Tri-County League honors greats of past and present

By Keith Groller
Of The Morning Call


The Tri-County Baseball League honored its greats -- past and present -- last night at its annual league banquet and Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the West End Youth Center.

While the Tri-Co honored newly-crowned champion East Texas and saluted its other 1994 award winners, it also inducted seven new members into its Hall of Fame.

Those honored included four players from the Original Era (dating from the league's inception in 1950 through 1963) and three from the Modern Era (1964 to the present). The seven honorees brings the Tri- Co's Hall of Fame membership to 39 since it began in 1990.

Here's a look at the Tri-Co's all-time greats who were honored last night (in alphabetical order):

BRIAN GILBERT -- An infielder who played 10 years with Gilbertsville, Gilbert was steady at the plate and in the field.

"The one word to sum up Brian is dedication," said his former manager Rich Zuber. "He was tenacious, played hard and he was dedicated. When he first came to the team, his reputation was that all he could do was bunt and run. But believe me, Brian could do much more than that."

Gilbert, a Boyertown legion and Shippensburg University standout, finished with a lifetime batting mark of .343. He scored 248 runs and drove in 123. His top summer was 1983 when he was second in the league with a .447 average.

JOE JAMICKY -- A player with the Spring Valley entry in 1951 and '52 and the Bingen franchise from 1958 to '65, Jamicky was known for his flexibility.

"Joe would play anywhere you needed him to play," said presenter Bob Ravier. "He would catch one day and pitch the next."

Jamicky always had a high batting average and had some power.

"I just want to thank the league for giving me and all ballplayers the opportunity to play over the years," he said. "I also have to thank my wife for putting up with all my antics over the years."

BILL McCURLEY -- An outstanding third baseman from 1978 to '86 with the Allentown Angels, McCurley was a fine player on a not-so- fine team.

"Bill had a lifetime batting average of .307 and over the same time period our team record was 67-154 and our team batting average was .246, so you know that Bill wasn't getting good pitches to hit," said his former manager Ray Ganser. "Everybody pitched around him and yet, Bill still got his hits."

McCurley's best year was 1982 when he hit .394. Two years later, he hit .374 with four homers.

KEN MOATZ -- "Ken was a great baseball man who knew the rule book inside and out," Ravier said of Moatz, who played with the Bally entry from 1955-59 and then managed the team from 1960-68.

From 1964 to '68, Bally had a shining 65-29 mark. His team finished second in 1964 and won league crowns in '65 and '66. He stayed active as a player in the 60's and hit a solid .286 in 1967.

Moatz is the father of highly successful Boyertown legion manager Rick Moatz, who couldn't be there to see his father honored because he was managing his Bears in the Great-Lakes Legion Regional in Peoria, Ill.

LARRY MOYER -- The father of current Gilbertsville player-manager Mike "Doc" Moyer, Larry was a Tri-Co star from 1964 to '68 with Gabelsville. He always batted .300 or higher and won the batting title in 1968 with a mark of .352.

Moyer was a standout second baseman and led Gabelsville to its lone league title in 1968.

BILL SIGMANS -- A defensive standout at second base and shortstop, Sigmans played in 1970 for Silver Creek and 13 seasons for Quakertown ending in 1985.

Sigmans finished with a career batting mark of .288, including a .363 year in 1981 and a .368 figure two years later.

"Bill hated to fail at the plate or in the field," said Chip Friday, a former manager. "He was very intense."

KEN SLOTTER -- A 17-year veteran in the league from 1948 through '65, Slotter compiled a .280 lifetime batting average for Richlandtown and was known for his base-stealing ability.

He played a variety of positions, but established himself early in his career as a second baseman.

"I loved to play baseball," Slotter said. "That's all we used to do."

* Other award winners unveiled last night included East Texas skipper George Horn being named the Tri-Co's "Manager of the Year" after guiding the Longhorns to a 26-10 mark and their first-ever league championship.

ICC's Rich Guman, who batted .453, was named the league's "Most Valuable Player." He was also saluted as the league's "Most Courageous Athlete." Silver Creek's Jason Young, who unfurled an 11-0 mark, was named the Tri-Co's "Pitcher of the Year."

Other honors went to batting champ Mike Drumbore of Silver Creek (.500); "Home Run King" Joe Sedler of Cetronia (9), strikeout leader Bob Graber of Upper Perkiomen (78) and RBI champ Jeff Evans of Gilbertsville (33).



keith.groller@mcall.com

From The Morning Call -- August 21, 1994

Copyright © 1994, The Morning Call