Hot Stove Dinner
89th 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 89th Annual Hot Stove awards dinner on Sunday, February 15, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at The Gran Centurions in Clark, New Jersey.
Our featured guest speaker for this year's program will be former MLB player, Todd Zeile!
This year's Union County Baseball Hall of Fame inductees include:
Michael Cowen, was a four year left-handed Varsity Pitcher and First Baseman at Elizabeth High School, where he played for Hall of Fame coaches Ray Korn and Tom Urban. After High School, Mike became a certified NJ State Baseball Umpire, and also became the baseball announcer for the Elizabeth High School Minutemen from 2005 to 2012. Mike served as head coach of the Benedictine Academy Softball team from 2013-2015, where he compiled 57 wins and led the program to its first ever North Jersey Catholic League Championship and two Conference Championships. Mike is a product of the UCBA youth program, having played every year from age 8 to 15. For over three decades Mike has served the association as a player, coach and umpire, and has spent the last 15 years as the Assistant Director of the Youth League Program. Mike was also the recipient of the UCBA's Banyasz Brother's Memorial Award for Outstanding Service to Union County.
Al Hawkins, was a product of the Elizabeth youth programs, and he became one of the most decorated athletes in both Elizabeth and New Jersey history. As a quarterback, he threw over 100 touchdown passes with only 9 interceptions. He scored over 1600 points on the basketball court during his career. On the baseball diamond, Al really excelled from 1993 to 1996 as a pitcher and Third Baseman for Ray Korn’s Minuteman. He led the state in strike outs during his junior and senior years while maintaining a 0.64 ERA and had a career batting average of .567. Al won conference and state titles and was named All-County, All-State and All-American. He was later drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers and enjoyed a 6-year professional baseball career.
Frank Malta Jr., was a two year well hitting Varsity Third Baseman for Elizabeth High School, where he led EHS to a sectional title, county championship and conference championship. In his senior year, Frank had 33 hits and 33 walks and an on base percentage over .700. Frank later attended Kean University, where he was a two year starter in his Junior and Senior years, batting over .300 and .375 with over 70 hits and was named the UCBA's Chris Zusi Memorial Award winner and the Outstanding Male Athlete of Union County. Frank began his coaching career at Roselle Park, before moving on to ALJ in Clark. He later became head coach at Jackson High School and stayed for 14 years. During his time at Jackson, his teams received honors for State Champions, Central Jersey Sectional Champions, South Jersey Sectional Champions, Shore Conference Champions and Ocean County Tournament Champions. Frank won Coach of the Year Awards in both Union and Ocean Counties.
Jack Smolyn, was a three-year starter at Linden High School as a pitcher and outfielder. He hit over .300 each year and emerged as the #1 pitcher in his senior year pitching to a 2.33 ERA. Jack was later recruited to attend the newly formed Kansas City Royals Baseball Academy but ultimately declined to play baseball at Livingston University in Alabama. Jack was the starting centerfielder his sophomore and junior years, hitting over .300 each year. After college, Jack returned home and played for Linden Recreation in the Union County League and the Twilight League where he hit .380 with 16 homeruns over a four year career. Later in life, Jack stopped playing baseball and began coaching at Roselle Catholic under legendary coach Ray Korn while assisting Tony Picaro in Linden with players that eventually won a State Championship.
In addition, we will be honoring the members of the 2025 Governor Livingston High School Baseball Team led by Chris Roof.
Other awards being given out at this year’s dinner include:
Banyasz Brothers Outstanding High School Baseball Player
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.