We have a friend of The Museum who is seeking information about a boys' baseball team (in the 1950s) who were wearing t shirts with the "Western Boys Baseball Association on an outside circle and the inside reads, East Valley Van Nuys."
No information is known about this League somewhere around 1953 - 55.
Thanks for your help here.
Jerry 1 (818) 347-9665
31 comments:
I played in the Western Boys Baseball Association in 1964-65. The field was located on Hazeletine Ave, just east of Valerio behind the Schlitz Brewery and nextdoor to Foremost Dairy. There were two fields..one for the WBBA and the other belonged to South Van Nuys Little League.
They were apparently active as late as 1978: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19780821&id=v6MqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J1sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4872,5187382
I played on the 1978 Van Nuys All-Stars who went to the WBBA Championship game in Idaho. Though we fell apart in the final the experience getting there was amazing. I remember our home field next to the Schlitz brewery and across from a vacant building with broken windows. I always wondered what happened to the league.
I pitched and hit a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth which sent us to provo utah for the championship. our field was located at nordoff and balboa. i played for the northridge all-stars in 63 & 64. the picture of me pitching was in the valley times. i wish i could show it to my grandchildren. great memories! jeff dunn jeffscementworks@gmail.com
Yep. That's me . . . Tom Hansen . . . c. 1963/4
http://www.tomandrodna.com/photos/Tom_LittleLeagueBaseball_VanNuys.jpg
My dad, Max McBeth was on the board of directors for Western Boys Baseball Association from the early 60's until his death at age 54 in 1979. When I was about 8 we hosted 4 or 5 boys from Southern California as they played in the Championship Series in Tooele, Utah. He spent a lot of his time and energy in behalf of that organization, doing his best to ensure young boys had the opportunity to participate in well organized, challenging and competitive games.
I believe that the very first WBBA Championship went to the Woodland Hills Sunset League All-Star team. Beating teams from Vancouver, BC, and a team from Utah for the Championship. The year--1956. The Championships were played in Santa Monica, CA. The Sunset league played their games at a field right off Ventura Blvd.
I played for the 1970 Woodland Hills Twilight League and we went to the WBBA Championship in Salt Lake City. We lost the final game to Mt Olympis (sp?)... Our field was off of Victory Blvd and White Oak.
My brother and I played in the Northridge WBBA league located at the corner of Balboa and Nordhoff from about 1961 to 1967. They moved the field to some land on what is now Cal State Northridge in 1968 and I played there one year before going to Pony League. I played on the Northridge all star teams in 1967 and 1968. The 1966 Northridge team won the entire WBBA championship, playing all games over in Santa Monica. Opening day was always a big deal for the entire town. All the players would parade through town riding in convertibles and a baseball or show biz celebrity give a speech when we all returned to the fields. Great memories and I'm sad whenever I drive by the Balboa and Nordhoff intersection and see no sign of the baseball fields and adjacent corn fields we grew up with.
It is so great to finally find some information regarding the WBBA Boys Baseball. It seemed to have been long forgotten, except for those that participated. It was a very special time. I played on the 1962 Southern League All Stars out of San Pedro that won the WBBA championship that year. We played a team from Northridge in the San Fernando Valley, in the finals, televised on channel 9 TV in Los Angeles. Unfortunately there is no known film history of that final game, unless someone might have film stashed away somewhere, which would be priceless to see. Amazing experience for a bunch of 11 and 12 year olds. Northridge had a pitcher named Terry Hankins (sp) and a catcher named Rick Dempsey (future LA Dodger) but that is as much as I can remember.
I would love to hear from others that may have been involved in that years World Series I played many years of baseball after that but the memory of "that championship year" will always stand alone as one of the most special times of my life. Tim
1958-1961 were special years for a boy growing up in Northridge and and playing passionate baseball. We played WBBA on the field across the street from Northridge Hospital behind the Lutheren church. Opening day was always awesome. I remember Walter Brennan(The Real McCoys) was the celebrity one year. We played all star games against other teams from local communities. I still have the programs from some of those games. They listed the rosters of each team. Priceless.
I played on the 1973 WBBA E. Van Nuys All Star team that finished 4th in the 11 western states played in Brigham City, Utah. Team members - Rick & Tim Coop, Shawn & Jeff Skelton, Jim Kordakis, Mitch Rider, Erik Cooperman, Craig Schiller and a few more that came from Hazeltine Elementary et al. We were quite talented. We beat Woodland Hills Sunset, Sunrise and Northridge Little League twice to gain the berth to Brigham City. Wondering if you have more info on our team?
Sincerely, Spencer Shiffman
@Ballgame: I played at the same field from 1957-1961. Not only Walter Brennan joined in on Opening Day, but you may recall that "Sky King" tossed out the first pitch one year as did Don Drysdale. I do recall All Star Games at the field over near Hazeltine as well as the field on Nordhoff, just east of Balboa. Great times, and a connection to our past. I'd enjoy seeing those programs if they are available. Snow cones, Sugar Daddy's and baseball cards.
@Distillerman: I still have a couple All Star programs and team photos of a couple Northridge All Star teams. We might know each other. Don't know if we are geographically close. I'm in the Chatsworth/Simi area. e-mail is teddyneale@hotmail.com. Regards, Ballgame
I played for the East Van Nuys All-Star team in 1963, 1964 & 1965, as a 10 year old 11 year and 12 year old. In 1963 we stayed with local families in Bountiful Utah and came in 3rd place but 1964 we won the World Series and because we had a councilmen who was a fan, we got to go to a Dodger game, stay in the dugout and be introduced to the fans before the game. I've still got a scrap book filled with 8x10 black and white glossies of us with a 37 year old Vin Scully, Walter Alston, Frank Howard, Big D, Tommy Davis, Maury Wills and more. Koufax would not come out of the dressing room because he was pitching that night. I've still got the ball with all of their signatures.
When the Santa Ana winds blow, I could swear I can still smell that Schlitz Brewery next to our home field down at the end of Hazeltine Ave., reminds of a wonderful childhood with blessings to count.
kathytaylormom said...
I believe that the very first WBBA Championship went to the Woodland Hills Sunset League All-Star team. Beating teams from Vancouver, BC, and a team from Utah for the Championship. The year--1956. The Championships were played in Santa Monica, CA. The Sunset league played their games at a field right off Ventura Blvd. I played for that Vancouver team and pitcher our first game against Woodland Hills. Their first batter hit a home run off my first pitch. We ended up third out of 4 teams. I have been looking for references to the Western Boys Baseball Association for years. Thank you to all of your contributors for bringing back such very happy memories. Except for the first pitch home run of course;>) Denny Ruddick, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
@Spencer Shiffman, I played there two years before you, in 1971. That year The Coop brothers were on the Indians who had my younger brother one the team until my parents requested that the league trade him to the team I was on (the Cubs) for convenience. We were coached by Ira Barnes and led by Stu Polakov and Derek Benitez who both pitched, played short, and made the All Star team from our club along with Francisco Quan and Mike Goldstone. I played catcher and was told by Mr. Barnes that I was number sixteen, just missing out on the All Star team that carried fifteen. I remember clearing the bases on a triple down the right field line off of Erik Cooperman (then a ten year old left hander)in one of our games, late in the season against his team (I think he played on the Yankees?) Most of my friends from Valerio played in either WBBA of the other league that played at Franklin Field. What a great time to be a kid and a fantastic league to have played in. We chased down many a foul ball in games that we weren't in to get those free sno-cones from the snack bar.
Rob Boyd, Cubs, 1971
@Spencer Shiffman, I played in that WBBA tournament in Brigham City Utah in August of 1973. All dirt infield. I played for Tooele National, a team from Tooele Utah. I remember your team and the great supportive fans your team brought with them. We were defeated by Rose Park Utah in the consolation bracket. Had we won that game, we would have faced East Van Nuys for 4th and 6th place. We lost to Washington Terrace, a team from Ogden Utah in the first game 15-2. I hate to say this but I pitched 4 innings in that game and got bombed. I remember a lot of goods teams playing in that tournament. There was Holliday Utah who went on to eventually win the tournament and the surprise team of the tournament Idaho Falls, who took 2nd place. Great to share good memories.
Felix Gomez, Tooele National, 1973
My name is Ralph Lloyd, played in the WBBA. off Old Hazeltine in Van Nuys. Played for the Pirates my first year in 1966. That was the year I had the pleasure of seeing Sandy Koufax pitch via my Paper Route Mngr. It was awesome! We sat on the first base line Louge level. Will never forget being able to hear the ball whistle to home plate when it left his hand! Anyway the nett year ('67 ) I was on the Giants and they started me pitching. This was when you could pitch all 6 innings and however many pitches it took. I did fairly good though my control wasn't bad and speed was good. Next year( '68 ) on the Pirates again. I had grown a little my arm got stronger. They clocked me at 74 mph for my fastball, all was good until they started teaching me to throw junk (curve, screwball, slider, ) Eventuality my arm got messed up and I understood why Koufax left because of his arm. Man I used to love pitching
My name is Ralph Lloyd, played in the WBBA. off Old Hazeltine in Van Nuys. Played for the Pirates my first year in 1966. That was the year I had the pleasure of seeing Sandy Koufax pitch via my Paper Route Mngr. It was awesome! We sat on the first base line Louge level. Will never forget being able to hear the ball whistle to home plate when it left his hand! Anyway the nett year ('67 ) I was on the Giants and they started me pitching. This was when you could pitch all 6 innings and however many pitches it took. I did fairly good though my control wasn't bad and speed was good. Next year( '68 ) on the Pirates again. I had grown a little my arm got stronger. They clocked me at 74 mph for my fastball, all was good until they started teaching me to throw junk (curve, screwball, slider, ) Eventuality my arm got messed up and I understood why Koufax left because of his arm. Man I used to love pitching
My name is Dave Broughton. I played for the Northridge All Stars. I started my "career" there in 1967, when our fields were still located at Nordhoff and Balboa, across the street from the Continental Liquor store and Northridge Lanes bowling alley.
The stories I was told were of the legends of that league before me. Doug DeCinces had set our league record for Home Runs in a season a few years before and Northridge won the WBBA Championship.
I was fortunate enough to grow up in a neighborhood where baseball was just about everything to us. The Thomas brothers (Greg, Mark and Scott and later Chris) were the ring leaders and organized our neighborhood games. But when the WBBA season came around, we played for our league teams and couldn't be more excited every opening day! We looked forward to that parade!
I played for the Red Sox and then made the All Stars as a 12 year old in 1971.
When my dad passed away in '97 I found that he still had my first home run ball from back then. Then last year when my mom passed, she had a ton of pics from those opening day parades and some of my team pics.
My wife went and had my All Star team picture framed and put it up in my den last year for my birthday. I still remember the names of all of us. I'm right in the middle and Scott Thomas is right behind me. That picture brings back great memories!
We had a great summer that year before losing out to Woodland Hills Twilight who won the WBBA Crown that year.
I owe a great thanks to the guys on that team and the parents who put us together! I (we) had no idea the great life lessons we were learning on the field back then, but I see it all the time now!!
So thanks to Coach Biafora and Thomas and to my teammates! Steve Biafora, Ed Marek, Scott Thomas, Mike Johnson, Mark Shuberg, Bobby Jones, Clay Adams, Joey Cerniglia, Jake Jacobsen, Eric Bernal, Tommy Sullivan, John Mooney. I hope I didn't forget anyone or mis-remember a name, but Thanks again to all!
WBBA lives on in our best memories!
Bobby Schwartz here - I played for East Van Nuys All-Stars from 1963 through 1965. In 64 we won it all, got invited to Dodger Stadium; in the dugout with the entire 1964 Dodgers (except Koufax because it was a Saturday (Sabbath for observant Jews). I've still got the black & white photos of us with Drysdale, Walter Alston, Maury Wills & Vinny
My husband played for this league. I was just cleaning stuff out and found some unused stickers from the Western Boys Baseball Association. I also found stuff from the 7 up Youth Foundation including vintage 7 up patches and an award from 1956 presented to my husband's father for his work with young people through the Northridge Allstar Boys League and signed by directors of the 7-Up Youth Foundation. Hard to read the names but it looks like John Lindell was the sports director, Frank Kellecher (?) asst. sports director and Jim (can't read last name) managing director who signed the certificate.
Forgot to say in my prior comment that my husband is Jeff Gearhart.
Wow! Very nice. The teams I was on in '66, '67, '68 never got that far. Thats great you have that memory.
You have a clip from the 1960 Van Nuys team that competed in Provo Utah on this website:
http://museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/2011/08/east-van-nuys-all-stars-to-world-series.html
I played that year and was friends the boys pictured. The best thing was the Golden
State dairy processing plant which was next to the ball field. You could buy a fresh bottle of chocolate milk right off the processing line.
Michael Margolis
I played for the 1970 Woodland Hills Twilight League, my name is Steve Rouse and we went to the WBBA Championship in Salt Lake City. We lost the final game to Mt Olympus. We played at Giacopuzzi field #6 off of Erwin and White Oak Ave just South of Victory Blvd.
My name is Bruce Kaplan, I made all stars 3 years in a row 67’-69 at sunset Little League in Woodland Hills. We unfortunately lost the first game all 3 years to Santa Monica Western. Great memories of growing up playing baseball in the west valley
My father, Max McBeth, served as the President and on the Board of Directors for WBBA until the time of his death in 1979. I have many fond memories of the world series tournaments that were held in California, Utah, and I think Nevada. It was a great organization which fostered sportsmanship, skills, and friendship.
Steve Rouse. I am 62 now but in 1970 I was 9 years old playing my first year of little league baseball in the Tooele National League from Tooele Utah. It was a 4-team league of mainly 11- and 12-year-olds with a few 9- and 10-year-old boys. If I remember right and I have a pretty good memory. I think your team played the Tooele National Allstars in one of your games to get to the championship. I remember because my neighbor Doug Drewery who was 12 years old was the shortstop on that team. I still remember some of the guys on that team. I believe that the Tooele National Team was coached by Dean Stringham and Dave Faddis. The following year in 1971 the WBBA World Series was hosted by Grantsville Utah. A small rural town in Tooele County Utah. The Tooele National all-stars also made it to that tournament. The Tooele National League all-stars made it to the big trip in 1972 in Santa Monica California, to Brigham City Utah in 1973, and back to Santa Monica California in 1975. What a great blog to relive memories of
Felix Gomez from Tooele Utah
My father, Max McBeth was on the Board of Directors and served as President of the WBBA. I have fond memories of hosting team members to stay in our home during a time the World Series was held in Tooele. It was a love of my dad's life!
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