---

April 28, 2004

Memories of the OCYAA & Chet Wimberg

By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist


Looking through some old Ocean City Youth Athletic Association scorebooks this week, it is interesting to recognize how much the organization has impacted the community.

There was a 1963 game when John Huff, now an outstanding amateur golfer, got on base five times, scored four runs, drove home four more and stole five bases.

In a 1971 game, super real estate salesman Steve Booth had three hits, drove home four runs and scored twice.

In a 1970 game, Mike Sannino pitched a one-hitter and defeated Fred Jones, who pitched a no-hitter, 8-1. Jones struck out 14 but walked 11 and hit three. Both went on to successful high school sports careers. In that game, Mike Lombardi, now general manager of the Oakland Raiders, accounted for three of Jones’ strikeouts.

In another 1963 game, newspaper executive Tim O’Shea reached base four times in four at bats, including three runs scored and two stolen bases. (Further research indicated this was not a typical game for O’Shea!)

In a 1965 game, World-class auto mechanic Glenn Wiesenthal pitched a no-hitter and had two hits.

In one 1969 game, real estate tycoon Jesse Briglia had four hits in five at bats and drove home five runs. In another 1970 game, prominent firefighter Dave Slaughter had three hits and scored four times.

In a 1973 game, Ocean City’s director of community services and one of the current OCYAA officers, Mike Dattilo, struck out twice and walked once in three trips to the plate.

In a 1966 all star game, Dave Andrews, who went on to become one of the most versatile athletes ever at OCHS, pitched a three-hit shutout against Egg Harbor Township.

In another 1973 game, radio sports producer Bill Becker blasted a double that rattled the fences.

And, in a 1962 game between the OCYAA all stars and the league coaches (the coaches batted from the opposite side) Chet Wimberg started the game with a home run off OCYAA legend Dave Faragher that cleared the fence by 20 feet. He smiled all the way around the bases as players like Larry Masi, Bruce Beaver and Doug Jones watched in awe.

Chet Wimberg was almost always smiling, except for the solemn moments required by his career as a funeral director. And he used those smiles, his sense of humor and his great charm to accomplish possibly as much for this community as any person who has ever lived here.

He was mayor and a city commissioner. He was president of the Exchange Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He was a church trustee and a bank trustee.

And he made a gigantic impact on sports in Ocean City.

He was one of the men who created the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association. He helped form the Ocean City Hawks football teams and the VFW youth basketball league, which was a big reason for the great years of basketball at OCHS. He also was deeply involved in the sports program at St. Augustine grammar school.

In addition, his sons, Jim and Tom, were successful athletes. And he was a fan, attending games with his wife, Elaine, and other family members to show his support and just enjoy the competitive spirit of sports.

He was chosen Ocean City’s Sportsperson of the Year in 1966, which almost seems inadequate for his decades of incredible service.

As it begins its 49th year of summer baseball, it is hard to imagine what Ocean City would have been like without the OCYAA.

And it is impossible to imagine what the last 50 years of this town would have been like without Chet Wimberg.



Read more of Tom Williams' columns