Bio Larry Crino

Larry Crino

Larry Crino was born in Tucson, Arizona, back in the late-'50s when life was simpler.

Larry was taught how to love the game of baseball in early-1965 by his much-beloved second grade teacher, who was a San Francisco Giants fan. Wisely, Larry acted the part of a Giants fan and got outstanding grades as a result. Later that year, Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers beat Harmon Killebrew and the Minnesota Twins in the World Series. As a result of watching that series, Larry, by then a Los Angeles resident, became a Dodgers fan whose favorite player was Harmon Killebrew. He was such a Killebrew fan that Larry not only copied his style and played his position, but he even went prematurely bald, just to be more like Harmon. In deference to his beloved teacher, among Larry's other favorite players were Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Juan Marichal, the teacher's favorite Giants.

Larry became a Ballpark Guy for life in 1966, when his family moved to hilly, suburban Glendale, California, the longtime home of the legendary Casey Stengel. Larry was a fixture at Glendale's Stengel Field, where he met the "Old Perfesser." It was from Casey that Larry caught the illness, which to this day has proved to be incurable. He hopes that no cure is ever found.

Larry became a fixture at Dodger Stadium the following year, and has been, over the years, a Ballpark Guy, a photographer guy, a reporter guy, a radio guy-anything that would get him inside to be close to The Game he loves so fervently.

Since the Mike Piazza deal in 1998, Larry's no longer a Dodgers fan, which is for the best. He was given a fresh start by the Arizona Diamondbacks, which began play the same year in Larry's home state. He's still looking for a suitable recipient for all of his Dodgers attire and memorabilia.

Since '98 Larry's eyes have also been reopened to the wondrous beauty of youth baseball. He was inspired by his son, Tony, who at the age of 10, is himself already a Ballpark Guy.