Generations at Play

A calm breeze, clear sky, the faint smell of hot dogs and a stadium of dedicated fans is the perfect setting for Guam’s baseball elite to duke it out on the diamond. The venue is Paseo stadium in downtown Hagåtña where the teams of the Budweiser Baseball League, formerly the Guam Major League until 2003, come together to compete at the highest level. Young and old, these skilled players come from all walks of life. There is a healthy rivalry in the league which appeals to all dedicated fans of baseball. Guam’s baseball history has an outstanding past with the GML opening their first season in 1974 with the Agana Heights Cougars, UOG Tritons, Atkins Kroll Islanders, 4-0 Dodgers, Proteus, and the Tamuning Rebels. The league’s first victors were the Agana Heights Cougars winning the best of five matches against the UOG Tritons - three to two.  Guam’s premier baseball league was formed and continues to give our local talent the opportunity to showcase and hone their skill with each game.

Over the years, certain players of the same family continually standout and grace our headlines. The Hattig’s, Alcantara’s, Aguon’s, and Palomo’s have deep roots in the league and are still very active today. While having more than one player come from the same family is nothing new, having more than one player from the same family excel, is certainly exceptional. These standouts today are just as good or better as their fathers, uncles and brothers who played before them. With opportunities available in baseball today, they have obtained an education, become ambassadors for our island, coached and mentored our youth, and one went on to become a pro baseball player. The GML was their beginning and most have returned through the years. 

The Hattig’s

Guam’s first and only player to reach professional status, JR Hattig, reminisces about the days when his father John Hattig and Uncles Keith and Herbert Hattig would bring him along to their GML practices at around the age of nine. He was practicing with GML teams Continental Golden Jets and the Pepsi Giants. This gave him the opportunity to learn from older and seasoned players. Practice was something JR looked forward to every weekend and if he missed it for some reason, it would leave him disappointed. As a youngster tailing his dad and uncles, the GML was all he knew and it was a place he knew he would eventually be. “GML means a lot to me. It’s a place for local people who want to play at the highest level on Guam - this is it ... this is where it is at!” he says with enthusiasm and excitement. The league gave JR a grand opportunity as it was here that a scout caught a glimpse of him during play. Still in high school, the competition was intense making it difficult to just make the lineup, let alone impress a scout. Soon thereafter, JR was given the opportunity of a lifetime; to play baseball as a professional. JR’s break led him to the Boston Red Sox for 5 years, the Toronto Blue Jays for another 5 years and finally to the New York Mets. Returning home, he sees the future of the league as bright; with hopes that Guam’s level of play will rise high enough to compete at the international level. This will afford everyone all sorts of opportunity, especially the younger players making their way up in the game. This true ball player just can’t get enough of baseball and if it was up to him, there would be more games and a longer season.

The Alcantara’s

“The Human Vacuum Cleaner”, “Steve-O”, “Ray”, “Junior”, and “Pudge”are what the Alcantara family are affectionately known as. Roke Alcantara Sr. started playing baseball at the young age of nine, over fifty years ago. His baseball history spans almost 20 years and with his skill and ability as a third baseman, garnered him the name “the Human Vacuum Cleaner” because he sucked up everything that came his way. He is currently the commissioner for the BBL and the Babe Ruth League, and the President of the Guam Masters Baseball.  “GML means family. Baseball is in me. It’s in the blood,” says Roke Sr. His sons Steven, Ryan, Roke Jr., and Randy all follow in his footsteps as they were immersed in baseball life since birth. Because of Roke Sr.’s ability and skill, coaches started focusing in on his boys in hopes they may also have the talent of their father. As expected, Roke Sr.’s boys each possessed talent equal to or greater than their father. The Alcantara boys were in high demand. One of the fondest memories for Roke Sr. was having the opportunity to watch his sons Steven and Roke Jr. play college baseball. Steven pitched for Missouri Valley College and Roke Jr. pitched for Bevill State Community College in Alabama both under athletic scholarships. All of the Alcantara’s currently play for the Bank of Guam Athletics. Roke Sr. has no favorites and is extremely proud of all his boys’ accomplishments. Roke Sr. has two other sons, one being active with baseball in the mainland, and one who does not play baseball at all. The next generation of Alcantara baseball players may be just around the corner with grandson Eric Alcantara, who was part of the Guam team four years ago that went on to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania and with two-year old grandson, Dayton John, who is found practicing daily. Baseball is truly in this family’s blood.

The Aguon’s

“The GML is a gathering of the best of friends - but when we get on the field we play as hard as we can to win. After the game, we shutdown the fire, have some drinks and shoot the breeze together,” says Ray Aguon. Player-coach for the Gatorade Giants, Ray recalls his family history in the GML starting with his Uncle Jess who played with the famed AK Islanders and later coached the Miller Lite All-stars, his Uncle Tony who was active in the Air Force and played for the Andersen Bombers, and his brother Pete who was the family standout with multiple season MVP’s and a was a 15 year all-star. Ray remembers how he chose his position of catcher when his father, Ben Aguon who coached for the Exxon Tigers in 1984, used to practice with the family by rocketing off some balls during infield practice. It was frightening at times and to Ray; catcher just seemed a lot safer. Baseball was all the Aguon’s had growing up as there were no video games, cable TV, computers, or internet to keep them occupied. It was either cleaning up the ranch or going to baseball practice. Their sole source of entertainment was baseball and it brought along opportunity by giving the players a chance to travel. Travelling gave us a better perspective on the world and on the game of baseball. One accomplishment the Aguon family has is the most “Manager of the Year” awards. Ray's father Ben and older brother Pete have one a piece, with Ray garnering a few more. He hopes the Aguon family name in baseball continues on with his children, nephews, and nieces. Since he has been blessed with daughters, his focus is now on girl’s fast-pitch softball. Pete’s son, PJ, looks to also be a standout in the years to come. It is with hope that the younger generation find true love with the sport as there are many distractions and opportunities with other sports that may draw them away from baseball. The times have changed and other sports like Golf and Rugby seem to be taking the spotlight. He urges the youth to take advantage of the opportunities with baseball and if an education is available, to finish with a degree and then see where the sport takes you thereafter. If you don’t get a break, you will always have your education to fall back on. Spoken like a true coach. 

The Palomo’s

Bill Palomo recalls getting his start in baseball in the early 1960’s with the help of his older brothers Ray and Dave. His younger brothers Glenn, Phil, Tom, Henry and Mike also followed in step becoming baseball standouts as well. The Palomo family will always be associated with the MTM Falcons as a majority of the players were family.  Baseball was a natural sport for these guys and it showed throughout the years. It wasn’t hard for the younger generation Palomo’s to follow in the footsteps of their fathers and uncles as baseball was their life. They literally grew up on the “field of dreams” and were diligently taught the basics of the game. Bill Palomo played in the early days of the GML for Exxon for a season until he heeded the call to serve in the military. Several of Bills brothers also made a great run in the league over the years.  Baseball gave his son Jared an opportunity to play college baseball with Jefferson State Community College, in Birmingham Alabama, as an outfielder. Sons Chad and Jared are active today with the Gatorade Giants playing along side nephews Glenn and Chris.  Chad Palomo admits that with his father’s and uncle’s success in the league, he feels the constant pressure of living up to the family name. Baseball was never something that was talked about in the family; it was just done and done well. “The GML is a league where good friends, the best ball players on Guam, come together to have fun and compete at Guam’shighest level,” says Chad.  He strives to be a good Ambassador by setting a good example for the young, up and coming ball players. While the new generation of Palomo players is still very young, Chad and family look forward to teaching them the way they were taught; with good fundamentals, the right attitude, and great respect for the game.

Food for thought…

What continues to drive these families of players to compete after all these years? Is it really in their blood? Is the baseball tradition instilled so deep within the family that it just can’t be ignored? Or is it the will and drive to keep their family legacies alive? Whatever it is, they continue to be present to compete and excel in the BBL and in the sport of baseball. It is with great anticipation that the next generations from these families bring a higher level of play and continue to be a force in baseball in the future.

Photos courtesy of Ed C. Cruz

Photo 1: Alcantara Boys w/Dad - L-R ,Randy, Roke Jr, Roke Sr "The Human Vacuum Cleaner", Ryan, Steve

Photo 2: JR Hattig

Photo 3: Palomos - L-R, Glenn, Chris, Chad, Jared 

Photo 4: Ray Aguon