Lorenzo J. Ponza Jr., 86; His Pitching Machine Became a Players’ Staple

Lorenzo “Larry” J. Ponza Jr., who developed and perfected the modern pitching machine and other baseball products, has died. He was 86.

Ponza died Wednesday at his home in Santa Cruz of cancer-related illness, his nephew, Jim Duimstra, said Friday.

Ponza grew up in Santa Cruz County on a farm-sawmill operated by his immigrant parents. He later operated a repair shop, where many of his baseball products were created, Duimstra said.

“He’d no sooner get one developed than he’d have a new idea,” he said. “It was ongoing.”

Ponza’s 1952 invention, the Power Pitcher, became the prototype for pitching machines he and others later built. His 1974 machine, the Hummer, became a practice staple for players from Little League to the majors because it could be set to imitate fastballs, grounders and pop-ups.

But Ponza kept tinkering with his designs, producing the Casey in 1983, the Ponza Swing King in 1987 and the Rookie in 1988. He sold his company in the early 1990s to Athletic Training Equipment Co. of Sparks, Nev.

“He was a pioneer in our industry,” said company President Gene Grant.

A 1934 graduate of Santa Cruz High School, Ponza liked telling people he furthered his education at the University of HK&E; -- the University of Hard Knocks and Experience.

In 1941, he moved to Pearl Harbor, where he was a civilian supervisor for the Navy.

Ponza is survived by his nephews, Jim and Larry Duimstra.