Help rename BC baseball field after Coach Young

[redbirdbaseball]

I am leading a contingency of Bridge City former baseball players, parents, and supporters in a motion to have BC's baseball field renamed for Coach Chuck Young.  Coach Young served as BC's head baseball coach for 30 years before departing in 1996, and we have started an online petition to back our cause.

We are looking to get the word out to as many supporters as possible.

Coach Young will be returning to be part of the ceremony this Saturday, March 24, celebrating the 1992 state finalist team.  Below is the message we have posted in various places.

Thank you for any support you can offer as we try to have our coach honored appropriately.

Sincerely,

Frank Giarratano

BC Baseball 1996-98

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BRIDGE CITY, TX -- The baseball field that Coach Vernon "Chuck" Young built from the ground up still plays home to one of the best programs in the state of Texas, passed on into the Billy Bryant era, but something is still missing: Young himself.

Eleven years after leaving for Texas City, Coach Young will make his return to the place where it all began on Saturday, March 24, 2007, as the Cardinal baseball program celebrates the 15-year anniversary of its 1992 state finalist team. Young is expected to be in attendance for one of the few times since his departure following the 1996 campaign.

Along with pitching coach Charles Miller, Young was the face of Bridge City for generations of Cardinal student-athletes. As focused as Young was on developing his players into successful ballplayers, grooming successful people always took precedent. More than his players learned the game, they learned about accountability, discipline, teamwork, hard work, and fortitude.

Coach Young manned the home dugout at Cardinal Field for 30 years, building a legacy matched by few. He has since carried the magic over to the Texas City Stings, who have reached the playoffs numerous times since Young's arrival.

Former athletes, alumni, parents: It's time we honor him appropriately. Come show your support for our Coach this weekend.

But it shouldn't stop there.

"Chuck Young Field" sure has a nice ring to it.

Please visit the following website to help support the movement to have the park appropriately renamed for our Coach: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ourcoach.

[Guest Orangeboy]

Great idea. He has affected not only BC people but people all over the triange. This would be a well deserved honor.

[adminbaberuth]

Coach Young deserves this honor, what a great baseball mind.

[redbirdbaseball]

Thanks for your kind words, guys.  Please help us garner support for this movement by passing the link along to fellow supporters of Bridge City athletics and southeast Texas baseball in general.

[expos]

cardinal field sounds good to me

[SteelerCzy]

I played for Coach Young from 1980-1982, what I learned from him still applies to my life today, as well as my children's.  Hard work, and dedication in whatever you do will make you a better person.  I gladly join this petiton, it's a way to honor a man who has touched so many lives in a positive manner.

[expos]

im a parent actually!

[redbirdbaseball]

Thanks for the support, SteelerCzy.  I'm sure we share similar experiences from playing for such an incredible pair of coaches.

[bear]

Frank

    There is no doubt about it.  That is exactly what that field should be named. 

    Coach Young is not only one of the greatest people that ever walked the face of this earth, but he is one of the founding fathers of Southeast Texas baseball. One of the others already had a field named after him.

    I know he was yours (BC), but the impact he had on people reached far beyond those bridges.  There has never been a man more deserving of such an honor.

Steve Griffith

LCM Baseball

   

[redbirdbaseball]

Coach Griff, it's good to hear from you.  I can remember Coach Young speaking highly of LCM and yourself when I was just a wide-eyed sophomore on varsity, ironically his final season at Bridge City in 1996.  We fellow players just want him to know that his although he's no longer at BC, he'll always be our Coach, and his name should be there for everyone to see.

Thanks for the support.

[East TX]

I am all for it!  I played against Chuck Young for BC when he was at West Orange in HS at West Orange.  He was a good centerfielder.

Chuck is a great person and a builder of young men.  He deserves this recognition!

[BC28in80]

Count me in.  No one deserves it more.  I'd love to have tobacco juice spit on my shoes just one more time for not paying attention when he was talking.  He is the kind of man I always hoped I would be and when you played for him - you would follow him anywhere.  I cried when he left.  Let's do whatever it takes to get this done!

;D

[kem up 10]

I agree with that, Coach Young helped my dad on the 1979 team make it up to regionals, and he also helped his 92 team make it to the state championship, he has had many district championships. He deserves it to me!

[jgibbs01]

although i played against coach young only a couple of times i will always remember coach griff talking about him and how great a man and baseball coach he is.  i am honored to sign this petition.  it is a great idea frank and it is nice to hear from you.

justin gibbons

[redbirdbaseball]

Thanks for your support, Justin.  It's great to hear from you as well.

[Guest zunder]

It is a no-brainer to me. If BC wants to do good things for good people, it would be hard to find a better man than Coach Young. He is one of the most respected men in the coaching profession. NOBODY would deserve it more than him. Its time BC gave him the repsect he has deserved for along time.

[2throwrundown]

No doubt a great baseball mind.  I seriously hope that this petition helps get the field renamed after him.  It is an honor that should have been given a few years before now.

[redbirdbaseball]

These are great posts.  It's awesome to hear the similar experiences others had with Coach Young as their mentor.

[Guest Orangeboy]

cardinal field sounds good to me

Did you know Coach Young?

[Bears]

Cardinal Baseball was put on the map by Chuck Young and the program became one of the State's best because of his hard work and dedication. The only problem I see is it should have been done years ago.

2 Names are at the Top when you think of baseball in this area....Coach Anderson-WOS and Coach Young-BC.

Cardinal Baseball Alum 1977-1980

[redbirdbaseball]

2 Names are at the Top when you think of baseball in this area....Coach Anderson-WOS and Coach Young-BC.

My dad played for one (Anderson - 1970's); I played for the other (Young - 1990's).

[Guest Orangeboy]

My dad played for one (Anderson - 1970's); I played for the other (Young - 1990's).

That ain't bad!!!

[redbirdbaseball]

How about that ceremony on Saturday.  What an incredible event that was.  Bridge City put on a great show for the '92 boys, and the current team served up the encore with a 4-2 victory to boot.

I hope everyone realizes how lucky we all were to be associated with two classy guys like Coaches Young and Miller.

[redbirdbaseball]

Courtesy of the www.therecordlive.com:

[2throwrundown]

That is a great pic of those two great men together.  Alot of fond memories came to mind seeing them on Saturday.  Still love just talking baseball with them.  Good luck to Coach Young in this years season,  would love to see him get to Austin another time.