Local MLB Stars Frazier Return Home

Major League Baseball players Jeff Frazier and his younger brother, Todd, returned home Saturday to Toms River to play for their former team - the Toms River Black Sox.

The "old timers" game was played between the current Black Sox team, and a team that consisted of players and coaches who have moved on from the youth organization. 

The night started with a pre-game homerun derby between Todd and Jeff Frazier, while their brother, Charlie Frazier, a minor league player for the Florida Marlins, pitched to them. After three rounds, the brothers called the derby tied at 10. 

Before the game, and during the inning when the Fraziers were in the dugout, they were being asked for autographs by local citizens who had come out to meet the celebrities, as well as younger ball players. According to Bill Castner, coach and founder of the Black Sox, “the Black Sox is a wonderful organization, all volunteer based. It’s great to see kids who have come up through the system and become ball players on a national level remember their roots and return home for a game with their former teammates.”

Todd Frazier said the Black Sox were a big part of growing up in the area.

“I started when I was eight years old. Guys like Billy Castner, they come along, they help you along the way. The Black Sox are a great organization, and have helped me become the player I am today.”

The Black Sox have been around for a long time, and they play teams from all around the area. “Sometimes we would play teams better than us, but we all played to have fun,” Frazier said. “It’s a learning experience for us all, and definitely something good for New Jersey, especially Toms River to have.”

The current coach, Jerry Sinnott, threw out the ceremonial first pitch as Todd Frazier took the field and covered third base, while his brother Jeff played first base.

After a one-two-three first-half inning, the alumni were up to bat. At his only plate appearance, Black Sox pitcher James Burke struck out Todd Frazier.

“I was thinking that this was pretty cool, and I was trying to focus on getting strikes and not making a mistake that would let [Frazier] hit a bomb off me,” Burke said. 

Next up was Jeff Frazier, who grounded out in his only at-bat of the night.

Nick Brebner, a current member of the Black Sox said “It’s pretty cool to see guys like this who played against the Mets at Citi Field three days ago, here playing ball with us.”

Other teammates Evan Worth and Dan Da Silva agreed that this was a really cool experience.

After the first inning, both Frazier’s left the game to attend other engagements. 

Neither team scored until the seventh inning, when a wild throw to second base led to two extra runs scoring, bringing the game to 3-1.

In the top of the ninth, the Black Sox scored insurance runs and wound up winning the game 6-1. 

After the game ended, the players from both teams met halfway on the field to shake hands. 

If you are interested in signing your child up for the Black Sox, visit their website at www.tomsriverblacksox.tv.