THE FAST 57
|
|
|
Organized softball has been around in Rhode Island since 1936. However, unlike today where slow pitch is the most played game, fast pitch was the only style played early on until the mid 1950s when slow pitch was recognized by the ASA. At the start Rhode Island had some dominate men's fast pitch teams that won regional championships and feared well in national play. Most games early on were played at Cranston Stadium and the Conimicut Oval (now Clegg Field) as well as Brook Street Field in the Blackstone Valley League. Up until 1942 states were sending their champions on to the nationals. Hitching Post (1936-37), Newport Oilers (1938), Fairlawn Mules (1939), Cranston Trojans (1940) and Lindy’s Trojans (1941) represented Rhode Island. Hitching Post Mules also won the New England regional championship in 1936. In 1943 United Wire & Supply won a regional championship followed by Monowatt Electric with a string of three straight regional crowns (1944-46). By far the most successful and long tenured team was the Local 57 Engineers. Starting in 1953, the Engineers played local fast pitch before embarking on celebrated career playing up and down the East coast winning league and regional championships. Their big rivals were the Raybestos Cardinals of Stratford, CT.
|
|
|
In 1960 they played in the RI Major Softball League before entering the competitive Atlantic Seaboard Major League against the best teams on the east coast including the Cardinals through 1971. They won the Atlantic title in 1967 and 1968. The Engineers played their home games at Engineers Field on Gano Street in Providence. They won an impressive nine regional titles (1959, 1962-68, 1970). In their nine visits to the ASA Men’s Major Fast Pitch Nationals, their best finish was in 1966 when they finished runner-up to the powerful Clearwater Bombers (Florida). Ron Weathersby of the Bombers hit a dramatic walk off 2-run HR in bottom of the 8th inning of the championship game to give the Bombers the 4-2 win. They also finished 3rd in 1965 and tied for 5th in 1964. The team was a popular local attraction in the 1960s. Nationally ranked teams would come to Providence annually. In July 1964 the Clearwater Bombers visited the Ocean State and played a double header that was broadcasted on Channel 10 WJAR TV in front of over 5,000 spectators. The home team promptly swept the World Champs 4-2 and 1-0 at Engineers Field.
|
|
|
Local players who played for the team included second baseman Pete Pemberton (Providence), outfielder Ron Cooper (Cumberland), third baseman Bob Bellemore (Providence), shortstop Joe Unsworth (Providence), catcher Bobby Cahir (Providence) and catcher Joe Mercurio (Providence). In 1970 Narragansett Brewery Co. took over sponsorship of the team with George Patrick Duffy as general manager and field manager. They continued in the Atlantic Seaboard league winning the New England championship and finishing tied for 13th in the nationals. Local 57 returned to sponsor in 1971 finishing its last season of competition.