Hall of Fame Inducts Five

Hall of Fame inducts five
Family atmosphere reigns, at annual AAABA banquet

By CORY ISENBERG
THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

The All-American Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) Hall of Fame increased by five members Saturday night before a capacity crowd at Sunnehanna County Club.

The Class of 2000 included Vincent "Cookie " Lorenzo, Steve Goisovich, John Austin, Jim Abbott and Geroge Arcurio III.

The occasion had a distinct family atmosphere as Goisovich and Arcurio were both introduced for induction by their sons, while Lorenzo and Austin talked about the AAABA family in Johnstown.

"It sure is a privilege and a pleasure to introduce the first umpire to be inducted into the AAABA Hall, especially when he is your father," said Steve Goisovich Jr.

The elder Goisovich, 75, was a longtime umpire from Johnstown who worked 35 years as a AAABA official. He umpired 200 total games in the AAABA Tournament, including approximately 12 semifinals and 10 championships. His other officiatIng duties included collegiate games and PIAA contests. He was also Instrumental in developing the Johnstown Umpires Association.

In addition to his work in baseball, Goisovich was a Johnstown city policeman for 26 years.

"A lot of people just don't like umpires," said Goisovich Sr. in his remarks to the assemblage. "Sometimes it was a pretty hard task. It was almost as hard as being a police officer. I mostly called balls and strikes, very seldon did I ever work on the bases."

George Arcurio III, a tireless tournament committee member responsible for overseeing numerous aspects of the national tournament each year, received his introduction from his son, Joe.

"Be patient with me, I just found out I was going to do this last night," joked the younger Arcurio before listing his father's achievements and his many contributions to the AAABA.

George Arcurio expressed his gratitude to the many people in Johnstown who have helped keep the AAABA Tournament alive in the city and talked about the past and the future of the baseball tournament.

"It is a great honor to receive this award, especially before one of the largest crowd we've ever had," said George Arcurio Ill. "Memories, yes there are very many in my mind about the AAABA."

George Arcurio HI, also introduced John Austin, a past AAABA president and promoter of the Altoona AAABA franchise and regional tournament.

"I kept passing these out as president," said Austin of the eagle-shaped trophies. "I kept thinking 'boy, these look pretty nice. Maybe I'll get one of them one of these days.

"Last year, I stood up here and I said well this will probably be the last time I get to stand up and talk to you people as president, which it was. Low and behold, I didn't know l would be back this year in a different position. It is quite an honor."

Lorenzo was introduced by Robert Trentham, who talked about Lorenzo's philosophy that "you get out of something what you put into it."
A past national president and part of the Brooklyn franchise, Lorenzo talked of his many years with the AAABA, his years in the army and with the New York City Department of Sanitation.

"There's nothing like baseball," said Lorenzo at the conclusion of his remarks. "There are three things you have to have faith in - God, yourself and your fellow human beings and sometimes that's the hardest thing of all."

Robert Wolfe of Zanesville, the AAABA secretary and executive director, introduced Abbott, a former Detroit franchise pitcher, who did not attend the banquet.

Abbott is well-known to many area baseball fans because of his appearance with Detroit in a game at Point Stadium in 1986. The pitcher struck out 15 Johnstown batters in the game,

Abbott, who was born without a right hand, had an inspirational career in the major leagues with the Anaheim Angels, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers.

Before the induction ceremonies, a special award was presented to Roberta "Bert" Rizzo on behalf of her husband Dave, a former member of the Johnstown Oldtimers who died last fall while officiating a high school soccer game. Bert Rizzo accepted the award along with her daughters Elyse and Sara.

Paul Tinnell, Director of Player Development for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was the keynote speaker for Saturday's AAABA Hall of Fame banquet.

"The game of baseball is a people business," said Tinnell, who congratulated the inductees on behalf of the Pirates. "I am really humbled by the many contributions of the inductees to the game of baseball and there years of service."

Tinnell concluded his remarks with the following: "If a spaceship landed and wanted anyone in America to explain to them about baseball, they should be in Johnstown this week and I think that's a tribute to what's going on here."

Used with permission of The Tribune-Democrat

The Tribune-Democrat, August 6, 2000

Cory Isenberg is a sportswriter for The Tribune-Democrat.

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