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NORTHEAST BASEBALL LEAGUE HISTORY 1969 - 2007 My name is Glen Crooker and I am the current Northeast Baseball League Commissioner. I am from Stoneham and have been Coaching the Stoneham Team since 1985. I first started Coaching in Stoneham Little League in 1973. Since then I have been on a trip that at this point I could write a book. Stories that I am always telling my ballplayers every year in hopes to motivate them, build their confidence and help them mature into good if not great baseball players. I am not an expert when it comes to teaching baseball, but have had many Coaches, Hitting instructors, and Pitching instructors along the way, that with their expert advise, been able to pass this on to my ballplayers. Some of the people who have helped me played Pro ball, or are Collage Coaches and High School Coaches. I saw 4 kids from Stoneham sign pro contracts, and several kids get baseball scholarships to play Collage Baseball.
From the way I understand the purpose of this League, every city and town who enter a team in our league are playing the kids who basically make up next years High School Varsity Team. The League originated back in 1969, and was organized by the Wakefield High School Varsity Coach - Larry McShane, and our first League Commissioner, George E Koulouris. From what people tell me George Koulouris was the major influence and did all the organizational work. There were 4 teams in 1969 and it appears they were Coached by that towns varsity coach mostly, and some other people who worked with the High School Coaches: Lynnfield, Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield.
Their team was next springs High School Team. The word, unofficially was, “If you do not play for me on the summer team, do not plan on playing for me on the High School Varsity Team next spring!” When the word was out, there were many cities and towns that wanted to get involved so as time went on it was decided to set up 2 divisions. Some teams were too far to travel to, so at first teams only played other teams in their own division. Then a playoff format was set up to cross over to the other division and play a 2 out of 3 series to determine League Champions. 1970, It was Melrose, Reading, Stoneham and Wakefield.
1971, The word among High School Coaches was out, and they wanted to put a team in the League. 9 Teams were established, Bedford, Burlington, Medford, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, and Winchester.
1972, Coaches in the Merrimack Valley League wanted to get in the League. So it was decided to have 2 divisions, the North and the South. 14 teams were in the League, Bedford, Burlington, Chelmsford, Everett, Lowell, Lynnfield, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Wilmington and Winchester.
1973, The League had 16 teams, Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Everett, Lowell, Lexington, Lynnfield, Melrose, Nashua NH, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, Tewksbury, and Dracut.
1974, Bedford, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Everett, Lexington, Lowell, Lynnfield, Melrose, Nashua NH, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, Tewkbury.
1975, Andover, Billerica, Chelmsford, Dracut, Everett, Lexington, Lowell, Lynnfield, Melrose, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester.
1976, Andover, Bedford, Belmont, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Everett, Lowell, Melrose, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, Westford.
1977, Andover, Bedford, Belmont, Burlington, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Everett, Lowell, Reading, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester.
1978, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington.
1979, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Everett, Lowell, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield, Wilmington.
1980, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Everett, Lynnfield, Lowell, Reading, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester.
1983, Billerica, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lowell, North Reading, Lynnfield, Reading, Wakefield, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn
1986 Northeast Baseball League North Division
South Division
Lynnfield Kevin Canty
Reading Pete Moscariello
Stoneham Bill Seabury Arthur Hartung Glen Crooker
Wakefield Bill Parr Joe D’Agostino
Winchester Larry Crowley Bill Chase
Woburn Dan Canada Bill Lewis Dave Crowley
North Division Director Hank Golec North Div Umpire in Chief Andy Cohen
South Division Director Bill Parr South Div Umpire in Chief Frank Tarasuk
League Commissioner George E Koulouris
1987, Andover, Arlington, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dracut, Lynnfield, Melrose, Methuen, Reading, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Westford, Wilmington, Winchester, Woburn.
1989 Northeast Baseball League
North Division
Andover Dave Bettencourt
Burlington George D Mattia Jim Curtin
Chelmsford Ken Duane
Dracut Hank Golec Rick McElhinney
Lowell George Cunha Mark Chandler
North Reading Len Luizza Ray Landry Kevin Brown
Tewksbury Jim Mackey Tom Cooke Guy Mader
Wilmington Dick Scanlon Jim Moynihan
South Division
Burlington Len Orsini Jim Curtin
Lynnfield Kevin Canty Joe White
Melrose Charles Bleiler Dick Brown Bob Wentzell
Reading Greg Bernard Pete Moscariello
Stoneham Glen Crooker Bill Seabury
Wakefield Tom Coughlin Dave Flanagan
Winchester Ed Whelan Rob Mistretta William Chase
Woburn Dan Canada Bill Lewis Sam Miele
North Division Director Ken Duane North Div Umpire in Chief Andy Cohen
South Division Director Bill Parr South Div Umpire in Chief Fran Tarasuk
League Commissioner George E Koulouris
1992 South Division
Burlington Len Orsini Jim Curtin
Lynnfield Joe White Alan Esbitt
North Andover David Walsh Paul Theberge
North Reading Lem Liuzza Frank Carey
Reading Mike McKenna Pete Moscariello
Stoneham Glen Crooker Bill Seabury
Wakefield Vinnie Campanella Scott Rawson
South Division Director Bill Parr South Div Umpire in Chief Ralph Fiore
League Commissioner Ken Duane
1995 Northeast Baseball League
North Division
Billerica Ed Smith
Central Leo Shaughnessy Larry Rossi
Chelmsford Ken Duane Jack Wholey
Dracut Tim Woods
Lowell Mark Chandler
North Andover Al Perry
Tewksbury Roy Patterson
South Division
Burlington Ed Malatesta Jim Curtin
Lynnfield Joe McManus
North Reading Paul Cerrone Chris Conroy
Reading Gary D’Entremont Pete Moscariello
Stoneham Glen Crooker
Wakefield Bill Dwyer Dennis Bisso
Wilmington Rob Patterson Dick Gillis Dick Scanlon
South Division Director Bill Parr League Commissioner Ken Duane
2004 Northeast Baseball League
North Division
Andover Frank Foley
Chelmsford Ken Duane
Dracut Bill Ducharme
Greater Lowell Voc Steve Botto
Haverhill Larry Obrien
Lowell Tom Boyle
Tewksbury Jim Dragon
Westford Mike Dellorso
South Division
Billerica Joe Higgins Ernie Rahn
Burlington Dave Castellano
Lynnfield Nick Peters
North Reading Marco Vittozzi
Stoneham Glen Crooker
Wakefield Bill Smeglin
Wilmington Jim Buck
Woburn Ryan Greene
South Division Director Glen Crooker South Div Umpire in Chief Harry Nelson
North Div Umpire in Chief Hank Golec
League Commissioner Ken Duane 2005 Northeast Baseball League
North Division
Chelmsford Bobby Byrne
Dracut Dennis Kennedy
Greater Lowell Voc Steve Botto
Haverhill Dan Francescone
Lowell Tom Boyle
Tewksbury Jim Dragon
Westford Mike Dellorso
South Dovision
Billerica Joe Higgins Ernie Rahn
Burlington Jim Curtin
North Reading Marco Vittozzi
Stoneham Glen Crooker
Wakefield Bill Smeglin
Wilmington Jim Buck
Woburn Ryan Greene
North Division Director Ken Duane North Div Umpire in Chief Hank Golec
South Div Umpire in Chief Ed Lynch
League Commissioner Glen Crooker
NORTHEAST LEAGUE PLAYOFF PAIRINGS C denotes League Champion 1st Series, 1st Place Team Plays 2nd Place Team in other Division, Winners of the Series Plays in the Finals.
Year North Div South Div Finals
1972 Lowell Wakefield Lowell -C
1973 1st Lowell 1st Lynnfield Lynnfield -C 2nd Dracut 2nd Wakefield Wakefield
1974 1st Lowell 1st Woburn Lowell -C 2ND Dracut 2nd Wakefield Woburn
1975 1st Dracut 1st Lexington Dracut -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Wakefield Lowell
1976 1st Dracut 1st Wakefield Dracut -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd Burlington Chelmsford
1977 1st Chelmsford 1st Burlington Burlington -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Wakefield Chelmsford
1978 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Chelmsford -C 2ND Dracut 2nd Everett Reading
1979 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Everett -C 2ND Wilmington 2nd Everett Chelmsford
1980 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Reading -C 2ND Wilmington 2nd Winchester Chelmsford
1981 1st Chelmsford 1st Winchester Chelmsford -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Reading Lowell
1982 1st Chelmsford 1st Wakefield Reading - C 2ND Billerica 2nd Reading Billerica
1983 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Chelmsford -C 2ND Billerica 2nd Lynnfield Billerica
1984 1st Burlington 1st Reading Burlington -C 2ND Wilmington 2nd Lynnfield Reading
1985 1st Chelmsford 1st Wakefield Burlington -C 2ND Burlington 2nd Woburn Chelmsford
1986 1st Chelmsford 1st Woburn Chelmsford -C 2ND Tewksbury 2nd Stoneham Woburn
1987 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Chelmsford -C 2ND Burlington 2nd Winchester Burlington
1988 1st Tewksbury 1st Reading Tewksbury -C 2ND Methuen 2nd Stoneham Reading
1989 1st Chelmsford 1st Winchester Chelmsford -C 2ND Tewksbury 2nd Burlington Tewksbury
1990 1st Billerica 1st Lynnfield Chelmsford -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd Winchester Billerica
1991 1st Chelmsford 1st North Reading Chelmsford -C 2ND Billerica 2nd Reading Billerica
1992 1st Chelmsford 1st Stoneham Lowell -C 2ND Lowell 2nd North Andover North Andover
1993 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Lowell -C 2ND Lowell 2nd North Reading Chelmsford
1994 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Chelmsford -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Stoneham Lowell
1995 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Stoneham -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Stoneham Reading
1996 1st Chelmsford 1st Burlington Chelmsford -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Stoneham Lowell
1997 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Reading -C 2ND Lowell 2nd Stoneham Chelmsford
1998 1st Lowell 1st North Andover Lowell -C 2ND Billerica 2nd North Reading Billerica
1999 1st Lowell 1st Reading Lowell -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd North Andover Reading
2000 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Reading -C 2ND Lowell 2nd North Andover Chelmsford
2001 1st Chelmsford 1st Reading Reading -C 2ND Andover 2nd Wakefield Wakefield
2002 1st Lowell 1st Reading Lowell -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd North Reading Chelmsford
2003 1st Haverhill 1st Reading Haverhill -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd North Reading Lowell
2004 1st Haverhill 1st Stoneham Chelmsford -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd North Reading Haverhill
2005 1st Chelmsford 1st North Reading -tie Billerica -C 2ND Westford 1st Billerica -tie North Reading
2006 1ST Lowell 1st North Reading Wilmington -C 2ND Chelmsford 2nd Wilmington North Reading
FOR THE RECORD BOOK
League Champions since inception of two divisions, 35 Years
Chelmsford - 11 Lowell - 7 Reading - 5 Burlington - 3 Dracut - 2 Everett - 1 Tewksbury - 1 Lynnfield - 1 Stoneham - 1 Haverhill - 1 Billerica - 1 Wilmington - 1
2005 Northeast League Champions - Billerica
2005 North Div. Champion - Chelmsford Note, Coach Ken Duane, left 2nd row, prior League Commissioner. Had won 11 League Championships as Chelmsford’s Coach.
1995 Northeast League Champions - Stoneham
Note, Coach Glen Crooker, back row left, current League Commissioner
FOR THE RECORD
There were 16 All North Division Final Championship Series There were 5 All South Division Final Championship Series
And there were 14 North vs. South Final Championship Series
Division Champions since 2 Division Format
Chelmsford - 21 Reading - 16 Lowell - 7 Wakefield - 4 Burlington - 3 North Reading - 3 ( 1 co - champ ) Dracut -2 Haverhill - 2 Lynnfield - 2 Winchester - 2 Woburn - 2 Stoneham - 2 Billerica - 2 ( 1 co - champ ) Tewksbury - 1 North Andover - 1 Lexington - 1
FOR THE RECORD
1. Wakefield made the playoffs 6 years in a row, 1972 - 1977, did not win a League title.
2. Dracut was the first team to win 2 Championships in a row, 1975 & 1976.
3. Chelmsford won the North Division Title 7 years in a row, 1977 - 1983. They made the playoffs 8 straight years, 1976 - 1983.
4. Reading made the playoffs 7 straight years.
5. Burlington was the second team to win back to back League Championships. 1984 & 1985.
6. Chelmsford was the third team to win back to back League Championships. 1986 & 1987.
7. Chelmsford was the only team to win 3 consecutive League Championships. 1989, 1990, & 1991.
8. Lowell won back to back League Championships 2 times, 1992 & 1993, 1998 & 1999. 9. Chelmsford went to the playoffs 9 years in a row, 1989 - 1997. They also won the North Division Title 7 years in a row 1991 - 1997.
10. Reading won South Division Title 5 years in a row, 1999 - 2003. They also won 2 consecutive League Titles in 2000 and 2001.
11. North Reading has a current streak of making the playoffs 5 years in a row. 2002 - 2006.
Teams that have made Playoff Appearances since 2 Divisions were set up.
Chelmsford - 27 Reading - 19 Lowell - 18 Wakefield - 9 North Reading - 8 Stoneham - 8 Burlington - 7 Billerica - 6 Dracut - 5 Winchester - 5 Lynnfield - 4 North Andover - 4 Wilmington - 4 Tewksbury - 3 Woburn - 3 Haverhill - 2 Everett - 2 Andover -`1 Lexington - 1 Methuen - 1 Westford -1
NORTHEAST LEAGUE ALLSTAR GAMES
North Division has 18 Wins - South Division has 11 Wins - 1 Tie
1975 at Wakefield Winner - North 1976 at Lowell Winner - North 1977 at Burlington Winner - South 1978 No Game - 1 Division 1979 No Game - 1 Division 1980 at Lowell Winner - South 1981 at Lowell Winner - South 1982 at Wakefield Winner - South 1983 at Lowell Winner - North 1984 at Wakefield Winner - South 1985 at Burlington Winner - Tie 1986 at Wakefield Winner - South 1987 at Melrose Winner - South 1988 at Melrose Winner - North 1989 at Melrose Winner - North 1990 at Melrose Winner - North 1991 at Chelmsford Winner - North 1992 at Wakefield Winner - South 1993 at Lowell Winner - North 1994 at Wakefield Winner - North 1995 at Wilmington Winner - North 1996 at Wilmington Winner - North
1996 South Division Allstar Team Jamie Saccardo - Lynnfield Jason Little - Stoneham Nate Hummer - Lynnfield JP Norden - Stoneham Scott Myette - North Reading Ryan Nolan - Stoneham Brian Delano - North Reading PJ Heffernan - Wilmington Tom Carlson - Burlington Phil Bates - Wilmington Jamie Doherty - Burlington Scott Swiezynski - Wilmington Jim Gray - Reading Tim Guthrie - North Andover Dan Foley - Reading Petros Volgaris - North Andov.
1996 North Division Allstar Team Sean Conway - Dracut Matt Lelacheur - Lowell Dave Halligan - Dracut Jeff Driscoll - Lowell Todd Littlefield - Chelmsford Nick Nugent - Hudson, NH Graham Walsh - Chelmsford PJ McCoy - Hudson, NH Kevan Kivlan - Chelmsford Rich Bertolucci - Billerica Adam McCusker - Chelmsford Jason Pearl - Billerica Jarrett Fay - Chelmsford Mike Scanlon - Littleton Nate Linstad - Chelmsford Bill Camp - Littleton Alex Lelless - Westford Tom Ryan - Tewksbury Todd Littlefield - Tewksbury Nick Amato - Tewksbury Tim Sullivan - Tewksbury 1997 at Wilmington Winner - North 1998 at Wilmington Winner - North 1999 at Lowell Winner - North 2000 at Wilmington Winner - South 2001 at Wilmington Winner - North 2002 at Wakefield Winner - North 2003 at Haverhill Winner - North 2004 at Wilmington Winner - South 2005 at Haverhill Winner- North 2006 at Wilmington Winner - South
JULY 10, 2004 NORTHEAST LEAGUE ALLSTAR GAME @ WILMINGTON
NORTH ALLSTARS
Jon DeLeo - Andover Mark Davis - Tewksbury Joe Gill - Andover Jeff Little - Tewksbury Matt Novaco - Chelmsford David Kiloski - Lowell Chris O’Neil - Chelmsford Mike McCormack - Lowell Mike Roberts - Chelmsford Dan Noel - Lowell Jamie Durkin - Dracut Tim Stronach - Haverhill Corey Pare - Dracut Steve Watson - Haverhill Dave Brady - Greater Lowell Voc Tom Gagnon - Westford Brian Higgins - Greater Lowell Voc Wilder Parks - Westford
SOUTH ALLSTARS
Matt Hoag - Billerica Anthony Saco - Stoneham John Sholl - Billerica Aaron Feinberg - Stoneham Mike Miller - Burlington James Palmer - Stoneham Kevin Distaso - North Reading Taylor Vonkriegenberg - Stone Andrew Mucciarone - North Reading Andrew Warden - Wakefield Sam Hummer - Lynnfield Michael Crusco - Wakefield Jesse Bruinsma - Lynnfield Ken Luongo - Wilmington John O’Donnell - Woburn Sean Murphy - Wilmington Eric Davis - Woburn
FOR THE RECORD;
In all the years as a Coach here in Stoneham I have never seen a player hit for the cycle, Single, Double, Triple, Homerun. At this game Stoneham’s Jimmy Palmer hit the cycle as shown in the score book page attached.
Jimmy Palmer , at Chelmsford 2004
Jimmy I believe is the only player to ever hit for the cycle in a
Northeast League Allstar Game.
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