Hamlet Post 49

[blackjackwally]

Two articles in the local paper featuring the '72 and '82 teams coached by George Whitfield.


A Throwback to Titles


By David Wall/Richmond County Daily Journal
Friday, October 26, 2007 10:10 PM EDT

The American Legion Post 49 in Hamlet hosted a reunion of champions Friday.



The 1972 and 1982 North Carolina State Champion American Legion Post 49 Youth Baseball teams joined together for a 25th and 35th year reunion celebration.

“It is a privilege to have these young men back and continue to show their support for the American Legion Post 49 youth baseball program,” Post Commander Rick Hinson said.

Leading the reunion was the team’s coach, George Whitfield.

“George Whitfield touched many peoples lives on and off of the field,” Hinson said. “I don’t think there is a finer example of a man than Coach Whitfield.”


Whitfield began his coaching career in Richmond County in 1968 and continued to lead teams until he retired from Richmond Senior High School in 1990.

“It is a thrill to be back with all of these fine people again,” Whitfield said. “These men have meant a lot to me and I love being here with them tonight.”

Hamlet Mayor Cary Garner attended the reunion and recalled memories of how coach Whitfield made a lasting impression on him.

“Coach Whitfield spoke to me as a youth in the community,” Garner said. “His words have stayed with me through the years and have helped me to remain focused on what was important. He is a good man.”

Garner presented Whitfield and each member of the championship teams with a Resolution of Recognition for the teams contributions and accomplishments.

The 1972 American Legion Post 49 team defeated Gastonia Post 23, 4-2, to take the state championship.

The 1982 American Legion Post 49 team defeated Cherryville Post 100, 4-3, to win its state title.

“I have always been proud of every young man that ever came out to play the game,” Whitfield said.

Whitfield left Richmond County to be the athletic director at Mount Olive College in 1991 and remained there until 1994. He then moved on to the position of head baseball coach and athletic director for Pitt Community College from 1995-98. After which, Whitfield became the assistant baseball coach at East Carolina University from 1998 until he retired again in 2006.

Whitfield founded and has continued to operate his baseball clinic, which is located in Goldsboro, for the past 36 years.

The two teams are making plans for another reunion in five years.

[blackjackwally]

Reunion Brings Back Memories


By Corey Davis/Richmond County Daily Journal
Friday, October 26, 2007 11:21 PM EDT

Hamlet Post 49 American legion honored their 1972 and 1982 State Championship baseball teams with many of the old players from both squads coming back to see former teammates and reminisce about the past.



The players spoke individually about how their former legion baseball coach George Whitfield impacted their lives, and how much they enjoyed playing on the championship legion teams.

Some of the players still reside in Richmond County, including Chuck McClean, who works at Rockingham Junior High. McClean was a third baseman on the ‘72 championship team. He played in college at South Carolina, and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals. McClean shared an interesting story about a long ball hit by teammate Louis Breeden in a game.

“It’s a story about Louis I want to get straight,” McClean said. “I was on deck and saw Louis hit a ball out of the Hamlet ball park, and hit the roof of the house across the street. We weren’t sure about the distance of it, but this is for all the people that wondered about whether it ever happened. I want to tell them it did happen.”

McClean played on the inaugural baseball team, which included players from all over Richmond County.


“This was the first team ever that players from Rockingham, Hamlet, Ellerbe and Rohanen played on the same team,” McClean said. “We had been playing ball against each other for 10 or 15 years, and when we came together it was no big deal to us. Everyone thought it would be a lot of trouble, but we got along well. We wanted to prove we could gel together and make a team.”

Like McClean, Scott Altman and his family stayed in the area. Altman was a pitcher on the ‘82 team, and pitched in college at UNC-Wilmington. He is now a general manager at Griffin Suzuki in Rockingham.

“The camaraderie of the team was great,” Altman said. “Coming back together after 25 years is special. Everybody is fatter, grayer and older, but it’s great to talk about old times.”

There were players who came from out of town like Robert Robinson, who played infield on the ‘72 team, Richard Heavner a pitcher and third baseman on the ‘82 team and Walter Gould a rightfielder also on the ‘82 squad.

The person who traveled the longest distance was Breeden, who came from Cincinnati. Breeden was an outfielder on the ‘72 team, but he is better known for his success on the football field.

Breeden played professionally for 11 years as a defensive back for the Cincinnati Bengals, including playing in Super Bowl XVI against the San Francisco 49ers in 1982. The Bengals came up short losing 26-21, but the memory of playing in the biggest sporting event of the season was a lasting memory.

“It would’ve been a better experience if we won,” Breenden said. “But it was great to play in that atmosphere, and I was blessed to have a good career.”

[Braves]

Those are great stories...Coach Whitfield is timeless:hurray:

[TheOriole]

"priceless" as well! Great find/thread Bravo!:champagne::champagne:

[homeplate]

How about some stories about the franklin Stubbs era.