by Bill Parkhurst

A love affair occurred last Thursday night when the Historical Society of Hammonton honored the 1949 Little League World Champions. It was a night to remember, a love affair of Hammonton history. During the hour of presentation, an allergy came upon the room. Tissues quietly appeared from ladies’ pocket books and strong men’s voices quavered in joyous remembrance. Collectively, the silver haired agreed that memories grow more precious with time and age.
For most of the players, the 1949 championship season was their first time out of Hammonton, except as one remarked, an occasional trip to Folsom. It was the first time in a hotel and certainly the first time playing before 10,000 fans.
To receive the adulation of thousands of hometown cheering fans lining Bellevue Avenue for the parade, was in the words of Gayton Capelli, the “highlight of his life.”
Nuncie Sacco, team captain, captured the hearts of our audience with a moving narration of the team’s experiences. From a professionally produced film, featuring the voice of Ted Husing, radio broadcaster of the day, we witnessed the arrival of the Governor of Pennsylvania, TV, News Reel and radio crews, the teams marching into the stadium, Olympic style and our National Anthem.
Cameras captured the grin of the late Steve Mazzeo pinch-hitting a single, catcher Gayton Capelli signaling pitches, incomparable, Joe DiGiacomo’s sizzling strikes, Nuncie Sacco racing the bases to score and first baseman, the late Blitz Bilazzo punching out two key base hits. Final score — Hammonton 5, Pensacola, Florida 0.
In a display of sportsmanship, Florida congratulates the winners in the tumult that followed.
Otha Crowder described the wristwatch and trophy each winning player received. Many have survived the years.
The next night was a parade and, oh what a parade! Flags flew. Led by a motorcycle escort the Hammonton High School Band, with less than 24 hours notice, under the brilliant leadership of our own “Music Man” Herman Dash, filled the street with what seemed to be 100 members. The National Guard marching crisply, uniformed Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts preceded the main event.
HSH Trustee, Garfield DeMarco, saw himself in the parade, the pudgy Cub Scout carrying the flag, he said. To Garfield, a noted Hammonton historian, the victory parade was one of Hammonton’s three greatest events. The others — the parade celebrating VJ Day (the conclusion of World War II) and President Reagan’s visit.
One is in awe of the community leaders for their ability to within 24 hours plan and execute the victory celebration. Convertibles carried the team in uniform down Bellevue Avenue. Hotsy Rehmann, considered number one fan, sat in the middle of two players in the final convertible, carrying a slab of bacon.
Ten-year-old Pat Turner Caruso, watching the parade in front of their Bellevue Avenue home, asked her mother, “Why the bacon?
A celebration banquet was held at the Armory. Framed by color guard members Jean Austin and Rita Salvatore, Nuncie Sacco accepted congratulations from Governor Alfred Driscoll and then from Miss New Jersey, Kathleen Crowley, a kiss to remember.
Each member of the team was presented a brand new Rollfast bicycle. The story was carried by a Seventh Grade sports reporter for his school’s Pine Tree Press as well as local and regional media.
The entire community was involved. In that era, kids after dinner went out to play, and in the case of Janet Small Worrell whose family lived on Maple Street, she and friends cut through the woods (no houses on Walmer or Chestnut Streets then) to the park to watch the games. Fund raising was accomplished by passing the hat.
Community volunteers met with their accepted leader, Al Mulliner at the soda fountain of Newberry’s 5 &10 located on Bellevue Avenue after closing. There the hometown chapter of the Little Big League, as it was then called, was founded and plans were hatched for its operation. Sponsors came forward.
Managers volunteered, umpires were found, and men spent their evenings cutting grass and watering fields.
If you go to Williamsport someday go to the museum to the black bat rack with gold etching and press the button that says 1949.
Our team captain accompanied by his wife Kathleen did so a couple of years ago. There he saw the second baseman, nearly 60 years younger, listened to the roar of the crowd and heard excitement in the voice of the announcer — “And there he goes, Nuncie Sacco, rounding the bases…”
It was a moment.
For us too.
Bill Parkhurst is a past president of the Historical Society of Hammonton and a columnist for The Gazette.