. After helping lead the St. Hedwig Jrs. to the 1923 Class C Title, John jumped into Class A ball with the North End Merchants in 1924. Then he played with B champ, Frank Madden Movers (1926), moved to N.O.P. Team (1929), Yellow Cabs (1931), St. Martha's (1932-36), and Dean Heights Baseball Club (1941-44). St. Martha won the Northeast Ohio League in '35 and '36. From 1952-55, John coached Kiwanis Little League and won a State title in 1955. He followed that with Akron West Pony League teams in 1956 and 1957, winning a State title in '57.
|
 | JOHN WM. "BILL" STARKEY
A right-handed control pitcher out of the South High and Post# 209 teams, who joined the Orphans first team in 1943 and posted a 7-3 record. Was drafted, served three years, pitched a title game for Norfolk and returned to the Orphans where he was 10-2 in '46 and 18-4 in '47. Spent '48-60 with the Borden Autos, and highlights included an 8-0 State title win over the Canton Hoovers; League and AABC Tournament All-Star Team; a 1-0 win over Bobby Nash and the Smith Sheriffs in which he threw 9 innings of "heat", no curves at all; and a no-hitter against the Kenmore Army-Navy Club.
|
 | IRA "LEFTY" TROUT
Trout was a hitting pitcher who could take his turn at the plate, being no easy out, and blasted out several homeruns in his career that began with the Post# 209 District Champs in 1930. He played on East High's first team in 1931, but broke a leg playing football that fall and didn't resume baseball until 1935 with the Atlantic Foundry League Champs. He pitched for the Akron Yankee Jrs. District Champs in '36 and Orphans in '37 before turning pro with the Akron Yankees, Butler Yankees, Fremont Green Sox, and Beaver Falls Browns. Returned to pitch for Mayflower Hotel NABF Finalist in '39 and '40, and also played for Goodyear Heights Cleaners and Isley Movers before turning to umpiring on the high school scene.
|