Plaque presentation is a Dann-slam

Print Story

Email to Friend

Discuss this story

The founder of the Campbell Little League will have a field named in his honor.

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

Campbell's Little League field now will be known officially as Tony Dann Field.

Dann, 101, the founder of the Campbell Little League in 1951, was presented a plaque by friends and family acknowledging the field-naming honor last Sunday at Briarfield Manor where he has been living for about 1 1/2 years.

"Field dedicated to Tony Dann founder of Campbell Little League in 1951," reads the $500 plaque, which is sponsored by the Campbell City Fest Committee ($250) and the Campbell Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame ($250).

The idea to honor Dann, who directed the building of the field and who used to work on it and prepare it for games, came from Atty. Paul Perantinides, a former Campbell Little League player, and Lewis Jackson, Campbell's fourth Ward councilman.

Jackson led the charge to raise funds from the community to underwrite the cost.

"Paul went to [Tony's] 100th birthday party [in 2006] and he called me to see if I can get something started," said Jackson. "But there are not too many oldtimers around. However, the Campbell City Fest Committee and the Campbell Hall of Fame came up with the money."

Dann was presented the plaque last Sunday while surrounded by Perantinides, Jackson, nieces Loretta (Dann) Quinn and Teena (Dann) Kovach and great-nephew Brian Quinn.

"I am looking forward to next spring for the dedication," said Dann in a cheerful mood. "I am very happy to be honored by having the Little League field named after me, and hopefully I can get on the field. I really miss that field."

He said one of his greatest rewards as the founder of Campbell LL was that, "I was happy to give the kids the opportunity to play baseball the right way."

Jackson said that Dann "looked good. We were there around lunch time. He was eating lunch. He probably was in better shape mentally than us. He knew what team Paul [Perantinides] played on and what position he played. He was real alert."

Perantinides, who played three years in the Campbell Little League (1954-56) said that he has fond memories of that golden era of newly-organized youth baseball created by Dann, and sustained by many other adults in the community.

"They built an absolutely fabulous Little League field [that I played on] 53 years ago and I still remember it to this day," recalled Perantindies of the Perantinides & Nolan law firm in Akron.

"The opener usually was on Memorial Day and it meant everything to me as a 10-year-old kid, and I think for everyone in the organization. The adults were committed to teaching baseball. The umpires were school teachers. We had an umpire at every base. It provided an opportunity to learn the game and to love and respect the game."

Perantinides, who still plays baseball with the P&N (stands for Perantinides & Nolan) Silverhawks in the Roy Hobbs League, said his years in the Campbell Little League launched his love of baseball, and "53 years later, I still am a player. And I coached Little League this summer again. I coached baseball through the years."

Jackson said they are planning to dedicate the field to Dann next spring, and are hoping that he will be able to come to the ceremony.

"We are going to mount the plaque on the concession stand facing the public at the Campbell Little League field. It is a bronze plaque," said Jackson.

He said that they wanted to show and present the plaque to Dann personally this fall, and then officially dedicate the plaque and field in early spring when the baseball season begins.

"We are hoping that Tony will be able to make the field dedication," said Jackson, who is looking forward to the event, which will include a reception at the Campbell Community Center.

kovach@vindy.com

Wednesday, November 7, 2007