A Season to remember Hero
Since its founding in 1939, Little League Baseball has left its indelible mark on millions of families across the United States. And Western Pennsylvania has one of the most compelling stories ever told in the history of youth baseball. The 1952 Little League All Star team of Monongahela, Washington County won the Pennsylvania state championship and made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. To date, it is the only time a Western Pennsylvania team would compete in the series final. But this wonderful accomplishment would be marred by tragedy.
WQED's 30-minute documentary captures the poignant story through compelling interviews with surviving players, and rare archival film and photos - all leading to a moment of triumph and redemption for the "Baseball Boys of Mon City."
Voice of the Arts Podcast: Beth Dolinar and Laura Magone
Emmy Award winning WQED producer Beth Dolinar who also publishes a regular column in the Washington Observer discusses the free public screening of "A Season to Remember: The Baseball Boys of Mon City" at Ringgold Middle School on May 25th, 2022.
Beth is joined by Laura Magone, President of the Monongahela Area Historical Society, and Founder and Administrator of the Facebook Wedding Cookie Table Community. She holds the Guinness Book of World Records award for the largest cookie table. Laura will join in presenting baseball themed cookies as part of the evening. Laura discusses her work that has resulted in a Facebook community of nearly 100,000 friends and an article in the New York Times. Did the tradition of the cookie table start with Italians in Pittsburgh or with central European immigrants in Youngstown, Ohio? Laura has the answer. Ringgold graduate David Solomon, Vice President of Production at WQED, serves as Master of Ceremonies and a panel discussion which includes local historian Scott Frederick will consider the director's cut with never-before-seen additional footage from the film.
"A Season to Remember" tells the story of the 1952 team from Monongahela in Washington County that would make it to the final game of the Little League World series. It was the first and only time a Pittsburgh area team would do so.
Tom DeRosa and Pete Hoosac, members of the 1952 Little League team, have a catch at Mounds Field in Monongahela.
Photographer Paul Ruggieri captures a re-enactment of key moments from the 1952 World Series, with Kennedy Nash on the mound.
The Monongahela Little League team of 1952.
LIttle League catcher Frank DeRosa signs autographs after team wins the Pennsylvania State Championship.
The Monongahela Pony League team greets runner at home plate after 1954 World Series win.
Monongahela player is safe at third base in Pony League World Series.
Hometown fans watch the Pony League World Series in Washington, PA in 1954.
The triumph of the Little League game was marred by the murder of a local fan.
Voice of the Arts Podcast: Producer Beth Dolinar
Emmy Award winning producer and journalist Beth Dolinar and Jim Cunningham preview her latest WQED special "A Season to Remember: The Baseball Boys of Mon City" airing Thursday October 21 at 8pm and Monday October 25 at 7:30pm. It was 1952 when the team from Monongahela made it to the final game of the Little League World Series. There is tragedy, redemption, summer baseball atmosphere, life lessons and Beth throws a few pitches herself as scenes are captured by photographers Paul Ruggeri and Dave Forstate. Along with her productions at WQED, Beth Dolinar is known widely for her work at WTAE and you can read her weekly column in the Observer-Reporter in Washington, PA.
Funding for "A Season to Remember" is provided by:
With additional support from:
