Marcus Alvarado was a 10-year-old bat boy for his father . Contact Patrick MacCoon at [email protected]. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. In 1960, out of financial necessity, he was prepared to break his lifelong silence about his supposed exploits and agreed to write a book. He has a pacemaker, but that was put in about 20 years ago. "He [Moe Berg] bluffs his way up onto the roof of the hospital, the tallest building in Tokyo at the time. He was a reserve player when Kennedy won the City title again in 1996. After graduating magna cum laude in 1923, Berg was signed by Brooklyn, for whom he played shortstop and batted .186 in 49 games. After retiring from General Motors, Hatfield tried playing golf and went back to Oklahoma for 10 days to spend time with two nephews. His name has been circling the Chatsworth job for a couple weeks. Moe's love of the game - and of the travel and social hobnobbing it afforded him -- was a matter of contention between them to the end. Just for Coaches; Links; Scorebook Live - Scores and Updates Link opens in a new window; Spirit Shop - Online Link opens in a new . Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. By Tony Adame, updated on July 27, 2022 Edgar Carroll / Facebook High school baseball might seem to be ruled by teams from the Southern states and California, the places that are most conducive to playing baseball year-round. Plus, as a kid, he taught me how to read the Racing Form, Thompson said. In . He will take over a program that most recently reached 20-plus wins in 2016, when Cole Shelton and J.P. Tighe starred as the Catamounts posted 25 victories and reached the GHSA Class AAAAAA quarterfinals before being eliminated by eventual state champ Pope. for best prep sports column. Chatsworth principal Dr. He started out as a slick-fielding utility infielder before the Chicago White Sox in 1927 moved him to catcher, where he then found his niche as a substitute backstop, filling that role until he retired in 1939. History tells us another story. Tournament Game. Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. By 18, he was playing baseball and got his first coaching job for a YMCA team. Find World Baseball Classic Tokyo Round Press Conference stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 3-1 (L) Chatsworth vs. San Pedro. "He. Ethel took his ashes to Israel. Marcus Alvarado doesnt mind taking over baseball programs with high expectations. Baseball; Football; Men's Basketball; Men's Soccer; Softball; Women's Basketball . Copyright 2023, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc. Those are key elements to the culture hes installing. Nishimachi International School, British School Tokyo, American School in Japan and the Canadian International School are among some of schools who have players on our team. Hatfield has been part of seven out of the Chancellors' nine city championships, but he wants just one more to finish out on top. Games and practices are from September to June, but the older teams are more year round. All rights reserved. 8/11/21 - Baseball Tryouts - If you are interested in trying out for the Chatsworth baseball team tryouts will take place August 23, after school. Berg, who spoke German fluently, was sent in December 1944 to Zurich to attend a lecture by Heisenberg. They should always be working, thats the approach.. as the Region 8 Coach of the Year and was honored in Nashville, Tennessee in January. Biographies, magazine articles and word of mouth have elevated this story into the stuff of legend. There are expectations every day when the players come to the field, Alvarado said. Then he puts the camera back under his kimono and leaves the hospital with these films," says Nicholas Dawidoff, a Berg biographer. Berg's assessment of the situation was that Germany was not close to having a nuclear bomb, and there was never an attempt to kill Heisenberg. Chuck Hatfield has been a fixture at Chatsworth since 1993, when varsity baseball coach Tom Meusborn coaxed him into guiding what was then a new freshman-sophomore team. Shaikin signed a letter of intent with Division 1 Valparaiso. But they feel exploited too, Lakers free agency: Heres the latest about how their plans are shaping up, Unionized hotel workers reach deal with biggest employer on eve of July 4 weekend and planned strike, UCLA to expand in downtown L.A. with purchase of historic building for satellite classes, This nun defends migrants. Retire, travel. Another story involving Berg's spying career came at the end of the war, when, while traveling through Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia with some other agents, he produced a letter with a big red star on it when asked for credentials. "They had a lot of younger guys get quality playing time last year, and they have a lot of potential.". Athletic Director: Vahan Minassian Baseball Coaches and Staff Head Coach: Tom Meusborn (Long Beach State) Assistant Coach: Fred Pudrith (Cal State Northridge) Assistant Coach: Charlie Hatfield (Oklahoma) Tom Meusborn, the most successful baseball coach in City Section history, is returning as head coach at Chatsworth High. Villa Park High shortstop Gavin Grahovac batted .376 with 24 RBIs, 17 doubles, three triples and five home runs, earning The Times player of the year. Earning more notoriety for being a frontline spy than for being a backup catcher, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction in Berg's undercover career. The kids are buying in, Alvarado said. The name change was brought about by a host of issues. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Marcus Alvarado started his reign as the baseball coach at Chatsworth High amid a worldwide pandemic. Tarek was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, a community he now serves as a sportswriter for the LA Daily News covering high school sports since 2015. He had a reputation for charm and erudition that brought him introductions to powerful people, such as the Rockefeller family, who ordinarily did not associate with ballplayers. Some people cant escape the pesky but dangerous bites, Southern California bakeries, smokehouses may be first in U.S. required to use electric ovens, Florida hospitals to start asking patients immigration status. Senior Billy Rusen has been good so far, too. You could always talk to Charlie. "I am fired up to be Dalton's baseball coach," Caldwell said. On grade verification day, he is using a magnifying class to help him identify papers. Only two schools are within arms reach of a section-best 10th City baseball title: El Camino Real and Chatsworth both have nine. But I want to finish the season on a four-game winning streak, he said, alluding to the consecutive victories in the playoffs it takes to win a City championship in the Open Division. We wont let him go, Meusborn said. Chatsworth assistant is everyones favorite grandpa. Tom Meusborn currently holds 29 different California . He joined the Navy during World War II, was in Japan during the Korean War and came to Southern California in 1954. Moe Berg has long enjoyed a reputation as the most shadowy player in the history of baseball. His return comes at a time when the Chancellors should be loaded in the pitching department with the return of standouts Tommy Palomera, Josh Garcia and John Cashman. MAGAZINE ARTICLES - BASEBALL CARD OR STAMP CONTENT (ALL 1-2 pp UNLESS NOTED) AMERICAN PLAYERS HAVE FOUND NEW LIFE IN JAPANESE LEAGUES, by Jeff Alcorn, Baseball Hobby News, Feb 1981. I think when I was a kid my dad wouldnt let me touch the grass. Fundraising and Donations; State Participation Census (2011-Current) Link opens in a new window; Chatsworth Charter High School & G+STEAM Magnet Center Facebook Twitter Instagram . for best prep sports column. In death, as in life, Moe Berg was a mystery. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. May 7, 2017 3:45 PM PT They call him "Coach," and have for most of his 94 years. No one [else] ever cuts my outfield, he said, smiling. Look them in the eye and express my expectation. eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 28, 2022 How do you explain the Chancellors of 2022? Coaching these guys makes me feel young. A deft handler of pitchers and possessor of a rifle arm, by 1929 he was the White Sox's regular catcher. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Birmingham star cornerback/receiver Peyton Waters commits to Washington, LAUSD improvements: Fairfax getting new gym, Dorsey getting first football stadium, Revealing the Best of The Times high school sports awards, Netflix turns to South Korean writers and crews as Hollywood strikes. Chatsworth assistant Chuck Hatfield, 94, keeps making a difference on and off the field. Theyll say, Coach! and give me a hug, Hatfield said. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. According to a Dalton Public Schools release, Caldwell has had 64 former players go on to play college or pro baseball during his time spent as a head coach at Tennessee's Rhea County (1996-2010 . Chatsworth coach Marcus Alvarado is The Times coach of the year after guiding his team to the City Section Open Division championship. Hatfield is so popular around Chatsworth that in December he was grand marshal of a community parade. Bernard Berg always regarded his son's choice of a career as a waste of a fine intellect. Around the Chatsworth baseball program, everyone knows the outfield grass is Hatfields domain. According to a Dalton Public Schools release, Caldwell has had 64 former players go on to play college or pro baseball during his time spent as a head coach at Tennessee's Rhea County (1996-2010), Lookout Valley (2012-14) and Greenback (2018-19). He was the head coach at Granada Hills Kennedy for the last five years, the school his father, Manny, coached to five City Section titles. Now a varsity assistant, Hatfield treats the players to bubble gum and candy, works with the outfielders during practices and charts pitches during the games. I dont talk about winning as much as I talk about respecting the game.. Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. The Los Angeles Unified School District ruled that no on-campus activity is to be held all summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which means Alvarado cant even meet his players. Four years later, the school became the first high school to have two players taken in the first 12 picks of the amateur draft: Mike Moustakas . Oberthien continued his baseball career for two years at MCC. After being forced out of the spy business in the late forties, Berg didn't hold a regular job. Tom Meusborn has been the winningest high school baseball coach in the state of California since 1990 and is the current Director of Coaching at Total Baseball Vipers. 8, No. I also play for the PFA Bucs. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. June 10, 2020 6:28 PM PT Marcus Alvarado doesn't mind taking over baseball programs with high expectations. Everyone. Born June 15, 1922, in Franklin, Tenn., Hatfield moved to Guthrie, Okla., when he was 7. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. A campus security aid, Norma Ortiz, brings Hatfield food and checks on him. Topping the list was the expansion into the Pony League, based out of the USA, and the need for more permanent coaching at the new junior high level (grades 13, 14 & 15 yrs.). Meusborn has resigned as an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge after one season. A look at the high school players who were selected to The Times 2022 All-Star baseball team. In August 1927, after three Chicago receivers were injured in a matter of days, he volunteered for the job. 1, No. Just a wonderful, wonderful guy. That someone never showed up, and Im still here, Hatfield said with a chuckle. The youngest teams are the most internationally run, and as you move to the older teams. Hes the grandfather for everybody, Chatsworth principal Tim Guy said. CHATSWORTH, Calif., June 6 The Chatsworth High School baseball team walked single file through the campus quad Wednesday, one future millionaire after another. Just Berg being a spy begs the question: How much of the fiction might have been used as cover? He and a teammate, also a linguist, would communicate on the field in Latin. The teams five wins are against Palisades (twice), Roosevelt, Narbonne and Marshall. We just guide them and give them the tools to compete at the highest level, he said. The assistant varsity baseball coach has been with the Chatsworth High School Chancellors since 1994. Berg, who spoke Japanese, took home movies of the Tokyo skyline that were used in the planning of General Jimmy Doolittle's 1942 bombing raids on the Japanese capital. Dorsey, which has played its home football games at nearby Rancho Cienega Park, will be getting a new stadium so it will be able to play games for the first time on campus. Baseball. He pitches and plays first base. It got tiresome. There is nothing better than to see them get better and realize their potential on and off the field.". The first official team activity wasnt until November when LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner permitted schools to hold outdoor conditioning. Unfortunately for Berg, the following year in spring training he suffered a knee injury and spent the rest of his career (with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox after Chicago) as a bench warmer. Alvarado was officially hired for the position on Wednesday, June 10, just over a month after Principal Dr. Tim Guy let go of David Kaczor. Even at 94 years old, Coach Hatfield can't get enough of the game. . 2023 Getty Images. On Wednesday, Alvarado confirmed that he has resigned as Kennedys coach to take over the program at Chatsworth, which won eight City titles under former coach Tom Meusborn. 2023 CIF Southern Section Baseball Championships (California) Division I. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Im excited to be back.. Japan School news also features stories and articles about school life, education, parenting and arts and crafts ideas. To make a decision like this wasnt easy.. But Meusborn convinced him to stay on, just until he was able to find someone else. Subscribe now. Other Chatsworth High coaches, school administrators, teachers,. Conlan, Kueber, Alex DeVito and Michael Baregamyan will play next season at Moorpark College. Principal:Margaret Kearns Athletic Director: John Sheriff Asst. He parlayed that post into becoming an officer in the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of the CIA, in 1943. Columnist Follow. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Los Angeles Times has been working to honor the best of the best through our new high school sports awards . It was difficult, but I missed running my own program, Meusborn said. But he says he doesnt spend much time dwelling on the past. Formerly known as the Honshu Rounders, the new West Tokyo Dodgers have also expanded to have youth levels that now run from grades 1 thru 9, or ages 6 to 15yrs. 9 in the 12-team Open Division tournament and defeated the No. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Early on St. Patricks Day, one faculty member after another drops by to hug Hatfield as he sits in the high schools counseling office wearing a blue baseball coaching shirt, black pants and black shoes. Questions? Sports at Chatsworth Senior High School. New Chatsworth baseball coach Marcus Alvarado said it simply after being hired. There is also an adult team for 18yrs. Can you give me a hug? I didnt even know the kid. 8 min read. 9 seed out of 12 teams but is still alive as the Chancellors follow the guidance of coach Marcus Alvarado. Tom Meusborn (1990-2013; 2015-2017), Curtis Scott (2014),David Kaczor (2018-2020) and now Alvarado, who came from Kennedy High. However, the project collapsed when the editor glowingly praised the prospective author's movies on the mistaken assumption that he was about to sign a contract with Moe of The Three Stooges. He proceeds to take a series of photos panning the whole setting before him, which includes the harbor, the industrial sections of Tokyo, possibly munitions factories and things like that. Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. See top plays & highlights of the best high school sports of age. 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As he rides, he occasionally allows himself to ponder his many years devoted to baseball. California. 2 seeds en route to a memorable 2-0 victory in the championship game at Dodger Stadium. Everything was strange, he said. Questions? Other Chatsworth High coaches, school administrators, teachers, aides and students who arent athletes but know hes on campus every day and that he seems to care. The program has had four coaches since 1990. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Times All-Star baseball team: Gavin Grahovac is player of the year, Birmingham star cornerback/receiver Peyton Waters commits to Washington, LAUSD improvements: Fairfax getting new gym, Dorsey getting first football stadium, Revealing the Best of The Times high school sports awards, Netflix turns to South Korean writers and crews as Hollywood strikes. Tap into Getty Images' global . Alvarado knows theres a lot of work to do. Nelson Rockefeller gave him a job with the Office of Inter-American Affairs that allowed him to travel through South and Central America studying the health and fitness of the population. He brings another dimension to the program. Tarek also covers the UCLA men's basketball team for the Southern California News Group and can be seen on CBS Los Angeles on weekends serving as co-host/sports analyst with TV legend Jim Hill. Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. In his 15 major league seasons, in which he played just 662 games, Berg was a lifetime .243 hitter. CHATSWORTH, CA Generations of baseball players and community members celebrated Chatsworth High School coach Chuck Hatfield's 100th birthday Wednesday and shared stories of his long. His father told him, Whatever you believe in, do it.. He has been honored seven times by the California Prep Sportswriters Assn. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! A school librarian picks him up in the morning, and after baseball practice he gets a ride home from a coach or player. Tarek also covers the UCLA men's basketball team for the Southern California News Group and can be seen on CBS Los Angeles on weekends serving as co-host/sports analyst with TV legend Jim Hill. Eric Sondheimer is the prep sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times. THE FRENZY OVER HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL,By Mitsuyoshi Okazaki, LOOK JAPAN, August 1984.. Return to the beginning of the "contents" guide. After living with Sam for 17 years, he moved in with his sister Ethel for the final eight years of his life. Custom Content. Tarek was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, a community he now serves as a sportswriter for the LA Daily News covering high school sports since 2015. This season he was coach when Chatsworth won its record-setting 10th City title. At seven, Berg began playing baseball for a Methodist Church team under the pseudonym Runt Wolfe. Chatsworth has a rich history and Im excited to be part of that. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. From there, it was on to Princeton, where he majored in modern languages and played shortstop on the baseball team. Being a new coach under normal circumstances is hard at any level. A student at Columbia Law School, in 1926 he joined the White Sox, who had bought his contract from Reading of the International League. The most notable Chatsworth baseball alum is Mike Moustakas, who was not in attendance Saturday, but Hatfield said in all of his years coaching, Moustakas was the best he ever coached. In only one year did the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Berg appear in more than 100 games; he played in fewer than 50 games in 12 seasons. "This may be my last year," he said. Baseball for All International Schools (West Tokyo Dodgers B.C. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Guy used to be an administrator at Kennedy. The Chancellors last City title came in 2009. Everyone around campus loves him, All-City catcher Daniel Zakosek said. Marcus says he still remembers when he was the final out in the City semifinals against Chatsworth of his senior season. Chatsworth baseball off to hot start under new, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Chatsworth baseball off to hot start under new coach Marcus Alvarado, Four-star safety Marquis Gallegos transfers from Chaminade to Sierra Canyon, Daily News Boys Athlete of the Year: Dijon Stanley, Granada Hills, Daily News Girls Athlete of the Year: Juju Watkins, Sierra Canyon, Daily News All-Area Girls Track and Field: Castaics Meagan Humphries is the Athlete of the Year, Daily News All-Area Boys Track and Field: Granada Hills Dijon Stanley is the Athlete of the Year, Reparations task force gives recommendations on how California can atone for slavery, ESPN fires 20 on-air employees in latest round of job cuts, Where to see July 4th fireworks in LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, Woodland Hills brothers found guilty of federal tax fraud, money laundering, As LAs homeless count results are unveiled, hard lives on streets continue, Whats closed for the Fourth of July on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, City of Los Angeles sees a 10% increase in its homeless population, Los Angeles City Council candidate Imelda Padilla declares victory, I just want to be home: United Airlines cancellations, delays continue to multiply at Denver International Airport, What makes you a mosquito magnet? Curtis Scott coached the team last season, then resigned to return to Moorpark College as an assistant. Thats why I love to cut it.. Hes a freak of nature.. Kennedy High (Granada Hills) baseball coach Marcus Alvarado has resigned. "Just having him out here, having him around us day in and day out, what he brings as a coach and as a person can't be duplicated.". It came to fruition after athletic director Jon Sheriff confirmed Alvarados hiring. "Baseball has been a part of my life since I could walk straight," Caldwell said. He graduated from Solon High School in 2013, where he earned distinction as an All-District utility player and was part of back-to-back Iowa State High School Baseball Championship teams in 2010 and 2011. The Americans lacked any authorization, and supposedly what Berg showed the Soviet soldiers was a copy of the Texaco Oil Co. letterhead. It was the sweetest title of all. To this day, no one knows where his remains are buried. I told him, Im 72. But they feel exploited too, Lakers free agency: Heres the latest about how their plans are shaping up, Unionized hotel workers reach deal with biggest employer on eve of July 4 weekend and planned strike, UCLA to expand in downtown L.A. with purchase of historic building for satellite classes, This nun defends migrants. Some people cant escape the pesky but dangerous bites, Southern California bakeries, smokehouses may be first in U.S. required to use electric ovens, Florida hospitals to start asking patients immigration status. Id rather wait, Alvarado said. The U.S. government wrote a letter to Berg, thanking him for the movies. He has been selected The Times coach of the year. He continued to teach at Chatsworth while working at Northridge. He decided long ago hed rather work than sit at home and watch television in his one-bedroom apartment about a mile from campus.