The Pastime A’s continue Mendham tradition
MENDHAM, N.J. — The Pastime A’s, a local baseball club sponsored by the Pastime Club, has become a summer tradition in The Mendhams, as the borough and township are affectionately known. Beginning in 1915, the A’s have entertained the locals with some of the finest talent this side of the minor leagues. Having had numerous former major and minor leaguers pass through its ranks over the years, they have been playing a good brand of ball for quite some time.
Managed by Bernie DeChristofaro, who played against the A’s in the mid-1970s, and for them in the 1980s before becoming the manager in 1985, the A’s have been extremely competitive in the Morris Major Leagues under his watch. Included among the thirteen league championships Bernie has shepherded them to are a pair of “three-peats” in the 1990s (1991-1993 and 1995-1997). Championships in 1999, 2000, and 2002 have further added to their legacy.
“It’s a wood league, which many of the guys have adapted to very well after hitting with aluminum bats in college,” said Bernie.
In addition to being quite successful locally, the A’s are linked to Major League Baseball and baseball lore via a number of former players. Most notably through Jeff Hall, who lives nearby in Madison, NJ. Jeff played for the A’s from 1996 to 2010. He was drafted out of Rochester Institute of Technology by the Boston Red Sox in 1980. While with the Sox, he was fortunate to have a very good hitting coach, who happened to be a pretty good player in his own right. None other than Ted Williams, “The Splendid Splinter,” tutored young Jeff as he was making his way up the ranks. A knee injury unfortunately derailed his career in AA ball, just before he was about to be sent to AAA.
Rick Sofield and Paul Mirabella, both of whom had solid Major league careers, at one time donned the A’s uniform and proudly represented the team. Back in the day, the A’s competed against one of the greatest to ever play the game when a club in Morristown rostered a legendary player. One hundred years ago, while at Columbia and looking to maintain his eligibility to play for the Lions, Lou Gehrig played against the A’s under the pseudonym of Lou Long. Aptly named, his moniker was derived from the length of many of the balls he hit.
The Pastime Club’s main focus is to support and give generously to youth sports. Its biggest fundraiser is the annual Labor Day Carnival at Borough Park. The A’s are truly fortunate to have the backing of the club and the fine citizens of Mendham. Playing their home games at Pastime Field, located at the end of Valley View Way, just over a mile down the road from the iconic Black Horse Pub on Mendham’s Main St., has quite nicely integrated them into the community.
“The Pastime Club has given us all of the resources we need. The team is truly grateful for the support it receives,” Bernie DeChristofaro said. “It’s a privilege to play for the team. I make sure to remind the guys how lucky they are. They are extremely appreciative.”
The current A’s squad is competing for the league championship once again. Hopefully by the time this story has gone to press, Bernie and his guys will have added a fourteenth piece of hardware to their trophy case.
Best of luck A’s!
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