Lozinaks, honorees grateful for Altoona Curve recognition
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Bob and Joan Lozinak's dream to bring professional baseball to Altoona to stay came true in 1999, and prior to the Curve's 7-2 loss to the Erie SeaWolves Sunday night, they, along with their sons Mike, David and Steve, were honored as the inaugural class of the new Altoona Curve Hall of Fame in front of 7,146 fans at PNG Field.
"It's awesome," David Lozinak said. "Just to know that not only the Curve, but the community recognizes the fact that my mom and dad established the Curve here back in '99.''
With their induction came the creation of the Lozinak Family Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented in their honor to a trio of people who have played a major part in the Curve's history in the late Jim Lane and Ted Beam, as well as public address announcer Rich DeLeo.
For DeLeo, the award is 27 years in the making as the voice of the Curve.
"I'm used to talking about people. I'm not used to being the one being talked about, but it means a lot to me because being here since the beginning has just been a marvelous experience, and I've met so many wonderful people and made so many friendships," DeLeo said. "This recognition means a lot, and I didn't set out for any recognition. I just set out to do the very best that I can, and year after year after year, we just kept agreeing that I would keep coming back. It means everything, and you know I owe it all to Bob and his family for having me be a part of his dream."
DeLeo was humbled that he not only was named a recipient of the award but also that he was able to join Lane and Beam as the initial recipients.
"Jimmy and Ted were pillars of this community, and that goes without saying. They were two of the most wonderful people and friends that I could ever count on," DeLeo said.
Both Lane and Beam were fixtures at the ballpark prior to each of their passings. Lane was a longtime sports editor of the Altoona Mirror and wrote a column for the game day program of the Curve for nearly 20 years, while Beam was an official scorer for the organization, having scored more games in the team's history than anyone else.
"Jimmy Lane was just an icon. Jimmy always loved to talk sports," DeLeo said. "No matter where we would meet at any venue, we would always sit down and chat a few minutes about sports or about what we were watching, and I miss him dearly. Ted's loss in this community is still being felt. I really miss him, and I know many many people do. And you know my heart goes out to both the Lane and Beam families."
Lane's children, Jill and Jeff, were on hand to accept the award in his honor and see his life in sports and this community honored.
"My dad, he loved the Curve," Jill Lane said. "He loved Altoona. He loved baseball. It's fantastic for us to know that the Curve appreciated everything that he did for all those years because he truly just loved this. He loved the Curve and he loved the sport."
A love and passion for the Curve was what helped fuel Beam as an official scorer for the team from 2000 until his passing in 2025. His wife Cathy was on hand to accept his award Sunday night.
"Ted would have been thrilled," Cathy Beam said. "He loved the Curve from the 2000 all the way through to right when he passed in 2025. He was a part of the family here. He would just feel so honored and just so proud to be selected for this first class."
More from the game
Murf Gray provided the first run of the game for Altoona with his solo home run in the seventh inning. The home run marked Gray's 31st of the season between Bradenton, Greensboro and Altoona.
"Since he's got here, he's made some adjustments," Curve manager Andy Fox said. "Anytime you move to a different level, there's going to be some sort of adjustment, and he's just gradually made the adjustments, and now you're starting to see him get some results."
It was the third setback in a row for the Curve who started off the series with three straight wins over the SeaWolves.
"We pitched a little bit better early in the week, and that always sets the tone," Fox said. "I thought our approach was pretty good early in the week, and then as the week went on, we just didn't cash in when we needed to, and really couldn't limit damage."
Griffin time
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin began his rehabilitation stint with the Curve Sunday night.
"It's been a few weeks, but my mind was set on trying to get back, trying to finish the season strong, and it was fun to be able to be on a baseball field again today," Griffin said.
Griffin went 1-for-3 with a single and two strikeouts as he returned to the field for the first time since hitting the injured list on July 11.
Griffin will have the day off today, but whether he ends up in Toledo with Indianapolis or Harrisburg with the Curve is yet to be determined. His goal is still to be in Pittsburgh this weekend.
"I just want to be in the fight with them," Griffin said. "They're grinding up there. There have been guys that played the full year and working super hard. I just want to kind of come in. I'll be fresh and just try to do my part to win games and see what we can do."
Saturday scuffle
Erie took home the victory on Saturday courtesy of a four-run sixth inning. Gray and Lonnie White Jr. each hit solo homers in the loss.
Up next
The Curve head to Harrisburg to wrap up their road slate of games for the season on Tuesday.