Star-Gazette from Elmira, New York • 45

5E Weaver Sunday Star-Gazette, June 14, 1987 Former Pioneers manager back for opener i C-r xr ri Ckv By MARY JO MONNIN Staff Sports Writer Long-time Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weav-er didn't wait until he got to the major leagues before he started getting the heave-ho out of baseball games. He also exited his share of games while managing the Elmira Pioneers, Or did he exit? "I remember he'd come up to the press box and he'd be on his hands and knees smoking cigarettes," said Al Mallette, who at the time was covering the Pioneers for the Star-Gazette. "He'd stay on his knees until Elmira came up to bat, then he'd pop his head up and flash signs. "Every time the umpire would turn around, he'd duck. He got thrown out an awful lot, but he also did alot of managing from the press box," said Mallette.

In his next appearance in Elmira on Wednesday, Weaver expects to be more visible. Weaver is the Opening Day Celebrity guest on June 17, the day the Pioneers open the 1987 season at Dunn Field against the Auburn Astros at 7 p.m. Weaver will also be among the guests at the Opening Day Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Elmira College Campus Center. Also being recognized will be Manager Bill Limoncelli and his 1987 team, Ed Kenney Jr.

from the Boston Red Sox and the Red Sox instructors. The visit by Weaver is just one of many he's made since his days as Elmira manager in 1962-1965. Weaver's wife, Marianna, is from Elmira. One of Weaver's trips back was for the Pioneers' Old Timers Day in 1983. But it wasn't Weaver's ability to win baseball games as much as his never-ending energy that made him a popular figure in Elmira.

He was dubbed the "Banty Rooster" in the summer of '62 for his antics with umpires which included turning his hat around to argue and covering home plate with dirt. After games he frequented places such as Sykes' Restaurant, the Pioneer Restaurant, the Spaghetti Palace, the old Langwell Hotel and Moretti'i Restaurant. Weaver has been ordering filet mignon at Moretti'i for years. "He's just a solid, old-time customer," said Tom Moretti, who currently runs the restaurant "He loves nostalgia. He's a lot of fun." He was also well-received by the fans and media.

"One thing about Earl Weaver and he's still the same today he was a reporter's manager," said Mallette. "He never locked himself in his office. He was always there and he'd talk about anything, and he would tell you the truth." During his four seasons in what was the Eastern League then, the Pioneers never finished worse than second place. His 1964 team won the Eastern League Pennent. Weaver was 31 when he arrived in Elmira to manage.

He soon would accomplish the following: 1962: Pioneers finished runner-up to Williamsport in the regular season. But during a four-game stretch in June and July, Elmira pitching shut out Williamsport in 45 successive innings. Elmira was in last place in June 20 but beat York in the semifinals and then Williamsport in the finals to win the Governor's Cup. 1963: Darold Knowles was 16-7 on the mound for Elmira, which finished in second place in the regular season. 1964: Elmira was 8V4 games out of first place on August 4, but the club rallied back to win the pennent on Steve Cosgrove's no-hitter on the next to the last day of the season.

Paul Blair won the league batting title with a .313 average. 1965: The Pioneers finished with their best record in Weaver's four seasons 83-55. It was only good for a second-place finish, however, as Pittsfield won the league pennent by a one-game margin. The story might have been different if Elmira had been able to make up two regular-season rainouts. Dave Leonhard had a 20-8 record on the mound for Elmira.

The pitching staff combined for four no-hitters. Lou Piniella hit three homers in one game for the Pioneers. After four years in Elmira, Weaver was promoted in 1966 to the Class AAA Rochester Red Wings. He spent the '67 season there as well. The year 1968 was Weaver's first in the major league.

He managed the Orioles from 1968-1982 and in 1985. Weaver's lifetime total of major league ejection is 93 (which includes an exhibition game in 1980). Weaver, who won games in the major leagues in part because "there's nothing like a three-run homer," won in the minors with consistently good pitching. "He knew how to handle pitchers," said Mallette. "The thing with Earl was he got himself relief pitchers.

He had good starters, but he knew he needed that short man." Weaver managed a slew of eventual major leaguers. Among them Mets manager Davey Johnson. He also helped along Curt Blefary, Dave McNal-ly, Darold Knowles and Ed Watt, Andy Etchebarren, Tom Phoebus, Dave Leonhard, Mark Belanger, Frank Bertania and Larry Haney. Note: No umpires have been invited to Wednesday's breakfast, making the possibility that Weaver will stay for the duration of the meal a good one. Star-Gaiette file photo EARL WEAVER sits in the dugout in this 1962 photo prior to the start of an Elmira Pioneers game 1987 Elmira Pioneers roster (additions expected) Weaver's managing career Yr Club Pet Pot 1956Knoxville 10 24 .294 8th 1957 Fitzgerald 65 74 .468 4th 1958 Dublin ....72 56 .563 3rd 1959 Aberdeen 69 55 .556 2nd 1960 Fox Cities 82 56 .594 1st 1961 FoxCities 67 62 .519 4th 1962 Elmira 72 68 .514 2nd 1963 76 64 .543 2nd 1964EIm.ro 82 58 .586 1st 83 55 .601 2nd 1966 Rochester 83 64 .565 1st 1967 Rochester 80 61 .567 2nd 1968 Baltimore 48 34 ..585 2nd 1969 Baltimore .........109 53 .673 1st 1970 Baltimore 108 54 .667 1st 1 971 Baltimore 1 01 57 .639 1 st 1 972 Baltimore 80 74 .519 3rd 1973 Baltimore 97 65 .599 1st 1974 Baltimore 91 71 .562 1st 1975 Baltimore 90 69 .566 2nd 1976 Baltimore 88 74 .543 2nd 1977 Baltimore 97 64 .602 2nd 1978 Baltimore 90 71 .559 4th 1979Baltimore .........102 57 .642 1st 1980 Baltimore 62 .617 2nd 1981 Baltimore 59 46 .562 2nd 1982 Baltimore 94 68 .580 2nd 1985 Baltimore 53 52 .505 4th Name Height Weight School State Position Edward Banasiak 5-4 195 lbs.

Morris County J. C. NJ RHP Kendrick Bourne 6-2 195 lbs. Chaffey College CA OF Vincent Degifico 6-1 195 lbs. U.

So. Maine ME 1B JhonnyDiaz 5-11 166 lbs. Colombia H. S. VZ LHP LuisDorante 6-0 185 lbs.

Free Agent VZ Robert Echevarria 6-0 173 lbs. Free Agent PR SS3B Michael Kelly 6-0 1 80 lbs. So. Florida FL OF Terry Marrs 6-0 175 lbs. Palm Beach J.C.' FL OF SamMelton 6-0 180 lbs.

Columbia State TN 3B GregMcCoIlum 5-10 175 lbs. U. of Illinois. IL RHP Steve Michael 6-4 205 lbs. Emporia State KS RHP TonyMosley 6-3 175 lbs.

Ft. Meade H. S. FL LHP Miguel Monegro 6-0 174 lbs. Free Agent DR 2B Jose Pemberton 6-3 138 lbs.

Free Agent DR RHP Scott Powers 5-11 170 lbs. Brandeis Univ. MA SS Ronnie Richardson 6-0 195 lbs. S. D.Lee H.S.

MISS RHP Tony Romero 6-1 184 lbs. Free Agent VZ RHP Julio Rosario 6-1 165 lbs. Free Agent DR SS3B Larry Scanhell 6-1 135 lbs. Lewis Univ. IL OF Thorn Sepela 6-3 200 lbs.

Lock Haven Univ. PA RHP Joaquin Tejada 6-2 191 lbs. Free Agent DR RHP Al Thornton 6-3 225 lbs. Milford H. S.

MA 1B Brian Warfel 6-3 185 lbs. Labette J. C. PA OF Craig Wilson 6-2 200 lbs. CerritosJ.C.

CA Contributor: Al Mallotto. Pioneers add new trainer By MARY JO MONNIN Staff Sports Writer The Pioneers not only have a new owner and new faces on the field, they also have a new trainer. Bernie Stento, a senior at Ithaca College, will be the trainer for the 1987 Pioneers replacing Mike Frawley. Stento got the job as Pioneers trainer after the ball club contacted Elmira College looking for applicants. EC subsequently contacted Kent Scriber, the Supervisor of Athletic Training at Ithaca College.

Scriber recommended Stento. A Binghamton native, Stento was the trainer for the Ithaca College baseball team this past spring. "I'm used to the baseball scene, I'm coming right off it," said Stento. "I'm pretty much used to the daily routine." Stento also worked with the college's football team in 1986. He helped treat the knee injuries of IC quarterback and Southside High School graduate Mike Middaugh.

"I think he's going back in the fall to help out as the quarterback coach or something. He's a real nice guy," said Stento. Star-Gazette Graphic Pioneers schedule Meet the Pioneers 1 ffa i mm sor; m- Stento's main responsibility is to care for the injuries of Pioneers' players and administer the treatments that will enable them to play again as soon as possible. Stento is a 1984 graduate of Se- fnn Pathnlir PAntrnl TTicrh Qpftnnl At Seton, he played soccer and baseball and was the manager of I the school's basketball team. Memo is a member or tne National Athletic Trainer's Associa Stento tion.

The clubhouse boys for the 1987 season are Derrick Simpson and Rick Daniels from Southside High School. June 1987 Sun. Mon. lues. Wed.

Thurs. Fri. Sat. 14I 15l 1 6 1 17 18 19 20 Auburn Auburn W-Town W-Town 21 22 23 24 25 26 -27 W-Town Lit. Falls Lit.

Falls Lit. Falls Uiica Ulica Utica 28 29 30 Oneonta Oneonta Oneonta July 1987 Sun. Mon. Tjes. Wed.

Tnurs. Fri. Sat. i i 2 3 4 Oneonta Jmstown Jm'stown Geneva 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Geneva Newark Newark Batavia Batavia Erie Erie TF V3 14 15 16 .17 18 St.Cath. St.

Cam. Auburn Auburn Auburn W-Town 19 20" 21 22 23 24 25 W-Town W-Town Lit. Falls Lit. Falls Lt Fails Utica Utica 26 27 28 29 30 31 Utica Oneonta Oneonta Oneonta! Auburn Auburn August 1987 Sun. Mon.

Tues. Wed. Thu's Fri. Sat. I I I I 1 W-Town 2 3 5 6 7 8 W-Town Lit.

Falls Lit. Fails Utica Utica Utica Oneonta 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Oneonta Jmstown Jms'own Geneva Geneva Newark Newa 16" 17 18 19 20 21 22 Batavia Batavia Erie Era St. Cath St. Cafr Lit. Falls 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Lit.

Falls Lit. Fals Auburn Auburn W-Town W-Town Utica 30 31 Utica Oneonta I I I September 1987 Sun Mon. Tues. Wed. Fn.

Sat. I I 1 2 3 4 5 Oneonta Auburn Auburn I I vv k. JL LuS'ii 1 Kelly McCollum Pemberton Marrs ScanntH Rkharrtson Degifico Warfel Wilson Melton Rosario Tejada TTS Ah. Mosley Romero Powers Echevarria Bourne Michael nsr jt hi ht The Pioneers haven't been in town long, but they've been here long enough to have a first impression of Elmira. The Pioneers 24-man roster so far has players from coast to coast.

The following had this to say about their first week in Elmira. Tom Sepela: A returning player. "I know what to expect. I think I have an advantage off the field. I don't have to worry about anything there, so I can just concentrate on my game.

Last year I found it hard to concentrate both off the field and on the field when I first started out, now it's much better." Sam Melton: "It's about like the town I come from, Telehoma, Tennessee. It's small and not many people here. There's a lot of pizza places here. In Telehoma, there aren't alot of places to eat either so I'm adapting good." Ronnie Richardson: "I'm just here to do the best job I can do and make the best of it. It's away from home, but coming to Elmira and playing baseball, it's fun." Scott Powers: "We thought it was a little small.

I'm from a city. We're trying to get adjusted to it right now, we got a place to stay, hopefully, everything will work out. I like the city better. We drove up from Massachusetts, me and another kid on the team (Al Thornton). We got a car, so it's a lot easier to get around." Key: Home Games start at 7:00 pm 2 CO pm art Star-Gazatt Graphic Monegro Banasiak Thornton Sepela Dorante.