Former Player, Long-time BASH Baseball Coach Named 1st Inductee to New Hall of Fame; His #6 Retired
[Editor' Note-- The following article is an edited version of an article written by Boyertown Athletics and shared from the Boyertown Area School District's digital newsletter, "Let's Talk Tuesdays."]
Boyertown Area Senior High head baseball coach, Todd Moyer, was named the first inductee into the Boyertown Baseball Hall of Fame Monday night, May 6. Moyer's induction took place during pregame ceremonies and his number--6-- was also retired.
Coach Moyer has been the head baseball coach since 1994. The Bears, under his leadership, have won five Berks County Titles, nine PAC Titles, and the 2016 PIAA AAAA State Championship.
Boyertown Athletics expressed appreciation to the Moyer family for supporting Todd so he could share his knowledge of the game with countless Bears over the years.
Reaction to Moyer's induction has been universally enthusiastic as fans express appreciation and share great memories.
"Congratulations Todd, you were a phenomenal player yourself and touched countless lives in your coaching journey," commented Derek Witman.
Billy Smith, a team member from the late 90s offered, "Congratulations Coach! I’ll never forget the bear hug you gave me on the field after the 97 Berks County Championship!"
Donny Fries summed up the feelings of many, saying, "Absolutely Well Deserved !An Icon in Boyertown Baseball !Congrats Todd on a job well.done !"
Below, you can read the Hall of Fame induction speech, It was written and delivered by Mr. Ross Smith, Boyertown Area Senior High Athletic Leader.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND WELCOME TO BEAR STADIUM. WE HAVE HONORED THE SENIORS TONIGHT. IF YOU WILL PERMIT US A MOMENT, THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE WE WOULD LIKE TO HONOR AS WELL.
TONIGHT, WE HONOR THE PAST, THE ALUMNI STANDING BEHIND ME, PRESENT THE YOUNG MEN IN UNIFORM REPRESENTING THEMSELVES AND THEIR SCHOOL HERE TONIGHT, AND THE FUTURE OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL HERE IN BOYERTOWN, THE YOUTH IN ATTENDANCE. IN MY 42 YEARS WORKING FOR THE BASEBALL PROGRAM, THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 3 HEAD COACHES DICK LUDY, RON JAMESON, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT, AND OUR CURRENT HEAD COACH TODD MOYER.
TODD COVERS ALL THREE OF THOSE BASES AS A PLAYER IN THE 70’S, AN ASSISTANT COACH IN THE 80’S, AND EARLY 90’S, AND FOR THE LAST 667 GAMES AS THE HEAD COACH OF YOUR BOYERTOWN BEARS.
IN FACT, IF WE RUN DOWN HIS ENTIRE CAREER AS A PLAYER HIS TEAM PARTICIPATED IN 66 GAMES AND THEY WENT 51-15,
AS AN ASSISTANT COACH WITH RON JAMESON 194 GAMES INCLUDING 3 CHES MONT CHAMPIONSHIPS, 4 BERKS COUNTY DIVISION 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS, 4 BERKS COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS A DISTRICT THREE CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THE 1991 PIAA AAA CHAMPIONSHIP THE BEARS WERE 167-27.
IN 1994 HE BECAME THE HEAD COACH OF THE BEARS. Since that time has COLLECTed 5 BERKS CHAMPIONSHIPS, 9 PAC CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE 2016 PIAA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. HIS CAREER RECORD IS 483-184.
THOSE TOTALS SPAN 931 GAMES, AND THE BEARS OVERALL RECORD OVER THOSE YEARS IS 701-230.
THOSE ARE JUST NUMBERS AND VERY IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS, BUT HE IS NOT A BIG NUMBERSGUY. THE FIRST THING HE WOULD TELL YOU IS THAT IT IS ABOUT THESE ALUMNI STANDING BEHIND ME. HIS CURRENT ASSISTANT COACHES MATT, NATHAN, SHAYNE, JOHN (All former players), HIS BROTHER MIKE AND ALL OF HIS FORMER ASSISTANTS, ESPECIALLY ONE WHO IM SURE IS WITH US IN SPIRIT TONIGHT COACH BARRY TRATE. IT’S THE REASON HE DOES THIS EVERY DAY TO MAKE THEM BETTER BALL PLAYERS AND BETTER PEOPLE, TEACHING BASEBALL AND LIFE TO RESPECT THE GAME AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS DOWN THIS GAME TO THE NEXT GENERATION. BECAUSE THE MORE YOU DO FOR THE GAME OF BASEBALL, THE MORE IT WILL DO FOR YOU.
WE ALSO THANK TODD’S FAMILY, HIS MOM AND DAD LARRY AND BARBARA, HIS WIFE ANNETTE, HIS KIDS AMANDA, MIKAYLA, AND PEYTON FOR SHARING HIM WITH US ALL OF THESE YEARS.
I PERSONALLY ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK HIM. I’VE BEEN HERE ALL 41 YEARS AND HAVE HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST.
The school district newsletter also shares this link to a related article in the Pottstown Mercury. The article is currently available only to Mercury subscribers, but it will supposedly be available to the public later this week.
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