By Mark Gilger
Staff Writer
mark_g@newsitem.com
ATLAS - Nobody in the area can come close to matching the longevity, dedication and success of Jim Bush Sr. as a youth baseball league manager.
The 63-year-old Bush of Atlas is already a baseball coaching legend in the Mount Carmel area for producing many outstanding players and winning numerous league and tournament titles in his illustrious 42-year career as a coach and manager for Atlas Fire Company in the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League. But this season, he attained another milestone by being involved as a player, coach and manager in the youth baseball circuit for seven decades, a feat that probably will never be broken.
"I am honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to coach so many kids over the years," Bush said. "They have been my extended family. The positives involved with coaching have certainly outweighed the negative experiences I've encountered through the years."
When asked what his creed or motto has been as a coach, Bush stated, "I always expect my players to give 100 percent effort. Although we may not be the best team, no one should ever out hustle us. I've never measured my success by the number of championships we've won. My job as a coach is to help the players improve their skills. The true measurement of success for me is witnessing the improvement made by the players from the beginning of the season until the end."
He added, "I've always taught my players to have respect for their parents, teachers and coaches, and that they will receive respect in return. I also stressed that school and grades are more important than athletics."
Bush, who was inducted into the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 for his superb playing and coaching career, is a son of the late Dick and Helen (Kobilis) Bush. He was born in Taylorsville and played for Anthracite Fire Company in the then Mount Carmel Little League, a team he helped lead to an undefeated (16-0) championship season in 1960.
He was an outstanding high school pitcher and shortstop and graduated in 1965 from Mount Carmel Area High School. Bush, who served as co-captain of the 1965 team with Frank Bolick, helped lead the Red Tornadoes to the North Schuylkill League title in his senior season. The 1965 team was inducted into the Ed Romance Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
Bush, who also played basketball in high school, served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 in the Signal Corps Communication Division during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged as a corporal.
Many influences
He then launched his incomparable coaching career in 1970 when he was named manager of Atlas Fire Company on the recommendation of legendary Atlas coach Hobi Forti, who went on disability and had to give up his managerial duties for one year. Bush's first team at Atlas captured the league title.
When Forti returned to the coaching ranks the next year, Bush served as his assistant in the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League until 1991 when Forti retired after 30 years of dedicated service to the league.
Bush said Frank C. Bolick, the son of his high school teammate, was the best baseball player he ever coached. Bolick played in the major leagues with the Montreal Expos and Anaheim Angels after coming up through the minors with the Seattle Mariners organization. Bolick also played professional baseball in Japan and currently resides in Den-Mar Gardens.
Bush considers one of his current players, Maura "Mickey" Fiamoncini, among the best shortstops he's ever coached. Fiamoncini, who is the first female baseball player in Atlas Fire Company history, is a daughter of Bush's assistant coaches, Jim and Justine Fiamoncini, of Mount Carmel. Justine Fiamoninci is the first woman to serve as a coach with the Atlas program.
Bush said he gave Maura Fiamoncini the nickname "Mickey" in memory of his favorite baseball player, Mickey Mantle.
Bush said legendary Mount Carmel Little League coach Harold "Ducky" Dettrey, who was his first baseball coach in 1955, had the most influence on his long career in baseball.
"Ducky was such a student of the game," Bush said. "He taught us well and gave us more signals than any coach I've ever been around."
Dettrey, who coached Anthracite Fire Company for 25 years, died in 1981. The Most Valuable Player Awards presented to players on both teams reaching the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League World Series have been named after Dettrey since 1982.
Bush said Dettrey willed his record books to him that provide accounts of various seasons in the league that was established in 1948.
In addition to his coaching duties, Bush has served as president and secretary of the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League.
Shawn Kalinoski, who has been involved with coaching Mother Cabrini youth baseball teams in Shamokin for 10 years, praised Bush for his dedication to baseball.
"Jim has been around a long time and deserves credit for everything he has done for Atlas and the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League," Kalinoski said. "His longevity in the game speaks for itself. It's pretty amazing to coach for 42 years and be involved in baseball for seven decades."
Kalinoski competed against Bush's teams in the 1980s as a member of St. Stanislaus baseball team.
Love them or hate them
Jack Spade, who has served as president of the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League for six years and competed against Atlas teams in the early 1980s as a member of Locust Gap, described Bush as "great man who is loved by his players."
"Jim has done so much for the kids over the years," Spade said. "He is a legend like his predecessor, Hobi Forti. He's been a great coach for many years and the entire Atlas program is a phenomenal organization. They are one big family."
Spade, whose son, Damian Spade, played for Bush for four years, said, "Jim is like the mayor of Atlas. Everybody knows him. And the Atlas baseball program is the New York Yankees of the Mount Carmel Junior Baseball League. They have won more titles than any other team in the league. Like the Yankees, you either love them or hate them."
Jim Fiamoncini, who played for Atlas Fire Company in the mid 1970s, said, "I always respected Mr. Bush as a coach. He's very dedicated and he certainly knows the game. He stresses fundamentals, which has always been a staple for Atlas. Atlas Fire Company has a great reputation and tradition of winning baseball and playing the game the right way."
Fiamoncini, whose son, Bryce, also played for Bush, added, "I always wanted my children to play for Atlas because Mr. Bush has always maintained the same coaching style that has proven very successful over the years. I was fortunate to win multiple championships playing for Hobi Forti and Jim. Atlas baseball has always been special to me. It's like a family."
Bush also was an outstanding basketball coach for Holy Spirit Grade School in Mount Carmel for 26 years in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO). He was an assistant coach and head coach on the boys' "B" level for many years and also coached the girls' "C" team for seven years. In addition, Bush was an assistant "A" team coach for a couple years before retiring in 1997.
Bush, who coached several teams during the same season, calculated that he coached 39 different basketball squads in 26 years.
The longtime Atlas resident also was an outstanding shortstop for many years with Shuda Cafe and B&E Body in the Intercity Softball League that captured multiple championships.
The coach is especially proud of the fact that every kid whoever played for him started at least one game during their baseball and basketball careers.
Bush has made it a tradition over the years to treat his baseball players to a minor league or major league baseball game and team picnics every summer.
'As long as my health holds out'
His biggest reward from coaching comes when former players thank him for the discipline and guidance he provided them during their playing days. "It makes you feel good when you know people appreciate your efforts," he said. "I'm always happy to help any kid, especially those who need to mend their lives."
Bush said baseball players today are basically the same when he started coaching, but face a lot more distractions such as video games. "The skill levels are comparable today to the 1970s, but parents tend to baby their kids more and become very defensive when you discipline them," Bush said.
When asked how long he plans on coaching baseball, Bush said, "As long as my health holds out. God and my family have been very good to me all these years. I would love to coach my grandchildren, but I'm taking it one year at a time."
Bush is the district manager for Berkheimer Tax Administrators based in Bloomsburg, a company he has been employed with for 31 years.
He has been president of the West End Playground Association in Atlas for 42 years and has served as president of Atlas Baseball Boosters. He is a former vice president of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School Boosters Association and served on St. Paul's Parish Council and Holy Spirit School Board.
He also formerly served as president of the Shamokin-Mount Carmel Boys and Girls CYO Basketball Leagues and as vice president of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Bush has been president of Atlas Fire Company for the past decade and formerly served as vice president.
He is a member of Divine Redeemer Church in Mount Carmel and a former member of St. Paul's Chapel in Atlas.
Bush, who has been involved in numerous community and charitable events over the years, has been married for 42 years to the former Betty Jean Pizzoli, whom he praised for greatly supporting his coaching career.
They are the parents of three children, James Jr., 41, of Hershey; Bob, 39, of Atlas, and Rochelle Ouardi, 38, of Atlas. They also have seven grandchildren.
In addition to coaching and cheering for his favorite professional sports teams - New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers - Bush enjoys listening to "oldies" music and collecting baseball cards and other sports memorabilia.
Name: Jim Bush Sr.
Age: 63.
Education: 1965 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School.
Occupation: District manager for Berkheimer Tax Administrators.
Hobbies: Coaching baseball, listening to "oldies" music and collecting baseball cards and other sports memorabilia.
Family: Wife of 42 years, Betty Jean; three children, Jim Jr., Bob and Rochelle Ouardi, and seven grandchildren.