BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — It started in town in the early 1970s. Since then, the West Milford Little League’s (WMLL) Opening Dayceremonies have grown a little each year, and the kids had fun and looked forward to it every year. Over the past few years it has grown into a nearly town-wide event, featuring famous former Major League Baseball players, thanks to current WMLL president and life-long New York Yankees fan Mark Minadeo and the generous support of sponsors.
About four years ago, Minadeo became vice president of the WMLL and decided to try and come up with a few new ideas for the annual event.
“I got sponsors involved, and in the first year, I brought the Newark Bears mascot up here and he was a big hit,” said Minadeo. “We also raised a decent amount of money for the kids.”
Minadeo said this left him with the challenge of trying to do something even better in the following year.
“I thought, ‘wouldn't it be exciting for the kids (and the parents) if I could get a major league player up here to throw out the first pitch and sign some autographs’?” Minadeo found sponsors willing to contribute to it, and said it was very well received. He got former Yankee Roy White to make an appearance. “Everyone loved it and it drew a big crowd” he said.
But Minadeo didn’t stop there- he made arrangements with Outback Steakhouse in Butler to set up a portable restaurant in the lot and sell food for the league. Minadeo said it was “a lot of hard work on their part, and tremendous generosity to the league by letting us keep mostly all of the proceeds.”
The next year, Minadeo was able to organize a visit and autograph signing with Yankees star Bucky Dent, who, he said, “is still amazingly popular after all these years.” This year, Minadeo was able to arrange an appearance and autographs by the renowned former Yankees player Chris Chambliss.
“All three of the players were terrific guys and made it a very special time for the league,” Minadeo said.
This year, in addition to Outback Steakhouse of Butler selling burgers/chicken sandwiches/soup, Frozen Ropes Training Facility of Chester ran a baseball pitching tent, and Russo Brothers were busy making zeppoles.
The event has become so big, Minadeo said the lot now fills up an hour before the event and the West Milford Little League had to hire extra security to manage the size of the crowd, an estimated 500-600 people, in attendance. Minadeo said he couldn’t make it all happen by himself.
“I also have a lot of help from the league to prepare the field, run the snack stand, etc, including John Pullins, who over the years has helped me run the event and locate sponsors,” said Minadeo
West Milford Little League has seven divisions with approximately 450 players in the league this season. Minadeo said they were able to get team sponsors for three of their divisions this year: T-ball, Minors and Majors, and the additional divisions of Instructional, Jr. Minors, Intermediate and Juniors (with a total of 18 teams) were sponsored by local businesses and families. Next year they plan to try and add another division to be sponsored, according to Minadeo.
“The money we bring in goes a long way to helping the league and the kids,” said Minadeo. “This year, we were able to spend a decent amount of money and really improve Hillcrest field, where the Majors play most of their games.”
Getting a big name player: Chris Chambliss
“This year, the sponsors who contributed to covering the cost of the player were the West Milford PBA, The Sports Authority in Riverdale, Fetch Restaurant in Warwick, Sneaky Pete’s Oat Beverage, and Hubinger Landscaping,” said Minadeo. “All were very generous to the league to help us out this year. The PBA had originally contributed a large sum, but when they heard we needed more money, went back and got us another check. Such great support from our police. I can't thank them enough.”
Chris Chambliss, 64, was the big draw this year. Chambliss had an excellent major league career, playing for the Cleveland Indians, the Yankees and the Atlanta Braves from 1971 through 1988. It was his years as a Yankee that have endeared him to the local crowd.
Chambliss was selected by the Cleveland Indians as the first pick overall of the free-agent draft in 1970, and in 1971, was named the American League Rookie of the Year. Chambliss played first base and was known as a great clutch hitter throughout his career.
He was dealt to the Yankees from the Indians in April 1974. In 1976, he put the Yankees in the World Series for the first time in over a decade with his ninth inning walk-off homerun.
“He was one of my favorite players growing up,” said Minadeo. “His homer in '76 against the Royals to win the pennant for the Yankees was one of the most exciting in Yankee history.”
Minadeo said it’s been a “personal thrill” for him to introduce and spend time with players that he watched as a kid and cheered for on TV.
“It’s been a dream situation for me as a big Yankee fan my whole life.”
“Play Ball”
Chambliss tossed out two opening throws, one to each of the catchers of the scheduled game: Majors Division Tigers and White Sox. For the White Sox, Aden McDaniels caught the opening toss, and for the Tigers, Luke McFadden had the honor.
Thirteen-year-old Kathryn Keller then sang the National Anthem, and the game began.
The White Sox beat the Tigers, 14-5.
For more photos, go to westmilfordmessenger.com.