[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          PASSAIC SEMIPRO BASEBALL ANNIVERSARY REUNION DINNER

                                 ______


                            HON. HERB KLEIN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 19, 1994

  Mr. KLEIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the Passaic Semi-Pro 
Baseball Reunion Dinner which will be held May 6 in Clifton, NJ, as it 
honors four baseball greats: Richie Amos, Andrew Murcko, Rudy Demarest, 
and Bill Librera.
  Rudy Demarest was not only a great baseball player, but also coached 
in north Jersey with great achievement. When Rudy was a freshman at 
Central High School in Paterson, he coached the varsity team to the 
city championship. He continued this winning tradition throughout his 
entire coaching career which started in 1939 lasted until 1984. His 
many awards include the Managerial Award, County Semi-Pro Hall of Fame, 
the Gil Hodges Length of Service Award--American Legion Post 8, the 
Jan-Ben Marmo Good Guy Award for faithful and unselfishness to the 
North Jersey Semi-Pro League, and the Paterson Youth Guidance Man of 
the Year 1985.
  Andrew Murcko started playing baseball when he was in grade school, 
and he used to watch the local clubs. He saw many greats such as Babe 
Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio. Andy and his friends used to repair 
bats with nails and tape to last through the game. His first team, the 
Passaic Demuro Comets, developed an impressive winning record. He later 
moved on to the American Legion Post 200 where he played 2 years and 
went to the playoffs. Andy is currently living in south Jersey and 
still loves the game.
  Bill Librera earned nine varsity letters at Garfield High School and 
gained All-County and All-State honors in football, basketball, and 
baseball. Although he was offered a professional baseball contract by 
the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941, he chose to accept a football-baseball 
scholarship to Fordham University. After several years in the service, 
he returned to New Jersey and played with several teams. In 1949, Bill 
began coaching football and baseball at Lyndhurst High School where his 
teams won three conference titles and two group 2 sectional State 
championships. Later, he coached at Passaic High School, before being 
named the athletic director of Indian Hills High School. Among his many 
honors are selections to four different halls of fame at: Garfield High 
School, Lyndhurst High School, Panzer College, and the Bergen County 
Semi-Pro Baseball Team.
  Richie Amos played semi-pro baseball from 1940 to 1950 for several 
teams: the Passaic Drazins, the Passaic Kievets, and the Passaic Demuro 
Comets. He played several positions for these teams including 
shortstop, second base, and catcher. In fact, Richie tried out for two 
professional teams, the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis 
Cardinals. He was also very active in Garfield for many years. For 
example, he helped organize the Garfield Babe Ruth League.
  It is a great honor to ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating 
these four men for their accomplishments.

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