The Meritorious Service Award is presented to a person who has proven himself/herself in service to amateur baseball and the ABCA, and whose actions and involvement have resulted in a notable impact on the sport. Service may include years of participation, administration, contribution, innovation, or exposure/advancement of amateur baseball through media coverage.
RECIPIENTS
2020:
No Meritorious Service Award presented this year
2019:
No Meritorious Service Award presented this year
2018:
Turn Two for Youth, the Official Charity of the ABCA (full story)
2017:
Mary Ellen Leicht, National Junior College Athletic Association (full story)
2016:
Mike Gustafson, College Baseball Foundation (full story)
2015:
Carma Brown, Challenger Baseball Program (full story )
2014:
Jim McElroy
2013:
Jim Callis, Baseball America
Merl Eberly, Eberly A's
Jim Quinlan, American Legion Baseball
2012:
Arnold Mycock, Cotuit Kettleers
Sal Varriale, Team Italy
2011:
Tom Bonekemper, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League
Pete Caliendo, USA Baseball National Team
Giorgio Moretti, Italy Baseball
Jim Paronto, Mountain West Conference
2010:
No Meritorious Service Award presented this year
2009:
Ken Ravizza, Cal State Fullerton
Judy Scarafile, Cape Code League
Larry Templeton, Mississippi State University
2008:
Stephen Keener, Little League
Ron Tellefsen, Babe Ruth League
Mike Thompson, Rawlings Sporting Goods
2007:
Jesse Cuevas, Rosenblatt Stadium
Tom Glover, Glover Scorebooks
Andrea Gordon, Diamond Sports
Gerry Sedoo, Foothill (Calif.) High School
2006:
Dick Groch, Milwaukee Brewers
Abe Key, PONY Baseball
Betty Rulong, ABCA
2005:
John Daigle, USA Stadium
David Osinski, American Baseball Foundation
Paul Seiler, USA Baseball
Dave Yeast, NCAA
2004:
Jack Diesing, Jr., College World Series of Omaha, Inc.
Jack Hacker, Reedley College (Calif.)
Jack Payne, NCAA
John Wilkens, Minnesota State High School Baseball Association
2003:
Jim Lefebvre, Major League Baseball
Ron Mouzis, Victory Custom Athletic, Inc.
Lou Pavlovich, Jr.,
Collegiate Baseball
Jim Wright, NCAA
2002:
Jamie Hamilton, Home Loan Investment Company
Floyd Perry, Grounds Maintenance Services
Charles Roys, Springfield College (Mass.)
Robert Rulong, Central Michigan University
2001:
Frank Osborne, Washington State Baseball Coaches Association
2000:
Jim Hendry, Chicago Cubs
George E. Killian, NJCAA
1999:
John "Jack" Hillerich, III, Hillerich & Bradsby Company, Inc.
Paul "Sus" Susce, Worth, Inc.
1998:
Tom House, Major League Baseball
Dale Williams, Big West Conference
1997:
Jim Darby, Easton Sports
1996:
Julio Blanco-Herrera, Milwaukee Brewers
1995:
No Meritorious Service Award presented this year
1994:
Joe Cooper, American Amateur Baseball Congress
Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers
Dennis Poppe, NCAA
1993:
Rex Bradley, Hillerich & Bradsby Company, Inc.
Dr. Bobby Brown, Major League Baseball
Jesse Heald, Worth, Inc.
1992:
Dr. Robert E. Smith, Greenville (Ill.) College
1991:
George Pfister, Major League Baseball
1990:
Bill Harrison, Vision Dynamics
1989:
Gene DaCosse, Wilson Sporting Goods
Vernon "Lefty" Gomez, Wilson Sporting Goods
1988:
Sy Berger, Topps Company, Inc.
Ernie Opperman, Wartburg College (Iowa)
Frank Ryan, Hillerich & Bradsby Company, Inc.
1987:
Gordon Gillespie, College of St. Francis (Ill.)
Pat Daugherty, Indian Hills Community College (Iowa)
Rose & Lou Pavlovich,
Collegiate Baseball
1986:
Les Michael, Ohio Wesleyan University
Frank Prentup, University of Colorado
Louis "Rags" Scheurerman, Loyola University - New Orleans
1985:
Irv Ferguson, Colorado State University
Robert Garbark, Allegheny College (Pa.)
Joe Truske, Wayne State (Mich.)
1984:
Alex Hooks, Southern Methodist University (Texas)
Mickey McConnell, Warren Wilson College (N.C.)
Anthony Robinson, Jarvis Christian College (Texas)
1983:
Walter Kincaid, Cerritos College (Calif.)
W.J. Newman, Whittier College (Calif.)
George Powles, Skyline (Calif.) High School
1982:
Robert Coombs, Williams College (Mass.)
Bud Daniels, University of Wyoming
George Petro, University of New Mexico
Bob Winkles, Arizona State University
1981:
Tilden "Happy" Campbell, University of Alabama
Jack Horenberger, Illinois Wesleyan University
Irv Utz, Washington University
1980:
Abe Chanin,
Collegiate Baseball
Dan MacFayden, Bowdoin College (Maine)
Vic Sorrell, University of North Carolina
Virgil Yelkin, University of Nebraska - Omaha