The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-22
CITY AMATEUR LEAGUE DINNER
 HUGE SUCCESS

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 A goodly crowd of nearly 300 men and women were royalty fed and entertained at the third an- nual mid-Winter dinner and Hot Stove session of the City Amateur league last night at Hotel Elton. Particularly tribute was paid to two men, former high school base ball teammates; one lieutenant colonel and senior chaplain of the 5th US Army Air Corps, the other a Workingman whose local and state baseball activity has covered more than % years.
 Larry Mullen, veteran infielder who has seen baseball service with more than 20 different teams since 1918 and is still an active player, was presented with the City Anna teur league Award of Merit in the form of trophy given annually by the league to a local player, manager or official associated with the organization since it's first year 1923, the individual determined by vote of committe of sportsWriters and league officials Mullen was a unanimous choice this year. Last years recipient was Bill Sheehy, both CLIP employees, who were given beautiful pen and penSil sets last night by Charles J. Allen, public re- 1a nfJ 3n{a tha
 Much Travel
 Bill Summers, American league umpire, returned to this country last week Thursday, after 60,000 mile round trip to Persia, Africa and Egypt as member of a big league baseball group to entertain American troops; was the principal speaker, telling of hardships of the Tanks, some of them from Water bury, on duty in the Persian Gulf area unloading ships and moving supplies on lend-lease to Russia. The speaker, relating several com ical incidents of his trip and career as an ump, grew serious in remind ing his hearers how important a letter can be to the average "G H. Joe" in that part of the world, where the temperature reaches l80 degrees, too hot to handle metal without gloves.
 Lieutenant Colonel Thomas r, Shea, Waterbury priest with many months of service in the South Pa cific war theater, told of the value and importanct of baseball to the men on the islands; many soldiers playing the game at night, after hard days work with the BPS Lib- orator bombers. Wherever possible, baseball diamonds were laid out, and game played as often as limited liesure time would allow. Lieutenant Colonel Shea known as "Tunk' during his baseball days on Wash ington Hill and at Hamilton Park, was presented with a beautiful set of breViaries by the City Amateur League; gift which he deeply ap- preciated and needs at this time, having left his last set in Australia, Ca breviary is a book of prayer, printed in Latin, required to be read daily by every Roman Catholic priesD The home furlough of Lieu tenant Colonel Shea ends tomorrow as he must report to the Air Corps reassignment center at Atlantic City on Wednesday.
 Two Awards
 Presentation of the league award of merit was made to Larry Mullen by John A. Cluney, sports editor of The Democrat, who briefly reviewed the baseball career of the we'll known athlete, adding 'it is players of the type of Larry Mullen who make baseball the great national pastime of America" Presentation of a gift to Lieutenant Colonel Shea was made by William J. DerWin, president of the City Amateur League, who also thanked those present for their contribution to- ward the National Infantile Paraly- sis Fund. All profits of the dinner go to the fund.
 George F. Mulligan, veteran sports promoter who played in the old City League, said Mullen was the best shortStop Waterbury has developed in 55 years, and George F. Taylor. former Crosby High coach and now coach of Roger Ludlowe High, Fair field, added that Mullen was the finest shortstop he ever had on his teams in his long coaching career.
 Harry x. Cashin, former City league president, was toastmaster, and other speakers were: William P. ODonnell, sports editor of The Republican; John Chick Kelley sports editor of The American and Rev. James A. Broderick, pastor of St. Francis Xavier church and old friend of the late John McGraW, Aldermanic President Patrick F. Shea and Adolph Raymond.