Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame announces new 2026 Inductees for March 7 banquet

The 1958 Malden PONY All-Stars, led by Donovan, Mauriello, Geaney is Legacy Selection; other inductees: Moro Family, Joe Zaia, Les Masterson, Ken Petraglia, Harvey Nadler and Ferryway Green Park

By Steve Freker

Some of the most well-known and much-appreciated contributors to the sport of Baseball in the city of Malden will soon get their due honors.

The 2nd Biennial Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame is being announced today in The Malden Advocate. All those who want to share in honoring these inaugural honorees are welcome and invited to attend the 2nd Biennial Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony on Saturday, March 7, at the Malden Moose Hall at 562 Broadway, Malden. There will be a social reception from 6:00-6:45 p.m., a photo session with inductees and their families from 6:45-7:00 and an Italian-themed buffet dinner at 7:00 p.m. sharp.

The Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame’s mission is simple: “To honor those whose lives and meaningful contributions have directly and positively impacted Baseball in the city of Malden through the years.”

In the letter which will go out to the inductees or their families from the Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame, it explains: “Baseball has been an integral part of the history of the city of Malden and indeed, it is a part of the very fabric of this community.

“The institutions that have been formed, then grown and thrived surrounding the sport of Baseball in our city have helped thousands of individuals and families in the city of Malden create so many wonderful and lasting relationships, friendships and memories.

“Certainly, your contributions through the years to Baseball in the city of Malden deserve special recognition and acknowledgement among those whose contributions have been exemplary and particularly noteworthy.”

This year’s inductees to be honored on March 7 are the following:

— The 1958 Malden PONY League All-Star Baseball Team, led by Jack Donovan, Fran Mauriello, Kevin Geaney and others, who played in the PONY League World Series, are the 2026 LEGACY Inductee

— The Moro Family, including the late Leo Moro, longtime Malden Little League and Babe Ruth team manager and BRL Board Member and League Officer, best known for leading the West Division Chiefs to much success, also a former Malden High Baseball assistant coach. Also the late Steve “Stef” Moro, another longtime youth baseball coach in Malden, skippering both the Flames and the Chiefs to success in Malden Babe Ruth. Leo’s grandson, Chris Kosuk, has kept the Chiefs in the family for nearly 20 more years as its longtime and present manager.

— Les Masterson, who for many years coached and mentored hundreds of youths in the Malden Little League, most notably as the “King of Trafton Park” as manager of the highly successful Yankees in the American League in the 1970s and 1980s.

— Joe Zaia, an icon in Malden Babe Ruth Baseball, who led his beloved Orioles to much success and many wins and was a true leader in the organization and an inspiration to hundreds of Malden youths through the years

— Ken Petraglia, one of the most successful and respected youth baseball coaches in Malden Baseball history, at both the Little League and Babe Ruth levels, leading many teams to terrific seasons and championship competitions and title wins

— Ferryway Green Park, the iconic, longtime home of an untold number of memorable games, players and teams; over 50 years of quality baseball played on its hallowed diamond. Don’t forget the majestic maple in left field!

— Harvey “Nat the Cat” Nadler, the 2026 Malden Baseball LEGACY Community Spirit Hall of Fame inductee, the first one ever selected. Harvey goes all the way back to the early 1960s in his love and support of Baseball in Malden. He is a walking encyclopedia of Baseball and many other sports in this community, particularly Babe Ruth, Little League and Malden High sports. Harvey loves them all, and they all love Harvey.

The baseball legacy of the 1958 PONY Team has been resurrected and remembered as they approach their 70th anniversary in 2028. They rolled through the local and regional competition with both close and not-so-close wins, getting a World Series bid to go play against the nation’s best in Pennsylvania. They will relive those moments on March 7.

“It should be a great night for everyone and we are expecting a great turnout,” said Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame representative and one of the founders, Deano Summers, who has long been active in Malden Baseball on many levels, particularly in Malden Babe Ruth, formerly in Malden Little League and assisting the Malden High School Baseball program. He is the longtime Field Director and Treasurer of Malden BRL, succeeding the late Bob Rotondi in 2000, and is a member of the Malden High Golden Tornado Club Board of Directors.

Deano Summers is also a Charter Inductee of the Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame, having been selected in the Inaugural Class in 2024, along with Bob Rotondi, Shawn Brickman, Pearl and Perry Verge, Joe Caraco, Kenny Mazonson and Sal Turilli.

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Tickets for the Malden Baseball LEGACY Hall of Fame are $40.00 per person and $320.00 for a table of eight. All tickets must be purchased in advance, with none sold at the door. Payment may be made through cash, check, credit card, Venmo or Cash App. Arrangements can be made for check payment through reservations as well. Please email st**********@***il.com for ticket information and any other questions.