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John J Sullivan, 88 Taunton Mass perhaps has diamond seniority among the remaining dozen selected. He was a third baseman for the Portland team managed by Hugh Duffy that played the first game at historic Bayside park here in 1913 for the New England League. Vern Putney PPH 12/5/1976

In 1958, Cheverus High shortstop Paul Sullivan became the only freshman to win the Telegram League batting title. He hit .362. Sullivan batted .349 in ’59, .365 in 60 and .397 in 61. He was all-Telly his first two years as a shortstop, all Telly as a junior and senior as a catcher. Sullivan next took his bat to Boston College, hitting .417 for the Eagle Frosh. The Minnesota Twins then snapped up Sullivan. He played for Wytheville, ‘Va. , of the Appalachian League, tor Erie, Pa., of the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League in 63, and for the Quincy, Ill., Gemis of the Class A Midwest League in ’64. He batted .511 for Quincy and, as in previous pro ball campaigns, was high on the league list in homers and RBIs. Sullivan played against future Red Soxers Tony and Billy Conigliaro, Reggie Smith and George Scott. Now a computer program consultant, Sullivan resides in Westbrook with wife Kathy and children Moira, Meaghan and Jessica.

Growing up in Topsham, Mark Sutton’s early baseball memories grew out of Sunday afternoon ballgames between the Green and Sutton families on the Greens’ homemade diamond. Neighborliness took a back seat to competition, however, and the baseball spark was ignited. Mark’s family moved to Augusta when he was 10 and the slick-fielding shortstop enjoyed a sparkling career for Coach Jeff Trundy’s Cony Rams, graduating in 1978. Trundy recalls the challenges of reining in the sometimes volcanic intensity of his budding star: “Sutty was always an extremely competitive athlete, but at times the frequent failures in our grand game led to some difficult and trying times. He eventually learned to embrace the challenges of the game and went on to achieve some remarkable things.” Mark enjoyed a sensational senior year at Cony and followed it up with a terrific summer of legion ball. At the legion tournament in Togus, he drew the attention of UMO Coach John Winkin who was there to recruit Mark’s teammate Ed Pickett. Ever the astute talent evaluator, Wink saw a future second baseman in Sutton and convinced him to come to Orono. Winkin’s faith in Mark’s potential to play at the college level was a game-changer. “Coach Winkin’s influence changed the direction of where I was headed. I had no aspirations of going to college until he convinced me I could play at Maine,” said Sutton, emphatically. “Winkin, and playing baseball at Maine, changed the course of my life.” Sutton’s career at Maine meshed with the arrival of Billy Swift, Mike Coutts, Jeff Paul, Kevin Buckley, Bill Reynolds, Rick Lashua, Ed Pickett and other home-grown talent who led the Black Bears to repeated appearances in the NCAA regional tournament and College World Series. Mark played on two CWS teams, with the 1982 squad finishing tied for third, and made the Regional All-Tournament team that year along with fellow 2012 Maine Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Peter Adams. Mark was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 20th round of the 1982 draft and signed with them after the College World Series. He played two years in the Rangers minor league system, finishing with Tulsa in the Double A Texas League. Sutton returned home to play two more years for the Auburn Asas in the Portland Twilight League. Those summers afforded Mark the opportunity to play alongside future major leaguer Mike Bordick who was then honing his shortstop skills at UMaine. It was also a chance to reunite with Jeff Trundy who managed the Asas and observed a fully matured, deeply respectful and appreciative ballplayer who had grown up since the tempestuous Cony years. Trundy noted the Sutton-Bordick relationship with the quiet pride of a teacher who knew he’d finally gotten through to his student: “Sutty and Bordi became great teammates and the cerebral Sutty took Mike under his wing and helped him, pointing out not only the finer points of playing defense but providing some invaluable wisdom on handling the game’s occasional failures. It was an opportunity to observe Sutty and the personal growth that had taken place with him, both as a person and as a player. A very unique and satisfying coaching experience for me.” Mark entered the mortgage lending business in 1999 and today works as a mortgage officer for portfolio loans at Sanford Institution for Savings. https://www.pressherald.com/2011/01/05/deering-names-sutton-new-baseball-coach/ http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=97090

Ernest (Ricky) Swan Remembering highlights of a baseball career 20 years removed requires some thinking. Former Westbrook High athlete Swan tapped his memory for these: Striking out eight in a row as a Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm hand. Being told at age 18 by Maine Baseball Hall of Fame charter member Clyde Sukeforth that he had more potential than blazing fastballer Sandy Koufax. As a pitcher in Spartanburg, S.C., hitting a home run and drawing from his battery mate, (who had caught on the Arizona College team with Reggie Jackson), ‘‘I’ve never seen a ball hit so far.’’ Being selected for three straight years to play in the instructional League. The top 30 players in the organization or top prospects were picked. Pitching and winning the first three games in the Telegram League as a senior, cracking a home run each time. Beating Portland in the bottom of the tenth inning with a home run over the Warren League field’s right field fence. He became only the second batter to reach that distant barrier, and broke the then-league homer record of four. Colby College’s Bill Bryan signed Swan to a Pirates’ contract after strong recommendations from longtime Westbrook High coach and athletic director John (Paddy) Davan and area coach Ash Atherton. Swan, who resides in Windham with wife Vicky and daughters Whitney and Payson, has owned his own logging business for 15 years. From the left side, Swan knew how to put the lumber to a baseball. He was all-Telly in 1963 and 1964. https://www.pressherald.com/2015/05/14/where-are-they-now-ricky-swan-of-westbrook-had-a-baseball-career-to-cherish/ Even though he was a pitcher, Swan enjoyed hitting more. One of his minor league managers, Waldoboro native Clyde Sukeforth, often used him as a pinch hitter when he wasn’t pitching. Swan chuckles at the instruction he received in the minor leagues compared to what today’s players get. He said a roving pitching instructor with the Pirates would visit the different minor league camps. “I threw 90-plus with good movement. I had a curve that they wanted to have a quicker break. The pitching coach would ask, ‘How you holding the ball, how you holding the ball?’ Then he said, ‘I’ll see you in the big leagues.’ “There wasn’t a lot of instruction. You would just go play and learn from your mistakes. It’s altogether different now.” In his time in the Pirates’ organization, Swan played with future major leaguers Bob Robertson, Steve Blass, Al Oliver, Freddy Patek and Don Money. An item in the July 23, 1967, edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram said: “Ernie Swan of Westbrook, pitching for the Pirates’ farm team at Gastonia, N.C. in the Western Carolinas League, has won five and lost two in 10 starts. He has fanned 43 in 56 innings and has a brilliant 2.57 earned-run average. Swan, a hard thrower who has always tried to blow the ball past the batters, suddenly has developed a change-up and a slider, and chances are he’ll move up to a faster league before the season ends.” A year later, his career was heading in a different direction. In 1968, after a Double-A game in Macon, Georgia, Swan and a teammate were driving to a Marine Corps Reserves meeting when their car collided with a van. “We were coming up over a hill and the van was in our lane. We swerved off to the side but the van did, too,” said Swan. He and his teammate were lucky to be alive. Enough damage was done, however, to soon spell the end to Swan’s major league aspirations. “I dislocated everything on my right side,” he said. “I came back too soon and hurt my arm. At the time you don’t realize you’re all done. Then you slowly realize it and it’s frustrating.” The arm injury ended Swan’s career after five professional seasons. After the Pirates released him in 1969, Swan returned home and soon started working for the Portland Boys’ Club as physical education director. Before long he became a self-employed logging contractor for 25 years. “I loved working in the outdoors,” he said. Swan worked in circulation for the Portland Press Herald as an area collector for 14 years before retiring. Swan played several years in the Portland Twilight League, first for Yudy’s Tires as a player-manager and then for Haverty Buick, where he still was a feared hitter while doing some relief pitching. “There were some great players in the Twilight League in the 1970s,” he said. Today, Swan and his wife, Victoria, live on a 35-acre farm they purchased in 1981. They have two daughters, Whitney and Payson, who were star athletes at Windham High. Swan coached his daughters in Little League softball, calling it “the most fun he had in sports.” The team won a state title in 1990. Swan was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. Another Westbrook High teammate, Ken Luce, said when he thinks of Swan as a high school baseball pitcher, the word “intimidation” comes to mind. “Rick was very tough on left-handed batters,” said Luce. “He would just stare them down. He threw hard with a lot of movement. I was a left-handed batter and I felt fortunate at the time that I didn’t have to bat against Rick.”

Brian began his baseball career at the age of eight. He started with District #3, Portland Little League under the guidance of ‘‘Swen’’ Hallagran and then moved up to Babe Ruth League (Payson Park) to play for the late Pete Pompeo. For three seasons he played American Legion Baseball for Wilfred ‘‘Sonny’’ Noel and the Harold T. Andrews Post #17. As a Sophomore on Portland High School’s Varsity team, he made the starting line up and continued all three years mostly at shortstop and a little at second base. In his Senior year, he was selected to the ‘‘All Telegram’’ team. Brian was noted for his speed as he was clocked going from home plate to first base in 3:45/100 seconds. He says, “‘I learned more baseball from my high school coach, the late Edson °**Eddie’’ Hadlock, than any other coach I played under.’’ In 1967 Brian played shortstop for Southern Connecticut State College. That summer he had his best season in the Portland Twi-Light League, when he batted .480, stole 25 out of 26 bases and lead the league in total bases stolen, total hits and total triples. For some unknown reason he wasn’t chosen M.V.P. that year. The next year he was signed to a professional contract with the Baltimore Orioles by the late Frank Seyboth. Brian was assigned to a Class A Farm Team in Aberdene, South Dakota. He played one season as a backup infielder. Ken Rowe was the Manager. After returning home, Brian continued to star in the Twi-Light League. His seventeen year career batting average was approximately .337. Brian resides in South Portland with his wife, Debra (Lombardo), and their fifteen year old son, Brian James Swasey, Dad is an eighteen year veteran and Lieutenant in the Portland Fire Department.

“God gave me two strengths — the ability to teach chemistry and the ability to teach the game of baseball”. - Dennis Sweetser “Through his dedication and commitment to everything he did ultimately defined him as an amazing individual. His commitment to his faith and his belief in people, community, kids, family and country was always his driving force. Whether it was his life commitment to teaching, the lifetime of service to his church, his commitment to the youth through Little League, Dennis always gave one hundred percent of himself to support those endeavors. These were things that Dennis believed in and knew that by doing so he could create a strong vibrant community.” - James H. Miller III, Principal, Edward Little High School Dennis C. Sweetser was born in 1940, grew up in Auburn, attended local schools and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1957. He went on to graduate from Bates College, majoring in chemistry with a passion for teaching. On June 1, 1962 he married an Auburn girl, Donna Campbell. He and Donna moved to Bridgton, where he began his teaching career in chemistry and other science courses. He also coached baseball and refereed basketball games. After two fun-filled years in Bridgton, Dennis moved on to Hall-Dale High School in Farmingdale, where he taught chemistry and physics. He was the jayvee basketball coach and assistant coach of a standout Hall-Dale team — winners of the Class C Championship. When a chemistry position became available at Edward Little High School, he jumped at the chance to return to his hometown and his alma mater. He and Donna settled down, and Dennis stayed at ELHS for 33 years, becoming head of the Science Department and retiring in 2005 after a wonderfully fulfilling teaching career. He did coach 9th grade basketball and enjoyed refereeing basketball for many years. Dennis and Donna were blessed with three daughters — Debra Kirk, Karen Lewis and Mary Beth Galway. Later they would be blessed with six grandchildren — Cristina Lewis, Julia, Emily and Alex Kirk, Owen and Elizabeth Galway. In 1967, Dennis became a coach for the Reliable Oil team (which eventually became Dead River Co.). These were boys 13-15, and he thoroughly enjoyed coaching at this age level. When the manager, Jim Murray, resigned his position, Dennis took over as manager and stayed on in that capacity until his death in 2009. He managed approximately twenty All-Star teams, going beyond the state level several times. One of the highlights of his coaching experiences was going to the 1979 Little League World Series in Gary, Indiana, placing third behind Taiwan and Florida. This was an exciting time for ASLL and the Auburn community. He received many congratulatory messages from city and state officials as well as senators and congressmen from the national level. Also, he received many nice notes from the parents of the Maine All Stars. The boys represented ASLL and Auburn very well. Another highlight was the 1989 addition of major softball at ASLL ,of which his youngest daughter, Mary Beth, was a member. The three Sweetser girls had grown up at the ballpark every summer, and now he finally had a Little Leaguer of his own and enjoyed watching her games. He would later enjoy watching his granddaughter, Crissy Lewis, play softball at ASLL. He felt honored several years ago when former Little Leaguer Bill Reynolds asked Dennis, as his former All-Star LL coach, to present him at his induction to the Auburn/Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame. When Bill was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, Dennis was asked again by Bill to present him at this event. In All Star play, Dennis led his teams to nine State Senior League Championships, five New England championships, and one Eastern Championship and, of course, the ultimate 1979 trip to Gary, IN for the Little League World Series. However, he did enjoy coaching his regular teams as well during the summer. He won his 200th game in 1991 and his Dead River team went 20-0 that year.. His overall record for his Reliable Oil/Dead River Teams was 344-323. His All Star record was 101-47. Dennis joined the ASLL Board of Directors several years ago as secretary and he eventually became treasurer for 12 years until his death. He established many lasting friendships throughout the years with the people at ASLL. He also was the groundskeeper for the ASLL fields and loved being at the ballpark early in the morning before going off to teach Chemistry at ELHS. There he would always have a few of his former ballplayers around his desk discussing baseball to start the day off right. He loved coaching these boys and then teaching some of them in chemistry, and he developed a great rapport with his students and ballplayers. In his spare time, Dennis also researched and recorded the history of ASLL. On May 10, 2006, Dennis was honored for his 40 years of coaching and his dedication to ASLL. A field was named for him and a sign, stating SWEETSER FIELD was presented to him and it stands by that field today. In 2008, Dennis was inducted into the Auburn/Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame for his dedication and accomplishments while coaching baseball at ASLL. Bill Reynolds introduced Dennis at this event and Dennis appreciated Bill’s words. This was a great honor for Dennis, and his plaque is on the wall at Gipper’s Restaurant in Auburn. He thoroughly enjoyed working with the boys during his years as manager/coach, whether they were his Dead River players or All-Star players. He tried to instill in them the importance of dedication, responsibility and, at the same time, to have fun playing baseball. His love of the game and his enthusiasm never wavered throughout the years. During those years, he had wonderful coaches who assisted him, and he always spoke highly of them. Unfortunately, he could not coach during his 43rd season, due to failing health. However, even to his dying day, he wanted to know how his Dead River boys were doing. He was very thankful for the coaches — Merton Gould and Bill Merrill — who carried on for him. Dennis passed away on June 16, 2009. His team did go on to win the Senior League Championship at ASLL in 2010. The most significant display of affection for Dennis took place on the day of his funeral. The funeral procession took him through the ASLL Athletic Complex one final time, where all the teams were there in uniform to salute the man who had cheered and encouraged them for so long, the man they came to know as “coach” and the face of the Auburn Suburban Little League Program. This was the ultimate tribute given to someone who had done so much for his community and both the young and the older athletes who will never forget him. He was a teacher of the game. On Wednesday, March 24, 2010, The House of Representatives honored Dennis by bestowing a sentiment upon him. This honor was given to him mainly for his 42-year dedication to ASLL. However, other attributes mentioned were his devotion and service to his beloved Court St. Baptist Church, his years of teaching in the classroom, along with his interest in history, especially the Civil War. In the Spring of 2011, Sweetser Field was dedicated along with a Memorial Garden that stands in front of the Sweetser sign. This garden was made possible with the funds donated to ASLL from relatives and friends at the time of Dennis’ death. After being inducted into the Auburn/Lewiston Sports Hall of Fame, Dennis said, “I stand in awe of all the great athletes who are in this Hall of Fame, because I was not a gifted one. But, God gave me two strengths — the ability to teach chemistry and the ability to teach the game of baseball”. “It was a fun thing,” said Dennis Sweetser, the team’s manager and a 40-year Auburn Suburban volunteer. “I remember Harold (Lucas) saying that being out there with those kids made him feel like he’d died and gone to heaven.” Lin Roberts shared coaching duties with Sweetser. In addition to Reynolds, a power-hitting catcher, team personnel included Gary Violette, Mark Coutts, Brian Cameron, Paul Ames, Dave Mooney, Chip Bailey, Jim Simpson, Bruce Noddin, Lonnie Healy, Bob Taylor, Dave Roberts, Eric Peterlein and Mark Lashua. Offense and defense were the team’s calling card. “That was a talented group of kids,” Sweetser said. “Billy Reynolds and Gary Violette could hit home runs in every ballpark we played in. We didn’t have great pitching, but we always had enough to get by.” https://www.sunjournal.com/2006/07/16/boyhood-dreams-big-leagues/

When Bill Swift was just beginning a career that would ultimately establish the South Portland native as a dominant Major League pitcher, his father, Herb Swift, was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Now, 24 years and 94 big league victories later, the son takes his inevitable place on the roster of the Pine Tree State’s all-time best. He is Maine’s winningest major league pitcher. All Bill Swift ever needed was an opportunity. All he ever wanted was to play somewhere - anywhere. A statement Bill made near the end of his career provides an insight into his high performance, low ego approach to the game. “If I have to go to the bullpen and stay there until they need a fifth guy. that’s fine, he said.” Swift was then 37 and in his second tour with the Seattle Mariners. Swift, whose trademark slider was described by pitching coach Stan Williams as “superb”, was passed over by the Mariners who gave him his unconditional release. Over a 1 3-year Major League career’ Swift had pitched for three teams, fulfilling the brilliance he flashed at the University of Maine for legendary coach John Winkin. Swift was 26-7 for the Black Bears. He pitched for Team USA at the World Championships in the 1982 and 1983 Pan American Games and for the 1984 United States Olympic team. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the second round of the 1983 free-agent draft but did not sign. The following year he was the second pick overall of the Seattle Mariners in the free agent draft. Called up by the Mariners after two months with Double-A Chattanooga, Swift pitched five shutout innings in relief to receive credit for the win in his first Major League appearance at Cleveland on June 7th. He made his first start June 11 against Chicago and was 2-1 in his first three decisions. Swift remained with Seattle through 1991, winning 40 games. He was 6-4 in his penultimate season with a club-low 2.90 ERA including a 0.50 mark in June. There was a frightening moment: on August 5 he was struck in the forehead by a line drive off the bat of Gary Gaetti of Minnesota Swift made a total of eight starts that year (3-2, 2.10) before returning to the bullpen. He had a 1.34 ERA at the Kingdome. In 1992 Swift was traded to San Francisco and compiled a 10-4 record for the Giants. The following season established him as a premier Major League pitcher. With a record of 21-8 in 1993, Swift finished second to Atlanta’s Greg Maddux (119 to 61) in the Cy Young voting. He was among National League leaders in several pitching categories, including third in wins, fourth in ERA (2.82), sixth in winning percentage (.724) and fifth in opponents batting average against (.220). Swift ran off winning streaks of seven, six, four and three games. He yielded two runs or less in 20 of his 34 starts, including eight starts in which he allowed no earned runs. As evidence of the athleticism he demonstrated at South Portland and the University of Maine, Swift had 21 hits in 80 at-bats. The 21 hits surpassed the club record of 20 (20-123) set by Juan Marichal in 1960. Swift was traded to Colorado in 1995. After three seasons with the Rockies (14-10) he returned to Seattle where he was 11-9 in his final Major League season. Bill is married to Michelle, and the proud father of three lovely daughters. Bill now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. (NEWS CENTER) — Mainers followed the career of Billy Swift from his freshman year at the University of Maine. The South Portland star was part of a club that went to the College World Series. John Winkin converted the outfielder into a pitcher and a star was born. Using a nasty sinker, Bill led the Black Bears to a third place finish at the College World Series. The Black Bears made the tournament four straight years. https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/sports/olympics/maine-olympic-moment-bill-swift/289517223 From Society for American Baseball Research This article was written by Bob LeMoine https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/a6c63772 Billy would become a source of pride for his hometown, pitching in the College World Series, the Olympic Games, and 13 seasons in the major leagues. The soft-spoken kid compiled a 94-78 record, and once was runner-up for the National League Cy Young Award. Herb made billboards for a living to support his large family. “We struggled a little bit,” Billy remembered. “We didn’t have the best of everything, but my parents did good for as many kids as they had to feed. I wasn’t embarrassed.”6 He learned baseball from Herb, who had once been a left-handed pitcher for the Portland Pilots, a Class B farm team of the Philadelphia Phillies, in the New England League. But the rigorous Mainer would pitch anywhere for a few bucks. “I'd pitch doubleheaders. I had a rubber arm. Fifteen dollars a game,” Herb remembered. “Teams would pick me up to pitch for them. Barnstorming. All around Maine. I was all junk. A lefthander, all over the place, no control. A guy would yell, ‘Let me see your fastball.’ I'd say ‘That was it.’” When Billy was born, Herb named him after the greatest Red Sox player of them all. “I named him after Ted Williams. We'd used up all the names of the saints. I wanted William for Ted Williams. My wife wanted Charles. That's his middle name. William Charles Swift.” Herb taught Billy how to pitch early on, using some unorthodox methods. “I had him throw a short distance. Then, after he was throwing pretty well, I moved back a few steps. I wanted him to have control. I used a workout with him that I always had used. Had batters stand on each side of the plate and had him pitch between them. The key is making sure the batters don't swing. They'd kill each other.” Herb also taught his son lessons about humility. “I always told him, no matter how great you think you are, let someone else tell you,” Herb said. “If you pat yourself on the back, you might break your arm.” https://www.pressherald.com/2013/06/19/swift-moves-to-take-job-at-a-college_2013-06-19/

Swift, a southpaw ace in the postwar Twi League hurled 38 one-hitters. Vern Putney PPH 12/1976 When Bill Swift was just beginning a career that would ultimately establish the South Portland native as a dominant Major League pitcher, his father, Herb Swift, was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Jerome Holtzman CHICAGO TRIBUNE The supposedly immortal Ty Cobb, ferocious competitor, reportedly more than once said if he were stealing second base and his mother had the ball, he would go in full speed and with spikes high. At least one member of the current generation has a considerably softer approach. Bill Swift, a 20-game winner last season with the San Francisco Giants, in a family softball game refused to hit a home run off his mother. "I never took her deep," Swift insisted. "We just tried to play it safe." Billy Swift, growing up in South Portland, Maine, had an idyllic boyhood. He played baseball and basketball and ran cross-country. And there were the family softball games. He has nine sisters: Helen, Peggy, Alice, Nancy, Rosemary, Shirley, Cathleen, Mary and Arlene. And five brothers: Herbert Jr., Bobby, Johnny, Mike and Peter. Bill is No. 14, next to the youngest. "We always had games going on. A lot of great softball games. The nine girls were on one side. They were very good athletes. All of them were all-state in basketball. We picked up a few boys and had enough for two full teams." His mother, Dorothy, and his father, Herbert, were the opposing pitchers. There was only one concession: One of the boys positioned himself in front of his mother to protect her from line drives. "The boys didn't always win," Billy said. "It was great competition." But he conceded that the boys and men didn't always take a full swing against mom. "She's too sweet," he said. Growing up in a family of 15 children, Swift says, was a big advantage. "A lot of people have one brother or one sister. Or they're an only child. It must be lonely for them." Was he ever shut out at the dinner table? Swift laughed: "I developed a long reach to get those bread rolls. And I was quick." https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-05-22-9405220397-story.html “How did I end up with 15 kids?” Herb was once asked. “I had a good woman.” Herb organized the family chores like an assembly line. “You just had the older ones take care of the younger ones. Soon as you were old enough to hold a plate and a towel, you had a job.” “It was almost like we ate in two shifts,” Billy, as he was called then, remembered.4 But even Herb was hard-pressed to name them all until he consulted Dorothy. Young Billy grew up with sisters Helen, Alice, Arlene, Peggy, Mary Francis, Shirley, Rosemary, Nancy, Cathleen, and brothers Herb Jr., Michael, John, Bobby, and Peter. “I still ask them why they had so many,” Swift pondered in 1992. “They really haven’t given us a good answer. They were good Catholics, I guess. They didn’t believe in birth control.” Herb made billboards for a living to support his large family. “We struggled a little bit,” Billy remembered. “We didn’t have the best of everything, but my parents did good for as many kids as they had to feed. I wasn’t embarrassed.”He learned baseball from Herb, who had once been a left-handed pitcher for the Portland Pilots, a Class B farm team of the Philadelphia Phillies, in the New England League. But the rigorous Mainer would pitch anywhere for a few bucks. “I'd pitch doubleheaders. I had a rubber arm. Fifteen dollars a game,” Herb remembered. “Teams would pick me up to pitch for them. Barnstorming. All around Maine. I was all junk. A left hander, all over the place, no control. A guy would yell, ‘Let me see your fastball.’ I'd say ‘That was it.’” When Billy was born, Herb named him after the greatest Red Sox player of them all. “I named him after Ted Williams. We'd used up all the names of the saints. I wanted William for Ted Williams. My wife wanted Charles. That's his middle name. William Charles Swift.”

Long recognized as one of Maine's most outstanding sports officials, Tony Tammaro will today be welcomed into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be honored for over 60 years of dedicated participation in the National Pastime. He has done it all — player, manager, and umpire. And he 1s still umpiring in 2000, at the age of 80!! His baseball career began in the early 1940’s when he played second base for Woodland High School. He joined the semi-pro town team but, like countless other young men of that time, wound up serving Uncle Sam in World War II. Stationed at Fort McLellan in Alabama, he did a lot of playing and umpiring. Among his new friends were Bobby Bragan and Tom Lasorda, both destined to be Major League Baseball managers. Following his discharge from the service in 1945, Tony organized the Woodland Red Sox — a team for which he played and managed for several years. Omar Norton (HoF 96) recounts how Tony served as groundskeeper and general manager and reigned over the best field in Washington County. loday that field is the Tony Tammaro Athletic Field. Norton also labels Tony a scrappy second baseman who played the game hard but fairly, asking and giving no quarter to the opposition. He was a clutch hitter, a smart base runner who could steal a base when needed’’. Tammaro also helped organize two long-time leagues: the Border League consisting of Canadian and American players in Maine and New Brunswick, including two Native American teams and the Quoddy League. These leagues lasted a number of years. Carlton Willey, former Braves and Mets pitcher (HoF ’70), is an alumnus of the Border League and a number of Maine HoFers including Dick Cormier Jim DiFrederico (°88), Woody Dunphy (’96) and Jerry Dulity (938) played here with teams such as the Houlton Collegians. also helped organize Little League and Pony League teams. As an umpire, Tony was one of the best. He worked many games in Washington County and the Maritime Provinces. He umpired the Junior National Tournament in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada and the Senior National tournament in Edmunston, New Brunswick, Canada. He still looks forward to umpiring and works in high school, semi-pro, college and American Legion games on both sides of the border. Tony and Marjorie, his wife of 62 years, are still living in Woodland and have four adult “youngsters”; three daughters, Barbara Fournier of Farmington, Dorothy Cerbone of Brewer, Jane Bartram of Winterport and a son, Peter, living just outside Woodland. Welcome to Tony — another treasure from Washington County! From Bangor Daily News https://archive.bangordailynews.com/2002/08/28/veteran-official-tammaro-dies-hall-of-famer-82-suffers-heart-attack/ "“He was larger than life,” said Mike Tammaro. “Everyone knew him, not only all across Maine but also in New Brunswick. The amount of people he knew was unbelievable. And the amazing thing was nobody said a bad thing about him. When it came to umpiring or refereeing, he was always fair.” Tony Tammaro’s Memory Kept Alive with Baseball Tourney https://www.calais.news/tony-tammaro%E2%80%99s-memory-kept-alive-baseball-tourney

Joe Tardif took a giant step toward his prestigious baseball career, when at the age of five he was battling nine and ten year Olds on the diamond. The Biddeford-Saco resident and his considerable baseball talents matured in high school at Thornton Academy, where he was a slugging shortstop and team captain in his senior year. He played both shortstop and third base in a fine Twilight League career, many all-star teams. He was one of two unanimous choices in 1927, Tardif, one of the state's most respected umpires, also took a fling at fast-pitch softball for Biddeford-Saco's Rochembeau team. However, it was the late Tardif’s hardball feats which prompted his selection to the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame. Tardif also played for Diamond Match in the Warren League. Though its most valuable and most popular player, Tardif once was booed for failing to get a hit in his first time at bat. No matter that he stayed up all night to await the arrival of an eight and one-half pound baby girl the night before. Who said baseball was ever easy? Tardif never was given the "Bronx Cheer” during lengthy service as a coach. He coached both baseball and football at St.Louis High, Biddeford, and was baseball manager for both the St. Andre's Athletic Association and the Saco-Lowell Activities Association. Tardif's wiry frame and speed were put to good use on the football field. He was a slashing 125-pound fullback at Thornton. Opponents claimed he had built up momentum worthy of a heavyweight when he bolted into the secondary.

As a young man in Rumford, Artie Taylor was one of those who was destined o become an icon of Maine Town Team baseball. Little did he know that when he, as a 4th grader, would catch batting practice for the Rumford Town Team in exchange for a few swings at bat, he would become hooked on the sport and it would be forever in his blood. When he would come home after catching batting practice, his grandmother would soak Artie’s hands and would always say, “Why do you let them hurt you like this?” But, she didn’t know that he was already in love with the game.” Artie went on to play little league and pony league then Legion ball for a team in Bethel where he played with Merle White. Merle’s comments about Artie were, “After having played professional baseball for ten years, I think I’m a good judge of talent and Artie would rate at the top of the list for ability and leadership. When Taylor was an eighth grader, the varsity coach (MBHOF) Ray Baum at Stevens High School made arrangements so he could get out of school early, in order to practice with the team. “I, again, would catch all of the batting practice, “ Taylor said. “ But, coach Baum would also make me participate in all of the team drills.” Artie’s freshman year in high school, he played with the varsity and soon became the starting catcher. From that point on, their team won two league titles and the Class A Maine Championship vs. Stearns, in 1954, when Artie was a sophomore. One of the players on that Stearns team, Hall of Famer, -Marty Roop, said, “Artie won the game by holding the ball after leaving the mound, and picking the runner off 1st base, that would have been the winning run for us.” In the summer of 1954, Artie would play for the Dixfield Dixies then went to play for the Rumford Town Team for several years before going back to Dixfield for many years. He was always asked by other teams to play for them at Pettingill Park in Auburn for the YABC championship and to go to Battle Creek, Michigan for the national championship if they should advance. Artie went with South Paris, Chi-Liv, Turner Townies and Winthrop to Battle Creek in the 50’s and 60’s. Calvin Gammon of Livermore, wrote in his letter about Artie, “He never threw me out trying to steal a base, because I knew better than to try. He may be the best catcher from Maine to have played the game.” Artie had an intensity for the game of baseball and he played that way. He was the leader on the field and had the whole picture in front of him and moved people on defense to benefit his team’s success. People who were not fortunate enough to watch Artie play, missed watching one of the best. He had a consummate love for the game of baseball. “Playing baseball in the Pine Tree League all those years was the best time in my baseball career,” Taylor said, who played for Rumford teams and the Dixfield Dixies in the 1950s and 1960s. “There were many good teams in that league and you could not let up on no matter who you put in the game.” After playing for many years, Artie would coach the Rumford Town Team, little league, pony league and American Legion. With a family of four growing up around him, he decided, at the age of 37 and after 30 years devoted to baseball, that he would leave the game. Over thirty years if Artie’s life was consumed by baseball whether it was playing, coaching or attending other games while his team was off for the night. He is the epitome of what Town Team baseball was in the 50’s and 60’s. In Artie’s words, “Playing baseball in the Pine Tree League all those years was the best time in my baseball career. Thinking back, to all of my baseball, all the players I played with and against, and all the friends I made in baseball, I never forgot to thank God for giving me the skills to play the game I loved so much.”

Tetrault, 87, played in about 2000 ball games in a career extending from 1902 to 1940. He was a second baseman with Pittsfield, MA and New Britain CT of the eastern League, with Duffy's Portland club and with many other Maine and canadian teams. Vern Putney 10/26/75