In 1939 the youngsters of the East Bay and beyond didn’t have Little League Baseball and Babe Ruth League Baseball available to them in the summers. 

Ed Barry filled this hole in Warren by forming a group of ten, eleven, and twelve-year-olds under the name of the Hitless Wonders.

Paying for equipment and travel out of his own pocket, Ed drilled these boys in the fundamentals of the sport.  He soon had them competing against older boys and even adults, as there were no similar programs for like-aged youngsters in the surrounding communities.  This cigar-smoking Irishman soon had them playing in such venues as Fall River’s South Park and Cardines Field in Newport, the latter under the lights!

Many of these young players went on to star for the Warren High School Rhode Island Baseball Champions in 1945 and 1946.  Among his very appreciative students were Hall of Fame members Buzz and Jim Barry (his sons), Slick Cariglia, Roger Higgins, Johnny Karcz, Ed Polak, and Harpo Tavares.  Each and every one of them was named All State in baseball at one time or another.

Ed later coached the 1946 American Legion Baseball Southern Division Champions (they were the State Runner-Up) and the Little League Baseball Red Sox from 1958 to 1960.  It should be no surprise that that the Sox won a title under his tutelage.

Here is what some of the Hitless Wonders had to say about Ed:

    . I could go on and on about this man.      

     . This man’s tireless and unselfish commitment.

     . He taught me the fundamental skills of baseball.

     . This man influenced my life.

     . I am a disciple of Mr. Barry.

     . His personality was excellent for guiding young teens.

     . All of us who knew him had the highest respect for him.

     . Honor to Ed Barry is long overdue.

     . He gave unselfishly with his commitment of time

     . The person most responsible for (Warren’s) supreme reign as Mr.   Barry.

Picture from Hall of Fame archives (1946 American Legion Baseball team)