Russ Mattesen Dies; Coached Windsor Locks Little League World Champs

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — Russ Mattesen, a member of the Windsor Locks Athletic Hall of Fame who, along with manager Bob O'Connor, coached the local Little League entry into World Series champions in 1965, died Saturday at his home. He was 90.

An All-State basketball player at Stafford High School in 1950, Mattesen and his wife Eleanor moved to Windsor Locks in 1955, where he became a baseball and softball coach who remained dedicated to the youth of town for over half a century.

He coached Little League baseball from 1962 to 1976, reaching the pinnacle of the sport in the late summer of 1965. After breezing to the District 8 championship and then the Connecticut title - accumulating an overwhelming 49-3 run differential in its seven victories - Windsor Locks turned a bizarre game-ending triple play in the Eastern regional finals in Staten Island, N.Y. against Danvers, Mass. to punch its ticket to South Williamsport, Pa., home of the World Series of youth baseball since its inception in 1947.

"Russ was a great coach who knew the subtleties of the game very well," team member Phil Devlin told Patch. "He taught us the appeal play at practice in Staten Island during the East regionals there. The very next day in our championship game against Danvers, we had a kid who failed to touch up at second base. Russ called for the appeal play, Billy Boardman toed the rubber, stepped off, asked for time, threw to second to appeal an early leave, the second baseman appealed to the ump who rang him up, thus completing a triple play that sent us to Williamsport! It was incredible."

Eight teams competed in the World Series quarterfinal round at Howard J. Lamade Memorial Field, with four from the United States representing the North, East, South and West regions. Other quarterfinalists hailed from Canada, Japan, Spain and Venezuela.

Devlin remembered, "When we went to Williamsport, all of the teams stayed in spartan accommodations — cinder block barracks with no AC and eight bunk beds lined up next to each other."

Windsor Locks defeated Maracaibo, Venezuela 5-3 in the quarterfinals, then nipped Waco, Texas 1-0 in the semifinals to earn a spot in the championship game against a Canadian team from Stoney Creek, Ontario. On Aug. 28, a crowd of 21,000 fans packed the stadium for the title tilt, which was broadcast on ABC's Wide World of Sports, albeit on a tape-delayed basis. Calling the action were 13-time Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Jim McKay and the legendary Jackie Robinson, one of the most phenomenal athletes to ever play the game.

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, big Dale Misiek cracked a two-run home run to center field to plate Fran Aniello ahead of him. Later that inning, a single by Steve Scheerer scored Ted Holmes, giving Windsor Locks a 3-1 advantage and setting the stage for a phenomenal pitching performance by Mike Roche.

Despite some early control problems, the three-quarter sidewinding right-hander struck out 14 Stoney Creek batters, including the final three in the bottom of the sixth inning. When Darrell Ostrosser went down swinging for the final out, Mattesen, O'Connor and their players were joined in a raucous on-field celebration by scores of Windsor Locks parents and fans who rushed onto the diamond to mark the incredible achievement of their band of 10- to 12-year-olds from a little northern Connecticut town of barely 12,000 residents.

"In addition to being the coach for our all star team, Mr. Mattesen was also my coach during the regular season," Roche told Patch in an email Tuesday night. "He was a baseball man through and through and a great coach. During the tournament, when I was scheduled to pitch, he would be the one to catch for me during warm-ups before the game. His observations on my technique, mechanics, tempo were conveyed with a quiet demeanor and were always welcomed and served me well."

"Russ always said that the reason that Mike had control problems early in the game was due to the fact that Mike's warm-up period pregame was cut short due to Captain Keds flying a jetpack around the perimeter of the field before the game began," Devlin said. He also recalled the primitive nature of media coverage at the time, noting that following the game, the local radio broadcasters interviewed O'Connor and Mattesen in their booth behind home plate.

"To get to the booth, Bob and Russ had to climb up an extension ladder from the field," he said. "Russ and Bob universally commanded our respect. Not only great baseball coaches but superior human beings in every respect. Great men, both of them. We were very lucky kids in 1965. Bob always said that the first decision he made as our manager was his best: choosing Russ Mattesen as his assistant."

In addition to the world championship team, Mattesen coached Windsor Locks Little League to state titles in 1966 and 1972. He coached men's softball in town for many years, winning ASA world titles in 1986 and 1991, and wound up his coaching career with state and zone championships in American Legion baseball alongside his son Rusty.

When the Windsor Locks Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 2005, the World Series championship team was among the inaugural inductees. Two years later, Mattesen was inducted as an individual.

His obituary on the Leete-Stevens Family Funeral Homes website states, "Russ was a quiet, humble leader, and a fine role model for the many athletes he coached."

Local sportsman and businessman Mike Barile emailed Patch, "From a Little League All-Star in 1968 through high school and Legion baseball in 2023, Mr. Mattesen was a true mentor to me as a player and as a coach. He touched the lives of hundreds of kids in town, and will always be remembered as Mr. Baseball in Windsor Locks. Rest in peace dear friend, and bring your gear with you as you enter the pearly gates. Bob O'Connor, Frannie Aniello, and other Windsor Locks alumni will be waiting for you to continue the tradition."

"It is a sad day for the town of Windsor Locks and the Mattesen family," Hall of Famer Bob Cressotti said. "Russ was a role model and mentor to all the young athletes who played for him. He instilled in you all the qualities needed to be a great athlete. He taught you the proper fundamentals, whether it was soccer, basketball or baseball. There are many important people in my life growing up and Russ is at the top of my list. I have many fond baseball memories and many others. His accomplishments are a testament to the type of person he is and was. He was a first class gentleman and world champion. I will miss him dearly."

Longtime TV sportscaster Bob Rumbold, a member of the World Series-winning squad, said, "It is sad about Russ's passing. He was not only a fantastic coach and great guy to me, he was also a neighbor and family friend."

"There wasn't a nicer guy around than Russ," legendary Enfield and East Granby high school baseball coach Bob Bromage said.

In addition to his wife, to whom he was married for 70 years, Mattesen leaves five children, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Calling hours are slated for Thursday, June 1 from 4-7 p.m. at Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring Street. Funeral services will be private.

Mattesen's complete obituary may be read here.