Boyertown baseball retires number of longtime head coach Todd Moyer

BOYERTOWN >> After 31 years at the helm of Boyertown baseball, Todd Moyer’s seen it all.

So it was most remarkable when the team, parents, and hundreds of former players, coaches and friends were almost able to completely surprise the only head coach many at Boyertown have ever known.

But like the baseball lifer he is, Moyer eventually picked up the signs.

“For the last 15 minutes, no one’s been able to look me in the eye,” he said before Monday’s home finale with Methacton. “I knew something was going on.”

But what Moyer didn’t know was that the Bears were about to hold a pregame ceremony honoring him as the inaugural inductee to the Boyertown High School Baseball Hall of Fame before the start of the final home game of the season at Bear Stadium.

“No, I was totally surprised,” Moyer later admitted. “A great night and a great honor.”

Moyer, a 1978 Boyertown graduate, took the reins of the storied program in 1994 after eight years as an assistant under Ron Jameson. His years as an assistant included the Bears’ 1991 state championship team, and exactly 25 years later Moyer managed Boyertown to the 2016 PIAA 4A title in the final year of the four-classification system.

Bears past, present, and some likely future players were on hand to honor the longtime skipper on Monday night.

Steve Mest was a shortstop and second baseman on the 1991 state championship team. Mest lives in North Coventry now and returned to his alma mater to see his friend and former coach honored.

“As much as Todd has given to me as a coach, as a friend, there was no question I’d be here tonight,” said Mest. “Even as a kid, I would come out to see Todd and the team play. I looked up to him.

“In Boyertown, baseball gets in your blood. For me, my brother, my father, there’s a connection that never goes away — a connection to the team, the stadium, and the culture. And Todd is a big part of all that.”

USA Today named Moyer its 2016 ALL-USA Pennsylvania Coach of the Year following the Bears’ state title run, but Moyer has plenty more accolades to show for a lifetime in the game.

Moyer spent some time in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization before returning to his hometown and embarking on what would become a legendary coaching career.

In addition to the 2016 PIAA title, he has presided over 14 league titles — five in the Berks County League and nine in the PAC.

But the numbers, ultimately, mean little to Todd Moyer when compared to the generations’ worth of lives he’s impacted since his 1976 debut on the Bears’ varsity.

“All of this is a pleasure,” he said to the crowd before the first pitch. “But none of it is possible without my family right here, supporting me every step of the way.”

In the ceremony emceed by Boyertown athletic leader Ross Smith, Moyer’s signature No. 6 jersey was officially retired and will never be worn by anyone other than the head coach again.

“We’ve both been here for (over 40 years), through the good times and bad,” said Smith. “Personally, I’ve learned so much about baseball from Todd, specifically about respecting the game. And that’s what he teaches the kids as well.”

Ron Jameson, who coached Boyertown from 1986-1993, said his first move in the position was to hire Todd Moyer as an assistant coach.

“The tradition here is very strong,” said Jameson, “so when I took the job, my goal was to keep the wheels turning.”

Thirty-eight years later, it’s safe to say Jameson was successful. Moyer succeeded the now-retired social studies teacher in 1994, and after some years away Jameson returned to serve as an assistant under Moyer for two years.

“Tonight means a lot to me. Todd deserves this — people don’t realize how much time is invested in coaching a high school baseball team, particularly one as accomplished as Boyertown,” said Jameson.

In turn, Moyer thanked Jameson for taking him under his wing in his early days as a coach.

“He taught me that it’s not about the coach or his ego,” said Moyer. “It’s about adapting to the team and teaching them what we do and why we do it.

“Ron was very humble as a head coach, always aware of the kids, what they needed. And now I’ve got four assistant coaches, former players, who help out so much. I’m spoiled.”

Among the well-wishers were Moyer’s father Larry, his wife Annette, and children Amanda, Mikayla, and Peyton.

Peyton played for the Bears from 2020-2022.

“Just being back here, I miss it — he creates such an amazing atmosphere around the team,” said Peyton, who admitted he wouldn’t mind someday getting involved with the team again.

“I could see myself there with him,” said Peyton. “I haven’t had the desire to coach yet, but I know it’s probably in me.”

In total, Moyer has been a part of 932 games of Boyertown baseball as a player, assistant, and head coach. He celebrated his 700th career win (in all roles — he has 483 victories as head coach) earlier this season.

But Moyer wasn’t able to add to those totals on Monday night, as Liberty Division-leading Methacton rode a three-run third inning to a 7-1 victory, avenging an earlier 10-4 defeat to the Bears in April.

E Jones hurled a complete-game one-hitter with seven strikeouts to carry Methacton. Tommy Kratz’s RBI single opened the scoring for the Warriors en route to a 3-for-4 night (double) for the leadoff hitter. Liam Greenberg was 2-for-2 with a double and designated hitter Ben Clark drove in two runs for 11-hit Methacton.

The Warriors (15-4, 12-3, 8-2 PAC Liberty) hope to be right back at Boyertown for next week’s PAC playoffs, starting Monday afternoon, as the No. 1 seed. They’ll wrap up the regular season Wednesday hosting Upper Perkiomen.

For Boyertown, the loss ends their hopes of making the PAC playoffs, but the Bears have plenty to play for in the regular season’s final week. Games against Pope John Paul II and Norristown will likely determine their District 1-6A fate.

Naturally, the defeat was on Todd Moyer’s mind after the game, but perhaps for this night overshadowed by his gratitude and amazement for the largest turnout all season to honor both his senior players and their coach.

“I’m an intense guy, so I tell these guys they need to work harder in practice than they do in the games,” he said.

“If they can practice for me, they can play. The ultimate thing, in the end, is that they enjoy being around one another and playing for one another. That’s the only legacy I want.”

Notes: The Bears also held Senior Night on Monday evening, recognizing 11 graduating seniors from the Class of 2024. The Bears seniors include Logan Barndt, Devin Hoelzle, Aidan Myers, Easton Albert, Randy Wynings, Hayden Stezenko, Connor Moyer, Louis Panunzio, Joseph Kerns, Gavin Slaughter and Joe Casey.