(Editor’s note: This letter is in regards to the recent selection of the seven new Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame inductees.)
Fran Hirschy’s 1966 Little League pitching accomplishments were documented in Sports Illustrated on Aug. 15, 1966. (Photo snapshot taken from Sports Illustrated)Sports Illustrated
I am writing with regards to Fran Hirschy being left off the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame ballot once again.
I played baseball for Coach Hirschy at The College of Staten Island for three years and have known Coach for many years before that. Myself and his past players and friends and family all think he should be elected into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame.
If you look back at Coach’s resume from the time he was 9 and 10 years old you will see what a dominant kid he was playing Little League. He owns some Little League records that still stand today and may never be broken. He was mentioned in Sports Illustrated. He is listed in the Little League Hall of Fame in Williamsport.
He then excelled at St. Peter’s HS and Long Island University. He then played minor league baseball until injuries forced him to stop. He was then a dominant pitcher in the local summer leagues. His pitching talent from 10 to 40 years old was just amazing. Myself and my teammates all played against him when we were in our 20s and he was always the best pitcher every time he took the mound.
He then was named head coach of CSI baseball program. At that exact time myself and my teammates, who always were in awe of his pitching when we played against him, was now our head coach.
The rest is history.
Fran Hirschy visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., last month in hopes of seeing a Little League exhibit about his dominant pitching in 1966. (Photo courtesy of Fran Hirschy)Fran Hirschy
As you know those three years we played for Coach were the best times of all of our baseball careers. He guided CSI to unbelievable win/loss records each year that will never be broken. He guided us to two NCAA Tournament bids and we were one game away from playing in the World Series two years in a row.
The pitching staff that Coach assembled was simply the best. His knowledge of how to be a great pitcher was instilled in every pitcher on our team. They will all tell you they would not have reached their full potential without Coach Hirschy.
Two of his players played minor league baseball and a few other players were close. Coach just brought out the best in every player he coached.
That CSI team was the best team that school will ever have. All of his players still stay in touch to this day on a text thread. We have a reunion every few years to get to relive the best times we all had playing baseball.
Coach Hirschy’s resume from a little kid up until now is something the Hall Board should look at when considering their next nominees to be elected.
He is in the CSI Baseball Hall of Fame and he needs to be elected to the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame.
Kevin Rychter
Fort Pierce, Fla.
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