Unidentified Athletes
We have received a number of team photographs from people who are curious if we can identify any of the players. Unfortunately we are not able to name but a few, but hopefully you might remember one of these teams. We are going to attempt to run this post once a month or so in hope that someone, somewhere, will say something similar to the Wurtemburg United Methodist Church softball team picture we posted awhile ago… “That’s my dad. The rest of the team is…” If you have any information on any of these pictures, please leave a message below or email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
The first picture is of the 1944 Industrial League Softball Champions. It appears that the picture was taken in front of the Shelby Clubhouse on the corner of First Street and Pittsburgh Circle. We know that Charlie Zona is one of those pictured here and Marty Tomei is pictured in the second row, third from the left, but we can not positely identify anyone else. If you recognize anyone, please email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
The S.S.E. 1944 Softball Team. Among those pictured include coach Tom Reese and Charlie Zona. Frankie “Hooks” Lagana is the last one in the front row with the catcher’s mitt. If you recognize anyone else, please share.
This picture is of the 1945 Lawrence County Champions, the Ellwood City Boosters. It looks like this was also a softball league from the size of the balls in the mandatory pile in front of the players. JoAnn Miller Grejda contacted us and believes the gentleman on the left side in the white outfit is John Flanagan and six down from him is her father Al Miller. One of our local sports history experts, Bob Mallary, recognized the gentleman at the other end from John Flanagan as Elwin (Hink) Richards. If you know of anyone else that was on this team, please email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
Here is another picture from Anita Zona-Peters that includes her father Charlie Zona, the 1950 Ellwood City USA 122- C.I.O. Labor Union’ team. Jack Snare is in the back row first one on the left. If you recognize anyone else here, please let leave a comment below.
Pictured here is the 1949 City League Softball Champions, the United Nations Veterans of America’s team. Bottom row left to right; Jack Snare, Onorato “Russia” Funari, Bob Snare, Tony Pratt, Quido Antonelli, unknown and Marty Tomei. In the back row, first is Coach Joe Haydo, the third gentleman from the left is Russ Snare, the sixth guy is Jimmy Schialdone and the last man on the right is Coach Russell Butchelle.
Perhaps the most impressive picture Maria sent us of her father Chalie Zona is this picture McGlincy Studios took of the 1947 Pennsylvania Moose Softball Champions. In the first row Jack Snare is the first person on the left and the fifth from left is Sammy “Skit” Lagana. In the second row third from the left is Frankie “Hooks” Lagana and we are told that the top row includes the fourth person, Dominick “Beanie” Lagana and Marty Tomei is the sixth from left. Unfortunately we are unable to identify any of the players or anymore of those in the back row pictured with the team. If you can identify any of them, please email us at info@ellwoodcitymemories.com
Another picture of the S.S.E. softball team including Charlie Zona, except this picture is the 1943 team. We were kindly informed that the bottom row consists of left to right: unknown, Marty Tomei, unknown girl, Tony Pratt, and “Russia” Funari
We have additional unidentified team pictures that we will be posting soon including a couple High School basketball teams and a couple of teams from Wampum so please keep an eye out.
My Dad, Marty Tomei is in Industrial League Softball 1944
He is 2nd row..3rd from left
SSE Softball Team picture
Bottom row..is Onorato “Russia” Funari, Tony Pratt and Marty Tomei
In the UNVA picture is my uncle Joe Prestopine..He is top row…2nd from the left.
1947 Moose picture…Top Row..6th from left…Marty Tomei
In the 1943 picture…Bottom Row..2nd from left..Marty Tomei,unknown girl, Tony Pratt, “Russia” Funari
My Dad, Russ Snare, is in the UNVA City League Softball 1949
Top Row 3rd from left
Botton Row 1st on left is Jack Snare and 3rd from the left is Bob Snare.
In the UNVA pic, the man on the far right in the back row was my grandfather…Coach Russell Butchelle. Man seated in the second row, 5th person on the right is my uncle Quido Antonelli.
My mom helped me identify 2 more people in the UNVA pic. The man standing on the far left was coach Joe Haydo. The person in the back row, 6th guy on the right is Jimmy Schialdone
While viewing the photos under the unidentified athlete section, I realized that some of my uncles were in two of the pictures.
In the picture titled “the S.S.E. 1944 Softball Team:
In the first row, kneeling, from left to right, the last person with the catcher’s Mitt is Frankie “hooks” Lagana.
In the photo titled “1947 Pennsylvania Moose Softball Champions”, three of my uncles are pictured:
In the first row, seated from left to right, the fifth person is Sammy “Skit” Lagana.
In the second row, third from the left is Frankie “hooks” Lagana.
In the top row, fourth from left is Dominick “Beanie” Lagana.
I don’t remember if I had ever seen these teams play, but from stories I do remember from the “old days”, my Uncle Frankie was a catcher, Uncle Sammie was a shortstop, and my Uncle “Beanie” was probably a manager since he couldn’t run well due to an injury to his leg that caused him to have a permanent limp.
Regards,
Joe Lagana
To Joe Lagana
Are you the same Joe Lagana that graduated with me in 1956? Good to hear from you.
Hi in the picture of the 1945 Lawrence County Champions, I believe the fellow on the left side in a white outfit is John Flanagan and the fellow that is 6 over from him is my dad Al Miller of the North Side.
JoAnn:
I knew your Dad, Al, and his brother Harry. They were outstanding baseball players and coaches. I was perhaps 8 -10 years younger than them. I lived at the bottom of Bridge Street before it hit Line Ave. I had heard that your Dad played minor league baseball for a short period.
I looked at the picture again. The guy at the other end from the white shirt is Elwin (Hink) Richards, my wife’s uncle.
ellwood city boosters 1945 standing secondd from left looks like my dad jim mccready