Editor’s Note
This week’s Throwback Thursday takes our time machine back to 1986, 38 years ago, to the Long Beach Nitehawks Media Guide. The guide was retrieved from the keepsakes of ISC Hall of Famer, Long Beach manager and franchise owner, Irvin “Red” Meairs. When not on the diamond, Red was my mother’s mailman; when on it, beloved by all. Red was also the man that introduced me to the world of big time men’s fastpitch.
The Nitehawks still hold the record for the most ISC World Tournament titles, with 10, in 1953-1955-1956-1957-1958-1959-1960-1968-1971 and 1975. The ‘Hawks came very close to winning an 11th in 1979, falling in the championship game to Kevin Herlihy and his Saginaw Bolters team.
The media guide posted below has lots of familiar faces, some that I had the privilege of playing alongside. (Cary Weiler, who later pitched for my Vista Bombers 1991-1993, page 9), Terry Canale (page 15) and Ronnie Douglas (page 19) teammates of mine on Ted Jensen’s Phase Alloy Miners 1981-1982). General Manager Gordon Wright (page 24) lived just down the street from my childhood home. For Long Beach California residents like myself, the sponsor ads include lots of familiar places, including restaurants like El Castillo Real, Pancho’s and La Fonda. Also sponsoring the ‘Hawks was Legends, one of the best known sports bars in So Cal, when it was owned by L.A. Ram All Pro lineman Dennis Harrah.
Included in the guide is the list of 1985 award winners for the “WSC”, the Southern California based Western Softball Congress, which for a number of years was the strongest league around. How strong? Take a peek at the 1985 WSC award winners, a veritable who’s who of ISC Hall of Famers, Pitchers Kevin Herlihy and Mark Smith, along with some of the best hitters the game has ever seen, Greg Sepulveda and Alan Rohrback.
Enjoy.
1986_LB_Nitehawks_Media_Guide