Perlozzo, Mazzone inspire small town
11/03/2005
BALTIMORE -- Dick Sterne owns the Original Sports Shoppe in Cumberland, a small town in Western Maryland that's about two hours outside of Baltimore. Sterne also serves as the president of the Dapper Dan Club of Allegany County and helps run the Dapper Dan Little League's winter banquet each year.
Baseball is a hot topic of conversation every spring and summer in Cumberland, but there's no question that many in the area are talking about it this fall. The reason -- the connection of longtime friends and area natives Sam Perlozzo and Leo Mazzone as the Orioles manager and pitching coach.
"They're both still one of us," Sterne said. "It means a lot to the people in Cumberland. I've been friends with Sam since 1962 and with Leo since 1964, and what happened in the past month and a half is the greatest thing in baseball to hit the city of Cumberland. It's the talk of the town."
The 54-year-old Perlozzo is a Cumberland native, and Mazzone, 57, hails from nearby Westernport, a town about 25 miles away. They became close friends as children and maintained that friendship ever since, a big reason why Mazzone walked away from the Atlanta Braves after a 16-year stint to join the Orioles.
But Mazzone's move didn't surprise those who know about the strong friendship between the two.
"I think it was a package deal written long ago," said Sterne. "I guess that their friendship is very important."
Despite the fact that both Perlozzo and Mazzone have been longtime big-league coaches, each has kept a strong tie with the Cumberland area over the years. Perlozzo attended Bishop Walsh, a private school in Cumberland, where he became one of the best baseball players in school history.
Bishop Walsh retired Perlozzo's number 6, and his son, Eric, later played for them before graduating in 2002. But Perlozzo often came back to the school to teach and talk with the young baseball players there.
Bishop Walsh coach Sam Torres said that Perlozzo came back about once a winter to spend a long time with his players when Eric was there. Perlozzo would spend the better part of an afternoon -- about four to six hours -- working with the players and watching everyone get through a turn at the batting cage.
"He'd evaluate all the hitters, and he'd evaluate them fielding also and tell them the skills they needed to work on," Torres said. "He would always bring it back home that you have to be true to yourself and do the right thing."
Mazzone went to now-closed Bruce High near Cumberland, and he had sons who played baseball at nearby Fort Hill High -- one of Bishop Walsh's big rivals. He also comes back in the winter and talks baseball with those in the area.
"Leo is a great communicator and a saltier kind of guy," said Bishop Walsh athletic director Jim Zamagias. "He's a little bit crazier than Sam, and they play off of each other very well. He's a character."
Both Perlozzo and Mazzone have spent lots of time helping the Dapper Dan Little League over the years. They talk to coaches and give all kinds of tips during the winter, and both often find their way to the Dapper Dan banquet before Spring Training.
"I could almost count on them to speak at my dinner every year," Sterne said.
Torres said that watching two people from their own small town -- with a population of about 22,000 -- make it to the Major Leagues together sends a huge message to kids in the area.
"It demonstrates to our kids here in Cumberland that if you have a goal, and you work hard towards it, that you can make it happen," Torres said. "Even out of Cumberland."
Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/
BALTIMORE -- Dick Sterne owns the Original Sports Shoppe in Cumberland, a small town in Western Maryland that's about two hours outside of Baltimore. Sterne also serves as the president of the Dapper Dan Club of Allegany County and helps run the Dapper Dan Little League's winter banquet each year.
Baseball is a hot topic of conversation every spring and summer in Cumberland, but there's no question that many in the area are talking about it this fall. The reason -- the connection of longtime friends and area natives Sam Perlozzo and Leo Mazzone as the Orioles manager and pitching coach.
"They're both still one of us," Sterne said. "It means a lot to the people in Cumberland. I've been friends with Sam since 1962 and with Leo since 1964, and what happened in the past month and a half is the greatest thing in baseball to hit the city of Cumberland. It's the talk of the town."
The 54-year-old Perlozzo is a Cumberland native, and Mazzone, 57, hails from nearby Westernport, a town about 25 miles away. They became close friends as children and maintained that friendship ever since, a big reason why Mazzone walked away from the Atlanta Braves after a 16-year stint to join the Orioles.
But Mazzone's move didn't surprise those who know about the strong friendship between the two.
"I think it was a package deal written long ago," said Sterne. "I guess that their friendship is very important."
Despite the fact that both Perlozzo and Mazzone have been longtime big-league coaches, each has kept a strong tie with the Cumberland area over the years. Perlozzo attended Bishop Walsh, a private school in Cumberland, where he became one of the best baseball players in school history.
Bishop Walsh retired Perlozzo's number 6, and his son, Eric, later played for them before graduating in 2002. But Perlozzo often came back to the school to teach and talk with the young baseball players there.
Bishop Walsh coach Sam Torres said that Perlozzo came back about once a winter to spend a long time with his players when Eric was there. Perlozzo would spend the better part of an afternoon -- about four to six hours -- working with the players and watching everyone get through a turn at the batting cage.
"He'd evaluate all the hitters, and he'd evaluate them fielding also and tell them the skills they needed to work on," Torres said. "He would always bring it back home that you have to be true to yourself and do the right thing."
Mazzone went to now-closed Bruce High near Cumberland, and he had sons who played baseball at nearby Fort Hill High -- one of Bishop Walsh's big rivals. He also comes back in the winter and talks baseball with those in the area.
"Leo is a great communicator and a saltier kind of guy," said Bishop Walsh athletic director Jim Zamagias. "He's a little bit crazier than Sam, and they play off of each other very well. He's a character."
Both Perlozzo and Mazzone have spent lots of time helping the Dapper Dan Little League over the years. They talk to coaches and give all kinds of tips during the winter, and both often find their way to the Dapper Dan banquet before Spring Training.
"I could almost count on them to speak at my dinner every year," Sterne said.
Torres said that watching two people from their own small town -- with a population of about 22,000 -- make it to the Major Leagues together sends a huge message to kids in the area.
"It demonstrates to our kids here in Cumberland that if you have a goal, and you work hard towards it, that you can make it happen," Torres said. "Even out of Cumberland."
Source: http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/
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