No. 7 will never be worn by anyone associated with the Post 253 American Legion baseball team again.
Festus retired former manager Pat Bone’s number on Friday night before Post 253 took the field against District 13 rival Ste. Genevieve. Bone threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his son, Zac Bone, who has been the Festus manager for eight summers.
Pat’s father, Ron Bone, managed the program for 16 years. Pat Bone won five state championships in his 21 seasons at the helm. And Zac Bone, who has guided the team since 2012, had Post 253 two wins from his first state title in 2017.
“That’s a lot of Bone tutelage,” Pat Bone said on Friday as he watched Festus take a quick 2-0 lead. “That says a lot to have that type of commitment. I understand what it was for my dad and Zac understands what it means to me.
“What’s extremely important about the success of (Post 253) is the parents, who chose to bring their sons to us. Because if they don’t trust you, or believe you don’t have their son’s best interest at heart, they’re not going to come.”
While Zac Bone managed Post 253 to a thrilling 5-4 victory over Ste. Gen and wrapped up the regular season championship and top seed in this week’s district tournament, Pat mingled with former players who came out to watch his number be retired. They shared stories about their time with Post 253.
“It’s fun to see these guys and remember the times with them,” Pat Bone said. “I was raised by good men and helped by good men. Now I see some of the guys who played for me with their kids; that’s a great feeling.”
After the last out is made during the high school baseball season, players must decide the best avenue to continue honing their skills on the diamond. When Pat Bone took over Festus almost three decades ago, American Legion baseball attracted most of the best players from the south end of the county. With the rise of traveling and select baseball teams, many talented players have been siphoned off.
Post 253 was aided immensely this summer by the additions of Michael Brewer and Jake Leitner. Brewer, a right-handed pitcher for Festus, will be a senior at Hillsboro this fall and has college baseball in his sights despite being the county’s top returning basketball player. Leitner, a left-hander, had a superb season for Festus in the spring and combines with Brewer to give Post 253 the best pitching combination in the district.
“I wish (Brewer and Leitner) lived in Ste. Genevieve,” Ste. Genevieve manager Junie Basler was quick to point out after Friday’s game. “(Festus) is good every year and they bring those two guys aboard, they’re the top dog in this district and will be the team to beat.”
Basler and Pat Bone went head to head on many a sultry summer night, but they struck up a quick friendship after Basler took over for Steve Bieser as Post 150’s manager 13 years ago. During the pregame ceremonies, Basler gave Pat Bone a plaque from Post 150. The two men became emotional during the exchange. Both leaned on each other in the past year as they struggled with serious health challenges.
“He’s such a quality individual and to me personally, he’s helped me out so much with his knowledge of this game,” Basler said. “Even when we coached against each other, he’d share ideas with me and took me under his wing. He’s like a brother to me. What he’s done for this baseball community is amazing.”
Pat Bone said when he met Basler, the two immediately clicked, even when they were trying to beat each other on the field.
“Junie Basler is a ferocious competitor, but it never got to the point of disrespect,” Pat Bone said. “That doesn’t mean we wouldn’t argue calls. I didn’t mind when he’d go out to argue with an umpire about a call because most of the time I was agreeing with him.”
Pat Bone started his rise within Post 253 as a bat boy from 6 to 12 years old. He later played for Festus, before becoming the manager. That equals about 40 of his 59 years.
“I’m completely endeared to American Legion baseball,” he said. “I have a soft spot in my heart for it. I’m glad my dad was a baseball man. Basketball was a passion for me, but baseball has always been my love.
“I’m so proud to represent Post 253 and have my son continue it. Beyond the support of the military and our country, there’s something about town baseball, community baseball. (Post 253) has players from Herculaneum, Crystal City, Festus and Hillsboro. To see kids who compete against each other in the spring, put those rivalries aside, it’s fun to watch.”
After leading Festus to consecutive state titles between 2009 and 2011, Pat Bone knew it was time to step away. He said the first year his son replaced him as coach he didn’t attend a game until the district tournament. He still attends several games a year, and you can find him far away from the rest of the fans outside the left-field fence.
“The year I left was a good year for me to stop,” Pat Bone said. “There were a lot of outside factors in the decision, like work. I felt my commitment was waning.”
Festus players often felt the wrath of Pat Bone if he felt they weren’t adhering to what they’d been coached to do or weren’t giving a full effort. He could boil over in the dugout if a call didn’t go his team’s way. Objects were thrown. But the message was always consistent and from the heart.
“Zac is a lot different than I am,” Pat Bone said. “I was a little more emotional and animated. I didn’t get kicked out of as many ballgames as people think I did. Not to say that Zac can’t be fiery. But he’s a little more laid back. I was more fiery. He does it in a different way.
“I will argue for my team. Sometimes it didn’t look very good, but it’s teaching a lesson as well. I argued the call, but that didn’t change things. That teaches you that things aren’t always going to go your way. I wanted to give back exactly what was given to me.”