Dorchester’s Charles “Curly” Peterson and Ed Neal were inducted into the Boston Park League’s Hall of Fame at the league’s Hall of Fame dinner held last Friday (April 8) at Moseley’s on the Charles in Dedham. Curly and Ed had large numbers of people on hand to see them welcomed into the Hall in the Class of 2021.

The Boston Park League and the Yawkey Baseball League of Greater Boston are two of the premier amateur/semi-pro baseball leagues in Massachusetts.

One of a family of ten who lived on Wrentham Street, Curly Peterson was a standout pitcher at Boston Latin, Northeastern University, and the Conley Club of the Boston Park League. He was also the head coach and pitching coach at Boston Latin for many years. Notably for his fans, Curly started for Northeastern against Louis Tiant and the Red Sox in a 1977 game at Fenway Park, striking out George “Boomer” Scott and Rick Burleson before leaving the game to a standing ovation with his team holding a lead late in the game.

This year, Ed Neal is starting his 39th year of coaching the Boston Padres. His teams have won championships in the Yawkey Baseball League, the Boston Park League, and the Boston Junior Park League. Ed is also a member of the Yawkey Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ed thanked his dad for teaching him the game of baseball and his mom, Mama Padre, for all her support throughout the years. Many of Ed’s original Padres from 39 years ago were there to hail his induction, including Wayne Selden and Abdias Gonzalez.

Other 2021 inductees: Grady Campion, Chris Johnson, Brian O’Leary, and Johnny Phelan.

– KEVIN GEORGE