[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1816-E1817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO THOMAS J. CAULFIELD, INDUCTEE, W.N.Y. BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 17, 2000

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute the individuals who were 
inducted into the W.N.Y. Baseball Hall of Fame on September 27, 2000 
and pay special tribute to Thomas J. (Sarge) Caulfield, inducted 
posthumously, for his lifelong commitment to baseball, the youth of the 
City of Buffalo and the local and national community.
  Tom, or ``Sarge'' as he was affectionately referred to, spent a 
lifetime teaching, coaching, helping and guiding young men throughout 
the Niagara Frontier. It is not clearly known how Tom acquired the 
nickname ``Sarge'' although there were several theories. One involves 
his uncanny knack of referring to others as Sarge. Another, and 
probably closer to the reality, holds that it came from his unique 
ability to take charge of even the most difficult situation, always 
with an eye for taking care of his charges, and confronting it with his 
popular refrain, ``not a problem.''
  In his youth, Tom was an outstanding athlete and baseball player and, 
indeed, considered by some a professional prospect. He received All-
High honors as a baseball player at South Park High School in 1933. 
Moreover, in 1932, he played for the Millers, New York State Legion 
champions, and for the Haff and Haskins, 1935 Buffalo Municipal 
Baseball Association (MUNY) champions. In 1938, he moved to coach/
manager leading the South Buffalo Businessmen to a MUNY championship 
behind pitchers Warren Walters and Warren (Lefty) Spahn, who went on to 
become the winningest left-handed pitcher in major league baseball. 
Interestingly, it has been said that Tom was instrumental in the 
purchase of ``Lefty'' Spahn's first pair of baseball spikes.
  Tom's passion for baseball and his commitment to youth development 
lead him to progress from player, to coach, to manager and, ultimately, 
to distinguish baseball organization official. In 1969, ``Sarge'' 
received a special award from the MUNY league for his outstanding 
contributions to Western New York baseball. In 1976, Tom served as the 
president of MUNY baseball. More significantly, in 1968, he was named 
``Man of the Year'' by the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF), 
a national organization dedicated to amateur baseball and known as the 
``oldest sand lot organization in America, operating continuously since 
1914.'' Tom was praised by the NABF for his overall contributions to 
amateur baseball and credited as ``one of the top fund raisers for the 
youth of America.'' ``Sarge,'' who served as NABF president in 1977, 
was instrumental in getting the City of Buffalo to host the NABF 
National Tournament and, by all accounts, did such a magnificent job as 
a host city official, that the NABF honored Buffalo by returning the 
tournament to our great city the following year. Through his efforts on 
behalf of and association with the NABF, Tom was memorialized in the 
baseball hall of fame at Cooperstown, N.Y. As reported at Tom's 
induction into the Hall of Fame, in the 1960's and 1970's, ``Sarge'' 
was probably the most influential person in amateur baseball throughout 
the United States. ``Sarge'' also managed for many years the Ramblers. 
Originally started as a South Buffalo team, expanded over the years, 
the Ramblers became a highly competitive force in local amateur 
baseball.
  However, there is another side to Tom Caulfield that deserves special 
mention because of its impact on Buffalo area youth. Tom, as 
Superintendent of the Department of Parks for the City of Buffalo, 
sincerely believed that participation in sports coupled with an 
opportunity to work, kept youngsters ``off the streets.'' He worked 
tirelessly in helping his players and others get jobs for the city and 
elsewhere. In fact, it has often been repeated by former players and 
employees that if it were not for the tutelage, encouragement and 
guidance of the ``Sarge,'' the positive life choices they made would 
never have been available. One example of his commitment to lend a 
helping hand, even when not expected, involves a city worker who was 
experiencing an increasingly troublesome attendance problem. Even 
though Tom was the head of the Department and receiving pressure from 
the supervisor, who worked for Tom, to fire the individual, he got up 
early one morning and drove to the delinquent worker's house and woke 
him up to take him to work. When the worker complained that Tom had no 
right to come to his house, Tom calmly pointed to and named the 
worker's four children and wife as the basis of his right to take such 
action. The attendance problem was solved.
  Although Tom was better known for his practicality and problem-
solving acumen, he was also deeply philosophical about parks and 
recreation. With the passion and understanding generally attributed to 
the preeminent

[[Page E1817]]

urban planners and landscape architects of our time, Tom, sincerely 
believed, and practically applied, during his long tenure with the 
Parks Department, the concept that harmonious urban living demanded 
adequate opportunities for individuals to recreate. His pride and 
efforts in the development and maintenance of recreational outlets was 
formally recognized in 1974 when the Buffalo Recreation Society 
presented him with its Outstanding Service Award.
  Finally, in spite of all his work on behalf of others, Tom utilized 
his unique talents and considerable energy to balance his outside 
activities with an extreme dedication to his own family. Therefore, it 
is with great pleasure and pride that I join Tom's family, especially 
his wife Mary (Hanratty), who passed away in 1999; his daughter 
Marilynn; his sons Mark J., John T., and Thomas E.; his grandchildren 
John, Alyson, Liam, Lauren, John A. (Jace), Molly; his great 
grandchildren Rachel, Bridget and great-great grandchild, Maria 
Christina; his former players, proteges, employees, friends, and a 
grateful city in giving special recognition for his induction into the 
W.N.Y. Hall of Fame and his immeasurable contributions to youth 
development in the Buffalo area.
  Mr. Speaker, if the measure of a man's life is his positive influence 
on others, it can be said, without equivocation, that the legacy of 
Thomas J. Caulfield will continue for generations through the lives of 
those he mentored and touched.

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