Wanna read how the Albany Open got its' start?
Here's how it came to be - as told by Mr. Bill Huff at the banquet
of the 25th Anniversary tournament.
Back in 1972 on the way back from the Hollander-Horand
tournament in Rochester NY, the founders of the Albany Open (Bill Huff, Sal Pirri, Joe Early, Dick VanPatten, George Bruda) made a stop at the Diplomat Bar in Utica, NY. It was there that they decided they could run a tournament in Albany. (Typical handball players - had to stop for beer on the way back from a tournament.)
The first year of the Albany Open was 1973 and it was held at the
downtown YMCA in Albany on 4 courts with just one division. There
were 50 players in attendance that first year, which grew to 56 in the
second, and to 80 players in the third year. The original directors
of the tournament were some of Albany's finest players and legends:
Bill Huff
Dick Van Patten
Sal Pirri
George Bruda
Pat Riley
Joe Early
George Wheeler
This group ran it from its inception in 1973 until 1986. Following that have been a succession of Directors:
George Degonzague : 1987
Ed Miller : 1988 - 1991
Ed Miller / Jim Giner : 1992
Ed Miller / Jim Giner / John Dziark : 1993
Jim Giner / John Dziark : 1994 - 2007
Jim Giner : 2007 - 2010
Jim Giner / John Bossung : 2011
John Bossung : 2012 -
Additional players that have been heavily involved with all phases of the tournament over the later years are:
Ray Peter (hospitality/banquet),
Fred Seestadt (hospitality),
George Cavooris/Al Spencer/Dick Buyer (welcoming committee),
Fred Seestadt Jr. (hospitality),
Larry Miller/Bob Fivel/Ed Reich/Vince Agneta (tournament desk).
In 1979, the Y hosted 108 players, still in one division, and STILL
playing on only 4 courts. Play began on Friday morning at 11:00 am and all players appeared for their scheduled matches.
In 1982 the tournament finally outgrew the YMCA with its 4 courts and moved to East Greenbush to be hosted by Club East which operated as a 10 court facility. The tournament was conducted there in 1982 and 1983.
In 1984 the Open made its debut at the 18 court Colonie Court Club. It is still hosted there over 25 years later, although with just 8 courts now.
In 1986 the tournament hosted the year's first Pro-stop. In addition to the 16 seeded Pro players the tournament drew another 271 players.
For a view of all of the past winners of the Albany Open see the link on the
home page of the AlbanyHandball.com website.
If you have any notes or contributions to the above info, feel free to
email me with whatever you have.