Friday, July 19, 2019

7-Up, 1959

Sunday, July 19, 1959

Dad's 7-Up team were league runners-up in 1959. Half of this year's roster were veterans from 1958's squad: Mike Church, Tom Finch, Jim Mackenzie, Pat Toomay, Ken Wiedemann, and Larry Young.


Click on photo for full-res file.

7-Up, 1959. Standing (l. to r.): Moe Fox (Coach), Gary Patterson, Randy Reich, Larry Young, Pat Toomay, Walt Cameron, Mike Church, Ed Shannon (Manager). Kneeling: Ken Pearson, Steve Church, Ken Wiedemann, Tom Finch, Jim Mackenzie, Paul Poer. Not pictured: John Gary.

At the Little League family picnic on July 19, the 7-Up players all signed a thank you note...

...and presented their coaches with an appreciation trophy.


From left to right: trophies from the 1957 State Tournament, the 1959 7-Up team trophy, and the league "Champs" trophy presented to 7-Up's players in 1958.

Sadly, the photo above is all that remains of the 1959 7-Up trophy. I threw this and most of Dad's other trophies away in 1988 when I was preparing to sell my parents' house. All of his scorebooks, too. It makes me sad to even think about this now.

1959 tournament play gets underway July 24 when the West Covina American All-Stars will take the field against the Pacific Coast Little League team in their Area 2 opening match at West Covina National's field on Sunset Avenue.


7-Up Jersey Patch.

 

1959 WCALL Season Highlights

West Covina American Little League milestones in 1959:

June 19: Future Super Bowl VI champ defensive end Pat Toomay pitched the first no-hitter in West Covina American regular season history in 7-Up's 3-0 victory over Servisoft. Only a fielding error came between Pat and a perfect game.

July 5: In 10 innings, 7-Up defeated Driftwood Dairy 9-7 to capture the first-half title in the longest WCALL game to date.

July 11: On the last day of regular team play, Greg Mulligan set a league record for home runs in a single season with his 10th round-tripper in Charro's 6-1 win over Driftwood.

July 19: Charro defeated 7-Up 6-2 to win the 1959 West Covina American Little League championship.

At the league picnic at the end of the season, the roster of this year's WCALL All-Star Team was announced.

Chuck Calver (Charro) – 12
Sam Cooper (Charro) – 12
Tom Finch (7-Up) – 12
Tom Hartsock (Servisoft) – 11
John McCaffrey (Servisoft) – 12
Jim Mackenzie (7-Up) – 12
Lee Meyers (Driftwood Dairy) – 12
Greg Mulligan (Charro) – 12
Bruce Pittenger (Driftwood Dairy) – 12
Pat Toomay (7-Up) – 11
Ken Wiedemann (7-Up) – 11
Larry D. Young (7-Up) – 12
Larry W. Young (Driftwood Dairy) – 12
Ken Zoelle (Servisoft) – 11

The Managers will be Ed Shannon and Moe Fox of 7-Up.