Ernie Donnelly, Inducted ~ 1999

 

Ernie, or Pa as the team called him, was an invaluable member of the organization in the early days of the Amish.  He would help the team in any capacity from umpiring, coaching, buying beer fund and even playing the odd game.  He had a saying, "What's the rush?", and those are words the Amish still live by.  Ernie was the first person inducted into the Amish hall of fame, and will likely be the last inductee into 4 separate categories (builder, player, coach and announcer)

 

Old Goldy, as noone called it, was an Amish from the start.  In fact, the Amish probably wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for the glisten from that golden bat that always caught the boys eyes.  Goldy was, pound for pound, the greatest bat ever swung by an Amish.  In the Amish's first year, it helped Scotty, Mugsy and Large all hit mulitple home runs.  Goldy, would always sit around beer fund with us, protecting the beer from those hated Bearded Clams, and, even though he'll deny it, he'd always have a couple himself.  The next morning we'd find Goldy had snuck into bed with one of the Amish, but noone would remember how he got there. 

 

Jarn, as he was known, embodied the word fair and just. and this was no where more evident than when he was umpiring.  If God was alive I think he would be in awe of John's ability to make the right call every time.  In those early years, John had to make many calls against the Amish, even though it broke his heart. 

But it helped the Amish grow, and blossom.  And John would always encourage the boys, many times being heard to exclaim, "Damn! You all got game."