As we prepare for baseball...do you know anyone who played pro ball?

[Rock Strongo]

That dude's slider was filthy. I remember you telling me you knew him.

I knew a few guys who got drafted and played pro ball, but no one who made the show.

i thought youd remember my tim stories. he worked for me refurbishing nortel phones back in the day, for money to cover his living expenses in the off season. him and his borther started a failed energy drink business, trying to use his "yankee fame" even tho he never made it out of AAA.

 

[Rock Strongo]

Bobby Carpenter Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com


As good as it gets for me-Bobby Carpenter-first US born player ever taken #1 overall.

He was a senior when I was a freshman-he was so, so, so good. Skated faster backwards then I did forwards.

New England prep school hockey was awesome.

you went to St Johns? i knew a ton of athletes from the "other" St Johns (Shrewsbury). You may recall my tales of baby sitting a future stanford offensive lineman.

 

[Carnzo]

I went to school with a bunch of Jimmy Piersall's kids.
After the divorce they settled in Harwich.
Never met him but the kids were cool.

 

[nynasty]

you went to St Johns? i knew a ton of athletes from the "other" St Johns (Shrewsbury). You may recall my tales of baby sitting a future stanford offensive lineman.

No, I went to St Thomas More down in Colchester, Ct (right near the RI border), but we played in the same league.

I forgot my other claim to fame is I went 2-3 off Brian Leetch when he was pitching for Cheshire Academy.

It didn't go so well for me against him on the ice.

 

[Rock Strongo]

No, I went to St Thomas More down in Colchester, Ct (right near the RI border), but we played in the same league.

I forgot my other claim to fame is I went 2-3 off Brian Leetch when he was pitching for Cheshire Academy.

It didn't go so well for me against him on the ice.

i played at avon old farms, for a season. same place leetch played. i played for only a year because...i was over matched (and my dad lost his job, and it was pricey). thats an entirely different level of skill vs say, the 2 years of D3 I played after I left williams. D3 you can be a big slowish white guy and not get exposed as easily. i think i got 20 mins of ice time at avon

go winged beavers.

 

[Rock Strongo]

not a bad list of pro athletes for a tiny private school

A TRADITION OF WINNING


After ringing the bell at Avon Old Farms, several Winged Beavers have gone on to compete as professional athletes.





BASEBALL

• Juan Nieves ‘83 - MLB
• George Springer '08 - MLB
• Cael Brockmeyer '10 - MiLB
• Chris Madera '11 - MiLB
• Jack Sundberg '12 - MiLB
• Neil Kozikowski '13 - MiLB
• Graeme Brown (New York Mets)
• Jason LaVorgna (New York Mets)
• George Springer (Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros)
• Tim Kiene (Washington Nationals)
• Tim Brechbuehler (Toronto Blue Jays)
• Neil Kozikowski (Pittsburgh Pirates)
• Cael Brockmeyer (Chicago Cubs)
• Chris Madera (Chicago Cubs)
• Mike Gibbons (New York Mets)
• Joey Donino (Arizona Diamondbacks)
• Jack Sundberg (Washington Nationals)
• John Witkowski '15 (St. Louis Cardinals)
• Matt Gill '16 (Cincinnati Reds

GOLF

• Brett Stegmaier '02 - PGA Tour

HOCKEY

• Brian Leetch '86 - NHL
• David Roberts '89 - NHL
• Matt Martin '90 - NHL
• Niko Dimitrakos '98 - NHL
• Matt Hussey '98 - NHL
• Chris Higgins '01 - NHL
• Jonathan Quick '05 - NHL
• Joey Sides '05 - EIHL
• Sean Backman '05 - AHL
• Nick Bonino '07 - NHL
• Cam Atkinson '08 - NHL
• Danny New '08 - ECHL
• Parker Milner '09 - ECHL
• Charlie Vasaturo '09 - ECHL
• Pat Mullane '09 - ELH
• Mike Pereira '10 - ECHL
• Mark Naclerio '11 - AHL

FOOTBALL

• Jack Calcaterra '63 - NFL: New York Giants
• Tim Frager '87: Barcelona Dragons
• Chris Hetherington ‘91 - NFL: Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers
• Tyler King '00 - NFL: San Diego Chargers
• Brandon Caesar '01: Calgary Stampede
• Deon Anderson '02 - NFL: Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins
• Lamart Barrett '02 - NFL: St. Louis Rams
• Andre Jones '05 - NFL: Kansas City Chiefs, Milwaukee Mustangs
• Khaseem Greene '08 - NFL
• Michael Cox '08 - NFL
• Mike Hermann '09 - NFL: San Diego Chargers

LACROSSE

• Gewas Schindler '95 - Rochester Rattlers
• Brett Garber '03 - Boston Cannons, Rattlers, Ohio Machine
• Graham Gill '01 - Chesapeake Bayhawks
• Alex Demopoulos '08 - Ohio Machine
• Andrew Whipple '94 - Rattlers and Rochester Knighthawks of the NLL

 

[rmilia1]

I played against a few guys in Little League that ended up getting drafted. 1 made the majors the other topped out in AAA ( Wes Obermueller and Nate Frese )

Other sports

I played HS golf against Zach Johnson. Never lost to him once in 4 meets lol. Of course hes won the Masters and the British Open so i think he did ok

Worked in Florida for 3 strsight summers and got to help teach some younger tennis guys most notably Andy Roddick and James Blake. Was also a hitting partner for David Wheaton when I lived in Minnesota

NFL wise my sister has been friends with Robert Gallery since kindergarten and one of her best friends married a guy that played for Iowa and works for the Titans now and my last year in college I was pretty good friends with Tyrone Carter

 

[tnapucco]

Mickey Mantle is like my 6th-7th cousin. Never met him.

 

[Debbie Does]

Played low-level pickup hockey. We had a walk-on named Dave Logan. Turns out he was Bobby Orr's defense partner in the short time that Orr played for the Blackhawks.

He was way too good for us.

 

[The Derski]

Kyle Lobstein. Second round pick of the Rays. Career never really planned out.

 

[steelerssb]

@nynasty will remember my friend tim.

Tim Norton Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

he's the pitching coach for the trenton thunder now. if his arm had held up (he loved his slider a bit too much but it was lethal) he would have been the next great yankee reliever. i think he had 10 surgeries in his career.

i also knew mark fidrych personally, as he did work for my father (side business building mansions, living in them for 2 years to avoid capital gains, then sells). he died at a family friends asphalt business in Northborough.

how about you?

A couple I've either known or had a close proxy too.

I never knew Kevan Smith (he was a senior when I was in 8th grade) but he was the same year as my sister. A few years ago I actually almost caught one of his home run balls at a random White Sox game I went to.

Zach Jackson was a neighbor of mine growing up, but his most notable thing was being part of the Sabathia trade.


Cory Mazzoni was also in high school the same time as me but a few years older so I didn't know him that well.

The last one I didn't actually know, but my 5th grade teached's son won the World Series with Arizona and I always thought that was cool.

 

[skinzfan]

was a friend of mine....obit from 2003, he used to do appearances at groceries stores selling Sealtest Dairy in the off-season for $200 an appearance...


John Joseph Paluck, 68, a former Washington Redskins defensive lineman who was twice voted the team's most valuable player and was selected among its 100 all-time greatest players, died of colon cancer April 22 at his daughter's home in Fairfax.

Mr. Paluck, who was known as Mean John Paluck, was an all-American football player from the University of Pittsburgh when the Redskins signed him in 1956. In his rookie season, the speedy 6-foot-21/2, 240-pound lineman recovered three fumbles, including one he returned 76 yards for a touchdown in a game against the Giants. He celebrated the score by kicking the football into the stands, which prompted league officials to fine him $500.

After his first year, he was drafted into the Army and served at Fort Knox, Ky., as a sergeant in the medical corps. He rejoined the team in 1959 and started every game at defensive left end, leading the team in sacks and establishing himself as one of the most physical defensive linemen in the league.

He was recalled to active military duty one more time before retiring from football in 1966. He returned to his native Swoyersville, Pa., where he worked as a home builder and spent his leisure time fishing streams and tributaries in northeastern Pennsylvania.

When he learned he had cancer in 2001, he moved to Fairfax to live with his daughter, Samantha Paluck.

"He fought cancer the same way he played ball, hard and positive, for two years," said his son, John J. Paluck Jr. "During this time, he was very inspirational to a lot of other patients he touched for his positive and 'never say quit' attitude."

 

[SJ76]

@nynasty will remember my friend tim.

Tim Norton Minor Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com

he's the pitching coach for the trenton thunder now. if his arm had held up (he loved his slider a bit too much but it was lethal) he would have been the next great yankee reliever. i think he had 10 surgeries in his career.

i also knew mark fidrych personally, as he did work for my father (side business building mansions, living in them for 2 years to avoid capital gains, then sells). he died at a family friends asphalt business in Northborough.

how about you?

Used to play a lot of golf in the off season and hang with one of the top MLBers from 2000-2010. But you won’t believe me. Will be a 1st ballot HOF

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I knew a few guys who got drafted and played pro ball, but no one who made the show.

Same here, I knew a couple of guys who made it as high as AA but that's it. The one guy we all thought would make it was playing in the White Sox system until he tore his knee up. He never came back from that.

 

[Red_Chaos]

Kirk Rueter (pronounced Read er)
Kirk Rueter Stats | Baseball-Reference.com

Guy lives in the biggest house in the county, full basketball/swimming pool, has a whole 2nd house dedicated to his sports collection and rumor has it there is an underground tunnel connecting the main house to the sports house.

Apparently was very tight with his money/spending, never have actually met the guy but he lives like 4 farm fields away.

 

[Thruthefog]

Mike Hargrove is my 2nd cousin.

The last time I talked to him was pregame Indians @ Rangers when he was managing the Indians. He got all bent out of shape over my Tigers cap.

 

[nynasty]

Mike Hargrove is my 2nd cousin.

The last time I talked to him was pregame Indians @ Rangers when he was managing the Indians. He got all bent out of shape over my Tigers cap.

The human rain delay!

LOL

 

[DragonfromTO]

i played at avon old farms, for a season. same place leetch played. i played for only a year because...i was over matched (and my dad lost his job, and it was pricey). thats an entirely different level of skill vs say, the 2 years of D3 I played after I left williams. D3 you can be a big slowish white guy and not get exposed as easily. i think i got 20 mins of ice time at avon

go winged beavers.

My ex-wife is from East Granby so I know all about how good Avon Old Farms is

 

[Cedrique]

I know a guy whose friend's son signed a major league contract recently.
Well I don't really know him, but I've read some of his posts on the internet.

 

[Wazmankg]

Not baseball, but I went to school and played football, both with and against, Jeff Komlo who was the Lions QB for a short time and bounced around the NFL for a few more years. He was kind of a tool and aside from a decent arm wasn't all that on the football field.