Update: March 22, 2011:
Obituary at Funeral Home website, click to leave condolences and direction
DeVito-Salvadore Funeral Home
39 So. Main St. , Mechanicville , NY 12118
518-664-4500OBITUARY – Thomas J. McAvoy
August 12, 1936 – March 19, 2011STILLWATER, NY – Thomas J. “Mac” McAvoy, 74, of Clinton Court , passed away peacefully at his home, on Saturday, March 19th, 2011, with his family by his side, following a courageous 3 year battle against pancreatic cancer.
Born in Brooklyn, NY August 12, 1936, son of the late Edward and Gladys McAvoy, “Mac” and family moved upstate when he was a child, and lived in this area most of his life. A wholesale newspaper distributor for many years, Mac also had several other sales jobs earlier in life.
Mac began a professional baseball career in 1956, signing a contract with the former Washington Senators’ Baseball Club. This rangy left-handed pitchers career, although very promising, was cut short after breaking his pitching arm during a game in winter ball in Nicaragua in 1959. The following year, after rehabilitation, his arm broke again while warming up in the bullpen. After another long rehab, he was never able to regain his original form, and was released by the Minnesota Twins in 1961. Mac was always proud that as a rookie, during spring training, he struck out the hitting immortal, Ted Williams.In the early 1960’s Mac’s interest turned to fast pitch softball. For almost 50 years, Tom loved softball and was involved locally, nationally and worldwide. He mentored many young men on life, as well as softball and was able to attend softball tournaments across the USA , Canada and the Caribbean for the better part of the last 30 years, as a well known, well respected coach and manager. More importantly, Tom became a second father, who gave his all for his players, including fatherly advice and guidance on and off the softball diamond.
Mac was extremely proud to have been elected into the International Softball Congress’ Hall of Fame, class of 2009 in the Manager’s category, a tribute to a great leader of men.Last summer, Mac was able to visit with many of his fast pitch friends throughout the country, and those friends will always cherish the effort Mac made, knowing that he was in the last innings of his fight with cancer.
In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his daughter Mary Kathryn McAvoy Diaz and a brother William McAvoy.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Jean Taylor McAvoy, his daughter Deborah ( Leon ) Gandron of Mechanicville and his beautiful granddaughter Angelina Diaz of Clifton Park . Also survived by his many lifelong friends, neighbors, players and the softball world.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 26th at 4 PM at the DeVito-Salvadore Funeral Home, 39 So. Main St. , Mechanicville. Spring burial in Stillwater Union Cemetery .
Calling hours at the Funeral Home on Saturday from 1-4 PM.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to International Softball Congress’ Carrol Forbes Foundation, c/o Charles Smith, Treasurer, 10317 Sugarberry, El Paso , Tx 29925 , in respectful memory of Thomas J. McAvoy.
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Tom McAvoy, longtime team manager and member of ISC Hall of Fame (manager category), passed away this morning at age 74 of pancreatic cancer in Stillwater, NY.
Mac was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Quad Cities in 2009. Although he was unable to attend the induction ceremony, a phone call and speaker set up was included so attendees could hear Mac talk.
According to family members, funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Ken Hackmeister
Executive Director of the ISC
Editor’s note: A bit more about the big man, one of the most likable and respected men in the game:
Hall of Fame Bio from the ISCfastpitch website:
Tom McAvoy was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1937. At age ten he moved from Long Island, New York to Colorado. His grandfather had died and he had to go take care of his grandmother. It was there where “Mac”, as we all know him now, became an All State Basketball Player as a mere sophomore in high school.
Moving back to Schenectady, New York his junior year, he became a highly regarded left handed pitcher. He then stuck with baseball, all the way to the Major Leagues and the Washington Senators baseball club.
If not for two devastating arm injuries, I doubt we would be talking about Tom McAvoy in ISC circles. After all, he did strike out Ted Williams in a spring training game, and was highly touted as a rookie, along with good friend and now ‘Hall of Famer’ Jim Kaat. The Senators believed in Mac, but it wasn’t meant to be, as the arm just never got back to where it was. So, once again, Mac headed back to New York, only this time—he was married. Mac had met Jean (Taylor) in 1958 in Charlotte, North Carolina while playing Single A Ball. They were married in October of 1959, and Jean has now been by Mac’s side for 50 years! It’s a good thing she likes ‘ball’, because Mac made many stops after being let go from the Minnesota Twins 40 man roster in 1961. Although it seemed like his days of serious ball were over, Mac found a new game, or I should say it found him, and the rest is ……well you know!
In 1965, friend John Salvatore asked Mac to play fastpitch softball with him and a bunch of Marine Corps buddies. Unfortunately, Mac had arthritis so bad; he pretty much just helped out and didn’t play. Thank God for all of our sakes, that’s when his zest for managing came to fruition. From 1965-1972 Mac was coaching in Sportsman’s Park, Schenectady, one of the east coast’s premier fastpitch leagues. His teams won the league five out of seven years, and in the midst of those winning seasons he got a group of all stars together to form ‘Peckham’s Travel Squad’. They continued traveling for many years, competing in ASA State, Regional, and National tournaments; winning the ASA State and Regionals 1983, 1984, and 1985. These are only a few of the many state titles for Mac, not all with Peckham’s. It was in 1990 that Mac got his first taste of ISC fastpitch, when he was with a team called ‘Lieber’s’. They played in the World Tournament held in Victoria, British Columbia. Mac was hooked!
In 1992 he broke in to the ISC with a brand new team full of guys that played for OTB in Middletown, New York. This team included some of his old ‘Peckham’s’ players and had a sponsor named Garry Heflin. The team would eventually become ‘Heflin Builders’ and they finished 9th that year in Salt Lake City. This was the first of many top ten finishes for Mac at the World Tournament. He also had a 4th place finish in 1999 with the ‘Heflin Smokers’.Through the 1990’s Mac’s Heflin teams were tough, competitive, and invariably winning. Even though the ISC World Tournament title has eluded Mac, his teams have always been in the mix! He’s been around even more with stints in St. Louis in 2005, back with Heflin in 2006, and his last team was Circle Tap of Wisconsin in 2007. Mac took time off in 2008 to settle some serious health issues and he’ll be back in January 2009 to defend the AAU International Championship. His teams have won three years in a row at the annual AAU Tournament. Besides winning three in a row, Mac’s teams also have two runner up finishes, as well as top ten finishes every other time! Mac’s passion for fastpitch and the ISC has never wavered. He’ll tell anyone, it’s okay to play in certain tournaments, but the most prestigious, to this day is the annual ISC World Tournament! Mac’s leadership has always been appreciated by the players he coaches, and the many players they competed against. There have been hundreds of ball players who have played for Mac, this one included, and he’s not just a manager, he’s a mentor, a friend, and to some of us, like a second dad. Mac’s wisdom and foresight have taught many of us not just how to handle a riseball, but how to sometimes deal with life, and everyday problems.
While Mac recuperates from these health issues, anxious eyes and ears await that bark from the third base coaching box where Mac is totally at home. Nobody knows how long they are going to be able to do something they love, but we all know Mac will do it until he can’t anymore! The next time you see him, make sure of two things –
Tell him how proud you are of him for being a distinguished member of this year’s ISC Hall of Fame class, and Make sure you are looking at him, or speaking into his good ear, or he’ll never hear ya!!
Tom McAvoy – A Legend, Tom McAvoy, ISC Hall of Famer!
Editor’s note:
Pitcher Tom McAvoy‘s major league debut took place on September 27, 1959 with the Washington Senators. In the bottom of the second inning, he replaced starting pitcher Jim Kaat, who had allowed six earned runs. He pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. He even faced legendary slugger Ted Williams, who promptly grounded out to second base. In the minors, he went 38-72 with a 4.74 ERA in seven seasons.
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