'The honor of my life': Six inducted into Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame

HARWICH ― In 2017, Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ had the second-most home runs for a rookie switch hitter in baseball history. The following year he belted the first pitch leading off the 2018 season for a home run and this past year he recorded his 100^th career home run, made the National League All-Star team and won a Gold Glove.

Yet, with all of those accolades and accomplishments, he was quick to point out, “the best two summers of my life were right here on Cape Cod, the most special place in the world.”

Happ was one of six Cape Cod Baseball greats honored on Sunday with the 21^st induction class into the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club.

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A former Harwich standout, Happ joined current Cubs teammate and pitcher Marcus Stroman, former major leaguers Billy Wagner and Justin Smoak, former Cape League batting champ Patrick Biondi and longtime league executive Steven Wilson who were also inducted.

Happ laughingly recalled rising early to help milk the cows on his host family's farm, as well as dressing up as a pirate for the Pirate Camps held during summers at the Wequassett Inn.

“The Cape League made all the difference in the world. I came here as a kid from Cincinnati, I was able to prove that I belonged,” said Happ, who played two summers in 2013 and 2014. “To be able to translate one year into another really good summer and eventually get drafted by the Cubs, it would not have been possible without the Cape League.”

In 2013, Happ initially joined Harwich as a temporary player, but played seven positions, including all three outfield spots and pitcher, and led the Mariners in nearly every offensive category.

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The induction ceremony was emceed by Hall of Fame committee member and former WBZ sportscaster Scott Wahle, who led the assemblage in the singing of the national anthem.

Cape League commissioner Eric Zmuda presided over the festivities in abstentia of Cape League president Chuck Sturtevant, who was attending the wedding of his daughter.

Each hall of famer was introduced by a presenter, before their accepting remarks.

Happ was introduced by Harwich field manager Steve Englert who noted, “Ian had a good first season with us and he came back to have a monster year.”

Cubs fireballer Stroman was presented by Orleans field manager Kelly Nicholson, who praised the 5-7 pitcher for “rising above being told that he was too short to accomplish his dreams to become a professional baseball player.”

In 2010 for Orleans, pitching primarily in relief, Stroman allowed zero earned runs over 28 innings while striking out 35 batters and recording 11 saves. He returned to Orleans in 2011, pitched another six scoreless innings before leaving to join Team USA; his career Cape League total 34 innings and zero runs allowed.

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Noting he originally came to the Cape as a two-way player, Stroman eventually decided not to focus on being a position player, but to simply pitch.

“I learned pretty early on that I couldn’t hit a slider,” he said, “but I could throw one.”

Smoak, who was introduced by his brother David, played 11 major league seasons, the majority in Seattle and Toronto, and was league MVP with Cotuit in 2006. He led the league that year with 11 home runs, 21 extra-base hits, 87 total bases, and a .565 slugging percentage.

“This was the most fun I ever had playing baseball, just an awesome atmosphere,” Smoak recalled of his 2006 summer with the Kettleers.

He praised Cotuit manager Mike Roberts for “teaching me how to hit with wooden bat and shorten my swing. I saw velocity on a daily basis and definitely learned a lot that summer.”

The fourth former major leaguer who was on the docket was Brewster’s Billy Wagner, who played 16 MLB seasons with the Astros, Phillies, Mets, Red Sox and Braves. During his career as primarily a reliever, he posted a 47-40 record, 2.31 ERA and 422 saves in 853 relief appearances, winning the National League Rolaids Relief Man Award in 1999.

Unfortunately, Wagner was unable to attend the ceremony due to a bout with the flu, but his presenter – legendary sportswriter and MLB Network personality Peter Gammons – presented and accepted on his behalf.

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“Billy Wagner was the best pitcher I had ever seen on Cape Cod,” praised Gammons, noting that in the 1992 Cape League All-Star game Wagner “came on, threw 10 pitches and no one even hit a foul ball off him” to get set down the side.

Gammons noted that Wagner was a natural right hander, but after breaking his right shoulder while playing football at the age of seven, he learned to throw lefty.

At the conclusion of his lengthy major league career, Gammons also described Wagner’s final mound appearance with the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

“He came in for his last inning and struck out the side. That’s how he went out,” said Gammons, “I think he’ll make the (National) Baseball Hall of Fame in a couple of years.”

Former Cotuit outfielder Biondi, who was presented by field manager Mike Roberts, recalled the polar opposite seasons he had with the Kettleers in 2011 and 2012.

“I struggled that first season and may be the only player to make the Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame with a .172 average,” he said, noting that perseverance paid off for him in 2012.

That season, he flirted in the .400 batting range before finishing with a league-leading .388 batting average and was named Cotuit’s team MVP. Drafted in the ninth round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the New York Mets, he spent six seasons in the minor leagues, making it to Triple-A before his professional career ended in 2019.

“I had two very different years and different seasons after the frustrations and struggles that first year,” Biondi said. “Coming back that next year was the coolest summer of my life.”

Longtime league executive Wilson, presented by former league president and Hall of Famer Judy Walden-Scarafile, worked tirelessly to improve the league while demonstrating fiscal responsibility. His meticulous management of the CCBL finances for 30 years as the league’s treasurer demonstrated his peerless attention to detail.

“It’s a tremendous honor. I am humbled and very grateful and appreciative and it’s really the honor of my life,” said Wilson, who first became involved with the Cape League in the 1970s.

Wilson had a distinguished career as school psychologist for Harwich Public Schools and was longtime head coach of the Harwich and Monomoy Regional High School baseball teams.

Several other annual awards were presented at the pre-induction brunch by commissioner Zmuda, including the Fred Ebbett Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Bussiere, who has served in numerous roles within the Cape League for over three decades including eight years as director of corporate development, helping to raise over $4 million.

A man of many talents, Bussiere has served as both president and general manager for the Hyannis Mets and Harbor Hawks franchise as well as league senior vice president, vice president and deputy commissioner.

Also, the Richard “Dick” Sullivan Executive of the Year Award was presented to Harwich general manager Alex Lumb, while the Peter Gammons Award of Excellence & Distinction was awarded to the Cape Cod 5, a key supporter of the Cape Cod Baseball League, having contributed over $1 million dollars annually in each of the last eight years.

Mike Richard can be contacted by email at mikerichard0725@gmail.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Six new inductees enter Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame