Newport High to Honor Coach Bob Albo At Field Dedication

Retired Coach Bob Albo will throw out the first pitch on Saturday's game at the baseball field recently named in his honor.

The Bellevue School District called Bob Albo, who also taught advanced math and calculus, a legend to the generations of baseball players, bringing home three state titles and six conference championships. Albo’s peers also voted him into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, the district reported.

According to the Newport Baseball website, Albo was a highly respected math instructor, teaching the most challenging courses offered in the curriculum and also served as an assistant football coach for a decade.

More than a dozen of Albo's players were drafted by Major League teams, Newport Baseball reported, and six players went on to coach baseball, including Ron Romanick, pitching coach of the Oakland A's.

The dedication is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. Saturday at the game between Newport and Bellevue high schools. The game is at Bob Albo Field, Newport High School, 4333 Factoria Blvd SE Bellevue, WA 98006.

Here's the announcement of the event from the Bellevue School District:

He’s a legend on the field who has coached generations of baseball players to victory. On Saturday, March 24, retired Newport High School coach Bob Albo will throw out the first pitch at the baseball field named in his honor. Many of Coach Albo’s former players will gather to help dedicate “Bob Albo Field,” which is believed to be the first Bellevue School District field officially named after an individual.

Albo was a teacher for more than 30 years, including 26 years in Bellevue alone, where he taught advanced math and calculus. Albo may be best known as the celebrated head coach of the Newport Knights baseball team. While leading the Knights from 1972-1983 and 1992-1996, he compiled an impressive 322-108 record. With Albo at the helm, the Knights brought home three state titles and six conference championships. Albo’s peers also voted him into the Washington State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

More than a dozen of Coach Albo’s former players were drafted to play Major League Baseball. Others have followed in his footsteps and have accomplished high school and college coaching careers of their own.

Albo served as Newport’s Athletics Director from 1987-1992. He kept busy after baseball season, holding summer camps to train youth league players and coaches. In addition, he was a respected coaching clinician, before retiring from the game.

In June 2011, the Bellevue School Board voted unanimously to name the Newport High School baseball field “Bob Albo Field”, following months of letters and requests from alumni. It will be officially dedicated on Saturday, March 24 at 3:45 pm. Friends, colleagues, alumni, students and community members are encouraged to attend the dedication, but advised to arrive early. Immediately after the dedication, Coach Albo is slated to throw out the first pitch in Newport’s game against Bellevue High.