While Tom Diaddigo is closely associated with
sports and recreational activities in Aliquippa, his long career as
a player, manager, and recreation director has reached every corner
of Beaver County. Tom was born in Aliquippa in 1914, started his
athletic career as an American Legion baseball player in 1930, and
was active as a sports director with the Beaver County Recreation
Department. During his baseball playing career, he performed for such
well known teams as the Aliquippa Reds and the Beaver Grays, and also
played for two outstanding semipro clubs, one in the Lawrenceville
section of Pittsburgh and another in Struthers, Ohio. Tom then
combined pitching and managing, directing the Aliquippa Reds,
Celtic-Reds, and White Sox, plus the MPIC team. He also served with
the Rochester American Legion team and the powerful National
Electric team of Ambridge. Tom started the J&L Steel team of the
Beaver County League in 1952 and helped in the rebirth of the league
itself in 1973. His recreation work with the youth of
Aliquippa began in 1931 when he directed an intramural basketball
team for Coach Nate Lippe at Aliquippa High. He also was a
well known basketball official in Western Pennsylvania from 1937 to
1959, having been certified by the PIAA during that 22 year period.
Tom was inducted into the Aliquippa Sports Hall of Fame in 1975.
While Tom Diaddigo is closely associated with
sports and recreational activities in Aliquippa, his long career as
a player, manager, and recreation director has reached every corner
of Beaver County. Tom was born in Aliquippa in 1914, started his
athletic career as an American Legion baseball player in 1930, and
was active as a sports director with the Beaver County Recreation
Department. During his baseball playing career, he performed for such
well known teams as the Aliquippa Reds and the Beaver Grays, and also
played for two outstanding semipro clubs, one in the Lawrenceville
section of Pittsburgh and another in Struthers, Ohio. Tom then
combined pitching and managing, directing the Aliquippa Reds,
Celtic-Reds, and White Sox, plus the MPIC team. He also served with
the Rochester American Legion team and the powerful National
Electric team of Ambridge. Tom started the J&L Steel team of the
Beaver County League in 1952 and helped in the rebirth of the league
itself in 1973. His recreation work with the youth of
Aliquippa began in 1931 when he directed an intramural basketball
team for Coach