HARRY MOMI

SPECIAL HONOREE

Born in Stockton in 1924, Harry Momi has been a lifelong resident of Stockton and has distinguished himself as an athlete in baseball and softball for the past 72 plus years. Harry attended Roosevelt Elementary School and Stockton High School, where he was an outstanding basketball and baseball player.

Upon graduation from high school in 1942, Harry enlisted in the Army in the midst of World War II and saw combat duty in the Battle of Okinawa with the 305th Infantry Regiment and 77th Infantry Division. During his three years in the service, Harry received two Purple Heart Awards.

After his tour of duty in the Army, Harry returned to Stockton and attended Modesto Junior College, where he played baseball and basketball. He was signed by then St. Louis Browns baseball scout Jack O’Keefe, and played two years of professional baseball, eventually playing for the Modesto Reds organization. He retired from professional baseball because of arm problems.

In 1946, Harry Momi returned to Stockton to start a new life, and he never left. Over the next few decades, he would play hundreds of baseball and softball games at Billy Hebert Field, including playing semi-pro ball for the Italian Athletic Club and in the open division for softball. In addition to enjoying the competition, Harry joined along with Jack O’Keefe, Sol Klein, Ward Tyler, and others to bring Little League Baseball to the City of Stockton. He was instrumental in the development of this program in Stockton.

Although Harry took about some 20 plus years off from playing, at age 72 he started back up by joining the Senior Softball League in Lodi as a pitcher. He has played regularly ever since and currently (2015) at age 91, Harry is the oldest player in the league. His work ethic and enthusiasm is an inspiration to all the other “senior” players. In addition, Harry served on the Board of Directors of the Stockton Athletic Hall of Fame and he is a truly amazing and humble individual.

Harry is married to his wife of 50 years, Kathy, and is very proud of his three children (Mitchell, Donald, and Susan) and his three grandchildren (Casey, Joseph, and Michael).