Bowman Field Hall of Fame

Rhashan West-Bey

One day during the 2003 season, a Cutters staff member invited Rhashan into the office...and he never left! 2023 will mark Rhashan's 20th year as a full-time member of the club's front office. As Director of Smiles, he is charged with making sure all fans enjoy their time at the ballpark. He restocks The Sawmill Team Store daily, greets fans as they enter the gates, helps with on-field promotions, leads fans in singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and assists in the Cutters front office year-round. He is also a popular presence in the clubhouse, giving pep talks to players and coaches, as well as on the team bus prior to every road trip. Rhashan has been featured in national articles and his image has adorned t-shirts, collectable pins, numerous bobbleheads, a plush doll and even a baseball card distributed nationally by Topps.

Rob Thomas
Starting with the 2000 season, Rob Thomas has been a familiar voice to fans attending Williamsport Crosscutters games at Historic Bowman Field for the past 20 years. Cutters Vice President of Marketing Gabe Sinicropi remarked, "Rob is professional, talented, dependable and a big part of the Cutters experience each and every night. People, many times, take for granted just how important it is to a sporting event to have a top-notch PA Announcer. Rob is just that and an important member of the Cutters family." His golden tones can also be heard at other sporting events in and around Lycoming County. Since 2001, he has served as one of the Public Address Announcers for the Little League Baseball® World Series while also manning PA duties for Montoursville High School and Penn College sporting events. Additionally, Rob was tabbed to be the Public Address Announcer for the MLB Little League Classic in 2017 and 2019 making him the only known individual to be a PA Announcer for a Little League World Series game and a Major League Baseball game.

Bill Nichols, Jr
Through his position as the City of Williamsport's Finance Director, Bill has always been a staunch supporter of Bowman Field and minor league baseball in Williamsport. His involvement has resulted in renovations to the facility that greatly upgraded the look and feel of the historic ballpark. Nichols took the lead for the city in helping to secure a $1.25 million state grant to help revitalize Bowman Field in preparation for the inaugural MLB Little League Classic game in 2017.

Tony Visco
The owner and principal architect of Anthony H. Visco Architects located in Williamsport, Tony has been part of virtually every renovation project at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field both large and small since 1994.

The 2001 Williamsport Crosscutters Team
A Williamsport short-season record 48 wins. The city's first championship team since 1960. A roster featuring an array of outstanding players, 8 of which would go on to play in the Major Leagues. The 2001 Crosscutters team, led by manager Tony Beasley, brought excitement and the New York-Penn League Championship trophy back to Williamsport.

Paul Velte
Owner & President of the Williamsport Cubs & Crosscutters for 21 seasons (1994-2014). Responsible for bringing baseball back to Williamsport in 1994. In doing so, Velte brought unprecedented stability to professional baseball in the city of Williamsport. Also a member of the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame.

RD Slingerland
RD is a native of Williamsport and the owner/operator of Slingerland Landscaping, a company that he started in 1984. RD's first experiences at Bowman Field came as a fan when he attended games as a youth in the 1970's. After a long period without professional baseball at Bowman Field, RD was hired during the Williamsport Bills days to replace the infield surface, thus beginning a 25 year "affair" between himself, his company, his family and the grass & dirt of the ballpark. Since 1997, RD has been the unofficial field consultant for Bowman, handling pre-season prep and consultation for special events, as well as any landscaping needs at Bowman Field. Both of RD's children, Matt and Melissa, have served as Head Groundskeepers at Bowman Field in past years.

Lou Hunsinger, Jr
Lou is a native of Williamsport and a freelance writer for local newspapers. He has written extensively on local professional baseball history, as well as overall local history, and has co-written two books chronicling the history of Williamsport professional baseball. Hunsinger has served as the Team Historian to the Williamsport Cubs and Crosscutters since 1994 and was a founding member and president of the Williamsport Cubs Booster Club and the Williamsport Crosscutters Booster Club. Through his research and articles, Lou has helped keep the "Historic" in Historic Bowman Field.

Dave Bresnahan
On August 31, 1987, Bresnahan, a catcher for the Williamsport Bills, used a potato instead of a baseball in a trick play during a game between Williamsport and the Reading Phillies at Bowman Field. Bresnahan was released by the parent Cleveland Indians the next day. While he never played another professional baseball game, he made numerous TV and radio appearances across the nation in the days, weeks and years following the stunt which has been dubbed "The Great Potato Caper".

Frank Lucchesi
Lucchesi managed the Williamsport Grays for three successful seasons (1959, 1960, 1962). He compiled an overall record of 243-179 with the Grays leading them to the playoffs in 1960 and to an Eastern League co-championship in 1962. His 243 wins ranks him 2nd all-time in Williamsport minor league history.

Dick Allen
As a member of Frank Lucchesi's 1962 Williamsport Grays championship squad, Allen hit .319 with 21 home runs and 109 RBI. It wasn't long before he broke into the Phillies lineup and became one of the most feared sluggers of the 1960's and early 1970's. He captured the 1964 NL Rookie of the Year award and was the AL MVP in 1972.

Tommy Richardson
A world-class toastmaster and after-dinner speaker across the country. Richardson was a long time executive for the Williamsport Grays baseball team and later served as President of the Double-A Eastern League for more than 25 years, as well as being President of the Triple-A International League for six years.

J. Walton Bowman
The man for whome Bowman Field was named has a long-time involvement in the local baseball scene. He led the fundraising drive to build what would become Bowman Field.

Mike Bernardi
Covered the Williamsport baseball scene as a sportswriter for 39 years with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.

Bill Pickelner
Williamsport's Mr. Baseball. Became a member of the Williamsport Grays Board of Directors in the mid-1930's and served as Chairman of the Bowman Field Commission for over 50 years.

Al Bellandi
Fabled groundskeeper at Bowman Field from 1936-1961.

A. Rankin Johnson
Played minor league baseball for the Williamsport Grays and in the majors for the Philadelphia A's. Later served as the President of the Eastern League and as the General Manager of the Williamsport Astros.

Don Manno
A Williamsporter who played professional baseball for 18 years. Manno began and ended his pro career in Williamsport. As a member of the Boston Braves, he hit a home run in his 1st major league at-bat.

Ray Keyes
Longtime sports editor of the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.