| PAT BANGSTON Grew up playing and learning all positions in Tallmadge Youth Leagues especially pitching, catching and at third base. Was on "B" and "AA" title teams in Tallmadge Little League Programs. At St. Vincent-St. Mary High, Pat was an All-City righthanded pitcher-third baseman for the Irish in '82-'83 and was All-Ohio in '83. During the summers he toiled for Dineen Electric in Connie Mack action. He then went to Kent State U and became a 4-year letterman, was 2nd team all-MAC '86, 1st team all-MAC '87, KSU captain in '86-87, had the career K's with the Flashes. Joined the Twins in '87 (Kenosha) Midwest League Champs and was named to Midwest All-Star team. Was an All-Star again in '88 with a 17-5 record at Kenosha. Was with Orlando (AA) '89; Portland (AAA) '90; posted 16 wins with Southern League Champs Orlando in 1991. In '92 was a volunteer coach at Ohio State U; in '93 became full time pitching coach for the Buckeyes. Played 3 years in AA with C&P Sales Co., making one All-Star team.
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| MIKE BIRKBECK Was reared in baseball in Orville youth leagues primarily as a rugged righthanded pitcher, outfielder, first baseman and hitter. Was a four year starter at Orville High, was an All-Ohio Conference All-Star three times and led the Riders to the league title in '79. Mike then became a four year starter at Akron U where he posted a School record 24 career wins pitching; was Zip captain '82-83; was All-Ohio Valley Conference '82-83; Zip Player of the Year and All-American in '82 when he hit .413 with 10 homers. Mike joined the Brewers organization in '83 and pitched through '90 and had an 88-108 record. Was with Indianapolis (AAA) '91; New York Mets '92; Richmond Braves '93-94; spent half of '95 with Mets, then played in Japan rest of '95 and '96 until he broke a leg and was forced to retire. He has continued his baseball career as pitching coach at Kent State U. Also played for numerous "AA" teams in the Canton League; made four All-Star teams and was an All-Star for the Hahn Plastering Company.
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| DAN BOARMAN Learned the game in Cuyahoga Falls Youth Leagues as a hard hitting outfielder. Hit .412 for "D" state champion C.F.L. & B Construction Company in 1967. Was a three year starter at St. Vincent High School and lead the Irish with a .378 battling average and was All-City in 1971. After a football career at Indiana U, Dan returned home to coach St.Vincent-St. Mary High baseball teams to the best years in the school's history. In thirteen years Dan's Irish squad posted a 225-84 record while winning seven Diamond League titles, numerous district titles and State championships in 1986 and 1989. Dan also was defensive head coach for Irish football for thirteen years and is presently head coach of Copley High School where his Indians have been very successful.
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| JERRY COSTIGAN Began his career in West Akron youth leagues and became an outstanding outfielder and crafty lefthanded pitcher. Was an All-Star with the "H" Indians '66-'67; Scullo Construction '68, '69 "G" champs; Romito Brothers Electric "F" teams '70-71; "E" - "D" ball with Kenmore Schlup-Cox Funeral Home '73-74; Kenmore Hawks '75-76. Lettered 4 years at St. Vincent-
St. Mary High '74-77; was All-City '77. Pitched for Glendale Arizona J.C. in '78-79 then pitched for two years for Division I Stetson U "80-81. In "AA" play Jerry toiled for Custom Trophy '77, Forest City
'78-79, Crocker's Restaurant '80, Akron Insulating '81, Crocker's '82-84, posted a 12-0 record in '79, was 8-0 in Warren AABC District Tournament games, was named to three All-Star Akron-Canton teams and played on four AA title teams.
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| PAUL PATTON From 1966 through 1999 he devoted his time, skill and energy to North Akron Youth Baseball Leagues on all age levels. Paul passed away in 1999 but he is remembered by many as a coach who rarely raised his voice, who stressed values as much as winning and instilled confidence in his players. Paul had many "H-G-F-E" championship league and tournament teams, and '67, '71, '73, '98 teams were Ohio Hot Stove State Tournament runnerups. Paul was inducted in the Ohio Hot Stove Hall of Fame in 1990; he received the "Cy Butler Ohio Hot Stove Founder's Award" in 1999 in recognition of his faithful and sincere interest in youngsters and baseball. He was involved in the North Akron Baseball Association in a variety of capacities besides coaching: in administration duties; fund raising; and maintaining the fields and equipment. He did it all with a positive attitude, professionalism and sportsmanship.
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| RICH ROLLINS In the outstanding history of Kent State University baseball, Rich was one of the brightest stars. Told in his younger days that he could not run, hit, field, was not big enough, Rich proved all his critics wrong as he left Parma High and moved on to KSU as a second baseman who became a three-time All-Mid-American Conference first team selection, posted the second best career batting average in Kent history: .383 behind Thurman Munson's .390. His best hitting season at Kent was in 1959 when he stroked a .429 average. In 1961 he signed with the Washington Senators franchise which was moved to Minnesota. By June he made his big league debut with the Twins and in '62 was the Twins starting third baseman. he spent 8 years with the Twins with his best year in '63 as he hit .307 with 16 homeruns. He helped the Twins get to the 1965 World Series against the Dodgers and he also played for the Brewers, Indians, and Seattle Pilots. Finishing with a career .269 batting average with 77 homeruns, rich was inducted into KSU (1977) and Summit County (1999) Halls of Fame.
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| DICK SHAW Has spent 40 years devoted to youth baseball on all age levels and has played a huge roll in modernizing Summit County programs. Dick began his coaching career with the Cuyahoga Falls Little League south '66-73; then went on to Falls Park & Rec Royals, '74-77; State Road Shopping Center '78-91 that became RT Medical, and won the CABA National championship in 1993. He was elected president of Greater Akron Baseball Federation in 1985, serving until 2001, starting with 16 teams playing 14U and 16U ball. Dick is very proud that under his leadership the GABF has expanded to 7 age divisions involving 80 teams in league and traveling action. Overall his teams combined to put a sparkling 578-126 record (82%), won nine League titles and eleven State championships. He has also established a web-site for the GABF: gabf.net that you can check out for the history of this outstanding youth organization.
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| JOHN SIBBIO Has coached, managed, sponsored and umpired for teams in Akron, Tallmadge and Brimfield for more than 26 years. He played at Akron Garfield for Hall of Famer Phil Dienoff and Carter- Jones Connie Mack teams '57-59. John was instrumental in the expansion and bringing top quality tournaments to Brimfield in the early '80's. He coached teams for Maplecrest Golf Course and Portage West before moving on in the '90's with the Akron A's including a 59-4 record, a NABF National Title and the Junior Olympics runnerup in Coral Springs, Florida. In the mid-'90's he coached "The Boys of Summer" outstanding squads and went back to the A's '96 through '98, winning a Cleveland Connie Mack title and two GABF titles. While with the A's his teams won 26 League first place trophies and numerous tournament wins in Tennessee, Florida, Michigan, West Virginia, Texas and Ohio. John retired from baseball after the 1998 season. His last A's team won 5 of 6 tournaments they entered and posted a fabulous 61-7 record.
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