The Hamburg Area High School Hawks Northern Berks Division Championship baseball team of 1963 is getting together for the first time to celebrate their 50th anniversary.
Members of the team are going to meet at the community park on June 22 to watch a baseball game and later go to one of the players’ homes to catch up.
In Hamburg Item archives, it is easy to track their memorable season. Starting April 11, 1963 there was an article giving a preview of the season.
‘Hawk Hurlers To Play Monday’ ‘Hamburg Players
Hawk Coach Leroy Seip has a pitching staff of five members this season, which includes four lettermen. The hurlers are Bob DeLong and Steve Gregor, who will alternate at second base when not pitching; Dennis Shollenberger, also a first baseman; Larry Hommas, the third sacker, and David Kline. All but Kline have earned letters.
Harvey Bachert is slated to perform at shortstop. Other infielders are Dennis Strausser, Harold Shollenberger, Jesse Shrom and Richard Hiester.
Handling the catchers’ chores will be Ronald Johnson, a letterman; Philip Raccine and Ronald Moll.
Outfielders are: Allen Adam, David Stambaugh and Bernie Himmelberger, all lettermen; Robert Kissinger, Ed Geschwindt, Barry Shenk, Dennis Stambaugh and Denis Wagner.’
The coverage followed in issues with headlines ‘Hawks Go Without Run for 25 Frames’ and ‘Hawk 9 Blanked By Muhlenberg’ on April 25, ‘Gregor Hurls As Hawks Win, 11-2’ and ‘Stambaugh Hurls 2-Hitter For Hawks’ on May 2, ‘Hawks Surprise Unbeaten Muhls’ on May 9, ‘Hawks Batter In 1st Place Tie With Muhlenberg’ and ‘Hawks Win With 7th Inning Rally’ on May 16 and ‘Hawks and Muhls End in Deadlock’ on May 23.
The deadlock for first place forced a playoff for the division title as both teams ended the season with a record of 8 and 2.
On May 23, 1963 the headline declared the Hawks as winners.
‘Hawks Win Title in N. Division’
Hamburg Area High’s baseball Hawks, who went 25 innings without a run early in the season, won the Northern Division Championship in the Berks Scholastic League by topping Muhlenberg High, 7-3, in a play-off game on Monday.
Following the division in were headlines ‘Hawks Bow 1st In Final Series’ and ‘Hawk Batter Win In Semi-Finals’ on May 30 and ‘Hawk Baseballers Are Runners-Up’ on June 6.
‘Hamburg Area High’s Northern Division champions finished second-best this season in the Berks Scholastic Baseball Conference.
The Hawks dropped the final play-off series to Governor Mifflin High, Western Division titlists, in two straight games.’
Though the team finished second in the conference, they will always be the Northern Division Championship team of 1963 and will have much to reminisce about on June 22.
