They were teammates more than 30 years ago leading the Massport Pirates to an East Boston Senior League championship at Noyes Park. The lifelong baseball-playing duo also teamed up in East Boston American Legion Baseball and more recently for the East Boston Blue Sox in the Yawkey League.
Local baseball legends Steve Walsh and John Forbes were reunited on the diamond this summer competing for the Woburn Nationals in the inaugural season of the Boston Metro Baseball League Veterans Division for players ages 45 and older.
And the grand reunion couldn’t have gone any better as the Nationals captured the title following a 2-1 series victory over the South Shore Giants.
Both players made huge contributions to Woburn’s success in the regular season and playoffs.
Walsh batted a steady .333 during the regular season. Always a clutch ballplayer, the former Salem State star stepped it up in the post season and hit safely in all six games at a potent .400 clip.
But in what many considered the defensive plays of the year, Walsh made sensational catches in the championship series, both times silencing South Shore Giants’ rallies.
Walsh was appreciative of the opportunity to team up with Forbes.
“I’m so grateful that Forbesie asked me to join his 45-plus team,” related Walsh, a professional candlepin bowler. “John said to me, ‘You’ll have a blast with these guys, it’s a good group of a guys,’ and once he started naming the guys on the roster, I said, ‘Absolutely, I’m all in.’’’
Walsh remembers his years alongside Forbes well. “When we won the Senior League title with the Pirates team, our coaches were John’s father [John Forbes], Jimmy Mosca, and Mike DiMarzo,” recalled Walsh. “I was 14 years old. That’s a long time ago, but playing baseball then and now with John Forbes is something I’ll always treasure.”
Forbes, a former fireballing ace righthander at Dom Savio and UMass/Boston, showed that he can still bring the heat. Forbes was one of the key starting pitchers for the champion Nationals, compiling a 3-2 record.
“I still have my stuff,” humbly said Forbes who regularly hit the high 80s on the radar during his four seasons at UMass. “My baseball coach was [former BC player] Mark Bettencourt for my four years. We had some good seasons. But my favorite catcher was Jack Halas at Savio. We got to play against each other in Fort Myers, Florida, when he was at Hamilton College. My brother, Anthony, was on my team, and Anthony DelPrete was also at the same complex playing for Suffolk.”
Forbes remembers his teenage years as Walsh’s teammate. “Steve and I won a title in Eastie together. It was great to be his teammate again. I love playing baseball with Steve.”
Forbes has been dispensing his pitching knowledge during the winter, working with East Boston High School pitchers in indoor sessions. Also working with the athletes are John’s father, longtime coach John Forbes, retired Boston Police Capt. Kelley McCormick, and former EBHS pitcher Mikey O’Neil.
Looking back at his summer campaign, Forbes said he has positive memories. “I’ve known our assistant coach, Billy Smeglin, for a long time,” said Forbes. “That’s how I got back into baseball. He plays basketball with my father. I had no intention of returning to baseball ever again, but Billy asked me to come back, and I decided to do it. And it was a great experience.”
Manager Todd Cotton praises
Eastie’s championship duo
Woburn Nationals manager Todd Cotton offered his personal assessment of the Walsh-Forbes Eastie connection and its impact on the championship season.
“As far as I’m concerned, Walshie was the playoff MVP,” said Cotton. “He had a great regular season and an even better playoff season.”
“John Forbes was our No. 2 pitcher and by pitching so well and eating up innings during the regular season, we probably wouldn’t have reached the heights we did without him,” said Cotton. “The Eastie guys were both phenomenal. And you can just tell they love the game of baseball.”