CAPE COD TIMES

STEVE BALBONI, Falmouth/Y-D infielder - The Eckerd College slugger played two seasons in the league and was named MVP of the 1977 All-Star Game at Fenway Park when he clouted two homers over the Green Monster at Fenway Park. He was also regular-season MVP in '77, batting .271 with a league-leading 13 homers and 38 RBIs for Yarmouth-Dennis. ''Bye-Bye'' Balboni added six homers and drove in 16 runs during playoff competition. He signed with the New York Yankees and enjoyed a successful major league career, hitting 181 career home runs in 11 seasons, mostly with Kansas City.

RICK CURRIER, Chatham pitcher - The USC hurler had two All-Star seasons for the A's, going 5-2 with a 2.37 ERA in 1998 and 7-0 in '99 with a 1.34 ERA. He was named Co-Outstanding Pitcher of the Year in '99 and signed with the New York Yankees.

STEVE DUDA, Chatham pitcher - The Pepperdine product compiled back-to-back All-Star seasons. He was 4-4 with a 2.89 ERA while throwing a no-hitter vs. Y-D in 1991. He came back in '92 and went 6-1 with a 0.90 ERA. He was the playoff MVP in '92 with a 2-0 record and a 0.90 ERA.

JIM HUBBARD, Yarmouth/Cotuit outfielder; Cotuit manager; Wareham general manager - The Bridgewater State graduate served the league in various capacities over five decades as a player, field manager, umpire and GM. Played from 1958-61, managed 1961-69 and won four championships, was a league umpire from 1970-74 and Wareham's GM from 1990-96.

ROSS JONES, Hyannis outfielder - Hard-hitting outfielder from Miami led the Mets to the 1979 title and a record 33 wins. Hit a league-leading .413 with three homers, 35 RBIs and 12 doubles and was named Outstanding Pro Prospect and was also MVP of the All-Star Game. Set a league record with 10 consecutive hits and had a 22-game hitting streak. Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the New York Mets, Seattle and Kansas City.

GREG LOTZAR, Cotuit outfielder - Fleet Central Michigan outfielder led the league in hitting in 1983 at .414 with a .516 on-base percentage and a then-record 33 stolen bases. He also had 63 hits and 46 runs scored in 40 games. Named league and playoff MVP and was signed by the Boston Red Sox. 

LANCE NIEKRO, Orleans infielder - Florida Southern star was 1999 league MVP. Hit .360 average with 13 homers and 44 RBIs and finished first in hits (62), slugging percentage (.640) and total bases (110). Returned to play nine games in 2000. Now with the San Francisco Giants. Son of former major league pitcher Joe Niekro, who passed away last weekend, and the nephew of Hall of Famer Phil Niekro.

JOSH PAUL, Cotuit catcher-outfielder - The Vanderbilt product was league MVP in 1995. Won batting title hitting .364, with six homers, 26 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and slugged .652. Was the first player in league history to win the batting title, MVP and Outstanding Pro Prospect Award. Signed with the Chicago White Sox and now with Tampa Bay.

ALLEN (BUZZY) WILCOX, Orleans infielder - Played 17 years in the league in parts of three decades in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. He banged out three hits and drove in four runs to lead Orleans to a 7-6 win over Chatham for the Lower Cape League Championship. Wilcox was synonymous with the league's town team concept during the middle of the 20th century. 

(Published: November 3, 2006)