By Clara Ruffin
Richard T. Ruffin, Sr., a Virginia transplant and retired teacher from Hartford’s Lewis Fox Middle School, fondly reminisces as he looks back over his years as a teacher and coach of an award-winning baseball team.
Ruffin was a born athlete. While he was a high school senior, a professional scout came to one of his softball games to check out his prowess. Not hindered at all by his 5’6 stature, Ruffin played basketball and volleyball equally well. Being the only son of educators who insisted that he attend college, a career in sports was not an option.
When he graduated Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA, he landed his first job at a school located in Lancaster, VA, where he taught 6th grade science. He gravitated towards coaching the baseball and basketball teams he saw at Brookvale High School since he had excelled in those sports himself. He served as an assistant coach to Maurice Savoy, head coach, along with his coworker and best buddy, Walter Webb, now deceased. Their baseball team lost few games in 1969 and emerged as the best in the district advancing to the state level.
Sam Cook, a popular singer from the 60’s era, wrote the song “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Who knew that the Warriors Baseball team would play a role in a history making event that would languish for 52 years without recognition? In 2021, after more than half a century, the team won the statewide recognition it deserved.
Maurice Savoy and his two assistant coaches had a team of hungry, phenomenal, unstoppable baseball players that year who went undefeated and wound up winning the state championship.
According to a letter written by Mr. Savoy, the ‘69 Brookvale Warriors Baseball Team consisted of eager young men who possessed raw tremendous talent. “They wanted to win, but more importantly they wanted to win the right way. Mr. Webb, Rev. Ruffin and I only had to point out the right direction.” The coaches recognized their role as being teachers, counselors, mentors and examples.
The team competed against all – comers. According to Mr. Savoy, most of the teams they faced were out of district, had larger and manicured fields, more assistant coaches and trainers, more and newer equipment, and a much larger fan base. These things did not deter the Warriors. To some they may have appeared ragtag, but appearances were proven to deceptive in1969. Everyone on the team brought something special: the hitters, who by the way, were excellent, the pitchers who displayed unparalleled prowess, and the team’s ability to play defensively attributed to their winning every game. When they played in the state championship game, they executed their moves with no fear or intimidation. The final score was 11 – 5.
Coach Savoy observed that when they arrived home, there was no parade, no confetti, no balloons, and no slow-moving cars loudly honking their horns in a show of community celebration. Just the parents and relatives of the players, their closest friends and Brookvale High School students, teachers, and administrators shared in their moment of victory until now, fifty- two years later.
Undeterred then by the lack of acknowledgement but recognized now after half a century, the players already knew what the rest of the world has since discovered: that the Warriors were champions, through and through.
At a recent ceremony honoring the players and coaches at the newly renovated baseball field, the players and coaches were presented with certificates, baseball caps, and a huge encrusted diamond ring.
With the recent scrutiny that the Black Lives Matter Movement has received, people have taken a closer look at the significant accomplishments that were overlooked, ignored and counted unimportant. Some would say that Sam Cook’s song was prophetic. Changes have come, reluctantly, inevitably, but not without opposition. Kudos to those who worked to make it happen.
We as a race of strong, stalwart individuals will continue to make history, some of us in ways that are clearly seen and immediately applauded— and some in ways less conspicuous. In the meanwhile, we applaud Mr. Ruffin, Hartford resident, former teacher, and cofounder of the Hartford Friendship Kids’ Camp, who continues to make history by investing in young lives today.
