Jamaica Estates-Holliswood Little League Annual Awards Breakfast drew 450 to Queens College Patio Room on Saturday, November
5. Co-presidents Donald Chu and Loretta Cheong ran the meeting and presented plaques. Keynote speaker, Mets star and 2002
manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, Howard Johnson, spoke directly to the players. Work hard, sacrifice, be all you can be.
Don't take chances like cheating, drugs. The investment will pay off. Johnson noted that he is not a big, strong athlete but
he gave his all to the game. When called up from the minor league in April, 1982, there was no time to get a Detroit Tigers
uniform. A spare team jersey was printed with his number, 5, and his name glued to the shirt. Letters peeled off during the
game. That year he played in his first World Series. Traded to the Mets, Johnson played in his second World Series, in 1984;
set a record for most games at third base, 800; played other positions as well; became just the second infielder in major
league history to register 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a single season. His career as coach and manager is almost
as important to him as coaching his son's teams.
Also addressing the breakfast were Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblyman
Mark Weprin and City Counselman James Gennaro. Players got trophies, coaches their plaques, everyone an inspiring get together.
Registration began for the 2006 Little League season.
More information about Jamaica Estates-Holliswood Little League
is at (718) 670-7128 or on-line at
jehll.com.
