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Union County Baseball Hall of Fame’s 84th annual Hot Stove League Dinner

Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella, Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Angela Garretson, Freeholder Rebecca L. Williams and Freeholder Chris Hudak joined New York Mets Greats Mookie Wilson and “Doc” Gooden, and Union County Baseball Association President Jim Iozzi in congratulating the new inductees of the Union County Baseball Hall of Fame at the organization’s 84th annual Hot Stove League Dinner in Clark. The Union County Baseball Association also honored student athletes Lauren Buchanan of Union and the players and coaches from the Elmora Youth League.

The four new inductees into the UC Baseball Hall of Fame include:

Jim Dietz of Summit, an All-American catcher at Moravian College (and starting quarterback) and minor leaguer with the Philadelphia Phillies, who returned to Summit to teach math and coach baseball and football for more than 30 years;

Al Mirabella of Fanwood, a Union County Freeholder since 1998 and five-time Chairman of the Board, who has been a longtime advocate for youth baseball leagues and other recreational opportunities throughout Union County;

Gene Mirabella of Roselle Park, an outstanding high school wrestler, AllState pitcher, and captain of the football team, whose pitching success at Brookdale College earned him Region 19 Tournament MVP and Pitcher of the Year, and a stint in the minors with the Cleveland Indians;

Karen Pedersen, formerly of Berkeley Heights and Scotch Plains, the longtime Secretary of the UC Baseball Association, who has helped administer the numerous activities of the UCBA for decades.

(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)