St. John's University Athletics
St. John's Athletics Mourns Passing of Howie Gershberg
11/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 20, 2003
JAMAICA, N.Y. -- One person said that there was "an Angel in the bullpen now." Another said that he was, perhaps, the most important person in the long and storied history of St. John's baseball.
They were talking about Howie Gershberg, a long-time major league baseball pitching coach who spent 12 years as the pitching coach at St. John's University. Gershberg, 67, passed away on Wednesday night after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Gershberg was the pitching coach at St. John's from 1974-86, and guided the program to 10 postseason tournament appearances, including two in the College World Series. During that time, the St. John's pitching staff finished in the top three in the nation in earned run average three times, and two pitchers won the national ERA title.
In addition, 11 of his pitchers signed professional contracts, with three reaching the major leagues. His two most successful major league pitchers were Frank Viola, who won a World Series title and a Cy Young with the Minnesota Twins, and John Franco, who has pitched with the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets, and is the all-time major league leader in saves by a left-handed pitcher.
Following his tenure at St. John's, Gershberg moved on to the major leagues, where he spent nearly two decades with the Anaheim Angels. Gershberg helped develop current Anaheim pitchers Troy Percival, Jarrod Washburn, John Lackey and Francisco Rodriguez, and former Angels star Chuck Finley.
"We are extremely saddened to lose a member of the Angels' family. Howie dedicated a huge part of his life to this organization and had a tremendous affect on many players through the years,'' Angels general manager Bill Stoneman said.
Gershberg's influence was felt more this year, during the 2003 World Series. One of his former pupils, Wayne Rosenthal, who pitched at St. John's from 1983-86 and was an All-BIG EAST selection, served as the pitching coach for the Florida Marlins, who stunned the New York Yankees to win the championship. Rosenthal made a point to mention one of his teachers, Gershberg, during interviews.
Gershberg also was involved in several baseball instructional books and videos, as well as a coach in fall and winter instructional leagues.
He began his baseball career at Boys High School in Brooklyn, where he played four years. He then was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization and later moved on to the Giants organization. He attended Brooklyn College and earned a bachelor of science and master's degree in physical education.
His coaching career began at East Islip High School, where he compiled a 111-35 record, winning four league championships and one county championship.
Gershberg's impact at St. John's, however, could not be measured. "It's hard to say what he meant to me, he was my right-hand guy for so long," former St. John's baseball coach Joe Russo said. "Howie was just the best. Without a doubt, he was the best pitching coach I've ever seen."
Among the major leaguers he taught, Viola and Franco still went back to speak to Gershberg, even after hitting the big leagues. ``He taught me how to pitch, to think out there and not just go out and throw,'' Franco said.
Jack Kaiser, the former baseball coach and athletic director at St. John's, saw Gershberg's work both on and off the field. "He's probably the finest person I ever met," Kaiser said. "He was an outstanding person and teacher.
"You start with pitching. He made our staffs outstanding for the years he was here. He related exceedingly well with all our students. He was respected and admired by all of our players."
"He was a like father figure for us," former St. John's pitcher Greg LaCasse said. "He treated the 25th guy like he did the first guy. He maximized everyone's potential. It's not a coincidence that St. John's enjoyed its most success during his tenure. It went hand-in-hand. He was the man."
For players like LaCasse and All-American outfielder Doug Latrenta, Gershberg was more than just a coach during their playing days. "We spoke two or three times a year," LaCasse said of Gershberg. "He always encouraged us to stay in touch.
"You shake your head and wonder how a pitching coach could be that important, but he touched a lot of people's lives. Whether it was school or life; he was a bright man. He was a teacher, but he didn't just teach baseball.
"He taught everything to us. He taught life."
He is survived by his wife, Terri; and a daughter, Deborah.
Visiting hours at Chappey & Sons in East Islip will be on Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. A service will follow at 10 a.m., with burial at New Montefiore in Pine Lawn.
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