From Suffolk to the Pros

From Suffolk to the Pros

By Chris R. Vaccaro
This list is updated weekly with famous names and stories of Suffolk County's greatest professional athletes.

Stephen Bowen

Hills alum Stephen Bowen played in the NFL for a decade for three different franchises. He was signed by the Cowboys out of Hofstra in 2006 and played in Dallas through 2010. Bowen, who had 12.5 career sacks as a lineman, was in Washington from 2011 to 2014 and finished his career with the Jets in 2015. During the 2012 season he was a co-defensive captain with the Redskins.

Mike Tice

Central Islip’s proudest son played in the NFL from 1981 to 1995 as a tight end for Seattle, Washington and Minnesota, but he has made his name most notably as a coach. The University of Maryland alum has coached for 20 years across multiple teams, including Minnesota, Jacksonville, Chicago, Atlanta, and Oakland. He served as head coach of the Vikings from 2002-2005. Tice is a member of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, along with his brother John, also a former NFL tight end.

Boomer Esiason

Boomer Esiason is one of the most famous sporting figures in Long Island history. He was a standout at East Islip High in both football and baseball and chose the gridiron in college where he starred at the University of Maryland. His career trajectory led him to the Super Bowl as a starting quarterback and a future as one of the most recognizable broadcasters in America today. He is also the founder of the Boomer Esiason Foundation, which leads the way in the fight against cystic fibrosis, a disease that hits close to home for Boomer since his son Gunner has suffered from this since he was born.

Paul Gibson

Center Moriches native Paul Gibson pitched in the big leagues from 1988 to 1996. He spent about nine years in the minors before getting his shot. He was with the Tigers, Mets and Yankees. Gibson is most notable nowadays for his All-Pro Sports Academy in Bellport, N.Y. that has produced hundreds of college players and dozens of pro ball players. Gibson is also a scout with the Royals organization and earned a World Series ring in 2015.

Billy Koch

Billy Koch used to throw 100 mph on a consistent basis and was selected by the Blue Jays in the 1996 MLB Draft with the fourth overall pick. Koch played for the Jays, Athletics, White Sox and Marlins from 1999 to 2004. He recorded 163 career saves and had a 3.89 ERA. He was the top baseball player in Suffolk County as a senior in 1993 and won the Yastrzemski Award.

Pete Harnish

Pete Harnisch was an all-star pitcher that played in the big leagues from 1988 to 2001 and continues to work in the game today as a special assistant in player development for Seattle. A Commack native, Harnisch pitched at Fordham and was drafted by the Orioles with the 27th overall selection in 1987. He won 16 games in 1993 and 1996 and led the national league in shutouts and opposing hitter batting average in 1993 as a member of the Astros. Harnisch also pitched for the Mets, Brewers and Reds. Prior to joining Seattle as a coach, he held a similar position with the Angels.

John Curtis

John Curtis was a first round draft pick out of Smithtown High School in 1966. Choosing to attend Clemson University instead of going right to pro ball, he spent two years in college and was drafted by the Red Sox in 1968, again in the first round (secondary draft). He spent 15 years in the big leagues with five different clubs from 1970-1984. Curtis, who played for the Red Sox, Cardinals, Giants, Padres and Angels, had an 89-97 career record and 3.96 ERA.

Ross Gload

Ross Gload graduated from East Hampton High School in 1994 after winning the Yastrzemski Award as the top ball player in Suffolk County his senior year. He had monster offensive numbers in high school, and was recruited to play at the University of South Florida. Gload, who played first and outfield, was selected by the Marlins in the 13th round of the 1997 MLB Draft and was in the big leagues from 2000 through 2011 with multiple clubs, including the Cubs, Rockies, White Sox, Royals, Marlins and Phillies.

Tony Graffanino

Tony Graffanino played in the big leagues from 1996 to 2009 with multiple clubs including Atlanta, Tampa, Chicago, Kansas City, Boston, Milwaukee and Cleveland. A former Yastrzemski Award winner as the top baseball player in Suffolk County in 1990, he had a prosperous career as a utility infielder. He was a career .265 hitter with 58 homers and 302 RBI. He was originally drafted by Atlanta in 1990 out of East Islip High.

Neil Heaton

A 1979 graduate of Sachem High School, Neal Heaton pitched in the big leagues from 1982 through 1993 with the Indians, Twins, Expos, Pirates, Royals, Brewers and Yankees. Heaton experienced his best season in 1990 when he was a National League All-Star as a member of the Pirates. The Cleveland Indians drafted him in 1981 after a successful career at the University of Miami. Heaton is a member of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame, Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, University of Miami Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Frank Catalanotto

A 1992 graduate of Smithtown High School, Frank Catalanotto had a successful career in the big leagues from 1997-2010. Catalanotto spent time with the Tigers, Rangers, Blue Jays, Brewers and Mets. He also played for Italy in the World Baseball Classic in 2006 and 2009. A career .291 hitter, he compiled 84 homer runs and 457 runs batted in during his career.

Ray Searage

Long before the days of Steve Matz and Marcus Stroman, a pitcher by the name of Ray Searage represented Suffolk County in the big leagues. Searage pitched at Deer Park High in the 1970s before spending almost 10 years in the majors. He pitched for the Mets, Brewers, White Sox and Dodgers. Today he has made a name for himself as one of the top pitching coaches in the game and currently works with the Pirates.

Craig Biggio, Kings Park High School, 1983

Long Island's latest hall of famer, Craig Biggio, a Kings Park native, was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015 after spending his entire historic career with the Houston Astros. Biggio was a multi-sport athlete at Kings Park and won the Hansen Award as the top football player in Suffolk County during his senior year in 1983.

Carl Yastrzemski
Bridgehampton High
class of 1957

The man, the myth, the legend, Red Sox great Carl Yastrzemski grew up and played ball in Bridgehampton, N.Y. before going on to baseball immortality. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and his No. 8 is retired by the Red Sox. Among his other achievements, he won the American League Triple Crown in 1967 and is a seven-time Gold Glove winner. Yaz graduated from Bridgehampton High in 1957 (the accompanying picture is from his high school yearbook).