AHS Athletic
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FRANK RABUZZI GRADUATED 1938 INDUCTED 2010
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FRANK RABUZZI GRADUATED 1938 INDUCTED 2010
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FRANK RABUZZI AHS Class of 1938
A baseball pitching phenome, Frank Rabuzzi graduated from Alliance High School in 1938. He played in the Golden Era of Major League Baseball when pitching dominated the sport. Rabuzzi played in the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs organizations as a pitcher. His career was cut short by World War II while he served in the United States Coast Guard. For part of his service, he was in charge of guarding operations at Ellis Island. He was honorable discharged from the Coast Guard in 1945. In a weathered old Alliance High School yearbook from his era, it states “who knows how far Frank Rabuzzi would have gone in professional baseball had it not been for his World War II service.” Known for a blazing fastball, Rabuzzi was signed on the spot after a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates at old Forbes Field. Pitching batting practice, Rabuzzi was told to throw medium speed. He responded with, “I am throwing medium speed.” The coach watching him responded with, “You mean you can throw harder than that?” Rabuzzi responded with a quick, “yes.” Prates manager, Frank Frisch, immediately sent him inside to sign a Major League Baseball contract. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was set up to restore American pride during the Great Depression, Frank Rabuzzi joined and was stationed in Ohio, Washington and Oregon during his 14 months in Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s CCC program. A right handed pitcher, Rabuzzi earned one of 50 spots on the CCC’s All-American team while stationed in Stanfield, Oregon in 1939. He finished with a perfect 10-0 record for the Stanfield team and twirled two no-hitters. He signed with the Kingsport Cherokees in the Appalachian League where he excelled. Known by some as the “next Bob Feller” because of his blazing fastball, an injury to his pitching arm while pitching both ends of a doubleheader curtailed what surely would have been a tremendous pro career. Rabuzzi is also known for his civic leadership and dedication to AHS Athletics. He was a close personal friend of legendary Ohio State, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals head coach, the late Paul Brown. Rabuzzi helped many area collegiate football standouts break into the National Football League through his many contacts in the NFL. Rabuzzi lives on Birdland Avenue in Alliance. His late wife’s name is Lillian. Their daughter Lori (Rabuzzi) Peach is a teacher in the West Branch Local School District. |