Behind the Curve: Boosters ‘passionate’ about the team
The Altoona Curve Booster Club helps players get acclimated to the region, assists with travel and raises awareness of the team in the community. Players Claudio Finol, Brad Case, Tahnaj Thomas and Tyler Samaniego pose for a picture with a young fan, Finley Watson, at the 2023 ACBC Make-A-Wish Bowling event. Courtesy photo
The bowling event, among others, gives players a chance to relax, have fun and make an impact on the community. Courtesy photo
The Altoona Curve Booster Club helps players get acclimated to the region, assists with travel and raises awareness of the team in the community. Players Claudio Finol, Brad Case, Tahnaj Thomas and Tyler Samaniego pose for a picture with a young fan, Finley Watson, at the 2023 ACBC Make-A-Wish Bowling event. Courtesy photo
The bowling event, among others, gives players a chance to relax, have fun and make an impact on the community. Courtesy photo
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It takes a village -- and a group of enthusiastic baseball fans -- to support the players of a successful minor league team and the Altoona Curve Booster Club is both.
Assisting with travel plans, providing gift bags and helping with community outreach, the boosters are always ready to lend a hand.
"A lot of our members are passionate about the Curve, they are good fans and understand the game," president Joe Keller said.
While not officially formed until 2005, support for the players goes back to 1999, the team's first year.
John Prosperi, one of the club's founders, along with Duane Bordell and the late John Austin, saw a need to help players from the beginning.
Prosperi said a friend of his, Lino Diaz, played in the minor leagues, prior to the formation of the Curve.
"I saw what booster clubs were doing in other communities, you saw the problems they (players) encountered. ... They had to find housing," Prosperi said.
Prosperi and people such as Larry and Linda Strong, then of Tyrone, were among those who hosted players before the booster club was formed.
Chris Snusz, who played for the Curve from 2003-05, was just one of several players the Strongs hosted.
"They were fantastic," Snusz said. "Me, Nate McLouth and some other guys stayed with the Strongs. We had a nice place to stay. They took care of us."
Snusz said Linda Strong would have a nice meal for the players before they headed out to the field and she packed them goodie bags, too.
"They were always there to support us," Snusz said. "If you needed anything, they always made things available. They were truly a blessing."
Prosperi said he, Austin and Bordell met with Chuck Greenberg, Curve owner and lawyer, at the time, for advice on how to form the club.
"Chuck assisted us with that info and also with forming the club bylaws. Once that was ready, we held a meeting and discussed the organization and initial officers and directors we recruited," Prosperi said.
Austin served as the club's first president for four years, followed by Prosperi, who held the post for 10 years. Eileen Snyder then served for four years until Keller took over the reins in 2023.
Today, the club boasts nearly 200 members, though that number usually grows with renewals throughout the summer, club leaders said.
The official role of the club is to promote, stimulate and generate community interest in the sport of professional baseball, in particular, the Altoona Curve and the players during their time as Curve players.
While housing was a very big reason why the boosters formed, that is no longer an issue as in 2021, Major League Baseball's owners announced a new minor league housing policy to ensure players had accommodations, at each major league club's expense beginning with the 2022 season.
That doesn't mean the boosters are idle, as the group is involved with multiple events throughout the year.
FanFest, held at the beginning of the season, gives fans a chance to meet the players, with about 240 people attending this year's event.
The Curve also holds an annual bowling event to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Last year's event raised about $4,500 and this year's event will be held June 2 at Holiday Bowl, Snyder said.
"We are very proud of the partnership with the Altoona Curve Booster Club," said Lacy Bair, regional manager of the Punxsutawney region of Make-A-Wish Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The booster club "has been a valued member of our community committed to helping us grant wishes for local children," Bair said.
The club also sponsors a player appreciation dinner and a spring training bus trip to Bradenton, Fla. In addition, the club sells 50/50 chances for Altoona Curve Charities at each home game.
"The first year we raised about $150,000 and gave out $75,000. Last year we generated about $200,000 and gave out about $100,000," Keller said of the charity organization.
The boosters' original goal to help the players remains intact.
"The booster club plays an important role in the season and helping the players to get acclimated to the region. They assist with travel of players and their family members, give gift bags to the players and their families and help to raise awareness of the team in the community," said current General Manager Nate Bowen.
"We want it to be like home for the players. We tell them the Booster Club is here for them if they need anything," Snyder said.
The club has an excellent relationship with the team and its management, Snyder said.
"We are willing to support their efforts and they are willing to help us out. Nate has been excellent to deal with," she said.
"We are trying to create more community awareness, be more visible," Keller said. "John and Eileen and the others have developed long-term relationships with the players."
Rob Egan, who served as Curve general manager from 2009-16, speaks highly of the club.
"During my time as a broadcaster and GM, the booster club was always so supportive to the players, coaches and our front office. It is the best booster club I've been around and I can say that from my experience before coming to Altoona where the clubs weren't always as well organized or effective. Not all teams have them and we don't here in Charlotte," said Egan, now general manager of the Charlotte Knights of the AAA International League.
Keller credits others for the club's success.
"It is John, Eileen and Duane, the three of them, the energy they have. We have key people that keep everything together," Keller said. "We could use some younger members, some other people to step up. It takes a good commitment of time, it takes a lot of time."
Anyone who would like to join the booster club can pick up an application in the Curve office or stop by its table during Sunday games. For more information, letters can be sent to Altoona Booster Club, P.O. Box 532, Altoona, PA 16603.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.
Next up
The Altoona Curve will return home Tuesday for a six-game homestand series against the Portland Sea Dogs. Games are slated for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, through Saturday, June 1, and 1 p.m. Sunday, June 2.