Cotuit Kettleers Inducted in the
Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame
ARNOLD MYCOCK – Inducted 2000
General Manager, 1950-1994, General Manager Emeritus, 1995-present
No other single person in the history of the Cape Cod Baseball League has had greater influence on the league as it stands today, nor has any individual affiliated with an individual franchise played a greater role in his or her team’s success. Arnold Mycock has devoted his entire adult life to the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Cotuit Kettleers and has spent that lifetime influencing the Major League and professional baseball careers of countless ballplayers. Deemed the first inductee into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame, Mr. Mycock continues to this day to stroll the grounds of Lowell Park with his loyal golden retriever “Chuck” each and every afternoon. Synonymous with words like dedication, commitment and team, the Mycock name will live forever as one and the same as Cape League baseball and the Cotuit Kettleers. General Manager… bullpen catcher… coach…icon. There is virtually no end to the positive force his involvement with the Cape League has proven. Also an inductee of the Somerset High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Mr. Mycock was, is and always shall be the father of Cotuit Kettleers baseball. Long involved with the Cape League when it was a combination of local and collegiate stars, Mr. Mycock was instrumental in gaining NCAA-sanctioned status for the Cape Cod Baseball League and its non-profit incorporation in 1963. Cape League Vice President Dick Sullivan introduced Arnold Mycock as “the singular driving force behind the Cape League’s success.” When Elizabeth Lowell Park was but three-years old in 1950, Arnold Mycock took the reigns as the Cotuit Kettleers General Manager and held that position from 1950 through 1994 when the Kettleers took their record 12th league championship. In that incredible span, Mycock’s clubs fielded no less than 1,000 players, 40 of them Major Leaguers. His clubs built a phenomenal 771-546 win-loss record during that same period and it was Mycock who played an integral role in elevating the Cape League to its present-day, college-player only status. Mycock also played a key role in the development of CCBL youth baseball clinics, now vastly popular, in 1975. Dubbed general manager emeritus for life by the Cotuit Kettlers franchise following his retirement in 1995, Mycock still serves on the CCBL Board of Executives and has served the league in virtually every role imaginable. To this day, Mycock still arranges the CCBL schedule and proves to be a vital player in how the league operates and continues to improve. “He is the consummate gentleman, self-effacing,” Sullivan said. “The success of the Cape Cod Baseball League rests squarely on the shoulders of Arnold Mycock.” “Little did I dream I would one day be standing here before this crowd,” Mycock said. “I am indeed honored to be in such company.”
Courtesy of Sean Walsh
JEFF REARDON – Inducted 2000
Player (Pitcher), 1974-1976
Former Cotuit GM Arnold Mycock introduced Jeff Reardon as one of his fellow CCBL Hall of Fame inductee, Sporting News Reliever of the Decade (1980s) and three-year Kettleer ace. Reardon’s career as one of Major League Baseball’s top relief pitchers is legendary. In 1985, the Dalton native collected 41 saves for the Montreal Expos, earning him National League Fireman of the Year honors. In 1987, he led the Minnesota Twin to the World Series and was named the American League Co-Fireman of the Year. By career’s end with the Boston Red Sox, Reardon had amassed 367 saves, breaking National Baseball Hall of Famer Rollie Finger’s record. Arnold Mycock is the sole reason why I made the Big Leagues,’’ Reardon said. Jeff Reardon’s speech was short, but drew some of the biggest laughs when he said it was Arnold Mycock who got him his shot at the pros by calling a scout despite the fact that Reardon had starred in Cotuit for three summers. “The sole reason I made the pros is that Arnold made the call to a scout,” Reardon said. “I don’t know where Len Merullo and Billy Enos were. Must have been in a restaurant for those three years I was here.” Before the event Reardon, the fourth all-time save leader in major league history, told how playing in Cotuit produced another major event in his life. “I met my wife Phoebe there in 1974. Her family had a summer house in Cotuit. It’s kind of funny. When I first met her, she didn’t know what a fastball was. Then she was a baseball wife for 17 years.”
Courtesy of Sean Walsh & Russ Charpentier
CAL BURLINGAME – Inducted 2001
Player (Outfield/Pitcher/Infield), Late 1940’s-1950’s
A native of Cotuit and graduate of Barnstable High School, former Boston Red Sox minor league pitcher Cal Burlingame played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Cotuit Kettleers, the old Barnstable Town Team and Yarmouth. Five times he was named a Cape league All-Star and was considered by many as the best player of his era. A pitcher and outfielder, Burlingame also played in the National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, KS for Orleans and followed his stellar amateur and professional baseball career as an umpire in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Cal Burlingame was a Cape League All-Star in the 50s. During his time in the league he played with Cotuit, the Barnstable Barons, Yarmouth and Orleans. In ’54 he was a player on the Orleans’ team which traveled to Wichita for the NBC tournament. He could play at any position, but was a standout in the outfield and as a pitcher. In 1946, he was signed by the Boston Red Sox. After his playing days was over, he umpired in the Cape League for six seasons.
Courtesy of Sean Walsh & Missy Ilg Alaimo
TERRY STEINBACH – Inducted 2001
Player (Third Base/First Base/Catcher), 1982
Terry Steinbach played for the Cotuit Kettleers in 1982 and left an indelible mark on Elizabeth Lowell Park, hitting .431 and leading the league in hits (75), total bases (129) and RBI (54). A 14-year veteran of Major League Baseball with the Oakland A’s and Minnesota Twins, Steinbach was a three-time American League all-star and was an integral part of the World Champion 1989 Oakland A’s. Following the 1982 Cape League season, Steinbach was named league Most Valuable Player. Steinbach, a native of Minnesota, played for the Cotuit Kettleers in 1982 and made an immediate impact. The hard-hitting first basemen led the league in hitting at .431 (earning him the Thurman Munson Award) and set the record for hits (75), RBI (54) and doubles (18). Not surprisingly, he was named to the regular and post-season All-Star teams. Steinbach, who is still the league leader in hits and RBI (tie) and is among the leaders in the other categories, went on to play major league ball for the Oakland Athletics and the Minnesota Twins. He was taken in the 9th round by the Athletics in the June ’83 draft.
Courtesy of Sean Walsh & Missy Ilg Alaimo
RON DARLING – Inducted 2002
Player (Pitcher/Outfield), 1980
Ron Darling was one of the best all-around players in Cape League history. During 1980, he was voted league MVP, selected to the All-Star Team and won the Outstanding Pro Prospect Award. Darling also batted .336 with six home runs and 26 RBI, while going 4-3 as a pitcher. In the CCBL All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium against the Atlantic Collegiate League, he singled, doubled and homered, and drove in two runs. Darling capped off his performance by coming in from leftfield, with the score 10-9 and two runners on, and retiring the final two batters. Ron pitched in one of the greatest pitching match-ups in college history when his Yale squad faced St. John’s in the 1981 NCAA Regional. The Redmen, behind pitcher Frank Viola, won 1-0 in 12 innings. Darling finished with a one-hitter, including a no-hitter through 11 innings. He spent 13 years in the major leagues with the New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Montreal Expos, compiling a 136-116 record with a 3.87 ERA. He was a member of the 1986 World Champion NY Mets. Darling attended Yale University. In a game he pitched there against Frank Viola of St. John’s University, Darling pitched 11 no-hit innings, and lost in the 12th, 1-0. It is still the longest no-hitter in NCAA history, and that game is still often considered the greatest college baseball game of all time. He was selected in the 1st round (9th overall) of the 1981 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers. Before the 1982 season began, he was traded to the Mets for Lee Mazzilli. He played in his first Major League game on September 6, 1983. His first full season was 1984 when he went 12-9 with a 3.81 ERA. For the next 5 seasons, he won at least 12 games in each. One of the highpoints of his career came in 1988. That year, in 34 starts, he went 17-9 with a 3.25 ERA. 1986 was also an outstanding year in his career. That year, his ERA dropped to 2.81. It was the 3rd best in the National League. Sadly, his career would go downhill after 1989. In 1991, he was traded to the Expos for Tim Burke. After going 0-2 in 3 games with the Expos, he was again traded to the Athletics for Matt Grott and a prospect. Many said the talent level of Grott showed his diminished value. At one point in his career, he was one of the top pitchers in the Major Leagues. After the 1991 season, he was a free agent. He enjoyed his half-season with the Athletics and resigned with them. In 1992, he had his last quality year, finishing with over 200 innings pitched, a 3.66 ERA, and 15 wins. He would get into double digits in wins once again in 1994, but finished 10-11 with a 4.50 ERA. 1994 was the strike year, and Darling finished with 25 games started, 1st in the AL that year. After a bad 1995 season, the Athletics released him and his career was over. He was considered one of the class acts of baseball, and was considered one of the more solid pitchers of his era. He was never the best control pitcher and finished in the top 4 in base on balls 3 times in his career. He was, however, known for his fielding. He was considered one of the best fielding pitchers of the time, winning a Gold Glove Award in 1989. An excellent fielder, Darling was known to have one of the best pick-off moves among right-handers. He was sometimes used as a pinch runner, and in 1989 he hit homers in two consecutive starts. During his 13-year career, Darling amassed a 136-116 won-loss record including 1,590 strikeouts and a 3.87 ERA (earned runs average). Darling has served as part of the television broadcast team, along side Mel Proctor, for the Washington Nationals and has also had small roles in the films Shallow Hal and The Day After Tomorrow.
Courtesy of John Garner & Baseball Encyclopedia
GEORGE GREER – Inducted 2002
Manager, 1979-1987
George Greer was a double-threat in the Cape League, performing as a standout Chatham A’s player from 1965-67 and returning 12 years later as field manager for the Cotuit Kettleers. The University of Connecticut product compiled a .349 batting average and led the league in doubles (10) and triples (4) in 1965 and returned in ’66 with a .368 batting avg. and was second in the league with 43 hits. Greer was batting .284 in 20 games during the summer of 1967 before leaving to captain the Pan American team. He delivered the game-winning hit for Team USA in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Cuba for the championship. He returned to the Cape that summer to help Chatham capture the league title. He was named 1st Team All-America for the Huskies in 1967 and ’68. George managed Cotuit from 1979-87, compiling a 213-143-2 (.598) record with three playoff championships and two manager-of-the-year awards. Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Famer George Greer, the legendary helmsman of the prestigious Wake Forest University Demon Deacons baseball program, has won over 700 Division 1 collegiate baseball games. Greer was inducted in 2002 in the Cape League Hall of Fame. He is a member of four Halls of Fame total, the architect of three Atlantic Coast Championship teams, the coach of 29 All-Americans in 16 years at Wake Forest and the fifth-winningest coach in ACC history. Greer owns the distinction of being the winningest coach in Wake Forest history. While many great moments have occurred during his collegiate coaching career, Greer is still remembered for the outstanding teams he managed in the Cape Cod Baseball League. As field manager of the Cotuit Kettleers for nine summers, Greer was named Coach of the Year twice, including his first season in 1979 (also in 1983). Greer captured three Cape League Championship titles and finished his CCBL managerial career with a 213-143-21 record. Major league stars such as Ron Darling, Greg Vaughn, Will Clark, John Franco and Terry Steinbach have all benefited from Greer’s instruction and over 30 former Deacons have realized their dream of being drafted by a major league team since 1988. Greer was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002. He was presented by long time Chatham A’s friend and field manager John Schiffner. His class of inductees included Ron Darling, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek and Buck Showalter, among others. During the summer, he starred in the Cape Cod League leading Chatham to the finals three straight years (1965-67). Part of his 1967 season with Chatham was interrupted when he was chosen to captain Team USA in the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg, Canada. Greer showed why he was chosen to lead the team, batting .379 during the tournament (17-for-45) and delivering the U.S. a gold medal with a bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth to beat Cuba in the best-of-three championship. He was unanimously elected to represent the American team on the medal stand. After graduating from UConn in 1968, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. Greer went on to post impressive statistics in a five-year minor league career, which concluded with him being player-coach, trainer and bus driver, at Single-A Modesto (CA) in 1973. Greer owns the distinction of being a member of four Halls of Fame. He is a 1999 inductee into the George Whitfield Hall of Fame, a member of the inaugural class of inductees in the Westerly (R.I.) High School Hall of Fame in 2000, the inaugural class of inductees into the University of Connecticut-Avery Point Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2002. Greer and his wife, Becky, reside in Winston-Salem. They have three children – Andy, Chezley, and Chip.
Courtesy of CCBL & Wake Forest University
BERNIE KILROY – Inducted 2002
Player (Pitcher, First Base, Outfield), 1960-1966
Bernie Kilroy’s career ran the gamut during the 1960’s in the Cape League, from a seven-year player and league MVP from 1960-66 to CCBL Commissioner from 1968-70. The Boston College product was a six-time CCBL All-Star and compiled a 33-10 regular season record and a perfect 8-0 mark in the playoffs – highlighted by an 8-1 record in 1963 and an 8-0 mark in ’64 with a sparkling 1.44 ERA when he was named the league’s outstanding pitcher. During 1964, the hard-throwing port-sider struck out 72 batters and walked just 16 in 62.1 innings. He finished his Cape League playing career with a flourish in 1966, compiling a 4-3 record with 60 K’s in 49 innings – a Ryan-like 12.5 K’s per game. Kilroy played in two College World Series with the Boston College Eagles.
Courtesy of CCBL
JACK MCCARTHY – Inducted 2003
Player (Catcher), 1962-1965 & Manager, 1970-1978
A product of Holy Cross during the mid-1960’s, Jack McCarthy was a hard-hitting catcher for the Cotuit Kettleers from 1962-65. The personable West Roxbury Native had a career batting avg. of .298, including his All-Star season in 1964 when he hit .318 and set a fielding record of 1,000% behind the plate. He began his Cape League career while still a student at Boston Latin High School and in his first game, walked three times and stole three bases to help lead Cotuit to victory. He gained distinction as a field manager for the Kettleers from 1970-78, posting a won-lost record of 208-153 (.573) and five Cape League Titles. He is one of only three Cape League managers to win 200 games in one decade and his 26 playoff wins are third all-time. He initiated baseball clinics for children in the Cotuit community in 1975 that are still successful today. Jack and his wife currently practice psychology in New Bedford, Mass.
Courtesy of John Garner
JIM PERKINS – Inducted 2003
Player (Outfield/First Base/Pitcher), Late 1940’s-Early 1950’s
One of the leading hitters and sluggers of the late 1940’s and early 50’s in the Cape League, Jim Perkins was recognized by “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” for hitting two grand slam home runs in the same inning during a game for Cotuit in 1949. In that same game, Perkins belted a triple and drove in an Upper Cape League record 11 runs in one game. During that same season, Jim led the league with a .432 batting average with 12 home runs. He led Cotuit to a 31-9 rout over Hyannis going 7-for-8 with 2 HR, including another grand slam. During the summer of 1948, Perkins belted three homers in one game at Otis Air Force Base. Perkins served with distinction in World War II and worked as an MP at Camp Edwards, where he played baseball. Now in his early 80’s, Jim has lived in Cotuit since his playing days in the Cape League over 40 years ago. For many years, Perkins owned and operated a filling station in Osterville, where he provided jobs for several Cape League players, including Will Clark.
Courtesy of John Garner
BOB BUTKUS – Inducted 2004
Player (Pitcher/Outfield), 1961-1965
Left-handed pitcher Bob Butkus enjoyed an impressive five-year All-Star career for the Cotuit Kettleers in the 1960’s. The hard-throwing southpaw compiled a superlative 32-8 overall record in the Cape League, including a 10-3 mark in the playoffs. A graduate of Boston Latin High School and Bowdoin College, Butkus began his Cape League career in 1961 with a 4-1 record and a 1.75 ERA and followed that with a 9-1 mark in ’62 with a 1.96 ERA. He was named the league’s outstanding pitcher in 1963, after he posted a 6-1 record with a microscopic 1.04 ERA. Butkus attained perfection in ’64 by recording a 9-0 won-lost mark with a 3.70 ERA. Bob polished off his CCBL career in ’65 with a 4-5 record and a 3.01 ERA. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Courtesy of John Garner
WILL CLARK – Inducted 2004
Player (First Base), 1983
Sweet-swinging Will Clark enjoyed a terrific summer for the Cotuit Kettleers in 1983, compiling a .367 batting average (third in the league) with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. The Mississippi State first baseman had a .454 on-base pct. and was second with a .653 slugging pct. He started at first base for the Cape League All-Star team and was a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team. Will’s summer job with Cotuit was working for fellow Hall-of-Famer Jim Perkins at his filling station in Osterville. Clark was a two-time All-American and was named the SEC Athlete of the Year in 1985. He also won the Golden Spikes Award in 1985. After being drafted in the first round and signed by the San Francisco Giants, Clark performed in the major leagues for 16 years, compiling an impressive .303 lifetime batting average, mostly with the Giants and Texas Rangers. A 1990 poll of 65 major league players ranked Will Clark as the best clutch performer in baseball. Had his peers been asked to rank the cockiest or most arrogant player in the game, Clark might well have finished first as well. Clark’s abundance of natural talent earned him the nickname “The Natural” and the tall first baseman never lacked for confidence. One of baseball’s fiercest competitors, Clark was known for the fearsome glare he would fix on a pitcher while standing in the batter’s box. “The big thing people say to me is, ‘Why don’t you ever smile?'” Clark once remarked. “Well, I’m too interested in trying to beat somebody right now to smile.” An All-American at Mississippi State, Clark played a starring role for the 1984 U.S. Olympic team which yielded such future major leaguers as Barry Larkin and Mark McGwire . During the five-game Olympic tournament, Clark batted .429 with three home runs and eight RBIs. The following year he won the Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the country’s top collegiate player. Selected with the second-overall pick of the June 1985 draft by San Francisco, Clark wasted little time acclimating himself to life as a professional. Just two days after signing with the Giants, Clark homered on his first swing in the minor leagues. Less than ten months later, after just 65 games at Single-A Fresno, Will “The Thrill” opened the season as the Giants’ regular first baseman. Clark connected for a round-tripper against future Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan in his first major-league at-bat on April 8th, and finished his rookie year with a .287 batting average and eleven home runs despite missing 47 games with an elbow injury resulting from a base-running collision in mid-season. Over the next six seasons Clark would establish himself as the premier first baseman in the National League. In his first full season, his smooth left-handed swing produced a .308 batting average and a career high 35 home runs as the Giants captured the NL West crown. Inexplicably, the slow-footed Clark attempted 22 steals that year, and was successful just five times. Though overlooked for All-Star status that season, Clark was voted the starting first baseman for the NL All-Star team every season from 1988 through 1992. His finest hour came in 1989, when he batted .333 (narrowly losing the batting title to Tony Gwynn on the final day of the season) with 111 RBIs, finishing second in the NL MVP voting to teammate Kevin Mitchell. The Giants won their second NL West title in three seasons that year, and during the NLCS Clark took his game to an even higher level, sealing his reputation as one of baseball’s best clutch hitters. During San Francisco’s five-game triumph over the Cubs, Clark raked the Chicago pitching staff at a .650 clip while driving in eight runs. In Game One at Wrigley Field Clark picked up four hits, launched two circuit blasts (including a grand slam which left the stadium) and drove in an LCS-record six runs. I the decisive Game Five, Clark faced hard-throwing Cubs reliever Mitch Williams with the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the eighth. Clark smoked Williams’ first delivery back through the box to break the tie and propel the Giants into the World Series. But in a Fall Classic remembered more for the devastating earthquake which struck just hours before the scheduled start of Game Three, the Giants were unceremoniously swept by their cross-bay rival Oakland Athletics. Clark had become quite a durable player since his rookie year injury, setting a San Francisco record with 320 consecutive games played from September of 1987 through August of 1989. However, a string of injuries cut into his playing time in the early ’90s and diminished his production. Clark drove in just 73 runs in 1992 and 1993, the lowest total since his rookie year. Clark’s contract ran out after the 1993 season, and although the popular star had become a fixture in San Francisco baseball, the Giants were unwilling to offer a long-term contract to a player saddled with recent injury problems and coming off two straight mediocre seasons. However, the perennially underachieving Texas Rangers were willing to take a shot on a player known as much for his intensity and leadership as for his bat. After contract talks with incumbent first baseman Rafael Palmeiro stalled, the Rangers signed Clark to a five year, $30 million deal to replace his former Mississippi State teammate. In his first season in the Lone Star State, Clark quickly took a fancy to AL pitching, posting a .353 average at 1994 All-Star break. His attitude benefited the Rangers as well. “He’s got the will to win, and knows what is involved in getting it done,” said manager Kevin Kennedy. “Not just some days, every day. It’s the kind of intensity that this organization needed.” When the players’ strike hit, Clark ranked fifth in the AL with a .431 on base percentage and placed seventh in the league with a .329 batting average. Over the next four years, Clark maintained a high level of offensive production, finishing below .300 only in 1996. Injuries continued to curtail his playing time, however, limiting him to 123, 117 and 110 games from 1995 through 1997. But Texas fans were far from disappointed. Clark’s veteran presence teamed with the booming bat of outfielder Juan Gonzalez to lead Texas to its first two AL West titles in 1996 and 1998. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they faced the World Series bound Yankees in the opening round of the playoffs each time and Clark failed to repeat his earlier post-season heroics, collecting only three hits in 27 at-bats over the two series. The Rangers managed to win just one game in 1996 and were swept by a powerful Yankees squad in 1998. Despite putting together his most productive season in seven years in 1998 (.305, 23 HRs, 41 2Bs, 102 RBIs) Clark suddenly found himself out of a job. Palmeiro decided to re-sign with Texas after five years in Baltimore, effectively ending Clark’s days as a Ranger. Reviving his pas de deux with his old college teammate, Clark responded by signing a two-year deal with the Orioles. Clark spent a desultory season-and-a-half with a pair of underachieving Orioles teams. Injuries plagued him again in 1999, as a fractured left thumb and a bone spur in his elbow limited him to 77 games and just 29 RBIs despite a .303 batting average, although he did manage to collect his 2,000th career hit on June 15th against Kansas City. The following year a trading deadline deal sent Clark from Baltimore to St. Louis, where he filled in for first baseman Mark McGwire, who was limited to pinch-hitting duties by a case of patellar tendonitis. Clark’s arrival reinvigorated a Cardinals club that led the NL Central but had treaded water since the loss of McGwire. He homered in his first at-bat and in each of his first four starts for St. Louis, and batted a robust .345 with 12 round trippers and 45 RBIs in his two-month Cardinals’ cameo. He added a three-run homer off Braves’ southpaw Tom Glavine in Game Two of the club’s sweep of Atlanta in the Division Series, but decided to retire less than a month after St. Louis fell to the Mets in the League Championship Series. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Clark grew up (and remains) an avid hunter and fisher. He has been known to practice his archery in empty stadiums after games and has taped several hunting programs for ESPN.
Courtesy of John Garner & Baseballlibrary.Com
TIM TEUFEL – Inducted 2005
Player (Infield), 1979
The Clemson Tiger batted .351 for the Kettleers in 1979 and set a league record with 16 home runs , RBI (52) and runs (48). Named to both the All-Star and All-League teams as the starting second baseman. After signing with the Minnesota Twins, he starred for the New York Mets for 11 seasons. He may have only hit 86 home runs and driven in 379 runs in his career, but Tim Teufel was one of the most popular players to wear a New York Mets uniform and a member of a World Series Championship. The Greenwich, CT native played in 1,073 games in his career and hit .254. In 1986, he hit .444 in 9 at-bats in the World Series, adding a home run and an RBI. Prior to joining the Minnesota Twins organization, Tim Teufel played for the Clemson University baseball team in 1979 and 1980. In 1980, he hit .387 with 11 HR and 66 RBI and was named All-American, All-ACC and All-District. He hit .367 in 101 games at Clemson with 24 HRs and 116 RBIs. He also had 26 stolen bases. He made his debut with the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 3, 1983 and he had one of his best games on Sept. 16 when he went 5-5 with 2 home runs and a triple. The next season, he hit .262 with 14 home runs and finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. On Jan. 16, 1986, Minnesota traded Teufel and minor league player Pat Crosby to the New York Mets for Billy Beane, Bill Lathan and Joe Klink. He “platooned” at second base with Wally Backman and hit .247 with 20 doubles in 279 at-bats. Mets fans like the his plate rituals which came to be known as the “Teufel Shuffle.” In 1987, he hit .308 with 14 home runs in 299 at-bats. He became the starter in 1988, but struggled on offense and was sidelined by an injury. He hit just .238 and lost the second base job to Greg Jeffries in 1989. In 1991, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Garry Templeton. He retired at the end of the 1993 season and worked for a while as an investment banker. He later worked for the New York Mets organization served as a scout, instructor, infield coordinator and manager in the Mets’ instructional league. Recently, he was named manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, a short-season affiliate of the New York Mets.
Courtesy of Total Baseball, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.; Clemson Cards
JIM HUBBARD – Inducted 2006
Player (Outfield/Catcher), 1959-1961 & Manager, 1961-1969
The Bridgewater State graduate served the Cape League in various capacities over five decades as a player, field manager, umpire and general manager. He began as a player for Yarmouth in 1958 and spent the next three years performing for Cotuit from 1959-61. He took over as field manager for the Kettleers from 1961-69, posting a 196-116 record (.628) and winning four CCBL championships from 1961-64. After serving as a league umpire from 1970-74, Hubbard returned to the league as Wareham GM from 1990-96. Hubbard gave a long speech on the evolution of the league, from Town Team ball to a college league and all that entailed. He was presented by Hall of Famer Bob Butkus, his ace at Cotuit, who marveled at the amount of statistics Hubbard kept in the pre-computer age. ‘’This is an honor of which I’m very proud,” said Hubbard, who cracked up the audience with the story of his one-day honeymoon and his love and appreciation for what his wife put up with in his lifelong love affair with the game. ”My honeymoon was a one-day visit to Provincetown. The next day I had to play in the (Cape League) playoffs. We got back and she went to visit her family and had to assure them that everything was all right with the marriage.”
Courtesy of John Garner, Will Bussiere, & Russ Chapentier
GREG LOTZAR – Inducted 2005
Player (Outfield), 1983
The fleet Central Michigan outfielder led the Kettleers in 1983 by winning the league batting title at .414 with a then-record 33 stolen bases and an impressive .516 on-base percentage. He also totaled 63 hits and 46 runs scored in 40 games during the season. In addition to making the All-Star team, Lotzar was named league and playoff MVP. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox. Lotzar, leadoff hitter for George Greer in Cotuit in 1983, won the batting title (.414), stole 33 bases in 36 attempts, drove in 28 runs, scored 43 and was playoff MVP. Greer yesterday called him the most memorable player from that ’83 title team that included a first baseman named Will Clark, also a Cape League Hall of Famer. ”I can’t believe it was 23 years ago,” said Lotzar. ”I came here and saw Arnold and it seemed like I had just seen him yesterday.”
Courtesy of John Garner, Will Bussiere, & Russ Chapentier
JOSH PAUL – Inducted 2006
Player (Catcher/Outfield), 1995
The Vanderbilt product enjoyed a league MVP season in 1995 for the Cotuit Kettleers. Playing catcher and in the outfield, he won the CCBL batting championship at .364 with six home runs, 26 RBI, 16 stolen bases and an impressive .652 slugging pct. He was named to both the mid-season and final All-Star Team. Paul was the first player in league history to capture the batting title, MVP and Outstanding Pro Prospect Award. Signing with the Chicago White Sox in 1996, Paul has a career batting average of .251 in seven-plus major league seasons with both Chicago teams, the Los Angeles Angels and currently with Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay backup catcher Josh Paul is a major leaguer, the only Cape Leaguer to win the batting title, MVP and Outstanding Pro Prospect Award in the same season (1995). Yet he was moved to near sobs in a halting speech at times funny, at times emotional, but always from the heart. He was the last speaker yesterday, but his words summed up the feelings of the other inductees who went before him. ”The real best part of playing in the Cape League is the friendships I made with my host family, the Dunnings,” said the former Cotuit Kettleer. ”As a 20-year-old kid, I came here saying, ‘Hey, I’m free of my parents for the summer.’ The first day I broke curfew, I realized I had parents here. Their friendship has meant more to me the last 11 years than anything else I learned that summer. I’d like to thank you all for the greatest summer of my life.”
Courtesy of John Garner, Will Bussiere, & Russ Chapentier
DEL BENDER – Inducted 2007
Player (First Base/Outfield), 1976-1977
The Mississippi State slugger played two seasons in the Cape League, 1976 and 1977. After hitting .267 in ’76, he was league batting champion in 1977 with a .395 average, set a modern-era record for most hits in a season (64) and led the league in runs (43) and total bases (99) and was second in RBI (39). He led Cotuit to the ’77 CCBL title by hitting .500 with four homers and 11 RBI in four games. He was voted to the All-League team in ’77 and was the starting left fielder for the Cape League All-Star team at Fenway Park in an 8-3 win over the ACBL. He was voted to the 1970’s All-Decade Team and signed with the Boston Red Sox.
Bender played for Cotuit in 1976-77, hitting a league-high .395 in ’77. His wife Alice, who introduced him, said, “He loves baseball and he loves the Cape Cod League. He’s told me so many stories, and when he got the call, the floodgates opened.” “It’s an honor and a blessing I can come back after 30 years,” Del Bender said. “It’s really touched us.” “After 30 years, (you’d think) people would forget about you. It’s really neat to come up here and share this honor and award.” He wasn’t all serious, joking about late nights, then going for early-morning breakfasts at a Hyannis grill and having, “Buck Showalter cook breakfast for us.” But he also got serious when speaking of his house father, Luke Poyant, calling him and his roommate in for a talk. “He was shaving and we sat on the edge of the tub. He said one thing, ‘You can’t burn the candle at both ends.’ He gave us ground to stand on. I know it’s an old saying, but it hit home so much.”
Courtesy of John Garner, Joe Sherman & Russ Charpentier
BOB HANSEN – Inducted 2008
Player (First Base/Outfield), 1966-1968
The University of Massachusetts first baseman/outfielder played four years (Cotuit 1966-1968 and Orleans 1969) in the Cape League and was an All-Star the final three years, starting each game. In 1969, he finished third in batting at .385 and led the league with 38 RBI and a .680 slugging percentage. He also placed second in home runs (7) and doubles (9). He was voted to the 1969 All-League Team at first base. Hansen led the league with six triples in 1967 and was second in runs (28) and hits (41), and tied for fourth in RBI (23). For his career, he is in the top five in triples (11, 2nd), total bases (225, 3rd), RBI (92, 3rd) and hits (134, 5th). His 16 home runs and 21 doubles place him in the top 20 all-time. He was voted to the 1960’s All-Decade team. He was the 21st draft pick of the expansion Seattle Pilots (AL) in 1969 and played two seasons (1974 and 1976) with the Milwaukee Brewers, hitting .242 with two homers and 13 RBI in 82 games.
Courtesy of John Garner & Joe Sherman
JEFF INNIS – Inducted 2008
Player (Pitcher), 1981-1982
The Illinois right-hander was one of the first true closers in the Cape League. He led the league in saves and games in 1981 and 1982 and is the only pitcher to accomplish that feat. Innis finished first in ERA in 1981(2.34) and was second in 1982 (1.96), finishing with a career ERA of 2.15 during the aluminum bat era. He established league records for games (30 in 1982), saves (8 in 1981), most innings pitched by a relief pitcher (50.2 in 1982) and strikeouts by a relief pitcher (54 in 1981 and again in 1982). Among relief pitchers, he is first in career strikeouts (108), second in career innings pitched (100.2), third in relief appearances (53) and tied for fifth in saves (14). He was the career saves leader for 15 seasons. Cotuit won the league championship in 1981 as Innis went 1-1 with a save in four appearances in the playoffs. He was voted to the All-League Team both seasons and was also selected to the 1980’s All-Decade Team. Innis played seven seasons with the New York Mets from 1987-1993, compiling a 10-20 record with a 3.05 ERA. Innis remembered how he first saw Lowell Park in a Sports Illustrated article and ended up pitching there the next summer and explaining he was impressed his plaque was first displayed at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum 45 years to the day the former president was assassinated.
Courtesy of John Garner & Russ Charpentier
GREG VAUGHN – Inducted 2009
Player (Outfield), 1984-1985
The Sacramento City star led Cotuit to two Cape Cod Baseball League championships in his two seasons with the Kettleers. He hit .261 with four home runs and 12 stolen bases in 1984 and returned in 1985 to win league MVP honors by batting .343 with 10 home runs, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He is one of six players to reach double digits in both steals and home runs in a season. Vaughn signed with Milwaukee after being drafted in the first round in 1986. He also played for the Padres, Reds, Devil Rays and Rockies. He belted 50 home runs in 1998 and was a four-time MLB All-Star.
Courtesy of John Garner & Joe Sherman
JACK CRESSEND – Inducted 2010
Player (Pitcher), 1995-1996
This two-year all-star led all Cape League pitchers in wins in both 1995 and 1996 before signing with the Boston Red Sox as an undrafted free agent and embarking on a pro career that would last for 11 seasons, including five in the big leagues with Cleveland and Minnesota. As a Kettleer, the Tulane right-hander was 7-1 in 1995 with a 2.44 ERA and was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year. He had even better numbers in 1996, posting a perfect 7-0 record with a 1.89 ERA. Over those two seasons, he walked 48 and struck out 117 Cape League batters and was the starting pitcher in both years’ all-star games. A two-way player as a pitcher and outfielder, Cressend led Tulane to two NCAA Tournament appearances (1994, 1996) and one Conference USA Tournament title (1996). In 1997, Cressend was named the Red Sox’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year after leading Class A Sarasota in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and games started. In 2002, he was a member of the AL Central Division champion Twins, who lost to the eventual World Series champion Angels in the ALCS. Cressend’s best season in the majors was at Cleveland in 2004 when he posted a 2.51 ERA in 43 innings pitched and issued only nine walks. Cressend appeared in 122 big league games, pitching 160.2 innings, striking out 104 and posting a 5-5 record and 4.20 ERA. He had the distinction of striking out both the first and last batters he ever faced in pro baseball. Jack has returned to his Louisiana roots and is now an assistant baseball coach at Tulane.
Courtesy of John Garner & Rob Duca
LOU MERLONI – Inducted 2010
Player (Second Base), 1992
A native of Framingham, Merloni played two seasons in the Cape League, starring at shortstop and second base for Bourne in 1991 and for Cotuit in 1992. A star at Providence College, his best season came at Cotuit when he led the league with a .321 batting average, collecting 13 doubles, two triples and 19 RBI, and compiling a .440 slugging percentage. Merloni secured the batting title by going 5-for-8 in his final two games for the Kettleers. He also earned the league’s Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award. He went on to play nine seasons in the major leagues, including six with the Boston Red Sox, before retiring in 2006. He currently works as a studio host and baseball analyst for WEEI radio and Comcast SportsNet New England.
Courtesy of John Garner & Rob Duca
PAUL O’NEIL – Inducted 2011
Player (Third Base), 1974-1975
The hard-hitting third baseman from Boston College led the Kettleers to back-to-back CCBL titles in 1974 and ’75. After struggling at the plate during his initial season on the Cape, O’Neil won the Pat Sorenti MVP Award the following summer as he captured the batting title with a .358 average, added five home runs and 22 RBI and was named to the All-Star Game and final All-League Team. O’Neil also produced a .511 slugging percentage and stole nine bases in ’75. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres.
Courtesy of John Garner
GARRETT ATKINS – Inducted 2013
Player (First Base, Infield), 1998-1999
The UCLA corner infielder played for the Kettleers in 1998 and ’99, finishing second behind Bobby Kielty the first summer with a .383 batting average, 51 hits and a spot on the CCBL All-Star team. Atkins followed that with another solid campaign in ‘99, hitting .312 with 35 RBIs and went 2-for-3 in the All-Star game to earn MVP honors by leading the West squad to a 6-4 win. He led Cotuit to the CCBL title and was named playoff MVP in the process. The Orange, Calif., native was selected in the fifth round of the 2000 draft by Colorado and enjoyed an eight-year major league career with the Rockies and Baltimore, hitting a career .285 with 99 home runs and 488 RBIs. His best season was 2006 when he hit .329 with 29 HR and 120 RBIs with Colorado. He hit a home run in the 2007 World Series vs. the Red Sox.
Courtesy of John Garner & Joe Sherman
DONALD HICKS Sr. – Inducted 2014
Player (Pitcher, Infield,Outfield), 1950’s
One of the top pitchers in the Cape League during the late 1940s and ’50s, Hicks led the Mashpee Warriors to the 1948 league championship and was named MVP in 1950. Hicks possessed a blazing fastball, a good curve and a change-up that froze hitters. When the Mashpee team withdrew from the league in the mid-’50s, Hicks joined the Cotuit franchise. Donald was an elder of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, a former captain of the Mashpee Fire Department and served as recreational director for the Town of Mashpee in the ’60s.
Courtesy of John Garner & Karolina Atsalis