Jan. 8, 2010

THE SUN: Stone to roll into Hall of Fame
Recognizing History: A Conversation With Jim Stone
BOSTON GLOBE: Hall of Fame nod caps Stone’s career

Jim Stone, who compiled an 801-393-7 record in 37 seasons as UMass Lowell’s baseball coach, was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame on Friday night at the ABCA Convention at the Hilton Anatole Hotel.

Stone was one of four members of the ABCA’s Class of 2010, which included Mike Gillespie (Cal-Irvine), Bob Milano (Cal-Berkeley) and Terry Ayers (Fenton H.S., IL).

The induction is the latest of many honors bestowed upon Stone, who was inducted into the UMass Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame in November of 2003, after his final season.

“I think this is the biggest honor I’ve ever received,” Stone said. “Something like this doesn’t come down road for everyone. I am very, very fortunate to have had the players and assistant coaches that helped make this happen.”

Along with his family and many relatives, Stone was joined in Dallas by several of his players, including Joe Luis, Steve Botto and Jon Cahill, as well as Fluorette Boutin, mother of the late David Boutin, a catcher at UMass Lowell from 1988-90 who lost his life to cancer in 1990.

“You don’t just do this by yourself,” Stone added. “You need good players who work hard in and out of the classroom and just love the game.”

UMass Lowell Director of Athletics Dana Skinner and head baseball coach Ken Harring also attended.

About Jim Stone

Over the course of his tenure, Stone was named the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) Division II Coach of the Year nine times as well as ABCA Northeast Region Coach of the Year five times. He was also New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Coach of the Year six times and the Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year in 2003.

One of his biggest honors came in 1991 when he was named the recipient of the Jack Butterfield Award – presented to the active coach for his contributions to New England Baseball – by the members of NEIBA.

After 11 appearances in the NCAA Tournament Northeast Regional, Stone guided UMass Lowell to the Northeast Region Championship and the Division II World Series in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, The River Hawks defeated Central Missouri (13-5) before falling to St. Mary’s (12-1) and Delta State (6-2).

UMass Lowell reached the NCAA Championship semifinal round in 2002. The River Hawks rebounded from a 5-2 loss to Cal State-Chico but defeated Florida Southern (7-2) and Ashland (10-5) before falling to Cal State-Chico again, 8-4.

From 1976 on, 21 of Stone's teams earned postseason berths.

Over his last 22 seasons, the River Hawks had won at least 20 games each year and 30 games seven times. UMass Lowell also earned NCAA Tournament berths in 14 seasons, including Stone’s final seven years.

A 1960 graduate of Springfield College, Stone played on Springfield's 1958 NCAA East Coast College Division championship team and captained the 1960 team for coach Archie Allen, also an ABCA Hall of Fame member. Stone began his coaching career at Tilton-Northfield (NH) H.S. in 1960 and moved to Mascoma Regional (NH) H.S. in 1963 before coming to Lowell Technological Institute in 1965.

Many of Stone's former players moved on to sign professional contracts, including 1987 National League Golden Glove winner Mike LaValliere (1979-81). In 2002, catcher Matt Tupman was drafted in the ninth round by Kansas City and spent three seasons with the Royals’ AAA affiliate Omaha. Former standout Billy Moloney (’78) is currently a pitching coach in the Tampa Bay Rays system in Port Charlotte, FL.

Former shortstop Marc Deschenes was drafted in the 20th round by Cleveland in 1995 and ascended to the AA Portland Sea Dogs and the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox as a pitcher in 2005 and 2006. Additionally, Jon Cahill (’01) spent several years in the Angels system.

Throughout his career, Stone has given plenty back to the sport, having served as president of NEIBA. He also served as the Chair of Exhibitors of the ABCA Convention from 1992-2008, and spent many years as a member of the ABCA All-American Committee and the NCAA Northeast Region Advisory Committee.

A longtime resident of Atkinson, NH, Stone is a native of Easthampton, MA. He and his wife, Pat, have raised three grown children and have six grandchildren, and now reside in North Fort Myers, FL.