Community members came out to show some Palmerton pride during the field dedication for legendary ballplayer Elmer Valo on Saturday morning.

In conjunction with the start of the Palmerton/Towamensing Athletic Association's 2017 opening day, the former Third Street baseball field was re-christened as the Elmer Valo Field."Elmer walked these areas, and we're fortunate to have the youth of the Palmerton area walk in those same footsteps," Palmerton Borough Council member Richard Nothstein said. "Hopefully, they'll live life like Elmer, doing his best at what he did. He was Mr. Hustle for the Philadelphia Athletics, and eight other Major League teams. Elmer did it all."In search of a ball field to commemorate with Valo's name, and without the opportunity to rename the Seventh Street field, the council found that the Third Street field was a perfect choice."There used to be homes right here, behind the borough garage," Borough Manager Rodger Danielson said. "This is where Elmer grew up, so this became very obvious as a place to dedicate with his name."Born in Rybnik, Slovakia, in 1921 Imrich "Elmer" Valo came to Palmerton with his family at the age of 6. Over the course of about four decades, Valo would work with multiple teams as a right-fielder, coach and scout, and was noted to be fearless in his quest to catch everything that came his way - he was nicknamed "Wall Crusher," after all.Valo was the first American League player to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game, a record tied by fewer than a handful of other players. During that same 1949 season, Valo went on to add another bases-loaded triple, tying a mark set by Shano Collins in 1918.His pinch hitting abilities blossomed in the latter part of his career, and from 1946 to 1955 he posted an on-base percentage over .400. In 1960, Valo set a Major League pinch hitting season record for games, walks, and times on base, and a career pinch hitting record with 91 walks.After retiring as a player, Valo served as a coach for the Indians, a Minor League manager, and a scout for the Phillies. He passed away in Palmerton at 77."Elmer played in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, but he always kept his home in Palmerton," Danielson said.A new scoreboard, featuring a commemorative top emblazoned with "Elmer Valo Field," was unveiled to the cheers of the crowd, including Valo's three children, Jimmy Valo, Anna Hawk and Mary Jane Hassler, who were able to attend."I'm in awe, as for the magnitude of it," Jimmy Valo said. "From what I understand, that sign was quite expensive, and there were a lot of donations that were made. I'm appreciative of everyone. It's just tremendous. My father would have been deeply moved, and probably in tears, and appreciative of everything the town has done in his memory."The scoreboard was contributed by Bradco Systems, with Jet Signs handling the top portion. Forest Inn Masonry, Paules Metal Works, Frable and Son Electric Services, Jeff and Debra Lutz, Robert Merkel, and more also contributed. During the ceremony, the scoreboard sported the numbers "19" and "21" under the guest and home scores, representing Valo's birth year, and "4" under innings, representing the number of decades Valo played and the number of children he had.The initiative to rename the field was the baby of the borough council, especially Nothstein, who had been a Valo fan since childhood."Your father was my hero, too," he said, addressing Valo's family. "Thank you for sharing your father with all of us."As the Little Leaguers prepared to take to the field and start their season, Valo reminisced on what his father would have thought of it all."He'd think it was great. My father loved baseball so much, he would bring a beach chair down and watch T-ball, Little League, Legion, minor leagues, you name it. He loved to sit there and watch these kids play ball."The council, and those in attendance, were happy to dedicate the field to a Major League legend, and hopefully inspire a future generation of sports stars from the humble little town."Hopefully, some of you can duplicate the feats of Elmer," Nothstein said to the kids. "It's great to see so many people here, and these athletes. I don't know of anywhere this could happen but Palmerton, Pennsylvania, Elmer Valo's hometown."