FREEPORT -- After several days of strictly youth baseball, the annual celebrity/old-timers game took center stage at Freeport's James Swartz Stadium. Multiple sports and multiple professions were represented, from ex-Steelers lineman Steve Courson to Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi. Freeport International Invitational founder and impressario Ralph 'Sonny' Westerman was at the mircophone to direct the good-natured fun. Even Westerman's son, Mike, wasn't exempt from the verbal jabbing. After letting a grounder go through his legs in the first inning, the elder Westerman advised his son, a 1969 draftee of the Cincinnati Reds, to "keep his day job" with the family business. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by familiar invitational figure Buzz Hoover, coached by Sonny Westerman some 55 years ago. Former Steelers linebacker Robin Cole did not play but took over the microphone for a few verbal arrows toward Courson before calling him "a phoenominal guy, I love the guy," It was a treasure trove for autograph seekers as the spectators around the media table included ex-Pirates standout Frank Thomas, former Cleveland Indians pitcher and host of Cornerstone Television's "Sportsweek" Tom McGough, retired National League umpire Eddie Vargo and one-time Steelers assistant coach Paul Uram. The original Thomas While modern-day fans are familiar with Chicago White Sox slugger Frank Thomas, older fans fondly recall the 16-year National League career of Pirates great Frank Thomas that included 286 home runs. At 76, Thomas made an appearance in the batters box and spanked a grounder to shortstop. Still among the top 10 home run hitters in Pirates history, Thomas, who played from 1951-66, is a link from the pre-expansion days to the stadium building boom of the 1960s. He still hold the Pirates single-season record of home runs by a third baseman with 35 and banged 34 out of the park for the 1962 New York Mets in the old Polo Grounds. "I always liked hitting at old (Milwaukee) County Stadium," Thomas said. "I loved the old Polo Grounds, but Forbes Field wasn't conducive to a righthanded power hitter." Thomas once met Sonny Westerman at a golf tournament and was invited to the Freeport International. He's been a fixture ever since. "I enjoy coming here every year," Thomas said. "The people here are great." And many of those people were impressed that Thomas still has a fluent swing after all these years.

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