Local police officers and former professional baseball players participated in the 55th Annual Jimmy Fund Game Labor Day morning at Emerson Park in Peabody. The charity event featured the North Shore Oldtimers against members of the Peabody and Lynnfield police departments.
Before the start of the game, there was a moment of silence for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. After the tribute, 2009 Tanner City Idol winner Amy Moquin sang the National Anthem.
The North Shore team showed that they can still throw the leather around. The squad was led by former Red Sox alumni and local sports standouts including John Tudor, Bill “The Spaceman” Lee, Joe Johnson, David Valdez, and former Peabody High School star Steve Lomasney.
Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Event organizers estimate that 1,000 people attended the festivities, which included the game and family activities. The crowd was treated to a barbecue, raffle, silent auction, moon walk, and a special appearance from McGruff the Crime Dog.
Andy Sweeter was the starting pitcher for the Peabody/Lynnfield team. In the top of the first inning the North Shore All-Stars scored 6 runs. Both Lomasney and John Cahill had 2-run doubles in the inning.
Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The combined Peabody/Lynnfield team’s lone run of the game came in the bottom of the 4th inning when pinch hitter Mike Zacharini hit an inside the park home run.
The North Shore Oldtimers added to their lead in thetop of the 6th inning. Bill Lee hit a 2 run single and David Valdez got his third hit of the game when he connected on a 2 run homer to center field. The Oldtimers won the game 20 – 1.
"The Spaceman" went 4 for 4, scored 3 runs,and pitched 3 scoreless innings.
After the game, the former Major League players signed autographs.
Peabody resident Richard Ledger, like many in the crowd, returns every year to support the event that benefits the Jimmy Fund. Ledger remembers his father, a Peabody police officer, bringing him to watch the game.
“When you’re a kid, like I was growing up in the 60’s, it was a thrill to come and see some of these professional athletes play like the kids are doing today. I played against John Tudor in 1966 in the Little League system here, and now John is an Oldtimer,” Ledger said.
“It’s for a good cause… kind of a nice way to finish out the summer,” Ledger added.
