It was 1923, Gene was playing for the San Mateo Merchants when he got an offer to pitch for Bandon, OR.  I have a few clippings from the Gene’s scrapbook, but don’t know the complete story. I was told by Don Silva that his Dad, Al Silva, and several other of Gene’s teammates played for Bandon. They got big money, something like $75 a game. I would image that the pitcher really got some big money. Here is a Broadside mentioning Bandon’s new pitcher.

Indians Are Without Left-Handed Pitcher

The Spokesman-Review April 4, 1917- Camozzi, the left handed flinger whom Nick Williams secured from the San Francisco sand lots, has been turned adrift. Camozzi, like the general run of left handed pill dispensers, possessed plenty of ability, but lacked control. His release leaves the indians without a left handed pitcher.

The San Mateo Blues usually enjoyed having the home town fans cheering for them. But on the rare occasion they’d have to travel. In 1930 the Blues were in a battle with the San Jose Bees at old Sodality Park. I the sixth inning Fitz took exception to the umpire’s call at third. Fitz argument led t0 his removal from the game. Fans through cushions at the Blues players and riot when Justin appeared in the grandstands and tried to continued coaching his team. Two law enforcment officers had to then escort the foxy Fitzgerald from the the park. The San Jose fans felt they had seen the last of the Blues skipper, but they were wrong. Soon the fans could see Fitzgearld  on the roof of a chicken barns that ran parallel to the third base line. The San Jose fans actually gave the San Mateo manager a round of applause for his tenacity.

While surfing tr internet I came across Gary Bedingfield’s Baseball in Wartime site. So many young ball players had their careers put on hold during the world conflict. I was pleased to see the site mentioned Art Schallock who played for the San Mateo Blues in 1941 and 1942.

A replica of the glove Babe Ruth used circa 1920. It’s really cool to slip on glove like the old semipro’s used back in the day. Just like what my Grandfather used. I can only image how hard it was to catch with. I can’t wait to break it in and play some catch. Santa knew exactly what I wanted for Christmas.

I once asked Bill Lawrence how he could catch anything with such a small glove. He laughed and said he couldn’t figure out how player caught the ball with the big floppy gloves they used today.

Here is a great interactive history of the baseball Glove.

Pete Ricci also known as Ritchie, was Gene’s childhood teammate on the sandlots of San Francisco. The North Beach Federals was a start for two you kids from the Italian district of the City. Gene and Pete both broke in to the pros in 1918 in the Pacific Coast International League, Pete played with Seattle and Gene with Aberdeen. Over the years Pete established himself as a journeyman catcher in the Pacific Coast League. In 1931, Pete would make a few appearances in a Blue uniform. It had been 15 years since they broke into baseball together as a promising battery.

North Beach Federals 1914

Gene Camozzi(Left) Pete Ricci(Right)

Circa 1914-15

Full page newspaper advertisement in the San Mateo Times in 1928. Featuring Gene Camozzi the San Mateo pitcher. James Jeffries was going to throw out the first pitch.

1926-1927 Alameda City League

                   W     L     Pct.
-------------------+-----+-----+-----

Zingg El Primo    12     0    1.000

Oakland Billiards  7     4     .636

West End Merchants 5     7     .416

Walt's Men Shop    4     8     .333

Ray's Cafe         8     7     .300

Alameda Japanese   2     7     .222

          vs.          IP  H   R   Wk  SO  WP  HB  W/L
----------+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+----------
10-24-26  Walts.                                   Lay-W(10-1)
10-31-26  Billiards    9   7   0   0   12  0   0   Win  (1-0)
11-07-26  Billiards                                Lay-W(8-0)
11-14-26  WstEnd Mrch.                             Lay-W(6-5)
11-21-26  Ray's Cafe   9   4   1   4   11  0   0   Win  (14-1)
11-28-26  No Game
12-06-26  Walts        9   5   3   5   8   0   0   Win  (10-3)
12-13-26  Japanese     (R)  ()  ()  1   2   -   -  Lay  (12-2)
12-20-26  Billiards    9   9   5   0   9   0   0   Win  (8-5)
12-27-26  WstEnd Mrch.                             Lay-W(10-4)
01-02-27  No Game
01-09-27  Ray's Cafe    6*  2   0   ()  ()  ()  ()  Win (4-0)
01-16-27  No Game
01-23-27  Japanese                                  Lay-W(4-0)
01-30-27  Ray's Cafe    9  10   4   4   5   0   0   Win  (13-4)
*Came called after 6innings, time limit

Alameda City League Champions

vs.Piggly Wiggly   IP  H   R   Wk  SO  WP  HB    Win/Loss
-------------------+----+---+---+---+---+---+---+------+-----
03-07-27           (R)  0   0   0   0   0   0   Lay W  (4-0)
Lay pitched to 22 batters and gave up 4-hits

East Bay Midwinter Leagues Champions by beating the
Winter League Spalding Class A division Champions

vs.Yellow Cabs IP  H   R   Wk  SO  WP  HB  Win/Loss
-------------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+-------+-----
03-21-27           9   5   5   5   4   0   0   Loss    (3-5)

Yellow Cabs from the San Francisco Mid-Winter League
won the Trans Bay Winter League Title

1926-27  Zingg
G   GS  CG  ShO IP  H   R   Wk  SO  WP  HB  W   L
+-------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
9   7   7   ----------Incomplete---------   6   1

Blues Win In Opening Tilt At Ball Park

Date: March 28, 1927
Source: The San Mateo Times

Text from the clipping:

Broncos tie up score but hits come through to win for San Mateo
Major General Justin Fitzgerald has built up a fine baseball team in the Santa Clara Broncos that visited at the San Mateo grounds yesterday, but he has a whole lot better team to take over when his coaching job at the college is laid aside for the season. The Blues put it over the Saints in the first time they have played together this year and with two strangers in the lineup. First and foremost Camozzi pitched a better ball than Simoni although charged with one more hit. He walked but two

Broncos lose to Blues in opener by 3 to 2 score

Date: March 28, 1927
Source: Burlingame Advanced Star

Fitz’s college players compel winners to show skill.
If you were one of the many 50-centers who worked their way into San Mateo park yesterday afternoon and came away figuring you didn’t get your money’s worth, you’d best visit your family physician and  ascertain just what’s wrong with you. A 3 to 2 game, tied for six innings, with the opposing hurlers practically in complete control, is a situation that every big league owner prays for on opening day, and such was the offering tendered San Mateo patrons yesterday in the Blues’ 1927 get-away game. Everything that tends to make a full-fledged American’s blood tingle was on tap in the San Mateo opening. Clever pitching, classy fielding and solid driving were displayed by the players for both team.

San Mateo
               AB   R   H   O   A   E
----------------+---+---+---+---+---+
Bertram, cf	4   1	1   2	0   0
Garrigan, 2b	2   1	1   2	2   0
Silva, rf	3   0	1   1	0   0
Simpson, 1b	3   0	0   7	0   0
Martin, lf	3   1	1   1	0   0
Casey, c	3   0	1   9	2   0
Mitchell, ss	3   0	0   3	3   0
Stoeffel, 3b	2   0	0   2	0   0
Camozzi, p	2   0	1   0	3   0
----------------+---+---+---+---+---+
Total	       25   3	6  27  10   0

Santa Clara Univ.
               AB   R   H   O   A   E
----------------+---+---+---+---+---+
Solomon, cf	4   0	0   0	0   0
Miller, 2b	3   1	1   1	4   0
Falk, 3b	4   0	1   2	1   1
Scherf, ss	4   0	0   2	1   0
Koller, lf	4   0	3   1	0   0
Owens, 1b	3   0	0  12	2   0
O‘Brien, rf	2   0	0   1	1   1
Regan, c	2   1	1   4	2   0
Simoni, p	3   0	1   3	2   0
Williams, x	1   0	0   0	0   0
----------------+---+---+---+---+---+
Total	       30   2	7  24  15   2

Score by Inning
----------+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
U.S.C.	  0   0   2   0   0   0   0   0   0 – 2
   Hits   1   1   1   1   2   1   0   0   0 – 7
Blues     1   1   0   0   0   0	  0   1   x – 3
   Hits   1   2	  0   1	  1   0	  0   1	  x – 6

Summary
Three base hits – Koller 2, Falk, Camozzi.
Two-base hits– Bertram, Martin, Casey.
Sacrifice hits– Garrigan, Simpson.
Sacrifice fly – Martin.
Struck out– by Simoni 4, by Camozzi 9.
Base on balls– By Simoni 4, by Camozzi 2.
Hit by pitch – Owens and O’Brien by Camozzi.
Stolen base – Owens.
Double plays – Simoni to Scherf to Owens;
O’Brien to Owens to Falk;
Casey to Stofell; Camozzi to Mitchel to Simpson.
Umpires– Earl and Jennings.
Time of game– 2hrs. 10 min.