Joe DiCicco flourished at the end of a time that some would suggest was the golden age of scholastic baseball in Berkshire County. A superior moundsman for St. Joseph's High School in the mid-1970s, DiCicco was money in the bank for the Crusaders, especially in post-season tournament play where he produced an eye-opening eight wins, one loss and one save over a four-year period.

Those numbers were compressed into seven wins and one save during a spectacular run in the springs of 1975 and '76, when DiCicco helped a talented St. Joe team to a state title his junior year and a berth in the state championship game during his senior campaign.
DiCicco's dominance in his sport and at his position over those two years has earned the standout right-hander position No.48 among The Eagle's list of top 50 Berkshire County athletes of the 20th century.

DiCicco joins former Pittsfield High basketball standout of the 1920s David Dannybusky at No.50 and former Monument Mountain soccer player Francisco Girona at No.49.

Carving up the 20th century into four equal parts, few would argue that the stretch from 1950 to 1975 produced not just its share of talented players on the diamond, but also put on the field some of the most competitive teams and rivalries. DiCicco, whose time came at the end of this era, was still toeing the rubber for nine innings against players with wooden bats. DiCicco gutted out many complete games in his career, a tribute to the work ethic he displayed and the information he soaked up given by legendary pitching coach and St. Joe assistant Red Pleau.

DiCicco's statistical numbers are further enhanced by the fact that during his final two years as a varsity member of the Crusaders team it could be argued that not only did the city feature three top-notch baseball clubs, but the entire county might never have been loaded with more talent.

"Joe was a very strong kid," said Paul Procopio, who coached the St. Joe baseball team during the springs of 1974-76, winning one state title and three Western Mass. crowns. "He had good velocity, probably in the low 90s, a good curve and slider, and could move the ball inside and out.

"He was a smart pitcher," Procopio added. "But he didn't like throwing the change-up He wasn't the type to use junk." DiCicco was durable and efficient. "I can't think of a game I took him out," Procopio said.

And he didn't mind taking the ball. Said Procopio: "The kid was tough. Most pitchers needed four days rest, but Joe needed just three. Bill Mahan, former Eagle sportswriter and sports editor, covered just about all of DiCicco's starts in Western Mass. tournament games.

"He was just a good all-around "athlete," Mahan said. "He just was one of those kids who seemed to be skilled in whatever he tried."

Plenty of success
The Crusaders were white-hot in the early to mid-70s. They won a state baseball title in 1972 under Al Belanger and came back with another state title in 1975. DiCicco won the Western Mass. opener in '75, the Crusaders bouncing out Mahar 15-4 at Szot Park. The game had been scheduled at Wahconah Park the previous day but was rained out. And the Eastern League Pittsfield Rangers were scheduled the next day. DiCicco went the full nine innings, throwing a six-hitter (a three-hitter through eight), striking out five and walking three.

Talented sophomore southpaw Tim Carroll picked up a 2-1 victory in the Western Mass. semifinal against Ware, a game also played at Szot. DiCicco came into that game in the eighth and earned the save. DiCicco came right back in the Western Mass. championship game and blanked Hopkins Academy of Hadley 2-0. The one-hitter was tossed at Wahconah Park, the only safety being a single in the sixth inning.

The state semifinal was delayed two days by rain and that allowed Procopio the chance to put DiCicco on the mound again at Leg- ion Field in Rockland against Cardinal Spellman of Brockton. Heading into the game, DiCicco had already posted a 10-2 season that included three shutouts and a 1.78 earned run average. Despite an aggravated muscle in his pitching arm, DiCicco won the state semifinal game, 7-5. He pitched into the ninth before Carroll came on for the save.

The state championship game was against Sheperd Hill Regional of Dudley. Carroll started but tired with one out in the eighth. DiCicco came into the game and pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the victory as the Crusaders rallied for two runs in the eighth to win 5-4.

Another title in 1976
DiCicco and the Crusaders won another Southern Division title in the spring of '76 and hit the Western Mass. trail again. DiCicco opened the run with a spectacular 2-1 win over Palmer. He threw a two-hitter, struck out 16 and retired the final 19 batters, 13 by strikeout. He lost a bid for a perfect game with one out in the seventh.

DiCicco had asked Procopio for the start - the coach was no doubt going to his ace regardless - because his mother was scheduled for surgery and it would be the last time she would have the opportunity to see him pitch locally. DiCicco dedicated that game to his mother. Carroll defeated Lenox 6-2 in the Western Mass. semifinals. Carroll, who was the perfect complement to DiCicco, improved his career St. Joe pitching mark to 12-0 with that win.

DiCicco was up to the task again in the Western Mass. title game, defeating Turners Falls 7 -2 at Mackenzie Stadium in Holyoke. He allowed four hits and struck out 12. It was the fourth Western Mass. title for the Crusaders in six years. DiCicco took the ball again in " the state semifinals against Narragansett Regional and survived a nine-hit, seven walk effort to win 7 -5 in 10 innings. He went the distance and struck out 14 batters. No pitch count was recorded that day, but it's safe to say DiCicco was probably near or over 150 serves to the plate in the semis.

Yet he stood ready for the ball again in the championship game. Procopio said recently that he never seriously considered using DiCicco on one day's rest. Carroll started the finals in what would be a 5-3 loss to Norwell.

The Crusaders were frustrated most of the afternoon, out hitting their opponents 11-6 but unable to score then the opportunity presented itself. DiCicco pitched a couple of innings at the end of the game to close out his St. Joe career.

City native
Born in Pittsfield, DiCicco, 42, went to the former Mercer Elementary School and attended North Junior High (now Reid Middle School). His three older brothers all attended Pittsfield High School.

So, what happened? "All my buddies at the time were going to St. Joe," DiCicco recalled recently. "And I had a close association with Red Pleau through my days in the Babe Ruth League." DiCicco played for the St. Joe basketball team that also won a Western Mass. title during his junior year. Procopio said DiCicco was 5-foot-9, maybe 5-foot-10. DiCicco insists he played at 5-foot-11. And while that debate may rage well into this century, one thing they both agree on is that DiCicco had some hops.

"He could dunk the ball, that's for sure," Procopio said. "It wasn't allowed in high school basketball then, but in practice Joe would dunk the ball. He had real strong legs and that helped him on the mound."

DiCicco continues to live in Pittsfield and is employed by Crane &Co. He and his wife, Jody, have two daughters, Courtney and Casey, and a son, Michael, who attends Taconic and plays on the basketball team.