San Quentin hosted the oldest living former New York Yankee at the season finale for the prison’s inmate baseball teams, the Giants and A’s.
The Giants won, 7-6, after old-timer Rugger Ardizoia was escorted to the mound by Giant Jeff Dumont and Athletic Isaiah “Raheem” Thompson-Bonilla. Ardizoia threw the first pitch with all the players from both teams standing proudly behind him.
“I am proud to be asked to come to the final game and for, after all those years, being recognized and signing autographs,” said Ardizoia.
Ardizoia was given a fancy black baseball bat as a gift in appreciation of his career and attendance. Public Information Lt. Sam Robinson, all the players, the coaches and even the correctional officers at the front gate who let the outside teams in signed the bat, said coach Reichardt.
Ardizoia pitched for the Yankees 1941-1942 until called to go to war in 1943. He’s pitched against the likes of Ted Williams. After returning from World War II, he was sent from Yankee spring training to play for the Oakland Acorns of the Pacific Coast League, he said.
He proudly wears a gold-ring bearing the Yankee logo and carries a Yankee Season Pass from 1947.
“You had to show your card to get into the games or nobody would know who you were,” said Ardizoia.
His Yankee salary was a then-generous $5,000 a year. That’s how much he paid for a house that would now be valued at around $700,000-800,000, said Ardizoia with a smile.
Years ago, Ardizoia playing for visiting baseball teams in San Quentin, Folsom and Vacaville State Prisons.
“I miss playing here. We had some good games in the ‘50s,” said the 94-year-old Ardizoia.
The A’s jumped out with a 3-1 lead on the hot, sunny Saturday, but the Giants rallied in the third. Shon “Jahid” Ruffin led off with a single, followed by Richard Zorns, who smacked a double into left field. Then Anthony Sorrell, who’s due to be released, playing his last game as an S.Q. Giant, was walked. Angelo Mecchi hit a two RBI shot that tied the score 3-3.
Mike Tyler got on base on a fielder’s choice and Dumont walked. With two men on, Giant Christopher “Cuddy Bo” Smith knocked a shot all the way to the barbed wire fence for a three-run homer and 6-3 lead.
“It felt tremendous to come thru cause I’ve been slumping. My Coach and team told me to go yard and I came thru against our number one rival,” said C. Smith.
The A’s didn’t go away. In the top of the ninth with the score 7-5 Giants, the A’s started to rally back, but it was stopped by an umpire call.
The A’s had a runner on third and Chris Marshall on first with two outs and Carlyle “Otter” Blake at bat. He banged a line drive straight down the first baseline that rolled deep into right field. A run came in while Marshall and Blake ran the bases, but the umpire called Marshall out. “The ball hit the runner, automatic out,” said the umpire.
“It did not hit me, but that was the call and the Giants earned the win. Tone (Sorrell) saved them today; he’s the MVP,” said Marshall.
“Well-fought ball game. Clutch hitting, great defensive on both sides. Probably one of the best games all year,” Giants assistant coach Frankie Smith said about the three-hour and 50-minute battle.
Another old-timer in attendance was Lou Profumo. The East Bay native played in the minor leagues for the Red Sox, Pirates and Angeles. He’s coached youths from 1972-93, including Steve Lubratich and Nick Rodriguez.
Also visiting was Clayton Worfolk, who directed a crew filming the game for a Heist Production documentary on San Quentin’s baseball program.
George Lavender covered the game for a National Public Radio piece to be aired on WBUR in Boston.
The pro veterans’ attendance was secured during S.Q. baseball sponsor Steve Reichardt’s search for information about his great-uncle, Sam Fenech. Fenech was signed to play pro for Oakland 1944-45; however, the backup catcher only played in a few games.
No one seemed to know much about Fenech except baseball historian Mark MaCrae, who met Reichardt at a baseball card show. MaCrae actually knew Reichardt’s great-uncle and had the contracts for both years Fenech played for Oakland.
MaCrae said he chanced upon the contracts after hearing they were saved from bulldozers about to tear down the old stadium in 1957.
MaCrae invited Reichardt to his Annual Pacific Coast League Player and Family Reunion. There, Reichardt met Ardizoia, who used to be president of the Old-Timers Organization.
“There are hundreds of 85-year-olds cutting their lawns that played pro ball. They think guys won’t remember them, but they are remembered,” said MaCrae.
“The season was a success. We had about 40-50 games with outside teams. All the teams were impressed with the program and they plan to come again next year,” said sponsor Elliot Smith.
“If I could come in all year, I would,” said Giants sponsor Mike Deeble. He’s using the off-season to research training drills “so we can have a stronger team.”
“I realized a lot of people here come from different backgrounds…it makes me realize not everybody has had it easy, but we’re all on the same team,” said Luke Murphy, a visitor at the Aug. 30 season finale.
