LYNN — The fascination with the late Tony Conigliaro continues unabated 30 years after the former Red Sox slugger’s death on Feb. 24, 1990.
Those of a certain age remember “Tony C” breaking in with the Red Sox in 1964 and hitting a towering home run off White Sox pitcher Joel Horlen in his first-ever at-bat at Fenway Park.
They remember his American League home run title in 1965; and “Glory Be, there’s Tony C with homer No. 20” in 1967.
They also remember the night of Aug. 18, 1967 when Jack Hamilton of the California Angels beaned him with a fastball that almost killed him. They remember his first game back, in 1969, when he hit a home run. And they remember the day their local hero, at St. Mary’s High graduate, was traded to the Angels after the 1970 season.
Friday, at Lynn City Hall Memorial Auditorium, the latest chronicling of the Tony C saga will be unveiled. “25: Tony Conigliaro, The Documentary,” will be unveiled at Lynn Auditorium Friday, Jan. 17. Rico Petrocelli and Jim Lonborg, Tony C.’s teammates on the 1967 “Impossible Dream” team, are among those expected to attend. And Mayor Thomas M. McGee has declared Friday “Tony C. Day.”
Balcony seats at City Hall have been reserved for local youth athletic teams at no cost. Baseball players from Swampscott and Lynn schools, including St. Mary’s, which will retire Tony’s number and has commissioned an oil painting of the slugger that will permanently be at the school, and area YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs have already signed up for free tickets. Swampscott’s Mike Lynch, the retired Channel 5 sports anchor, will serve as master of ceremonies and lead a Q&A session with stars in attendance. Tony’s brother Billy, who also roamed the outfield for the Red Sox, will be on hand.
His other brother, Rich, was instrumental in putting the film together with partners including director/ producer John Ippolito and his team, and former state treasurer Joe Malone, who conducted the interviews and serves as narrator.
Rich said Tony’s former high school teammate Frank Carey, who went on to great success as North Reading High’s baseball coach, offered support and a helping hand, as have Joel Abramson, Dan Dill and others.
The film begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 (film only) and ($40, 6 p.m. VIP meet-and-greet plus film). They are available at lynnauditorium.com. More info can be obtained by calling 978-337-1414.
