The Joe DiMaggio League for players 19-and-under is celebrating its 50th year this year and to commemorate it the league board has picked a silver anniversary all-tournament team for the past 25 years and a golden anniversary team for all 50 years. The teams include numerous players who made it to the major leagues, including the late Tony Gwynn.
Honorees are invited to the 50th anniversary celebration at 12:30 p.m. July 24 at Borman Field in Yountville during this year’s state tournament.
Here are the teams:
SECOND SILVER ANNIVERSARY TEAM – 1991-2015
Manager - Mike Hughes ( Pacifica)- 1993-2008
Teams in 11 tournaments and won twice – 2004 & 2006
Pitcher - Greg Gonzalez (San Bruno) – 2007 –MVP
Won three games. Struck out 22 in 13 innings.
Pitcher - Luke Steidlmayer (Winters) – 1999 - MVP
Won two games. Pitched 12 innings in the tournament allowing no runs and one hit.
Pitcher - Mike Neu (Napa) – 1993 & 1996
Youngest MVP in history at 15. Made all-tournament in 1996
Pitcher - Scott Greene (Reno) – 2008
Threw a no-hitter in championship game. 2008 Most Valuable Pitcher
Catcher - Jim Goethals (San Francisco) - 1999-2000
Two-time all-tournament. Outstanding defensive play .
Catcher - Nate Nolan (Reno) -2013
2013 All-Tournament. Outstanding defensive catcher. Hit .613 in 2013 tournament
Infielder - Wade Reynoso (San Carlos) -2005
2005 MVP. Outstanding defensive third baseman while hitting over .500
Infielder – Jacob Fuata (San Mateo) -2001
2001 MVP. Hit .536 with 5 home runs.
Infielder – Matt Bowman (Reno) – 2004
Outstanding defensive second baseman . High on-base percentage. MVP in 2004
Infielder - Tony Cooper (San Carlos) – 2007-2009
Three-time All-tournament. MVP in 2009
Infielder - Jason Rianda ( Belmont) - 1991 Outfielder
Good defense. Outstanding hitter on strong Belmont team
Outfielder- Jimmy Parque (Pacifica) – 2004, 2006 and 2007
Three time All-tournament. Only two-time MVP (2004 & 2006)
Outfielder - Eric Byrnes ( Menlo Park) – 1994
Led team in the field and at the plate. 1994 MVP. Outstanding defensive outfielder.
Outfielder - Mike Watkins ( San Bruno/San Francisco) – 2004 and 2007
Two-time all tournament and 2007 MVP hitting .591
Outfielder - Rich Rodriguez (Vallejo) – 2011
Led team to championship , hitting .600. MVP in 2011
Utility - Cassidy Fegan (San Francisco) - 1992
Led team on the mound and at the plate . MVP in 1992
Utility - Chris Scroggins (San Carlos/San Mateo ) - 1997
Two-time all-tournament. Led teams on the mound and at the plate. MVP in 1997
50TH ANNIVERSARY All-TOURNAMENT TEAM – 1967 through 2016
At the 50th Anniversary of Joe DiMaggio League Baseball, the league executives selected an all-time All- Tournament Team, honoring those performances in a single game, a tournament or over several tournaments, which were exceptional.
MANAGER: Tom King (Daly City and San Francisco) 1972-2000
Teams in 17 tournaments and won six tournaments over four decades (1976,1979, 1988, 1992,1995 and 2000)
PITCHER: Jim Neidlinger (Napa) 1981-1983
Three-time All Tournament and the Outstanding Pitcher in the 1982 Tournament.
PITCHER: Bill Sanford (Menlo Park) 1969
Won two games. Struck out 10 in the championship game
PITCHER: Luke Steidlmayer (Winters) 1999
Won two games. Pitched 12 shut-out innings in the tournament allowing only one hit
PITCHER: Mike Neu (Napa) – 1993 &1996
Youngest MVP in tournament history at 15 and two-time all-tournament
PITCHER: Greg Gonzalez (San Bruno) 2007
Won three games. Struck out 22 in 13 innings pitched
CATCHER: Bill Haley ( Benicia) 1976
Arguably, the best defensive catcher to play in the League.
CATCHER: Jim Goethals (San Francisco) – 1999-2000
Two-time all-tournament. Outstanding defensive play.
INFIELDER: Tony Cooper (San Carlos) 2007-2009
Three time All-Tournament selection and MVP in 2009
INFIELDER: John Verducci (Millbrae) 1980 & 1981
1981 MVP and possibly the best defensive infielder to play in the league
INFIELDER: Andy Leonard (South San Francisco) 1982
Hit five home runs in the tournament, three in one game. Co-MVP in 1982
INFIELDER: Bill Downing (Pacifica) 1970
Had 11 hits in the tournament and played errorless defense at shortstop. MVP in 1970
INFIELDER: Jacob Fuata J (San Mateo) - 2001
MVP in 2001. Hit .536 with five home runs.
OUTFIELDER: Tony Gwynn (Long Beach) 1976-1978
Three-time All-Tournament. MVP with 14 hits in the 1977 tournament
OUTFILEDER: Jimmy Parque (Pacifica) 2004, 2006-2007
Only two-time MVP in tournament history (2004 and 2006). Three-time all-tournamnet
OUTFIELDER: Rich Rodriguez(Vallejo) 2011
MVP in 2011 while leading his team to the title hitting .600 for the tournament.
OUTFIELDER: Mike Watkins ( San Francisco & San Bruno) 2004^2007
Two-time all-tournament and 2007 MVP hitting .591.
Utility: Cassidy Fegan (San Francisco) – 1992
MVP in 1992. Led team on the mound and at the plate to the championship.
