In 2002, I was at Closing Day ceremonies and some members approached me and asked if I would consider running for President. After hearing Sergio's remarks that day, I really considered running. What Sergio said hit me in my weak spot, my heart. He said, “Let's get this organization back to the way it used to be years ago. Let's all get involved."
I thought about his remarks and I looked at all the good people that were involved in the PONY organization at Los Amigos. I had been President in the past when I was younger, and I knew I could do it again, this time better than before, because now I was older, a little wiser and had more experience leading, organizing, planning, and more resources. I told Sergio that if he would be in charge of maintaining the field, I would run for President. He agreed and we went right to work getting ready for the upcoming season.
He wanted to change our logo and put some kids in it as well as add "Los Amigos Park" which means "The Friends" in Spanish.
We were hard at work when suddenly I received the tragic news that Sergio had died in an accident while helping a friend. It did not surprise me that he was helping a friend. Our community lost a great person that day. I personally lost someone who was becoming a good friend.
That night, a Board of Directors meeting was scheduled. Although we were all in shock, I decided we would go forward because we had goals to meet and I knew Sergio would want it that way. At our meeting we decided that we would give a perpetual trophy in Sergio's name so that he would never be forgotten. We also donated some funds on behalf of PONY Baseball at Los Amigos to a scholarship in Sergio's name at Santa Monica High School .
Sergio's brother Enrique, whom I met for the first time at Sergio's Funeral, stepped up at my request to fill in for his brother. Enrique went on to fulfill the vision that Sergio had about changing the logo. We did change it and we sold lot's of t-shirts and donated 10% of what was sold to the scholarship fund.
On Sergio's plaque, which we presented on Opening Day, 2003 to his wife Patricia, and his son Noah, as well as their entire family, we enscribed: “In Memory of Sergio Barba. Thank you for the leadership and friendship you provided for the children of Los Amigos, and the time and effort you gave as an Officer of Santa Monica Pony Baseball. You were an inspiration to us all, you will never be forgotten. We dedicate this year 2003 in your honor. We will miss you.”
As told by Fernando Padilla
A. D. Williams
I was 21-years-old and had just returned home from the United States Navy. The year was 1978. My brother Fabian, had taken my spot as Manager of the Major Giants in my absence. He told me that I had to get involved at Los Amigos again… it was falling apart. I decided to go see if I could help out in any way. When I got there, A. D. Williams was in the snack bar by himself, taking registrations. They had no uniforms, no funds, and the field was in bad shape. I asked A. D. if there was anything I could do to help and he said, "Yeah, how about coaching a T-ball team?"
I said, "I was thinking more along the lines of administration” and he said, “Okay, you’re President!” I replied, “No way, how about, vice-president and you can be the president and I’ll help you out." He agreed and we went on from there.
A. D. was also a coach at JAMS. He had a couple of kids in the league. I did not have any children at that time so I had a lot of time to kill. I posted the top 10 batting averages, the home run leaders, and the team standings. We had a home-run derby for the kids. We got the snack bar going and the field in good shape. My goal was to make it like it was when I was a kid growing up in the league. We even let the kids pick the all-stars. It was a great time for the league.
Unfortunately, we have lost another good friend of Los Amigos, this time to cancer… A. D. was such a big man. He played professional football for the San Francisco 49er's, Green Bay Packers, and I think a couple of other teams. I thought how could a giant of a man like A. D. die, but he did.
On Opening Day, 2003 we honored A. D.’s wife Gloria and their children and other family members with a plaque in A. D.'s honor. A. D. was not concerned about uniforms, the field, or fundraising… he just wanted the kids to play. Thank GOD for fathers like him. When I found him working alone in the snack bar, that said a lot to me. We will never forget A. D. Williams. He was a true role model for all of the youth at Los Amigos.
As told by Fernando Padilla.
Mac Flynn
I met Mac when I was five-years-old at a kindergarten roundup for SMASH at Marine Park. Mac's Mom, Sue, was pitching to Mac and I wanted to play with them, and that's how it all began.
Mac and I were in the same class through 4th grade at SMASH.
We used to play at Mac's house at the beach in Malibu together. One day, we were exploring and found a huge metal chain which we pulled back to Mac's house, but a big German Shepherd chased us, knocked us down in the sand and scratched Mac on the back. Mac said, the dog ate him... Mac and I were scared, but our moms thought it was very funny as we ran up to them on the beach in front of Mac's house!
Mac's first year at Los Amigos (1999) he was on the Cardinals with Coach Albert, a cub scout leader. In 2000, he played for Coach Johnny Greene with me and Adam Padilla and Conner Greene. Coach Johnny had Mac play every position, but primarily pitcher and first base.
In 2001, Mac moved up to the Mustang Division Diamondbacks with Coach Bayard Johnson whose son Colter was also on the team. Mac played everywhere (outfield, second base, pitcher), he was a little guy with the bigger guys. In 2002, just as the baseball season started, Mac got sick. At first, they thought it was tonsillitis, but it was later diagnosed as leukemia.
Mac was a great athlete and he wanted to play baseball so much, but he was so sick that he vomited on the field and still played in full uniform as bat-boy in the dugout.
One day, Mac came to batting practice and Coach Paul Gray pitched to him. Even though Mac was very sick, he hit every pitch! He was a great hitter.
Mac went to Chicago that year for treatment, but he would always look forward to coming back to Los Amigos for the bacon and egg sandwich, that was his favorite. He loved to eat it while watching a game and cheering on his buddies.
In October 2002, Mac was in intensive care in Chicago, and I flew in and spent the night with him at the hospital. Adam Sandler called Mac every day to cheer Mac up. They became pals. Mac was going to teach Adam how to surf, but he never got the chance. Mac even had his dog with him in intensive care, a Chihuahua named Panda.
Mac died on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2002.
Mac favorite baseball players were Sammy Sosa and Gary Sheffield. Mac's Mom told me that they had front row seats at Dodger Stadium once and Mac stood on the dugout yelling at Sheffield "Chef Boy Are Dee, Chef Boy Are Dee!!" Sheffield didn't seem to mind…
As told by Miles Feinberg
Daisy Cooper
As a young kid growing up at Los Amigos, we would get to the park early to line up to work the scoreboard. Man, if you got to work the scoreboard, you got a free hamburger and soda… as kids hanging our at the park we had no money so this was a luxury.
Anyway, Mrs. Daisy Cooper was a mom. Her sons, Tony, David, Norman and Ray played in our league. Ray was known as “Henry Aaron Cooper” in the 1972 World Series. Chris Lopez was also on that team. They won the World Series and Los Amigos hosted it. Raymond hit 12 home runs in post season play, four of which were grand slams. Ray's son James also played at Los Amigos and was drafted in 2005 by the New York Yankees.
Back to Mrs. Cooper… she was a dedicated mom always working the snack bar. This is where I learned that you always want to make sure the kids are having fun. They don't need to know all the politics that go on behind the scenes… they are just here to play baseball and have fun.
Daisy was a member of the Woman’s Auxiliary and at the end of each season, the Women's Auxiliary would present the All-Star Team(s) with an All-Star jacket. The funds came from the women who would raise the money. I got one when I played on the 1970 All-Star Team. We came in 5th place in the World Series held in Utah .
All I ever remember as a kid growing up was seeing Mrs. Cooper working and making sure we were having fun. As I later found out in 2003, she is A.D. Williams sister. Wow, I guess community service runs in the family blood. Daisy Cooper made huge contributions to our league and community and will never be forgotten.
As told by Fernando Padilla
Jim Pevehouse
Well, I finally got smart and started to recognize people while they were still with us… And thank GOD we still have a legend around in Jim Pevehouse. Jim was the President of Los Amigos in 1972 when they were World Champs.
I went to visit Jim quite often, he was my mentor. He taught me something that I use with any organization that I am involved with to this day. He said, "Fernando, don't make the mistake of making this the Fernando Padilla League or the Padilla Family League, because it's not. It's the community’s league and you will know that you are successful when you can leave it and it runs without you." Man, these are words that still ring in my ears. And, I never did forget them.
There is an interesting story that must be told about Jim. Back in about 1965 or so, we were called Western Boys Baseball Association. There were two different leagues that shared Los Amigos Park at that time. We were the Southern League and there was also the Western League. The Southern League was always the poorer kids, not that I noticed, but around this time, the Southern League folded. Jim was very upset about this, but he gave the Western League all of our teams and five thousand dollars of his own money so that our kids could play ball. Jim has no children of his own. We were his kids.
Well, what happened was not good. The new league bought new uniforms for their kids, but gave our kids used ones. Our Southern League kids were not being treated right. What did Jim do about this? Well, he took our kids back the next season and the Southern League was up and running again.
Jim was not only involved with Little League, he was also involved with Pony, which in those days played at JAMS - this is why I wanted to get our Pony division back up and running at JAMS. Jim was also involved with Colt division (15 & 16 year olds) which played at Marine Park . Perhaps one day, we’ll even resurrect the Colt program. I just visited Jim in Arizona , where he now lives and is retired. He has just completed a book about his experiences in community baseball. It is great.
We recognized Jim at the 2005 league dinner/dance with the following citation: “In appreciation for the time and effort you dedicated to several Santa Monica Baseball Organizations including Western Boys Baseball Association, Santa Monica Pony League, Santa Monica Colt League and Santa Monica American Legion. We would not be here if it had not been for your leadership. Thank you. You will never be forgotten.”
As told by Fernando Padilla