[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E926-E927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      THE PASSAIC SEMI-PRO LEAGUE

                                 ______


                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 1995
  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing so truly American as the 
game of baseball. It, like Spring itself, returns each year to capture 
the imagination of millions as our true national pastime.
  We in the Eighth Congressional District of New Jersey have indeed 
been fortunate to have enjoyed a rich baseball tradition for decades, 
one that has been carried forth by a high level of competition that has 
come to characterize the Passaic County Semi-Pro League. On Friday, May 
5, 1995, that tradition will again be celebrated with the tenth annual 
salute to Passaic semi-pro baseball at the Athenia Veterans Hall in 
Clifton, N.J. Hosted by the dinner committee of Ted Lublanecki, Jr., 
Ben Lublanecki, Jean Lublanecki, and Mike Ivanish, I am sure this 
celebration will be, as usual, a great success fitting of the honorees' 
accomplishments.
  This year's event is made truly special by the highlighting of the 
careers of men who brought honor to themselves, their teams, and the 
Passaic Semi-Pro League. The honored group includes Raymond Tkacz, 
Donald J. Patlen, Gasper Pellegrino, and Jack Kelsall. For the benefit 
of you and our colleagues, I would like to note some of the 
accomplishment of these outstanding gentlemen:
  Ray Tkacz is the youngest of the honorees this year. He started his 
baseball career with Wallington High School. After graduation, he moved 
onto local semi-pro teams such as the Wallington Hillsides, the 
Wallington Demchaks, and the Garfield Benignos. Not only was Ray a good 
team player, but he was a great coach, and he volunteered his time 
helping many teams achieve greatness. Ray coached in both the 
Wallington Little League and Babe Ruth League, American Legion Post 
347, and Clifton Junior and Senior High School. His persistence and 
dedication led Passaic County High School and Bergen County American 
Legion Championships. On and off the field, Ray has always demonstrated 
the qualities of a winner. Already an inductee of the Bergen County 
Baseball Hall of Fame, Ray currently resides in Wallington where he 
continues his active interest in the sport.
  [[Page E927]] Donald J. Patlen was a fine all-around player whose 
career lasted from 1948-1960. He earned two varsity letters for Passaic 
High School, and graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University in 1955 
with a degree in Business Administration and six varsity letters: four 
in baseball and two in basketball. His career average at FDU was .350, 
and he was a Second Team All-East selection.
  Donald started playing semi-pro baseball in Passaic, playing for the 
Drazins, the Bisons, the Demuro Comets, and the Uncle Sams, before 
joining one of the best teams in the North Jersey League, the Haledon 
Granetell Giants. With Donald's help, the Granetell
 Giants were able to win both the North Jersey and the Essex County 
League titles in the same year, and then went on to win the Tournament 
of Champions.

  After graduation in 1955, Donald signed with another Giants club, 
this one of the National League. He went to spring training in 1956 and 
played with the likes of Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda, and Juan 
Marichal. Playing in Danville, VA, and St. Cloud, MN, Donald was 
batting .300 and playing centerfield regularly when he was called upon 
to serve his country in the U.S. Army. His time in the service did not 
stop him from playing ball, however, as Donald joined the Fort Knox, 
KY, and Italy baseball teams for the 1956 and 1957 seasons.
  After returning home from the Army, he went to spring training again 
in 1958, being assigned to Corpus Christi, TX. Unfortunately, he was 
injured 3 weeks into the season and retired from professional baseball. 
Donald played for 2 more years with the semipro Clifton Dodgers, then 
stopped playing all together. Like Ray Tkacz, Donald is also a member 
of the Bergen County Hall of Fame.
  Gasper Pellegrino played from 1947 to 1956. A Navy veteran, Gasper 
attended East Rutherford High School. After graduating, he tried to 
follow in the footsteps of the greats of his era: DiMaggio, Gehrig, and 
Ruth. Tryouts with the New York Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals 
proved unsuccessful, but Gasper continued his career with the Carlstadt 
Pros, the Passaic Kenyons, the Garfield Nationals, the Uncle Sams, and 
the Passaic Demuro Comets, helping the Demuro Comets to become one of 
the best teams of the day. Gasper is a retired letter carrier and lives 
in West Paterson, NJ.
  Jack ``Rabbit'' Kelsall was a three-sport star at Garfield High 
School. A second baseman for the baseball team, Jack was the captain 
for his senior year, 1948, and was selected to the All-State, All-
Bergen, and All-Passaic Valley Conference first teams. He went on to 
play at Stevens Institute of Technology, earning four varsity letters 
and again becoming captain during his senior year of 1952. Upon 
graduation Jack was offered a professional contract by the Detroit 
Tigers, but opted instead for a career in engineering.
  Jack's semipro baseball career began in 1946 with the Garfield 
Jewells A.C. From 1946 to 1955, Jack played for the Garfield Benignos, 
the Paterson Chevy Red Sox, Passaic Maple Leafs, Bergen Bengals, and 
the Garfield Bucs, often played 6 or 7 days a week for many years. 
While his love of playing ball kept him active as a shortstop in a 
softball league well into his fifties, Jack is now retired, living in 
Matawan, NJ, where he coached Little League and Babe Ruth teams for 10 
years.
  Mr. Speaker, each of these individuals, through their countless and 
diverse contributions to the game of baseball have enriched the 
heritage of our great game not just in Passaic County, but wherever it 
is played throughout the world. I ask that you and my colleagues join 
me in honoring these gentlemen during the 10th annual salute to Passaic 
semipro baseball.


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