Mel Swerdling

In 1972 Mel Swerdling was coaching a Big League team in the San Fernando Valley using most of the players from North Hollywood High. In 1973 he was asked to join the Legion so they could play in the 20th District Legion Baseball program. In 1974 he was told by 20th District Legion officials that if he wanted to have a team in the program he would have to serve as 20th District Chairman. There were no volunteers. This is how he became District Chairman and continued his coaching at the same time.

In 1972 Mel Swerdling was coaching a Big League team in the San Fernando Valley using most of the players from North Hollywood High. In 1973 he was asked to join the Legion so they could play in the 20th District Legion Baseball program. In 1974 he was told by 20th District Legion officials that if he wanted to have a team in the program he would have to serve as 20th District Chairman. There were no volunteers. This is how he became District Chairman and continued his coaching at the same time.

American Legion official Mel Swerdling might have violated Southern Section rules by organizing a fall baseball league that begins play Saturday. High school coaches are forbidden under section rules from "organizing, sponsoring or coaching" in off-season leagues, section administrator Bill Clark said Thursday. Swerdling, the District 20 commissioner and an assistant last season at Harvard-Westlake High, organized an eight-team league featuring teams from Districts 16 and 20.

For years, coaches under Mel Swerdling's rule have described the District 20 chairman as ineffective and confused. At the end of his 24-year tenure, he didn't even know he had been relieved of his duties. Swerdling, who in recent seasons was criticized for contributing to confusion over rules implementation and conflict of interest, was relieved of his duties Tuesday by William Davis, the American Legion District 20 commander.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to help run American Legion baseball, although that's exactly what Mel Swerdling was before he retired early to become the District 20 commissioner. No, you just need a tireless work ethic, bottomless patience and an iron will. "You need to be an engineer and a lawyer to do this job," said Swerdling, in his 23rd year overseeing the district. Like virtually everyone associated with the Legion program, Swerdling is a volunteer.

For years, coaches under Mel Swerdling's rule have described the District 20 chairman as ineffective and confused. At the end of his 24-year tenure, he didn't even know he had been relieved of his duties. Swerdling, who in recent seasons was criticized for contributing to confusion over rules implementation and conflict of interest, was relieved of his duties Tuesday by William Davis, the American Legion District 20 commander.

Tony Diaz remembers with a laugh how he happened to be recruited by Brigham Young University in 1976. Then a catcher on Santa Monica's American Legion baseball team, Diaz was being interviewed by a Utah newspaperman after his selection as most inspirational player in the regional championships in Salt Lake City. "He asked me what I wanted to do next and I said I wanted to go to BYU," recalled Diaz.

"I'm not telling. Just put down that I'm 92 and can still throw pretty good batting practice." Mel Swerdling, American Legion Baseball District 20 commissioner and North Hollywood East coach, regarding his age, which had been reported as 62 in 1985, 55 in 1990, 66 in 1991 and 58 last year.

Mel Swerdling, the longtime baseball commissioner of American Legion District 20, is expected to be released from a Las Vegas hospital today after suffering a heart attack over the weekend. At the invitation of a friend in Las Vegas, Swerdling, 66, was pitching batting practice Saturday to a youth team when he was stricken. According to Swerdling's daughter, Paula Andric, Swerdling would have died had a bystander not administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The big bats of the East will square off against the strong arms of the West at 1 p.m. on Sunday in the American Legion District 20 All-Star game at Cal State Northridge. "The contrast in the two teams' strengths is pretty unusual," District 20 Commissioner Mel Swerdling said. "It's going to be interesting to see how they handle each other." North Hollywood's Merritt Robinson (.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to help run American Legion baseball, although that's exactly what Mel Swerdling was before he retired early to become the District 20 commissioner. No, you just need a tireless work ethic, bottomless patience and an iron will. "You need to be an engineer and a lawyer to do this job," said Swerdling, in his 23rd year overseeing the district. Like virtually everyone associated with the Legion program, Swerdling is a volunteer.

American Legion official Mel Swerdling might have violated Southern Section rules by organizing a fall baseball league that begins play Saturday. High school coaches are forbidden under section rules from "organizing, sponsoring or coaching" in off-season leagues, section administrator Bill Clark said Thursday. Swerdling, the District 20 commissioner and an assistant last season at Harvard-Westlake High, organized an eight-team league featuring teams from Districts 16 and 20.

Tony Diaz remembers with a laugh how he happened to be recruited by Brigham Young University in 1976. Then a catcher on Santa Monica's American Legion baseball team, Diaz was being interviewed by a Utah newspaperman after his selection as most inspirational player in the regional championships in Salt Lake City. "He asked me what I wanted to do next and I said I wanted to go to BYU," recalled Diaz.

Andrew Lorraine, a left-handed pitcher from Hart High, is among 128 players nationwide who have been selected to play on one of four baseball teams during the U. S. Olympic Festival, to be held June 30-July 11 in Minneapolis. Lorraine, a Stanford-bound senior who was selected The Times' Valley Pitcher of the Year after posting a 9-0 record with six saves and an earned-run average of 0.91, will play for the West team.

Eight District 20 American Legion teams have been either revised or added since last summer, according to district Commissioner Mel Swerdling, bringing the district's total to 27 teams in four divisions. District 20, a territory that stretches from the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys to the Ventura County line, is now believed to have more teams than any other district in the state.