These Boys of Summer Were Really Sizzling in the Heat of 1968

For most of the nation, the summer of ’68 was a tumultuous time. There was social and political unrest, which erupted at the Democratic National Convention. And a growing number of young men were dying every day in Vietnam.

America’s youth faced an uncertain future.

But for a group of 11- and 12-year-old Orange County boys, 1968 would always be remembered for one main event, and it was just keen.

They played in the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.

The Bolsa Little League All-Stars, a Santa Ana-based team, became the first Orange County team to advance to the Little League World Series.

Though the Bolsa players lost in the semifinal round to eventual winner Japan, they returned to Orange County as heroes--at least for a week or so.

“Red Carpet Awaits Bolsa Little Leaguers,” one headline read. “Bolsa Little Leaguers Get Rousing Welcome,” read another.

“I guess we were celebrities of sorts,” then-coach Darell Garretson, now in his 20th year as a National Basketball Assn. official, said last week. “Though I hope it isn’t still the most important thing in their lives.”

Last month, seven of the 14 former Bolsa players gathered on the mound of their old playing field at Rosita Elementary School in Santa Ana. With scrapbooks open, the memories flowed.

“I remember just being in awe of it all,” said David Millan, a pitcher in 1968 who is now a custom home builder and Mission Viejo resident. “The stadium back there was like a mini-Dodger Stadium. For a 11- or 12-year-old kid, it was a one-of-a-kind experience.”

Bolsa advanced to the World Series tournament after winning 13 consecutive games, going undefeated through the Orange County, Southern California, state and Western Regional tournaments.

In those 13 games, Bolsa outscored its opponents, 59-13.

Top hitters included third baseman Turk Schonert, now a back-up quarterback with the Cincinnati Bengals; catcher Rick Garretson, the coach’s son, and second baseman David Martin, now a Huntington Beach hair salon owner.

Bolsa also had fine pitching. Charlie Phillips, now an assistant baseball coach at Saddleback College, was the star of the team.

Phillips, who played at La Quinta High School and USC before spending five years in the minor leagues, went 8-0--including five shutouts for Bolsa. A left-hander with an excellent curve, Phillips gave up 15 hits, 6 runs (only 2 of which were earned) and struck out 95 in 48 innings.

“You know, last summer they were always talking Garcia, Garcia, Garcia,” said Phillips, referring to pitcher Aron Garcia, who led the Northwood Irvine All-Stars to the 1987 Little League World Series final last August. “People tend to forget that I gave up less hits and runs than he did.”

(Garcia was 10-0 with nine shutouts, and allowed only one run in 60 innings last year before the Series final Aug. 29. In that game, Garcia gave up 21 runs, 13 earned runs and 13 hits in 2 innings in a 21-1 loss to Taiwan).

Bolsa’s remaining pitchers were Milan and Orlando Calleros, both right-handers. Calleros, who was 5-feet 11-inches tall and 135 pounds at the time, intimidated his opponents (most of whom were a head shorter) with his tremendous fastball.

“I was worried about scaring people to death,” said Calleros, a Yorba Linda resident and a senior housing coordinator with the County of Orange.

“I was like the intimidator.”

Bolsa began the Series with a 3-0 victory over Hagerstown, Md., the tournament favorite. That victory sent Bolsa into a semifinal game against Wakayaman, Japan.

Garretson called on Calleros--who had pitched only in relief--to start the game.

“I hadn’t really ever been nervous before,” Calleros said. “But I remember praying that night (before the game) to give me strength.”

As it turned out, Calleros’ pitching was strong, but his seams were weak. The seams of his pants that is. Reaching down to field a bunt in the fourth inning, Calleros ripped his uniform at the seat of his pants.

“We didn’t have a spare pair of pants, and we couldn’t get them sewed up, so I brought David Millan in,” Garretson said. “It was quite evident that Orlando was embarrassed and didn’t want to go back on the mound.”

Calleros doesn’t remember it quite that way. “As far as being embarrassed, I don’t remember that,” he said. “I was so into the game, the only thing I really remember is not wanting to come out.”

But out he came. With no score, one out and a man on first, Millan took the mound. Japan got two more hits to load the bases. Then, the back breaker. Japan’s Hideki Sawa stepped to the plate and tripled and Japan went on to win, 3-0.

At least that’s how newspapers told it the next day.

Some of the players had a different version.

“I was sitting on the bench when it happened,” Lane Grado, backup second baseman, said. “And I remember when (Sawa) came to bat, Coach Garretson started screaming for our outfielders to come in closer. But with 30,000 people cheering, our center fielder (Joe Schuman) couldn’t hear him.

“Two pitches later, there was a hit to center, a low line drive. (Schuman) tried to run in to make the catch, but he missed. It dropped just inches in front of him and rolled through his legs.

“If he had come in just a couple of steps, he could have had that ball, I know it.”

Japan went on to win the Series, defeating Richmond, Va., 1-0, in the final the following day. Bolsa placed third when Phillips pitched a two-hitter and struck out 16 in a 1-0 victory over Sherbrooke, Lennoxville (Quebec).

After the Series, the Bolsa players toured the White House (though President Johnson wasn’t there) before landing in Los Angeles to a crowd of about 75 fans. Luncheons and award ceremonies followed.

So what do the players remember most about 1968?

“It was a neat thing, and I remember it well,” Grado said. “But, you know, really, it was a neat chapter and that’s about it. The fact that there was so much going on that (year), like (the assassinations of) Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy and the Democratic Convention . . . I realize there were all those things, and we didn’t even think about them.

“For us, it was just a summer of baseball.”

BOLSA ALL-STARS ’68

Player Position Tony Brennan Outfielder Jerry Brewer Outfielder Chuck Burke Outfielder Orlando Calleros Pitcher Rick Garretson Catcher Fred Gibson Outfielder Lane Grado Second baseman Verne Konig First baseman David Martin Second baseman David Millan Pitcher/Shortstop Oscar Millan Outfielder Charlie Phillips Pitcher/First baseman Turk Schonert Third baseman Joe Schuman Outfielder

Manager: Mike Konig

Coach: Darell Garretson