Sunday, February 16, 2025
Rockville Centre Little League President Peter Klugewicz and the organization’s board of directors will celebrate its 74th season on April 5, by inducting 10 former players, coaches and administrators into the RVCLL Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees include Tom Catal, a six-time All-Star considered a Rockville Centre Little League and St. Agnes High School baseball legend, and Bill Cameron, the 1974 New York State Babe Ruth League championship team pitcher.
In 1966, Catal became the second RVC Little Leaguer to sign a professional contract as a minor league pitcher with the Atlanta Braves. He was later inducted into the Long Island High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Cameron later returned to the RVCLL to coach his sons, leading the teams to win two district championships and two season championships. He also served as a past commissioner and vice president of the league.
The induction ceremony will also recognize four players from the 1981 New York State Babe Ruth League champions—shortstop Ken King, third baseman John Klaess and pitchers Bob Exler and Steve Murphy.
“The 1981 New York State Babe Ruth championship was due to these players, plus Class of 2023 Hall of Famers Bill Carey and Chris Carter,” Frank Keating, chairman of the RVC Little League and founding RVCLL Hall of Fame chairman, said.
Carey and Carter were both inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2023 for their contributions to the 1978 Eastern Regional championship team — the first on Long Island to reach the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Former RVCLL Treasurer Jack Byrne will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, along with the manager and coaches of the 1981 New York State Babe Ruth League Champions Jon Kaufman, Frank Keating and Dick Klaess.
Byrne, who received the Mort Geller Service Award in 1994, was the longest-serving treasurer in the league’s history. In 1995, after 18 dedicated years of service, he handed the title of Treasurer to Keating.
“I am humbled and honored that my fellow selection committee members voted Coach Kaufman, Coach Klaess and me into the Class of 2025 along with our players John Klaess, Steve Murphy, Bob Exler and Ken King,” Keating said. “Dick Klaess was my All-Star coach in 1970, and Kaufman was my All-Star teammate in 1974. Bill Cameron was also Kaufman’s and my teammate in 1982 and 1983 on the initial Stan Musial League Team — BUTTERS.”
Kaufman later went on to serve as the assistant general manager of the Salem Redbirds in 1983 and general manager of the Salem Buccaneers in 1985, both of which were Class A teams in the Carolina League.
Klaess was a longtime board member and former league secretary. He and his son, John, are the second father-son duo to be inducted into the RVCLL Hall of Fame, following the 2024 induction of Phil Schifini Sr. and Jr.
Keating was an eight-time district championship manager and coach. He also served as treasurer, vice president and is currently chairman of the league—compiling the second-most years of service in RVCLL history. Keating and Cameron also both received the Mort Geller Service Award – the league’s highest honor for volunteers.
Nominees are selected each year on the third Sunday of December by the RVC Little League Hall of Fame selection committee, which is chaired by Keating and consists of Dan Lennon, Tom Michels, John Aicher and Mike Lawless. Each of the four committee members were All-Star players during their Rockville Centre Little League careers and most served as coaches for their children’s teams and some became board members or administrators.
The RVCLL Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place following the Opening Day festivities on Saturday, April 5, which will kick off with the annual RVC Little League parade at
10 a.m.
The parade will begin at South Side Middle School and proceed down Maple Avenue toward Hickey Field for the ceremonial first pitch. The opening game and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will follow at 11:30 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the parade may be postponed, but the induction ceremony and family cocktail party will take place rain or shine at MacArthur Park on N. Park Avenue.
