Sonny Senerchia

Emanuel Robert "Sonny" Senerchia (April 6, 1931 – November 1, 2003) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 29 games of Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates and later became a professional musician as well as a teacher and college baseball coach.

He was born and brought up in Newark, New Jersey, and attended Montclair State University, where he earned bachelor's degrees in physical education and English; he then received a master's degree in music from Trenton State College. He hit his final MLB homer off future Baseball Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm of the New York Giants on September 11.

After his playing days ended, Senerchia became a teacher and head baseball coach of Monmouth University, as well as a professional musician. He was a Phys. Ed. and Drivers Ed. teacher at Christian Brothers Academy High School in Lincroft for several years in the mid 70s. He also was a race car driver and private pilot, and appeared on local TV and radio as a sports personality, living in Long Branch, Ocean Township and Spring Lake, where he resided for 20 years. He died from injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident in Freehold Township, New Jersey, at age 72.