I played for Coach Cecere in 1968 and 1969... Coach Cecere knew how to ge the best out of his players no matter their skill sets...

I remember, at the start of new baseball season at the first team meeting, Coach would gather the team and begin to speak about a few senior players from the year before and talk about their skills.... he would go on and on about this one being a great hitter or a pitcher with such poise or a shorstop like a vacuum cleaner.... it inspired me every year to hear these stories...I was in awe of the the players he spoke of and their talents...I said to myself I wanted to be someone that Coach mentioned the next year...

However, in 1969 I was a sub good field, no hit Third baseman, playing behind All-County Joe Fiorello.  Coach was quoted in the Westchester papers, saying "Eastchester had a Million Dollar infield" with All-County Pat White 1B... All-County Joe DelVecchio 2B...  All-League Charlie Carafiello,... and All-County Joe Fiorello...   I knew I couldn't hit like the these guys so I focused my talents on fielding and I was good.

The following year after I graduated, one of my friends on the 1970 team told me that Coach had mentioned my name at the meeting the following year....saying I had great hands.. who handled a ground ball like an egg... I can't tell how much that meant to me... with a million dollar infield, he found  a way to put the spot light on a backup third baseman..... Coach sometimes the minor little things in life can have a major impact on an individual... You are and always will be my hero....Rest in Peace