SAN FRANCISCO BASEBALL

OLD TIMERS ASSOCIATION

(Established 1941)

“FROM THE DUGOUT”

January 2022 Edition
_______________________________
The New Line-up of Officers The New Line-up of Directors

Bill Angel, President Nick Poppin Jim Jarvis

Paul Varni, Vice-President Cliff Righetti Bob Fife

Donald Basso, Secretary Reggie Smith Grant Becker

Paul Giambra, Treasurer Dan Angel Jim McCoy

Bob Mitchell, Sgt. at Arm Mike Koppel Tony Marotto

Gary Bader, Membership Chair Mark Shustoff Joe Lavin

Leo Martinez, Goodwill Chair Nick Shihadeh (alternate)

Rich Ford, Golf Commissioner Fashion Consultant

Joe Marino, Immediate Past President Ken Mooney

Lou Landini, Newsletter Editor

Leo’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we begin the New Year, we beg Your Divine Intervention to make
this a safe and healthy year for the Old Timers and everyone in Your Care, and that
You grant Wisdom and Guidance to our new Officers and Directors so that their
decisions can be made in keeping with Your principles of Justice and Mercy. We
humbly ask this in Your Name, Amen.
A Special Note of Thanks and Admiration
Looking back on the last two years, the Old Timers were severely challenged by the
disruptive effects of COVID-19. Meetings and functions were cancelled, revenue
sources were diminished, and it was a struggle to keep the Old Timers up and
running. But to date, we have survived very well, mainly through the stalwart efforts
of President Joe Marino and Vice-President Bill Angel, who unflinchingly agreed to
remain in their positions for a grinding two-year period during which many important
decisions had to be made, policies adjusted and adopted, and calm and patience
displayed. These two men pulled it all off without a hitch, and to them we owe a
tremendous debt of gratitude. (And Bill Angel gets to do it for another year as the
2022 President!) Millions of Thanks, Joe and Bill, for a job exceedingly well done!!

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 COVID-19 Update
OK, OK! The Bug is still with us, and recently changed its clothes to become
OMICRON, a variant microbe. The medical experts and news media still differ in
their opinions as to how best to deal with this viral scourge, and people need to make
personal decisions as to how they choose to address this problem. And once again,
we in the Press Room will offer only this advice: Consult your DOCTOR for advice
that is best for YOU. Don’t rely on a Democrat or Republican, a CNN or Fox News
Talking Head, a cranky neighbor or a blow-hard brother-in-law for some type for
advice on what you should do to stay healthy and safe. That’s it! Got it? Good!!
Important Dates Department
Thursday, January 13, at Nick’s Restaurant in Pacifica, the Monthly Dinner wisll take
place. Cocktails start at 5:00 PM and dinner will be served at 6:00. Officers and
Directors will convene at 4:30 PM for the Business Meeting. Wear a Mask upon entry.
Wednesday, January 19, the Monthly Marino Pieretti Lunch and Bible Study Society
launches its 2022 Season with cocktails at 11:00 AM and lunch at !2:00 Noon at the
South SF Elks. Crew Chief and Head Theologian Dave Longa has indicated that in
keeping with past traditions, clothing is mandatory. Wear a Mask upon entry. And
not the Lone Ranger Kind!
New Pisa Alumni Society Status Report
On January 1 each year, we clear the New Pisa Alumni decks and start anew. So to be
listed as an NPA, please send in a check payable to the SF BASEBALL OLD TIMERS,
for $10 per name you want listed, and mail it to LOU LANDINI, 208 FOREST PARK
DR., PACIFICA, CA 94044. This is a great way to honor special people in your life and
to perpetuate the legendary generosity of the Benedetti Family.
Kathy’s Fund Update
If you can’t come to a monthly dinner, you can still donate to Kathy’s Fund by
making a check out to SF BASEBALL OLD TIMERS, and indicate on the memo line
“For Kathy’s Fund” and mail it to LOU LANDINI, 208 FOREST PARK DRIVE,
PACIFICA, CALIF 94044. We have received an amazing and exceedingly generous
stream of donations from Grant and Kathleen Becker, Bob and Arlene Fife, Ron and
Cris Belli, Jim Jarvis and a host of others who kick in at the monthly dinners. And
we in the press room got our doors blown off by a massive donation by Hall of Fame
Old Timer Bill Jones. In keeping with our policy of not mentioning numbers, we won’t
in this case either, but it was HUGE. Bill, Grant, Bob, Ron, Jim---God Bless You!!
Since the inception of Kathy’s Fund, we have raised well over $15,000. We all keep
hoping the Alzheimer’s Association will announce a cure.
If anyone in the Old Timers is seeking information about or assistance with a problem
concerning Alzheimer’s disease, your news staff can provide you with contact
information within the Alzheimer’s Association. Confidentiality will be maintained.

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 Words of Wisdom
“Keep steadily before you the fact that all true success depends at last upon
yourself.” Theodore T. Hunger
“It is time for us all to stand and cheer for the doer, the achiever—the one who
recognizes the challenges and does something about it.” Coach Vince Lombardi
In Memoriam
Sadly we must report the passing of Brother Old Timer Pat Sullivan. Pat was an
outstanding sportswriter, and elevated the art of writing about golf to a new level. We
extend our deepest condolences to Pat’s wife and family. He will be sorely missed by
all of us Old Timers who knew him and enjoyed his sense of humor.
On the Mend
Ann Righetti, Leo Martinez, Gene Hartje, Bill & Hallie Angel, Mieko Poppin, Ray
McDonald, Pete Dalton, Nick Cannuli, Len Grilli, Don & Paula Collopy. Virginia Simon,
Chuck Garcia, Ralph Burns, Bill McCullough, Jim Mullan and Kris Longa. Y’all keep
getting better!
You Know You’re An Old Timer When
---you never used an aluminum bat or batting gloves.
---you brought home books from school and Mom covered them in brown paper.
---one of your classmates snitched on somebody and you called him a “Fink.”.
---you used a magnifying glass to burn ants on sunny days.

Bobbie Mitchell, A Man with a Storied Family History

Bobbie had a great uncle six times removed named Elsinore David Alberto Ravioli
Mitchell IV (“but you can call me Bob”) who tired of the hustle and bustle of city life.
So he bought a beautiful ranch and log home in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming.
The nearest town was 100 miles away, and he had no signs of neighbors anywhere in
sight. One day he saw a plume of dust off to the east, and that a man was
approaching in a Jeep. After a time, the guy pulled up and said “Howdy, Neighbor.
I’m Chuck and I live 60 miles yonder, and I want to invite you to a party at my place
this Saturday. There’s gonna be a great barbecue, the finest whiskey, vintage wine,
some slow dancing, and well, ya know, a little ‘action’ if you get my drift. Come on
by. Love to have ya.” Well, Great Uncle Bob was a little lonely and he was thrilled by
the idea of a party, so he gratefully accepted. The he asked Chuck “What should I
wear?” And Chuck said “Aw, it don’t matter none. It’s just gonna be you and me.”
When Insults Had Class
“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp posts…for support rather than
illumination.” Andrew Lang
“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” Samuel Johnson

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 Great Truths About Growing Old
Growing old is mandatory and inevitable, but growing up really is optional!
It’s frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the
questions!
Old Age is when you choose breakfast cereal for the fiber, not the toy!
Some Thoughts on the Game of Baseball
Well, Sports Fans, we’re all still a little bedraggled after the Giants’ out-of-nowhere
107 win season that ended in their first round of the NL playoffs. What a phenomena
and completely magical season until that last day against the Dodgers. It was tough
watching the LA guys celebrating on our home turf, but the prevailing attitude of
Giants Fans was “OK, let’s get it going in Spring Training and do this again!” People
in October were already counting down to “how many days until Pitchers and
Catchers report?” Sadly, our catchering corps will have a massive hole in it with the
anticipated but heart-breaking retirement of our Hero, Buster Posey, a player of
extraordinary ability, dignity and class but an even more stellar man, husband and
father. Guys like Buster come around all too infrequently, but how lucky were we to
have him for the years we did? So, that hole in the roster left by No. 28 will make
the hill back to glory a little steeper and rock-strewn, but the Giants’ front office,
manager and coaching staff are already hard at work trying to build another
contending roster. Don’t bet against these guys.
But MLB and the Players’ Association have reached an impasse over, what else(?),
money, and MLB has instituted a lock-out of the players. There are a bunch of things
the players want that would net them more money, and management is balking at
these demands because it would cut down on the profitability of the teams. So for
the meantime, the ballclubs can’t do anything with their 40-man roster. No signings,
no trades, no free agent acquisition, nuthin’, zip, nada. They can add to and subtract
from their minor league systems, and there was a recent Rule 5 draft in which teams
snatch players from other clubs’ rosters and sign them to minor league contracts. So
teams with specific wants, needs and interests can’t sign anybody to the Big Club
until the lockout is ended. The Giants extended Brandon Crawford and signed
Brandon Belt to a one-year deal before the lockout, and signed a couple of pitchers as
well. So we’ve got to sit back and wait for the negotiators to pound out a deal
hopefully in short order so normalcy can return to Major League Baseball.
On a lighter note, your editor is an assistant coach at a local community college
baseball team, and we ran our Fall Program from Mid-August to Mid-December. The
Fall features a “World Series” where our captains draft two teams and they play a
best-of-three series with no input from us coaches. It was interesting to watch the
baserunning mistakes, throws to the wrong bases, sub-par situational at bats, bizarre
pitch selection, baserunning mistakes, all of which we had worked on during the Fall,
but without Adults in the Room, they reverted to just being kids playing at their local
park. Suddenly, their lights went on!! “Ohhhhh, now I get it!” Let’s hope!! We start
back on January 4!

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 Thank You Once Again and Always to Our Loyal Sponsors
ROB FIFE, 729 SOLUTIONS
1618 Sullivan Ave, Suite 535, Daly City 94115 650-755-7049

LOREN A. KERTZ, CHARLES SCHWAB CO.

403 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera 94925 415-945-6408 loren.a.kertz@schwab.com

ROBIN GRIDER THE DEIGNAN FAMILY

2020-2021 OLD TIMERS PRESIDENT JOE MARINO, COLUMBUS CAFÉ

562 Green St, SF 94133 415-326-3088

FRANK J. PISA BARBER SHOP

5 Civic Center Lane, Millbrae 94030 650-490-0818

GREG RIGHETTI, MARIN LOCK & SAFE

808 Third St, San Rafael 94901 415-456-4346 marinlockandsafe@gmail.com

MARK BENEDETTI INSURANCE

199 California Dr, Suite 702,Millbrae 94030 650-697-2044 mbinsuru@hotmail.com

NICK DUTTO, METROPOLITAN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION, INC.

2400 Third St, SF 94107 415-642-3002 ndutto@metroelectric.com

CHUCK GUST, NICK’S SEASHORE RESTAURANT

100 Rockaway Avenue, Pacifica 94044 650-359-3900 www.nicksrestaurant.net

SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTERS TOY PROGRAM

Leo Martinez, the late Al McCarthy, the late Vince Tudoni. Rich Blackburn, Skip McKinney, George
Schnapp, Jim McCoy, Art Citron, Dan Jacobsmeyer, Brian Kearney, Ray Molinari

TOM CREEDIN, SCOMA’S RESTAURANT

Pier 47, Fisherman’s Wharf, SF 94133 415-771-4383

THOMAS J. BRANDI, THE BRANDI LAW FIRM

354 Pine St, 3rd Floor, SF 94104 415-989-1800 tjb@brandilaw.com

JAR OF GOLD DAVE LONGA

Jim Jarvis, the late Bill Difu and the late Ernie Golding The Friends of Marino Pieretti Group

RETIRED SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTERS

Nick Cannuli, Bill DeMattei, Mel Canevaro, Jim O’Connor, Don Dennehy, Bob Moser,
the late Milt Panagotacos, Mike Pera, Jack Bonnici, Roger Bross, Frank Kelly

ALUMNI OF BALBOA HIGH SCHOOL

Emily Powell (Everybody’s Sweetheart), Nick Poppin, Bob “The Carrot” Mitchell, Gene Hartje, Tony
Boyadzis, Joe Marino, Donald Basso, Elliot “Bart” Bartholomew and Grant Becker

THE BALL TEAM

The late Frank Strazullo, the late John Alameda, Mike Bagdon, Rich Ford, Con Maloney, Billy Jones,
Art White, Ken Mooney, and the late Jerry “Big Sully” Sullivan

THE 1956 BIG 8 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAM

Bob Bandettini, Glen Buckowitz, Ron Castro, Ken Dito, Russ Fadeef, Roger Ferrari, Lew Flores,
Fred Glosser, Blair LeMire, the Late Legendary John McCarthy, Pete Nielsen, Larry Nissim, Jim
Poppin, Fred Quinn, the late quintessential gentleman Ray Warman, the Late and Great Frank “Cic”
Williams, the late and venerable Victor “Bud” Williams

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 DANIEL DUGGAN, DUGGAN’S SERRA MORTUARY
500 Westlake Av., Daly City, Calif. 94014 650-756-4500 dan@duggansserra.com

ANONYMOUS DONOR
Thanks, Old Timers---Your Monthly Newsletter Is A Great Read

WILLIAM DeMATTEI ALUMNI OF MISSION HIGH SCHOOL

Retired San Francisco Firefighter Fellow Old Timer Eddie Gutierrez, and the late Joe Blea

RETIRED SAN FRANCISCO DEPUTY SHERIFFS

Bill Angel, Carole Murphy, Jim Mullan, Ron Lim, Al Dworkin, Paul Varni, Mike Koppel, Jim Deignan,
Gil Ybarra

HAT TRICK RACING

Grant Becker, Troy Onorato, Pat Ward and Marvin Cortes

TJC FLOORING FLOOR EFFECTS

Terrence Cody Brian Green
415 Old County Road, Unit C 415 Old County Road, Unit C
Belmont, Calif. 94002 650-773-5782 Belmont, Calif. 94002 650-574-0457

GARY BADER & RAY McDONALD

In Memory of Bob Farber

OLD TIMER PAUL NAVARRO, LUCETTI’S RESTAURANT

109 W. 25th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, phone: 650-574-1256

NEW PISA ALUMNI SOCIETY (2022 TEAM MEMBERS)

The Legendary Dante Benedetti; Ron & Cris Belli in Memory of Dante Santora; Phil Kelber; Don and
Clare Schaeffer in Memory of Jim Perry; Bob Devincenzi in Memory of Frank & Joan Strazzulo, Manny
Piriano & Bob Tobener; Lou & Judy Landini in Memory of Lou Sr. & Cathy Landini, Larry & Patricia
Lawson, Penny Basso & Terry Landini-Brennan; Joan, Dave and Ed Paulus, Jr. and Cindy Clark in
Memory of Ed Paulus,Sr; Bill Kirkpatrick; Jim Jarvis; Gary Bader in Memory of Bob Farber; Ken and
Carol Mooney in Memory of Nancy Markey and Pete Giovanola; Don Basso in Memory of Terry Landini-
Brennan; Roger Ferrari; Tony Rodriguez; Bill Angel; Don & Claire Schaeffer in Memory of Jim Perry;
Bill Collins; Mike & Denise Koppel in Memory of Terry Landini-Brennan.

Jim Perry Memorial December ’21 Trivia Challenge. Jim Perry Memorial January ‘22 Trivia Challenge
Who threw the first Interleague Perfect Game? Which of these pitchers won four consecutive Cy
None other than Yankee righthander David Cone, who Young Awards?
bested the Montreal Expos 6-0 in front of the home A) Randy Johnson B) Greg Maddux
crowd at Yankee Stadium on July 18, 1999.
c) Pedro Martinez D) Steve Carlton