San Francisco Baseball Old Timers Association "From The Dugout" July 2022 Edition
San Francisco Baseball Old Timers Association "From The Dugout" July 2022 Edition
San Francisco Baseball Old Timers Association "From The Dugout" July 2022 Edition
Leo’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, we who do our best each day to live by Your Words find ourselves in
the midst of challenges to our faith. We have a portion of the world at war, and
foreign powers have designs on the United States to make us into a godless empire.
We have internal struggles in our country which challenge us to overcome forces
which are trying to take Your Divine Word and Guidance and remove them as our
beacons of Your Love and Salvation. We pray to You, O Lord, for the Wisdom and
Courage to defeat these challenges and achieve the Goodness and Holiness that You
have intended for us. Hear us, O Lord.
An Important Announcement
Your current editorial staff assumed the task of composing, producing and
distributing the monthly Old Timers newsletter seven years ago upon the passing of
the legendary and irreplaceable editor John McCarthy. We will be retiring and turning
over the controls for this important duty to an outstanding writer and dedicated
personality, Brother Old Timer Nick Shihadeh, after the December 2022 Edition of
“From The Dugout” has been produced and distributed. Nick will take this
publication to new heights and will dazzle you with his skills, humor and
perspectives. I know you will give your total support to Nick as you have to your
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existing news staff. But from now until the end of this year, you’re stuck with what
you have right now!
COVID-19 Update
Your Editorial Staff had a personal brush with a COVID-19 infection in mid-June after
attending my grandson’s graduation with two degrees from the University of Oregon.
Your Editorial Staff was fully vaccinated and boosted yet somehow an evil microbe
found its way onboard and caused several days of discomfort. But the vaccine likely
mitigated the severity of the infection and facilitated a speedy recovery. But once
again, your news staff counsels you to consult with your doctor about vaccinations
and what your treatment options would be if you become infected.
Important Dates Department
Thursday, July 14, at Nick’s Restaurant in Pacifica, the Monthly Dinner will take
place. Cocktails begin at 5:00 PM and dinner will start promptly at 6:00. The
Officers and Board of Directors meeting will commence at 4:30 PM. NOTE
CAREFULLY: IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THIS DINNER, YOU MUST RESERVE A PLACE
BY CONTACTING EITHER DAVE LONGA (PHONE: 650-392-4382 OR E-MAIL:
daveandfriends@sbcglobal.net) OR JIM JARVIS (PHONE: 650-260-2613) BY FRIDAY,
JULY 8th, SO THAT WE CAN GIVE NICK’S A HEAD COUNT SO THEY KNOW HOW
MANY MEALSTO PREPARE. (IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO YOUR NEWS STAFF BY
DAVE AND JIM THAT SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY DISREGARDED THIS
CALL-IN MANDATE. WE ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO RESPECT THIS PROCEDURE AND
NOT OPERATE ON YOUR OWN TIMELINE.)
Wednesday, July 20, the Monthly Marino Pieretti Lunch and Yodeling Competition
will gather at a new venue, SHARP PARK GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE in Pacifica, with
cocktails at 11:00 AM and lunch at 12:00 Noon. And we repeat a special request
from Crew Chief Dave Longa---if you are a REGULAR guest at these great gatherings,
but find yourself UNABLE to attend, call Dave in advance (Phone: 650-392-4382) so
he can adjust the head count with the restaurant staff so we don’t have to pay for
meals prepared but not eaten. (Ya gotta hand it to Chieftain Longa, who is always
searching for places that are convenient to reach and provide an interesting venue
for these time-honored gatherings.)
New Pisa Alumni Society Status Report
We have picked up a whole new squad of New Pisa Alumni for 2022. So to be listed as
an NPA, please send in a check payable to the SF BASEBALL OLD TIMERS, for $10
per name you want listed, and mail it to LOU LANDINI, 208 FOREST PARK DR.,
PACIFICA, CA 94044. This is a great way to honor special people in your life and to
perpetuate the legendary generosity of the Benedetti Family. This month we received
a HUGE donation from Mark Benedetti in Memory of his Mom, Connie, of his Dad,
Donald. Upon the motion of Director Reggie Smith, the Board approved a $250
donation from the NPA to the Mike Norris Baseball Academy to help underprivileged
kids learn the great game of baseball under SF Baseball Legend Mike Norris. Thank
you to All of You who have contributed to this fun charity!!
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Kathy’s Fund Update—Our Battle Against Alzheimer’s Disease Continues
If you can’t come to a monthly dinner, you can still donate to Kathy’s Fund by
making a check out to SF BASEBALL OLD TIMERS, and indicate on the memo line
“For Kathy’s Fund” and mail it to LOU LANDINI, 208 FOREST PARK DRIVE,
PACIFICA, CALIF 94044. At the June meeting we received amazing and exceedingly
generous donations once again from Grant & Kathleen Becker and Bill Jones, and a
load of others who quietly slide money into the Kathy’s Fund can at the monthly
dinners. The on-going largess of the Old Timers is simply incredible. We’re all hoping
that one day soon, an earth-shattering announcement will come from the Alzheimer’s
Association that a cure or effective treatment has been found for this brutal disease.
Your news staff follows developments in Alzheimer’s Research, and progress is being
made by the researchers. It’s slow, painstaking work, but these people are relentless!
Bless them!
If anyone in the Old Timers is seeking information about or assistance with a problem
concerning Alzheimer’s disease, your news staff can provide you with contact
information within the Alzheimer’s Association. Rest assured, confidentiality will be
maintained.
Words of Wisdom
“Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled,
but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone
else says anything back, that is an outrage.” Winston Churchill (Editor’s note: there
are many examples of this in play today with the “Cancel Culture Movement.”)
In Memoriam
We are profoundly saddened by the passing of Jennifer Kavanaugh Jones, the beloved
wife of Eric Jones, daughter of Brother Old Time Steve Kavanaugh and his wife
Sandy, and daughter-in-law of Ultimate Old Timer Bill Jones.
We also sorrowfully lost long-time Brother Old Timer Joseph “Buzz” Orengo. Buzz was
a fun guy and his personality will be sorely missed.
May God keep Jennifer and Buzz at His side and provide comfort to everyone whom
these wonderful souls have left behind. The Old Timers are grieving along with their
Families.
On the Mend
Barbara Golding (wife of the Late Great Old Timer Ernie Golding), Ann Righetti, Gene
& Diane Hartje, Bill & Hallie Angel, Ray McDonald, Pete Dalton, Nick Cannuli, Len
Grilli, Don & Paula Collopy. Virginia Simon, Chuck Garcia, Bill McCullough, Jim
Mullan, Kris Longa, and John Ward (who has had a rough go in his recovery from a
serious leg injury). Y’all keep getting better!
Think Long and Hard About This
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the
opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston Churchill (again)
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You Know You’re An Old Timer When
---you were expected to knock down a Shortstop on a double play.
---as a catcher, you NEVER had your own catcher’s gear.
---during your high school years, you played in 3 or 4 leagues during the summer.
---you thought long-time SF Umpire Dick Code looked like Charles deGaulle
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DANIEL DUGGAN, DUGGAN’S SERRA MORTUARY
500 Westlake Av., Daly City, Calif. 94014 650-756-4500 dan@duggansserra.com
WILLIAM DeMATTEI
Retired San Francisco Firefighter