The view behind home plate at Albany's fabled Bleecker Stadium during the 2010 old-timer's day celebration this past August. (Photo by John Whipple - for The Record).

ALBANY -- The Albany Twilight League has announced its 2010 Hall of Fame class which will be inducted at the League’s annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet on Saturday, November 13th at 6 pm at the Polish American Citizens Club in Albany.

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees are Pitcher/Infielder Brian Brown, infielder Dan Conway, and Pitcher/Outfielder Tim Shepardson. Spearheaded by a nomination from the ATL Veterans Association, the League also voted to induct just its second team ever into the Hall of Fame. This year the Oppenheim Post VFW 1019, a top tier franchise in the League for 34 years from the 1950’s through the 1980’s, will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. A committee of league officers and commissioners voted the four inductees from a field of nominations made following the 2010 season. A player, officer or coach is eligible for induction after two full seasons of being retired.

Brown, a current Schenectady resident, played in the league from 1970-1979 and 1982-83 as a pitcher and infielder with Schaffer’s Brewers, Cocca’s Diner and the Sons of Italy. He was a four-time All Star and was the 1977 League MVP hitting .405 and going 5-1 on the mound. Brown was a key player for the 1982 Sons of Italy League Champions and ranks among the career hitting leaders with a .382 batting average, 53 RBI, and 12 homers in just 199 career at-bats.

Conway, a 1972 free agent draft selection by the Kansas City Royals, played shortstop and second base for the Oppenheim Post throughout the 1970’s. He was a perennial All Star and catalyst on five League Champion Oppenheim teams. Conway notched a career high batting average of .394 in the 1979 season, and tallied a .297 career average with 47 RBI, 7 home runs, and 66 runs scored.

Shepardson was a pitcher and outfielder with Finkle’s Jewelers, Burger King, the Sons of Italy and Apex Printing from 1982-85 and 1988-91. He was selected League Rookie of the Year in 1982 for hitting .385 and having a 4-2 pitching record that year. Shepardson was a four-time All Star hitting a career best .352 in 1984 and was a key player on the 1989 Apex Printing team that advanced to the AABC World Series in Battle Creek, MI. Shepardson holds a career batting average of .323 with 92 RBI, 17 home runs, and 73 runs in 349 at bats.

The Oppenheim Post team will be just the second Twilight team to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The team achieved excellence from 1955-1988 winning 10 league titles, seeing 12 players sign professionally and 23 of its players later inducted into the Twilight League Hall of Fame.

2010 TEAM AND SEASON AWARD WINNERS HONORED

Also being honored at the banquet are all the 2010 All-Stars and individual award winners, including Albany Athletics’ third baseman Mike Zgorzelski who won the Most Valuable Player award leading the league in batting average (.464), home runs (6) and runs scored (24).

League Pitcher of the Year honors went to the Albany Athletics’ Jim Shook, for a 7-1 record, 7 complete games, a 0.25 ERA, and a new league record 104 strikeouts in 54 innings of work—leading the league in all these categories. This is Shook’s second straight League Pitcher of the Year award.

Rookie of the Year honors went to the Albany Athletics second baseman Al Barbato for hitting .323 with 20 RBI and 6 home runs (tied for the League lead). Barbato will also be presented the Harold Finkle Awards as the League Playoff MVP.

The American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) Upper NY Association will also hand out two scholarships to players currently in the league and participating on college teams. This year’s AABC Peter Keyrouze Memorial scholarship winners are Matt Montross from the Albany Athletics and Aaron Tilley from Waterford Nolan Propane.

The Albany Athletics will receive the League Championship trophy at the conclusion of the night, their fourth League championship in the last five years.

The Twilight League will also recognize two AABC achievements by its teams. The Regional Champion, Albany Athletics became the first team since 1989 (and only the 4th in the league’s 80 year history) to reach the AABC National World Series in Houston. Furthermore, All Stars Academy will be recognized as the AABC Upper NY State Champion—their first title and the League’s 11th consecutive crown.

Tickets for the event, which is open to the public, are now on sale for $30. Those interested should contact League President Bill Miles at (518) 459-6534 or mail a check payable to: Albany Twilight League, Bill Miles, 8 Crisswood Drive, Albany, NY 12205. A limited number of tickets will be on sale at the door as well.

2010 Twilight League All-Stars

First Base – Jason Martin, Albany Athletics
Second Base – Al Barbato, Albany Athletics
Third Base – Mike Zgorzelski, Albany Athletics
Shortstop – Leo Corvino, All Stars Academy
Catcher – Bruce Barkevich, Dreyer Boyajan
Outfield – John Marcella, Albany Athletics
Outfield – Justin Meagher, Albany Athletics
Outfield – Greg Sulz, Dreyer Boyajan
Outfield – Paul Izzo, Waterford Nolan Propane
Designated Hitter – Dave Perry, Dreyer Boyajan
Utility – Bill Behrle, Blue Slate Bluehawks
Pitcher – Jim Shook, Albany Athletics Harold Finkle Award
Pitcher – Matt Dahlin, Waterford Nolan Propane Al Barbato, Albany Athletics
Pitcher – Tyler Travis, Waterford Nolan Propane
Relief Pitcher – Chris Shoepe, All Stars Academy

Follow OTR: Twitter
Facebook
YouTube Channel
RSS feed for links to blog posts as soon as they are published
Send an email to OTR
High school football central on www.troyrecord.com