The Sun
Sunnyvale's Newspaper

Locals part of football tradition

By Dick Sparrer

Ken Caminiti was the starting third baseman for the National League All-Star team earlier this month.

His selection certainly came as no surprise. After all, the San Diego Padres' star was picked as the NL's most valuable player just a year ago.

But it wasn't Caminiti's first all-star experience. That came many years ago as a young football player from Leigh High School.

Caminiti was a member of the South all-star squad in 1981 for the seventh annual Santa Clara County All-Star Football Game. And he is just one of many athletes who have springboarded to greatness after competing in the trational summer football classic.

That tradition lives on as the Almaden Rotary sponsors the 23rd annual Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game on July 23 with a 7:30 p.m. kick-off at San Jose State University's Spartan Stadium.

A number of all-stars have ended up in the National Football League: Doug Cosbie of St. Francis (Dallas Cowboys), Don Schwartz of Mitty (St. Louis Cardinals), Jeff Toews of Del Mar (Miami Dolpins), Rich Campbell of Santa Teresa (Green Bay Packers), Carl Monroe of Overfelt (San Francisco 49ers), John Tuggle of Independence (New York Giants), George Achica of Andrew Hill (Chicago Bears), John Faylor of Mitty (49ers) Erik Howard of Bellarmine (New York Giants), Randy Kirk of Bellarmine (49ers), and Tim Ryan of Oak Grove (Chicago Bears).

Caminiti and Bill Haselman of Saratoga (Boston Red Sox) made it to the major league baseball ranks, and Millard Hampton of Silver Creek went on to compete in the Olympic Games. And there have been countless all-stars who have gone on to become collegiate standouts.

Could there be more to come out of tonight's summer classic? Well, it looks like another star-studded field!

Among those 'stars playing for the North squad in the summer game will be center Art Alegria of Fremont, and strong safety Andrew Delgado, free safety Ben Amiwero, running back Tony Elam, defensive lineman Bo Gerth, defensive lineman David Atchison and center Mark Glennon of Homestead.

The seven join a talented list of local all-stars dating back to that first game in 1974:

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, July 23, 1997.
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