Honoring a longtime supporter: Little League field bears the name of Joseph Abbate Jr.
by Mark Jahne
Editor
First, he was a decorated combat veteran. Then he became an ardent supporter of the Wethersfield Litle League. Put them together and its worthy of public acclaim.
Joseph Abbate Jr., who died in 1993, was a longtime sponsor and dedicated supporter of Wethersfield Little League. Following his passing, his son Joseph M. Abbate III continued the family’s tradition of supporting youth baseball.
Abbate was a decorated World War II U.S. Army veteran who served as a sergeant with the 745th Tank Battalion. During combat near Aachen, Germany, on Sept. 21, 1944, he was awarded the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest military decoration for valor, for his extraordinary heroism.
His generosity extended well beyond military service. He was a member of the local Elks Club and worshiped at Corpus Christi Church.
Several years ago, when Wethersfield Little League relied heavily on community sponsors to provide equipment, the league experienced a devastating theft in which nearly all its equipment was stolen.
Joseph III responded by providing the league with what was essentially an open check to replace everything that had been lost, ensuring the children could continue playing without interruption. He did it in memory of his father.
More recently, during renovations to the field a current member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board discovered a plaque behind the backstop recognizing his contributions. That discovery prompted the board to formally recognize his legacy by naming the field in his honor.
Members of the Abbate family who attended the dedication included Joseph Abbate III and his wife Debbie, grandson Joseph M. Abbate IV and his wife, and a granddaughter, along with her husband and their children, who currently play in Wethersfield Little League. Their son Luca played for the Sea Unicorns and their daughter Josephine played for the Disco Turkeys.
Luca, a great-grandson, threw the ceremonial first pitch to officially dedicate the field.
“He sponsored teams,” Joseph III said. “He was also big into adult softball. I was on a team. After my dad passed away I sponsored” Little League teams.
“He sponsored the men’s softball league, too. He was always involved in youth sports,” Debbie added.
All of this was done though the family business Abbate Plumbing. Generations of local youth have played baseball on what is now Joseph Abbate Jr. Field.
“We’re truly honored,” Joseph III said. “We’re proud of it. Mark Hacker called me and got this thing rolling,” Joseph said.
Hacker worked with them representing Wethersfield Little League, helping move the project through each stage of the approval process. That included presenting the league’s recommendation to name the field in honor of Abbate to the Wethersfield Parks Advisory Board.
Town Council approval was then required and achieved. Hacker worked directly with the family to design the commemorative field sign, coordinated its production, collaborated with the Parks and Recreation Department to have the sign installed, and organized the field dedication ceremony. WL