Al Zadroga

Al Zadroga: Great memories from a great pitcher

Horseshoes is a very exciting sport, and I am glad to be a part of this fine sport, even though I do not pitch very much anymore. But I was fortunate enough to have pitched with some great pitchers through the years. One of those great pitchers was Al Zadroga. Al was born and raised near Elizabeth, Pa. He began pitching when he was about 13. When he was 15, he entered his first tournament. When he entered high school as a freshman, his horseshoe pitching career came to an abrupt halt. There was just no time. Through high school, Business College and for years afterward, Al played in almost every sport known, and was very good at all of them. His first job was with the Hillsman Transportation Company. A job that lasted 50 years. He started at the bottom and worked his way to Vice-President. In 1978 when Hillsman was acquired by Mon River Towing, Al went along as VP in charge of the six million tons per year of coal traffic. Because of his interest in sports and his business career, he pitched no shoes for a 22 year period. In 1953 he decided to again to take up the sport. He entered the Eastern National for his first tournament. His return was not what one would call spectacular. He ran into pitchers with names Carl Steinfeldt, Harold Reno, Elmer Hohl, and Paul Focht. He only won one game. But he did not give up. In 1976 he won the Eastern National with a 84.4% and even defeated 6 time World and defending champion Elmer Hohl. In a 22 year period from 1962 through1983, Al pitched in 17 World Tournaments averaging 77.4%, winning 374 losing 168, yet he never won a World Tournament. He came close at the 1977 World Tournament in Greenville, Ohio, coming in third and averaging 83.0%, his highest World Tournament average. Although Al never won a World Tournament, he won many others setting record after record. The list following is an example of some of the great moments in Al Zadroga`s career. Al was a great pitcher and a great person. We will all miss him very much.

Pitched Ted Allen shoes,and threw a 1 1/4 turn left handed

Pitched in 31 straight Pennsylvania State Tournaments ( 1956 - 1987)

Was Pennsylvania State Champion 8 times ( 65 - 69 - 72 - 76 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 86 )

Placed second in the Pennsylvania State Championships 9 times

Placed third in the Pennsylvania State Championships 6 times

In 1976 he won the Pa State Title , and averaged 82.8%. This is the highest winning percentage for 40 foot men in the championship class at the Pa State Tournament

In 1976 at the New Castle Spring Fling, he pitched an 89.0% for the highest tournament percentage in Pa. history (40 foot men). Al scored 359 points in 7 games. The other 7 pitchers scored only 90 total points.

1974 through 1986, Al served as Southern Area Representative

1978 - inducted into the Pennsylvania Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame

1981 - inducted into the N.H.P.A Hall of Fame

1971 - On cover of Feb. issue of N.H.P.A News Digest

1975 - On cover of Oct. issue of N.H.P.A News Digest

Pitched in 17 World Tournaments with an overall average of 76.41%

Won the Raymond L Frye Memorial Tournament held in Winchester Virginia, 8 times

1958 thru 1989 pitched in 29 Eastern Nationals

1958 thru 1983 pitched in 26 straight Eastern Nationals

1960 - Won Eastern National Class B with 14 wins and 1 loss and a 61.5%

1976 - Won Eastern National Championship with 15 wins and no losses and an 84.4%

Article above compliments of Glen Portt from a previous Newsline