2016 Honor Roll Inductee: Nick Chichilitti, Bux-Mont (PA) MSBL
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
Your name: Nick Chichilitti
City or town of residence: Philadelphia, PA
Age: 49
League name: President of Bux-Mont located in Pennsylvania
Town where league is based: Montgomery County
Where did you grow up? Northeast Philly
What do you do for a living? Retired law enforcement officer
Family information: Wife Daneen. Girls Nicole (23) and Danielle (21)
General Questions:Describe your baseball resume: I played high school ball at Archbishop Ryan and we were the Catholic League Champions in 1984. I played for Philadelphia Textile in college and we went to the NCAA playoffs in 1987. I then participated in the Pen-Del Semi-Pro League for 12 years, winning the championship in 1996 with Jenkintown.
I coached varsity baseball at North Catholic High School and won coach of the year in 2007. My coaching then took me to Philadelphia University for two seasons and coached in the Perkiomen Valley Twilight Semi-Pro League for four years, winning one championship with Plymouth in 2008.
I have been an MSBL player for 10 years and have been involved in five championships with Warrington. I have also been a part of two MSBL Fall Classic championships, both in 2008. One was as a coach for the 25-over Stampone Pirates and the other as a player with the Chester County Cobras in the 35-over division.
I took over the presidency of the league in 2004 when we had nine teams and now we boast 27. I am very proud of that.
What is your greatest baseball moment, either watching or playing? Winning the high school championship in 1984 sticks out as a very special moment but winning the Fall Classic title in 2008 after assembling my own team (Stampone Pirates) ranks right up there.
When did you start playing for MSBL and how did you hear about it? I started playing in MSBL in 1997 after running into Tom Grochowski, my college roommate, and he asked me if I wanted to play some Sunday baseball. Tom is now in the Bux-Mont MSBL Hall of Fame and one of the best players to ever come out of the area.
Do you still play? I retired from playing in 2008.
What is the best thing about your league? The best thing about the Bux-Mont league is that we have the best level of play in the area, bar none. Competition is at a high level. We are also proud to have several teams that compete in many MSBL national tournaments all year.
Questions just for fun:Who is your favorite player of all time and why? Larry Bowa is my favorite. I was a shortstop, as was Bowa, and he was a hard working player who made himself a very good player.
Are there any additional personal comments you wish to add about your playing or life thus far? As you can see from my wide variety of baseball biography, I love baseball and love being around the game. My main goal in running an MSBL league is to provide exemplary service, grow the league each year, be there 24/7 for any questions or concerns and make the Bux-Mont MSBL the best that it can be!