THE NAME BEHIND THE GAME - JOSEPH J. BARRETT, SR. (1918-1985)

It is appropriate that a baseball game is played each spring carrying the name of Joseph J. Barrett. Baseball and the Barrett name are synonymous. His life-long love affair with the game can be traced back to the streets of Philadelphia where he grew-up or to any of the area diamonds where he played during his career spanning nearly four decades as both player and later manager in the DELCO Baseball League. He umpired or assigned thousands of games during the course of those forty- plus years.

The legacy of Joe Barrett lives on each time an umpire cries "Play Ball". It was with that intention that Tony lacone was inspired with the idea for what is known as the Joseph J. Barrett, Sr. Memorial All Star Game. The game was first played as a tribute to Barrett who died on March 20, 1985. During the course of the game, several people, including coaches and parents, asked Iacone if this would be an annual event. That was not the original intention -- but that first game started a tradition that is stronger than ever today.

Tony Iacone started a scholarship fund, which would each year be awarded to a financially needy, academically qualified baseball playing senior. One senior is selected from a Central League school and one from a Del-Val League school with a selection committee of educators representing schools from both leagues.

BACKGROUND

Joseph J. Barrett was born on January 29,1918 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, John "Pop" Barrett, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada and was as a circus performer and road manager. His mother, Cecilia "Mom" Woodland Barrett, was a full-blooded Iroquois Indian, born on the Caughaniwaga lndian Reservation near Montreal, Canada. Years later, Joe was known to many in county sports as "lnjun Joe".

Joe Barrett was the oldest of seven children. He had five sisters, Mary, Helen, Dorothy, Gloria and Juanita; His only brother, John, died at the age of eight months. As a youngster, the streets of downtown Philly were Barrett's playgrounds. He and his friends roamed the city and played tag. Sports were a large part of Joe's young life as he played football, stickball and roller-hockey, He also learned to play basketball, which he would play until the age of 35, as a member of the Boy Scouts Troop #351 at St. Agatha's. He also joined the Big Brother Association that year.

When Joe's father landed a job at General Steel, the family moved to Essington. At first, Joe did not want to move from Philadelphia. This would later seem ironic because in 1959, a Chester Times (now The Daily Times) article by Ed Gebhart dubbed Joe: "Mr. Baseball in Essington". While in Essington, Joe attended St. Margaret Mary's grade school and later West Catholic High School. He was a three-sport letterman at West playing basketball, football and baseball. Barrett also attended Ridley Park High School, where he later described upon his induction in the Ridley Township Hall of Fame in 1971 as someone who could "play guard, forward, or center and possessed an excellent set shot".

As a football player, Joe was starting left end on an undefeated team that won the league championship. He continued his gridiron career after high school, first with Essington from 1935-37 and then with St. Hedwig's until 1939. While playing in Wilmington in 1939, he fractured an ankle thus ending his football career. The year would also be as special one for Joe despite the injury. On July 2, he met an attractive Irish girl from Chester named Florence Marvel. They would marry on April 12, 1941 and later have eight children. Joe Jr., Patricia, John, Frank, Kevin and Kyle.

Joe began a brilliant baseball career in 1934 with the Essington Cubs of The DELCO Baseball League. The calling would span four decades, giving him the distinction of being one of two players to play in four decades. Among numerous accomplishments with America's oldest semi-pro league are two records: two homers in one inning and most RBl's in an inning (7, a 3-run homer and a grand slam). He played for several teams, including Henry Fenza's Leiperville team in 1939 and 1940.

Barrett also continued to play while managing Lloyd AC and El Rancho. Joe served as president of the league for 11 years. During his tenure, he instituted the Rookie of the Year Award, which he donated each year. He also served as treasurer and umpire assignor. Joe Cleary announced that one of the league's two divisions would be named in Joe's honor.

Thousands of youths were touched by the work of Joseph J. Barrett. Joe did his job well and assigned officials for thousands of games of basketball, football and baseball, sometimes on a daily basis. By supplying officials, Barrett made it possible for hundreds of leagues to exist. Rarely was a game canceled because a referee, official, or umpire failed to show up.

And today's youth are still touched by the legend of Joe Barrett. They are touched by the commitment, dedication, and hard work of the hundreds of officials who learned these lessons from "lnjun Joe".