Andre Chiefs

Hometown: Medford, MA    College: Boston College
Begins his 28th season at the helm of the Chiefs in 2018......Veteran manager has piloted the Chiefs to six Intercity League championships, twenty-four playoff appearances, and ten regular season pennants, including four out of the last five years (2013, 2014, 2016 & 2017) .......Formerly pitched for the club in the 1970's & 1980's for then player-manager and ICL Hall of Famer Joe O'Donnell when the team was known as the Hosmer Chiefs.......Has appeared in the Intercity League playoffs 33 times as a player and manager has been part of ten championships.....Has recorded a 645-348-69 record as the team's skipper entering the 2018 season.... Made his managerial debut in 1989..... Won his 500th career game in July of 2012 and his 600th game on June 9, 2016..... Begins this year with 1,062 games under his belt as the Chiefs' manager ........Many of his former players have gone on to sign professional baseball contracts.......Was co-captain of 1974 Medford High School Greater Boston League Championship team...... ...Inducted into Medford High School Mustang Hall of Fame with a 12-0 pitching record and went on to graduate from Boston College...... Serves as a member of the Intercity League's Board of Directors.....Off the field, he is the Founder of ReMax Andrew Realty Services with offices in Medford, MA and Stoneham, MA.....

Andre Chiefs - 2015

The Chiefs’ name and outstanding baseball tradition have been synonymous since 1957. Carrying the Hosmer Chiefs name from 1958 to 1984 and the Andre Chiefs banner from 1989 to the present, the Chiefs have maintained a consistent atmosphere of professionalism and winning.

The Championships - Through the years the Chiefs have brought 19 baseball championships to the City of Medford, Massachusetts, including the 2012 and 2014 crowns. They have won 22 Suburban Twilight League or Intercity League pennants. Remarkably, the Chiefs have recorded a winning record and have made the playoffs in 49 of their 51 summers of playing baseball.  

The Franchise- The Chiefs franchise carries a winning percentage of almost .700 over the 2,500 games they have played over seven decades. In 1966, the Chiefs were named as the top semi-professional team in America. Since 1957, they have had only five managers, Ernie Ardolino (1957-1960), Lenny Dempsey (1961-1967), Joe O’Donnell (1968-1981), Bob DeFelice (1982-1984) and current manager Chuck Andre 1989-present. The franchise was named as the “Team of the Decade” for the 1960’s, 1970’s & 1990’s.

The 2015 Coaching Staff
Chuck Andre-Manager (Boston College) completed his 24th year at the helm in 2014. He recorded his 500th career win in July of 2012. Andre, who has a career managerial record of 574-314-68, has piloted the club to 22 playoff appearances, eight regular season pennants, and six Intercity League Championships. A former right-handed pitcher, Andre played for the Chiefs in the 1970’s & 1980’s. He has missed the ICL postseason just twice as a player or manager in 30 seasons. He was inducted into the Medford High School Hall of Fame in 1995.
Paul Crisafulli- Asst. Manager (NEBI). Crisafulli first came aboard with the Chiefs in 1997 and has served as a member of the coaching staff since 2001. He played for the Chiefs from 1997-2000 and was considered one of the ICL’s best power hitters of that era.
Steve Calabresi- Coach (UMass-Boston) Longtime Arlington Catholic coach rejoined the Chiefs staff in 2012. Coach Cal was with the team from 1989 to 1995, has 46 years of experience in the coaching ranks and has been part of five Chiefs’ championships.
John Veneziano- Coach (Westfield State) Veneziano joined the Chiefs Staff for the 2012 season. A former Westfield State standout outfielder, Veneziano played for the Chiefs and was an outfielder on many Chiefs championship teams of the late 1970’s and 1980’s.
Anthony Durkee- Coach (Salem State). Durkee returned to the Chiefs dugout in 2012 after spending a few seasons in Florida. He first came aboard with the Chiefs in 2006. Former standout at Medford High, graduating in 2004.
Justin Crisafulli- Coach (Central Missouri State) The Chiefs’ all-time career leader in all offensive categories comes onboard as a member of the staff in 2015. Over his legendary 16 year Chiefs’ career Justin hit 91 Home Runs, drove in 417 runs, and amassed 567 hits. He first made the club as a rookie in 1994 and made his final appearance as a player in 2011. The outfielder signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1997.

The Tradition- The Chiefs baseball tradition runs deep, as sons have followed their fathers and grandfathers in wearing the uniform. Over the years playing for the Chiefs became a sandlot baseball fantasy place where batboys became managers and players, ball boys became major league pitchers, and many became baseball legends. As former manager Joe O’Donnell (1968-1981) said at a Chiefs reunion banquet, “once a Chief, always a Chief.” Still today, Chiefs players from decades gone by return to watch their team play. There always seems to be a former Chief or two in the crowd.

Alumni- Through the years, Chiefs mystique, championships and professionalism always remained constant. Almost 600 semi-professional ballplayers at one time or another wore the Chiefs uniform. It is estimated that over 115 of those players at some point signed a professional baseball contract. Two former Chiefs have even appeared in the World Series, Mike Pagliarulo with the Minnesota Twins in 1991 and Kevin McGlinchy with the Atlanta Braves in 1999.

Maplewood Park & South Broadway Field at Malden Catholic Located in Malden, Massachusetts- The Chiefs will play their night games on the artificial surface of Maplewood Park and the newly constructed and soon to be renamed South Broadway Field. Both facilities are located on the campus of Malden Catholic.

Huskins Field at Tufts University Located in Medford, Massachusetts- The Chiefs play their daytime home games at beautiful Huskins Field which is located on College Avenue on the campus of Tufts University, considered to be one of the finest natural grass surfaces in the Northeast.

Record Book- The Chiefs have had the last three ICL MVP’s. Jeff Bercume (2012), Jared Freni (2013) and Johnny Welch (2014). They also have bragging rights to two of the all-time winning pitchers in ICL history, Fred Knox (1957-1973) and Dave Marsters (1989-2008), both who recorded over 110 career ICL victories. Former Cleveland Indian outfielder and now Assistant Coach Justin Crisafulli is the career home run leader with 91, hit leader with 567, and RBI leader with 417. For a complete history of the Chiefs franchise click on the “Chiefs History” tab.

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Freni Throws Three-Hitter in 4-0 Win,
Welch & Gedman Solo Homers
Give Chiefs 2nd Crown in 3 Years,
19th Overall Title for Franchise

Listen to Local Sports Productions Re-Broadcast of Game 5 with Sam Feeley
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/avk78kxzyt58x3x/2014_ICL_Championship_Series_Game_5_-_Lexington_Blue_Sox_@_Andre_Chiefs.mp3

Andre Chiefs stars Jared Freni (left) and Johnny Welch (right) make a special presentation to Medford Attorney Victor Garo on behalf of the team. Garo, who hosted a dinner for the Intercity League Champs on Wednesday night at Carroll’s Restaurant in Medford Square, was an original Chiefs’ pitcher in the late 1950’s. He pitched the first no-hitter in Chiefs’ franchise history against Somerville on July 29, 1959. The Chiefs presented Garo a framed banner signed by the entire team that commemorated the 2014 Championship, which was the 19th since 1961 for the club.

Chiefs “2014 Championship” Chatter….. The Chiefs celebrated the 19th championship in franchise history with a late night victory party at the Kowloon Restaurant in Saugus, MA after their Game Five victory on Tuesday night. The organization thanks Kowloon owners Bobby & Andy Wong for their hospitality & generosity. The Wong Brothers provided the beverages and complimentary champagne for the 2014 ICL Champs and kept their place open “extra late” to help the Chiefs welcome their latest title. The relationship between Chiefs’ championships and the Kowloon have become synonymous and goes back decades. The franchise has had an ongoing bond with the Route One establishment since the 1970’s. The legendary restaurant and the Wong Family have been instrumental in helping the Joey Fund, which was named for the late son of former Chiefs’ manager and ICL Hall of Famer Joe O’Donnell, and the tradition continued once again Tuesday night…..The Chiefs’ will be honored at dinner hosted by former Chief pitcher Victor Garo next Wednesday night at Maury Carroll’s Carroll’s Restaurant in Medford Square. Garo, a prominent local attorney, pitched the first Chiefs’ no-hitter in 1958. Several Chiefs’ alumni, including O’Donnell and Eddie Rideout, are expected to be in attendance…..The dinners don’t end there as the team will be guests of the Boston Red Sox and the Bo Sox Club on Wednesday, September 24 at the Boston/Dedham Hilton Hotel. It will at this annual luncheon that the Chiefs will receive their 2014 ICL championship trophy. In addition, the 2014 individual awards, including the prestigious ICL MVP Award, will be presented at the annual ICL’s Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham, MA in mid-November….Despite giving it his best try, Chiefs’ first baseman Peter Copa was unable to go in Game Five with a quad injury he suffered in Game Three. In addition to Copa, Chiefs’ DH Mike Andre unceremoniously played through the entire playoffs with a hamstring pull he suffered back on July 30 in Lexington on a play when Mike Hart robbed him of extra bases with a spectacular catch of a right-centerfield gap shot. Andre missed two games to conclude the regular season, despite being treated by former Chiefs’ hurler and current Emmanuel College head trainer Ron Laham on a daily basis. Andre made a return for the playoffs despite not being close to 100%. The Chiefs certainly wanted the veteran in the lineup for Game Five as the six time ICL all-star has owned Blue Sox ace Matt Karis over the last few years, hitting four homers of the Lexington ace, including a 10th inning walk off grand slam walk in Game Four of the 2011 Championship Series….Manager Chuck Andre chalked up his tenth ICL ring, winning four as a player and now six as the Chiefs’ skipper….The Chiefs got five straight outstanding pitching performances in the championship series. Two from Jared Freni in Games One and Five, a big Game Three extra inning win from Mitchell Clegg, and strong performances from Mike DiCato in Game Two, and Timmy Dunphy in Game Four. For the first time in ICL history, each of the Chiefs’ starters in the championship series all pitched complete games…..The series was well covered by the ICL, the Blue Sox, and the Chiefs’ media staff. Kudos go out to Bruce Hack, Sam Feeley, Bruce Tillman, Local Sports Productions, John Connolly of the Boston Herald, www.Pointstreak.com , Todd Bloniarz, Allison Goldsberry of www.insidemedford.com, and www.intercityleaguebaseball.com  for another job well done. Of course the ICL is always well covered in depth by ICL Hall of Famer Steve Freker, editor of the Medford Daily Mercury and Malden Evening News, and the 2014 season was no different….Special thanks go out to Joan Bell and Orazio Azzarello for their coordination and help with Morelli Field in Melrose, where the entire Championship Series was contested……More Coverage is Coming Soon…Text By B.T