Hot Stove Dinner
87th Union County Baseball Association “Hot Stove” Awards Dinner
The Union County Baseball Association will induct new members into the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the organization’s 87th Annual Hot Stove awards dinner on Sunday, January 28, 2024, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at The Gran Centurions in Clark, New Jersey.
The dinner will begin with this year's featured guest speaker, former Major League Baseball player, Al Santorini.
This year's Union County Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include:
Brian Chapman, former assistant baseball coach at Cranford High School (1999-2010) and current head baseball coach at Millburn High School (2011-Present). Brian has amassed a record of 267-82 including two Group IV State Titles, six Sectional Championships, five Conference Championships and two Greater Newark Tournament Titles. In 2015, Brian was named the National High School Coach of the Year.
Ryan Matlosz, a product of the UCBA Youth Baseball Program and graduate of Scranton University, where in his senior year was named Division III National Player of the Week. In 2001, Ryan was selected All Conference and also MVP of the team. After graduating from Scranton, Ryan began coaching baseball at Cranford High School. He is presently the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach working alongside Cranford Head Coach, Dennis McCaffrey.
John Wagner, a product of the UCBA Youth Baseball Program who played with the famed Thomas & Betts team in the early 60’s. John was a standout pitcher at Roselle Park High School, where he was recognized at the conference, county and state levels and was named All Conference and All-State (Group 1) in 1969. After his playing career was over, John began coaching the girls softball team at Roselle Park High School and in 18 seasons, John’s team won six sectional championships and John received the Coach of the Year Award four times.
In addition, a special tribute will be paid to the players of the 1982 Linden High School championship team under the leadership of Tony Picaro and the 1987 Roselle Park championship team, coached by the legendary Jack Shaw.
Other awards being given out at this year’s dinner include:
Joseph R. Lombardi Memorial Award for Outstanding Female Athlete of Union County
Chris Zusi Memorial Award for Outstanding Male Athlete of Union County
Union County Baseball Association Academic Scholarship
Sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Union County Board of Commissioners, the Hot Stove League awards dinner is the primary annual fund-raising effort for the Union County Youth Baseball Leagues. The summer and fall leagues have given more than 50,000 boys and girls an opportunity to participate in an organized baseball program for the past 80 years.
Tickets are available, and can be purchased online at the following website: Hot Stove Tickets
4.5.5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2021
Contact: Jim Iozzi, 908-917-2523
Tom Plante, 908-889-5298
Union County Baseball Association
Cancels 2021 “Hot Stove” Awards Dinner
UNION COUNTY, NJ – The Union County Baseball Association (UCBA) has announced the cancellation of its annual Hot Stove League Awards Dinner due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We held out hope that the 85th Union County Hot Stove League Dinner could be held as usual in February 2021,” said Jim Iozzi, UCBA president. “But, out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to cancel this year’s event.”
Since the first Union County “Hot Stove” event in 1937, the Union County Baseball Association has aimed to provide an outstanding program for the many baseball enthusiasts who attend the awards dinner each year. The honorees and guest speakers at the 2020 gathering included former New York Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson, and the players and coaches of the Elmora Troopers baseball team, the 2019 Mid-Atlantic champions who finished in the top four at the 2019 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
Sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hot Stove League awards dinner is the primary annual fund-raising effort for the Union County Youth Baseball Leagues. The summer and fall leagues have given more than 45,000 boys and girls an opportunity to participate in an organized baseball program over the past 70-plus years.
For more information, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org; write to the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023; or call Jim Iozzi, UCBA president, at 908-917-2523.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 15, 2021
Contact: Jim Iozzi, 908-917-2523
Tom Plante, 908-889-5298
Union County Baseball Association
Cancels 2021 “Hot Stove” Awards Dinner
UNION COUNTY, NJ – The Union County Baseball Association (UCBA) has announced the cancellation of its annual Hot Stove League Awards Dinner due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We held out hope that the 85th Union County Hot Stove League Dinner could be held as usual in February 2021,” said Jim Iozzi, UCBA president. “But, out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to cancel this year’s event.”
Since the first Union County “Hot Stove” event in 1937, the Union County Baseball Association has aimed to provide an outstanding program for the many baseball enthusiasts who attend the awards dinner each year. The honorees and guest speakers at the 2020 gathering included former New York Mets outfielder Mookie Wilson, and the players and coaches of the Elmora Troopers baseball team, the 2019 Mid-Atlantic champions who finished in the top four at the 2019 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
Sponsored by the Union County Baseball Association, in cooperation with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hot Stove League awards dinner is the primary annual fund-raising effort for the Union County Youth Baseball Leagues. The summer and fall leagues have given more than 45,000 boys and girls an opportunity to participate in an organized baseball program over the past 70-plus years.
For more information, visit www.UCBA-NJ.org; write to the Union County Baseball Association, PO Box 176, Fanwood, New Jersey 07023; or call Jim Iozzi, UCBA president, at 908-917-2523.