From left, The Hon. George Panebianco, Charlie Panebianco, Jim Panebianco, and John Panebianco at a baseball game. The Panebianco family has a deep-rooted love of the game of baseball, and that passion still runs in the family today. Submitted photo

Baseball isn’t just a pastime for the Panebianco family – the sport is woven into the very fabric of their existence.

Jamestown City Court Judge George Panebianco threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Thursday to kick off the Jamestown Tarp Skunks 2025 season.

“My dad (Charlie Panebianco) really is the one who instilled a love of the game for me and my two brothers,” Panebianco said. “While my dad was the first official batboy for the Jamestown Falcons, it was as a coach and player that I really remember.”

The Jamestown Falcons represented the inaugural professional baseball team in the city of Jamestown. The team competed in the Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League (P.O.N.Y. League), which subsequently became known as the New York-Penn League. The league was classified as a minor league (MiLB) team within the structure of professional baseball governed by Major League Baseball (MLB).

Panebianco said that his father first became a batboy in 1939 when the Falcons played their home games at Allen Park, before moving to Russell E. Diethrick Jr. Park, which was formerly known as Jamestown Municipal Stadium.

“My dad was the first batboy for the Falcons, but what I think he was most proud of was being a coach; he was a professor of baseball and just loved the game,” he said. “He would tell me stories about the players -especially the ones that made it to the big leagues.”

Panebianco has carried on the family tradition, coaching local youth for more than 35 years while instilling the joy of the game in young athletes. Supporting Panebianco in this mission are his brothers, Charlie and Jim Panebianco, who stand alongside him as fellow coaches. Together, the brothers continue to share their knowledge and love for the game with today’s youth.

“My father’s coaching style has influenced my coaching style,” he said. “My dad was all about the fundamentals. The teams I coach are all fundamentally sound. I learned from my dad to not only instill a love of the game but to make sure the kids I coach understand the fundamentals of the game – they’re all fundamentally sound in their play.”

Panbianco said that after his father’s time as batboy was up, he still found employment in baseball at the Falcon’s home games.

“My father worked as a vendor at the stadium, selling popcorn, candy, and soda during home games,” he shared. “Back then, a box of popcorn cost just five cents. I believe my father was truly passionate about the game and simply wanted to be a part of it. It wasn’t about making money for him; it was all about being close to the sport he loved.”

Additionally, Panebianco fondly remembered his father’s connection to local Little Lleague baseball.

“My father coached the first ever 13-15 Babe Ruth baseball team when it was started in the late 1940s and early 1950s,” he said.

As Charlie Panbianco neared the twilight of his life, George Panebianco fondly remembered the special moments spent with his father at Jamestown Jammers home games. Those summer evenings, filled with cheers and laughter, created unforgettable memories that George cherished deeply.

“I’d call my dad and ask him if he wanted to catch a game,” he said. “We’d go to the park; my dad would get a sausage sandwich, a Coke, and some peanuts, and we’d just enjoy the game.”

Some Eighty-five years after Charlie Panibianco served as a batboy at the inaugural dawn of professional baseball in Jamestown, George Panebianco and his brothers continue to honor their father’s passion for baseball. George Panebianco speaks highly of the level of play offered by the Tarp Skunks, reflecting the enduring legacy and enthusiasm for the game his family is known for around area ballparks.

“High-quality, low-cost entertainment,” remarked Panibianco regarding the current level of play and the caliber of players associated with the Tarp Skunks’ ball club. “This is fantastic for Jamestown and for those players aspiring to catch the attention of the major leagues. We have a beautiful ballpark, and Christian Dolce, the general manager of the Tarp Skunks, does an exceptional job managing the team.”