Clary Anderson, left, of Montclair with his assistant football coach Butch Fortunato. Anderson coached his baseball teams to 464 victories.
It has been extremely difficult to assemble a thoroughly accurate, unimpeachable list of the New Jersey’s All-Time Baseball Coaches Victories.
But, boy are we close.
Your friends at Diamond Nation.com are providing this annual service to the baseball community and we re-publish today with some very good news. We have finally, after some effort, put our hands on the career coaching numbers of the great Clary Anderson of Montclair.
Thank you to the Montclair community and Montclair baseball coach Ron Gavazzi for making this a priority and bringing the remarkable career numbers together for one of, if not THE, greatest multi-sport coach in the history of the Garden State.
Here is a man who coached baseball, football, hockey, basketball and swimming at the scholastic level. Clary then went on to coach football and baseball at Montclair State for a total of seven more seasons. His overall career record in all those sports, a total of 37 years on the sideline, courtside, rinkside and poolside turning boys into men, both at the high school and college level, is 1,153-356-25.
Taking out the ties, Anderson’s career winning percentage is an astonishing .764. Can you imagine winning at that pace in five different sports over 37 seasons? What St. Benedict’s Joe Kasberger achieved as a coach in two sports stacks up remarkably well, too. Kasberger, who remained the state’s victories leader in baseball from 1968-’91, was an amazing 593-137-3 (.812) on the diamond and 200-65-15 on the gridiron (.755).
Okay, we know this is a baseball column, say let’s stay focused. Clary Anderson, understandably, is more recognized for his accomplishments on the football field where he was 209-23-6 at the high school level for an impossible .901 winning percentage. Clary simply lapped the field, even one full of football coaching legends.
Oh, yes, back to baseball.
Anderson coached baseball 26 seasons during stops at Montclair Academy (now MKA), Blair Academy and mostly Montclair. He registered a 464-154 record on the diamond for a gaudy .751 winning percentage.
We thank Montclair and its current baseball coach, Gavazzi, for unearthing this valuable document below. What is history if only remembered in a blurry thought? There is nothing like hard numbers. And we have hard numbers on Clary Anderson.
Although the numbers on Anderson’s stay at Montclair State are incomplete (missing three football years and four baseball years) on the document above, we researched further to update those numbers, which are reflected in the body of this column. We thought you would get a kick out of seeing the ancient document above created with a typewriter.
How did we miss Johnny Shep?
Well, we didn’t really miss him. John Sheppard, the longtime coach at Morristown Beard was identified early as a coach who has plenty of wins and should fall somewhere fairly high on our list. Those numbers, like others, have been somewhat elusive to come by. We cannot publish numbers we haven’t determined are firm, so we waited.
Thanks to Mo-Beard A.D. Mike Sturgeon, himself an outstanding pitcher in high school at West Morris, those numbers are now acquired. Johnny Shep’ checks in on our All-Time List with 460 career victories.
You will see on our updated list below that Anderson and Sheppard are listed in bold, coincidentally, right next to each other.
As always, we welcome you to share coaching numbers we may have, very unintentionally, missed. Simply email this writer at bbehre@diamondnation.com and we’ll begin the verification process. Thank you, Steve Tober, Sideline Chatter, for the photo of coaches Anderson and Fortunato at the top.
NJ High School All-Time Baseball Coaches Victories List
x-active
900
x-Ken Frank, Toms River South – 919-326-3 (.738)
800
Marty Kenny, Christian Brothers Academy – 832-349 (.704)
x-Mike Sheppard, Jr., West Orange/Seton Hall Prep – 831-221-5 (.790)
700
Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754-208 (.784)
Harry Shatel, Morristown – 752-326 (.698)
x-Sam Tropiano, St. Augustine/Bishop Eustace – 727-260-1 (.737)
600
Rich Bender, Delran – 672-349 (.658)
Lee Ware, Woodstown – 671-414 (.618)
Bob Brewster, Westfield – 655-342-3 (.657)
Ray Korn, Elizabeth – 651-308-1 (.679)
Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4 (.702)
x-Norm Hewitt, Bridgewater West, Bridgewater, Hillsborough – 631-326 (.659)
Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) 630-184-1 (.774)
Mike Zadroga, Dickinson/NBergen/HCath/CtyPrp – 611-254 (.706)
Russ Spicer, Hadd., Moorestown, Paulsboro, Cinnaminson. – 603-287 (.678)
500
Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep (1930-’68) 593-137-3 (.812)
Joe Urbanovich, St. Peter’s Prep – 580-272 (.681)
x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 572-223-3 (.719)
x-Kurt Hommen, Ridgewood – 571-271-1 (.678)
x-Tim Byron, Glen Ridge/Montclair/Old Tappan – 567-317 (.641)
John Ponchak, Ramsey – 555-342 (.619)
Bob Carcich, Emerson – 539-233 (.698)
Joe Cervino, Paramus – 538-284-2 (.648)
x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 528-108-1 (.830)
Butch Servideo, Lyndhurst – 524-265-1 (.664)
Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1 (.797)
Ralph Cobb, Old Tappan/Rutherford – 522-321 (.619)
Bill Frank, Toms River East – 520-279-2 (.651)
Mike Hogan, St.M(J.C.)/St. Anthony/Marist/Ferris – 519-427 (.549)
Champ Atlee, Lawrenceville – 519
John Brunelli, Cliffside Park – 511-239 (.681)
x-Gary Sarno, Camd. Cath., Cherry Hill West, Hamm., Paul VI – 509-307 (.624)
Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199 (.718)
Dave Martin, Cherry Hill East – 502-286 (.637)
400
x-Ralph Pacifico, Montclair Kimberley – 499-310-1 (.617)
Barry Cook, St. John Vianney – 481
Mario Diez, Watchung Hills – 476-253 (.653)
Jerry Battaglini, Newark Central/East Side/Columbia – 473-310 (.604)
x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford – 472-142 (.769)
Brian Gibney, Shawnee – 469-210 (.691)
Tom Trotman, Cherry Hill West – 467-234-1 (.666)
Ted Jarmusz, W.Orange/Monmth Reg – 465-295 (.612)
Clary Anderson, Montclair Acad./Blair Acad./Montclair -464-154 (.751)
x-John Sheppard, Morristown Beard – 460
Buddy Matthews, Hoboken – 459-234 (.662)
x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 457-122 (.789)
Phil Baccarella, Bayonne – 440-162 (.731)
x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 431-172-1 (.715)
x-Bill Alvaro, Jr., Williams./Wash. Twp./Kingsway – 430-213-1 (.669)
Scott Runkel, Bishop Ahr – 430-270-1 (.614)
Joe Policastro, Highland Park – 429
x-Jim Maher, Florence/Ham.West/Nottingham – 429-189 (.694)
Rob Christ, Gateway/Eastern – 426-170 (.715)
Rick Sabol, Somerville – 420-298 (.585)
Pete Crandall, Park Ridge – 408
Larry D’Zio Jr., Jackson Memorial: 407
Todd Schmitt, Wall – 403-173 (.700)
Marty Flynn, Ham. West – 403
Rich Giallella, Steinert – 401-111 (.783)
Bill Lampeter, Livingston – 401
300
x-Pat Laguerre, St. Peter’s Prep – 397-186 (.683)
x-Gary Herron, Riverside -390-287 (.576)
x-Vinnie Bello, Marist/Pope John – 389-240-1 (.618)
Brandon Flanagan, River Dell – 385-168 (.696)
Rich Veth, Middletown North, 378-189-2. (.667)
Lou Urbano, JFK-Iselin/St. Jos. (Met.)/Woodbridge – 375
Fred Kampf, Shore Reg. – 374-211-3 (.639)
x-Bruce Shatel, Roxbury/Delbarton – 372-147-2 (.717)
Tom Carney, Lakewood/St. Jos. Hamm./Delsea- 370-206 (.642)
x-Scott Illiano, West Essex/Caldwell/Wayne Hills – 365-206-1 (.639)
John Mazzo, North Bergen/Passaic Valley – 365-347-1 (.513)
Frank Malta, Johnson Reg./Jackson – 364-168-1 (.684)
Greg Butler, Demarest/Don Bosco Prep – 361-153 (.702)
x-Greg Trotter, Roxbury – 360-240 (.600)
Craig Mensinger, Ocean City – 360-345-7 (.511)
Mickey Hunt – 357-182 (.662)
Al Radano, Gloucester Catholic – 351-101 (.777)
x-Joe Drulis, Notre Dame (Law.) – 351-141-2 (.713)
Ted Schelmay, Toms River North – 346-181-2 (.657)
Jon Block, Freehold/Point Pleasant Beach: 345-319 (.520)
Joe Lang, Pitman – 340-161 (.679)
Jake Landfried, Manasquan: 338-172 (.663)
x-Dave Pasquale, Newark Academy, Gill St. Bernards – 337-213 (.613)
Brian Boyce, North Bergen/Manalapan – 337-215 (.611)
Mike Raymond, Hunterdon Central – 335-115-1 (.744)
x-Brian Anderson, Shawnee – 335-175 (.657)
Stan Liptzin, Lakewood – 334-183 (.646)
Joe Konn, Bloomfield – 333-234-3 (.587)
Bernie Goldwater, Southern Freehold/Freehold Township – 331-190 (.635)
Roy Hallenbeck, Millville – 330-194-1 (.630)
Chuck Rooney, Cherokee/Eastern – 329-221 (.598)
Joe Yurko, Westwood – 324-235 (.580)
Al Kunzman, Central Regional – 324
Bob Bickel, Haddonfield – 324
Hal Lorme, Rumson-Fair Haven – 323
x-Jeff Falzarano, Bridg East/Watchung Hills/Bernards – 321-305-3 (.513)
Bill Chesney, Manchester Reg./Elmwood Park/Ramsey – 312-237 (.568)
x-Larry Santowasso, Rutgers Prep – 312-254-1 (.551)
Jack Lynch, Cedar Grove – 311-155 (.667)
Walter Serad, Delsea – 310-182 (.630)
Marty Flynn, Hamilton West – 308
x-Frank Clark, Emer-UC/Wald/MidPk – 307-156-3 (.663)
x-Ed Klimek, Teaneck – 307-410 (.428)
Chuck Dougherty, Middle Township – 305-246 (.554)
Frank Elias, Morris Knolls – 303-202-7 (.600)
x-Mike Bylone, St. Augustine – 302-92 (16th yr.) (.766)
Bill Donoghue, Moorestown – 300-201 (.599)
200
Mike Lepore, Sr., Cedar Ridge/South River – 291
x-John Passero, Hawthorne – 289-201-2 (.590)
x-Bob Harbison, Nutley – 284-188 (.602)
Jim Muldowney, Edison – 275-75 (.786)
x-Pete Mueller, Montgomery – 274-229 (.545)
x-Mike Policastro, Bloomfield – 273-259 (.513)
x-Glenn Fredricks, Freehold Borough/Spotswood – 272-171 (.614)
x-Ron Gavazzi, Bayley-Ellard/Montclair – 272-181-2 (.600)
Fred Cole, Old Bridge – 270-210 (.563)
x-Ken Harrison, Hopewell Valley – 265-157 (.628)
x-Carmen Spina, Rutherford – 258-114-2 (.694)
x-Jeff Hoover, Wayne Valley – 257-163 (.612)
Jim Sickinger, Kearny – 256
Bill Giglio, Ridge – 251-107 (.701)
x-Brian Nice, Allentown – 250-133-2 (.653) 17 years.
Jerry Smith Sr., JFK-Iselin – 248-119 (.676)
Jack Mott, Parsippany – 243 (19 years)
x-Tom Blackwell, Ridge – 242-180 (.573)
x-Brian Chapman, Millburn – 239-78 (.754)
x-Mike Carcich, Wood-Ridge – 226-150 (.601)
Brian Fleury, Delbarton – 223-63 (.780)
x-Joe Smith, Williamstown/Delsea – 219-109-1 (.668)
Dennis Hulse, St. Mary (Ruth.) 212-89 (.704)
x-Mike Rooney, Don Bosco Prep – 211-70 (.751)
Mike Carter, Bloomfield – 204-130-1 (.611)
Mickey Ennis, Nwk.Acad./Madison/Livingston – 203-157 (.564)
Coaches With .700 or Better Winning Percentage -Minimum 100 Wins
x-Dennis Barth, Gloucester Catholic – 528-108-1 (.830)
x-Kevin Cuozzi, Hunterdon Central – 116-25 (.823)
Joe Kasberger, St. Benedict’s Prep (1930-’68) 593-137-3 (.812)
Tom Gambino, Immaculata – 522-133-1 (.797)
x-Mike Sheppard, Jr., West Orange/Seton Hall Prep – 831-221-5 (.790)
x-Brian Giallella, Notre Dame/Steinert – 457-122 (.789)
Jim Muldowney, Edison – 275-75 (.786)
Tony Ferrainolo, Memorial (WNY) – 754-208 (.784)
Rich Giallella, Steinert – 401-111 (.783)
Brian Fleury, Delbarton – 223-63 (.780)
Al Radano, Gloucester Catholic – 351-107 (.777)
Frank Salvano, St. Joseph (Mont.) 630-184 (.774)
x-Dennis McCaffery, Cranford – 472-142 (.769)
x-Mike Bylone, St. Augustine – 302-92 (14th yr.) (.766)
x-Brian Chapman, Millburn – 239-78 (.754)
Clary Anderson, Montclair Acad./Blair/Montclair -464-154 (.751)
x-Mike Rooney, Don Bosco Prep – 211-70 (.751)
Mike Raymond, Hunterdon Central – 335-115-1 (.744)
x-Ken Frank, Toms River South – 919-326-3 (.738)
x-Sam Tropiano, St. Augustine/Bishop Eustace – 727-260-1 (.737)
Phil Baccarella, Bayonne – 440-162 (.731)
George Zanfini, Belleville – 156-59 (.726)
x-Rich Horan, Audubon – 572-223-3 (.719)
x-Joe Drulis, Notre Dame – 351-141-2 (.713)
Lou Calderone, Glen Ridge – 507-199 (1971-’90; 93-98; 00-01) (.718)
x-Bruce Shatel, Roxbury, Delbarton – 372-147-2 (.717)
x-Chris Roof, Millburn/Gov. Livingston – 431-172-1 (.715)
Rob Christ, Gateway/Eastern – 426-170 (.715)
Mike Zadroga, Dickins./NBergen/HCath./CtyPr – 611-254 (.706)
Dennis Hulse, St. Mary’s (Ruth.) – 215-90 (.705)
Marty Kenny, Christian Brothers – 832-349 (46 seasons) (.704)
Gordon LeMatty, Union – 641-272-4 (.702)
Greg Butler, Demarest/Don Bosco Prep – 361-153 (.702)
Bill Giglio, Ridge – 251-107 (.701)
Todd Schmitt, Wall – 403-173 (.700)
Held the All-Time Victories Mark At Retirement:
593: Joe Kasberger (held it the longest, 23 years, 1968-’91)
641: Gordon LeMatty
752: Harry Shatel
754: Tony Ferrainolo
919: Ken Frank (still active)