The Team
Presenting the 2009 Groundhogs:
| # | Name | Position | Age | E.R.A. | Finds | Average (Lifetime) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Sandy Koflax | Croucher | 35 | 2.3 | 35 | .487 |
| 26 | Willie "The Butcher" Maees | Right Squatter / Designated Combatant |
22 | 6.4 | 26 | .522 |
| 69 | Ron Jeremy | Left Squatter | 30 | 9.7 | 44 | .626 |
| 10 | Sammy "The Enforcer" Smirnoff | Rear Seek | 28 | 6.6 | 41 | .389 |
| 14 | Eddie "The Yankee Clipper" Haskel | Front Seek | 26 | 8.1 | 23 | .437 |
| 17 | Jerry "Tiger" Tarkanian | Croucher | 31 | 10.2 | 20 | .626 |
| 72 | Al "The Refrigerator" Hotpoint | Right Squatter |
25 | 5.3 | 19 | .337 |
| 7 | "Fast" Freddie Finger | Left Squatter | 22 | 7.5 | 33 | .532 |
| 2 | Sammy "The Slider" Sawbuck | Rear Seek | 32 | 6.2 | 27 | .223 |
| 54 | "Ornry" Arnold DiMaggio | Front Seek / Designated Combatant | 29 | 4.7 | 17 | .321 |
Moe Paterno
Head Coach
If you were to compile a top ten list of the sport's most recognizable names, Moe Paterno would not only make that list, he would most probably be right at the top. Few players in the history of the game have achieved so much, as both a player and coach, as "Iron Moe". He still holds the record for the most consecutive games played. Over a 15-season span, he played in a remarkable 966 consecutive games. Paterno also had a stunning lifetime average of .894 with an ERA of 1.1.
But when the smoke clears, it will probably be his career as a coach that the public will most remember and admire. Moe coached his teams to an unprecedented 37 championship playoff game wins and has five American Super Seeker Title's under his belt. Among his many honors, Coach Paterno was named the APH&GSL's "Coach of the Year" in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2001 and in August of 2005 he was selected by President George W. Bush to head up the Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
In 2002, after 15 years of being a Scout, Line Coach and Head Coach for the Peoria Potato Bugs, Groundhogs owners, Bud and Madge Schott lured Paterno away from that organization to be the 4th Head Coach and General Manager in the history of the Groundhogs.
A native of Baton Rouge, LA., and a 1991 inductee into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Paterno was born on March 22, 1950. Moe and his wife Jackie live in Simsbury, CT and have three children: Michael, 31, Donna, 28 and Kara, 25.
Following his creed of "giving back to the community" Moe, in the off season, organizes and leads Simbsury's Search and Rescue team.
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