Allegany's Terry Zink: Living Life, Family and (Alle-Catt) Baseball the Right Way.

I'm not sure if the language of the rule had changed because Johnny and Tut were no longer allowed to play in Shinglehouse.  Through some geographical wizardry the three of us plus my American Legion teammate, classmate, good friend and excellent athlete, Kerry Snow, could all play for Allegany (N.Y).

The late spring/early summer of '74 was my initial meeting with Terry Zink. In fact, I'm sure I probably met all of the Zinks then including wives and kids. Terry's dad, Lennis, was our manager and his brother, Joel, who was my age, was our starting catcher.

The next two summers were probably, no, definitely the most enjoyable months of baseball I have ever been part of.

I was coaching little league baseball in Eldred and running the park program with nearly 75 kids involved and then playing Alle-Catt on the weekends. There wasn't a day during the entire summer that was free from fun and at the same time, the little ones were learning and getting better and my A-C teammates were winning games and just playing good, solid, no frills baseball. I think our only signs were Joel flashing pitches to our pitching staff.

I thought I knew quite a bit about the Alle-Catt League except how to get to any of the New York State towns beside Olean and Allegany. Scio, Friendship, Andover, etc. were a mystery to me, but it was easier than I thought-find the town on the NYS map, stop and ask somebody where the field was and then go play ball.

Rarely, any batting practice or infield. Unis on, play some catch, starting pitcher get loose in the pen and then let's play.

I didn't realize the baseball legacy that Lennis, Terry and even young Joel had already created in Allegany youth baseball and Alle-Catt. 

Terry struck out 15.

Terry goes 4-4

Managing an Alle-Catt club is not an easy task. Dusty Baker may have different concerns, but the job comes with a built-in-set of problems.

Roster size has to be limited to about 15 players. Games are almost always on Saturday and Sunday, one at home and one away, Traveling from Pennsylvania to New York State or vice versa could amount to a 75-80 mile round trip and no player wants to travel that far without playing-giving up a work day off to sit on the bench. 

Family duties, changes in work schedules, injuries to guys(arm, pulled muscles, are somewhat common for players competing only a day or two a week.

It's difficult to keep everyone happy during a 18-20 game weekend schedule plus potential playoffs. Players overcame some of the issues by having their families travel with them, a sort of picnic with the kids, but nine inning games could stretch mom's duties to four hours plus.

Allegany certainly had some good teams before the Eldred guys ever showed up. I'm unintentionally leaving some guys out, but I played with Pete Peterson, Jeff Grimes, Tony Tyler and some other good players.

What made our inclusion different was that three of the four guys were pitchers (very good) pitchers and they could take the burden off Terry, Paul Bzdak, Frank Harrington and others. 

The Allegany A-C team had a one of its kind makeup. We had three Zinks; (Lennis, Terry and Joel), three Bzdaks; Dick, Paul and Henry, two Harringtons; Frank and Jerry, the four guys from Eldred and Paul Goodwin plus another player or two.

There were times when we were down to ten players or less and that will be documented later.

One of Terry's major assets was his ability to play anywhere-shortstop, third base, second base, catcher and he was an outstanding pitcher before he got some help from Johnny, Tut, Kerry and Paul Bzdak.

He was one of the finest all-around amateur players I ever played with-not only did could he play all those spots, he could play them well, plus swing a left-handed bat that could drive a ball. Big hit after big hit came off that bat year after year. He did all those things before I arrived on scene, during my time and well after my term.

One hit win for Terry over Olean

Joel Zink began his Alle-Catt career at 13-years old. When I played with Joel he was 18 or 19 and received like he'd been catching for ten years or more. Unlike his older brother, he wore his hair long, but like Terry, he knew how to play the game well  beyond his years. He could throw and hit with power and was behind the plate 90 percent of the time, usually relieved by Terry only. 

Joel and Terry combine for a weekend sweep with Joel going 3-4 over Rushford.

There used to be a A-C Twilight League. I think it was played during the middle of the week and if you could field nine players regularly you were in. It also gave some players an opportunity to play if they missed the weekend or played a limited amount during the weekend. 

It wasn't set up to be a father-son league, but here's Terry and father, Lennis combining for six hits. I think it was 1966.

I don't know how many years Lennis was the Allegany skipper. He managed in a couple of league all star games also

I saw Lennis as the Sparky Anderson of our Alle-Catt team, He knew he had the horses on the mound, at the plate and in the field and he just let us run and be free. I've played for and watched managers with egos they had to satisfy by over complicating the game- not Lennis or my Eldred youth league coaches, Joe Wolcott and Ed Harrington.

 Occasionally two players might set up a hit and run, but like his sons, Lennis didn't yell or argue  (Oh, maybe a few times), but he was a good guy to play for and kept the team loose. There was no doubt he wanted to win and was a true competitor.

1-0 win for Allegany over Friendship
  

Part of the 1967 Allegany roster

Lennis manages one of the A-S clubs.

Terry, Bruce Havers, Jerry Harrington, Bobby Ryan make the A-S team

Terry makes a game-saving catch to lead the National Division to a 5-4 win in all star game held in Franklinville.

Homer for Terry in loss to Friendship.

Three hits and a homer for Terry versus Alfred.

Terry and Havers hit back-to back homers for W.

Terry's homer defeats Alfred.

Many of the following clips come from an article that was published in the Olean Times Herald. It details Terry and Glenna's struggle and hopes to find a compatible heart for Terry.

Eventually, Terry received a heart, but suffered a stroke two days later. He continued his fight before eventually succumbing to his overwhelming medical issues.

November 7, 2021 will mark eight years since Terry's death.

Terry and Glenna Zink

Joel Zink passed away from a massive heart attack. He was 21-years-old.

Glenna said, "This man has such a will to live. He is willing to sit right here and wait for a heart."

Some more highlights of Terry's baseball career in the Alle-Catt League.

A big win over Angelica.

Getting close to the end of the '74 season.

Gotta hand it to those Mudhens!

Some Allegany players were late for the opening pitch so 10-year-old, Terry, Jr. started in the outfield. He was on the roster and though Coudersport protested (Allegany won the scheduled game), the Allegany win held true.

Two early wins for the Allegany franchise. Jeff Grimes, Ricky Grimes, Mike Giberson and Terry lead the way. Late 60's or early 70's.

Some added info about that Coudersport game. Lennis also started (he was 53). Allegany 5, Coudersport 3 .

Another win over Coudersport with Johnny O and Tut leading the way.

Two more Allegany wins behind Oszustowicz and Hanks.

Two wins for Allegany. Hank Bzdak and Jim Pransky have good weekends.

Paul Bzdak goes four for five in win over Fillmore

TERRY

Special thoughts to my teammates who have passed and their loving families; Lennis, Terry, Joel, Paul Goodwin, Tom "Tut" Hanks and Kerry Snow.