Aug. 29, 1952, still rates as one of the all-time great moments in Norwalk sports history. The1952 "Boys of Summer" representing the Norwalk National Little League took everyone by surprise by winning 11 straight games. Back then, all tournaments were single elimination, there was no room for error. Norwalk played 11 games -- three in the districts, three in the states, two in the regionals, and three more in Williamsport -- and they won all 11.  They came from behind in nearly half their games. But under the guidance of manager George Buschbaum and his assistant Jack Sutton, they always found a way to win and advance. All 12 players contributed, but no one more so than Ralph DiMeglio. In fact, the Norwalkers could have been eliminated in their very first game if not for DiMeglio, who hit two home runs, drove in all four runs, and pitched the last inning in a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Park City American of Bridgeport. In the district championship game, DiMeglio threw a no-hitter while Julio Landa, the other star on the team, belted a two-run homer as Norwalk beat Stratford 2-0. In the state championship game in Naugatuck, DiMeglio hit a pair of solo homers while pitching a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts as Norwalk beat East Hartford 2-0.  After DiMeglio helped Norwalk wrap up the state title, the locals beat Pittsfield, Mass., 4-2, in the regional semifinals to set up a showdown against Fall River, Mass., for the right to go to Williamsport.  They won 17-1.  The car loads of fans from Norwalk who made the trip to Williamsport had plenty to cheer about as the local all-stars came from behind in all three games. In its first game, Norwalk trailed Whiting, Ind., 6-0, but rallied to tie it on a DiMeglio grand slam. Then after falling behind again 7-6, Landa belted a three-run homer in the fourth and Norwalk added an insurance run in the fifth to pull out a 10-7 win. The Norwalkers came from behind again in the semifinals to beat San Diego 3-2, setting up a championship game matchup against Monongahela, Pa. And once again they fell behind, trailing 3-2 before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the sixth for a dramatic 4-3 victory. Norwalk, Connecticut, was the 1952 Little League World Series champion.

                             

Team Roster:

Manager:  George Buschbaum
Coach:      John Sutton

Players:
Bob Avery, John Avery, Robert Bardani, Harry Brower, Ralph DiMeglio, Tony DiMeglio, Peter Federici, Marcus Greggos, Robert LaMorte, Julio Landa, Charles Mages, Richard Masi, David Newbauer, Peter Pollard, Ronald Rogowski, David Voorhees