The most accomplished amateur baseball franchise in Connecticut’s history was Moriarty Brothers of Manchester. The club origins could be traced all the way back to 1933, when the Moriarty nine competed against amateur and semi-pro teams across the state. They were a part of the Manchester Twilight League for several years before joining the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League in 1962. The league’s all-time winningest team became synonymous with its Player-manager, Gene Johnson.

The longtime franchise was sponsored by GHTBL Hall of Fame inductee, Matthew Moriarty Sr. and his brother, Maurice Moriarty. They were well-known small business owners in Manchester. Moriarty’s was a full service Lincoln-Mercury car dealership, gas station, auto body shop, towing service and used car lot. Matt Moriarty’s profession may have been cars but his passion was baseball. He was an avid fan and supporter of his club in the Hartford Twilight League.

Moriarty Brothers were nicknamed the “Comets” in reference to the Mercury Comet sports car. the team’s fast play on the diamond. Over the years, players like Harold Lewis, Moe Morhardt, Pete Sala, Leverette Spencer, Mike Gerich and others would sign to play professional baseball. In their early GHTBL years, the franchise was led by a series of player-managers including University of Connecticut star, Wally Widholm. By 1963, Moriarty Brothers appointed their power-hitting third baseman, Gene Johnson as player-manager.

Johnson was an indispensable member of the team and a fiery competitor. Born in 1937 in Hartford, Eugene Edward Johnson grew up in Manchester as the son of Raymond and Julia Muller Johnson. At 13, Johnson won his first baseball championship with the St. Augustine School of Hartford. By 15, he was a standout batsman for Manchester High School and an exceptional third baseman for Manchester American Legion Post 104.

Johnson began his Hartford Twilight League career in 1954 on St. Cyril’s Baseball Club and was named to the all-star team in his rookie season. In the summer of 1955, he batted .454 in the twi-loop. The New York Giants organization signed 17 year old Johnson midseason. He would go on to smash 36 home runs in his first three minor league seasons. The Twilight League welcomed him back to St. Cyril’s in 1958, but he signed with the Milwaukee Braves shortly thereafter.

In the Braves organization, Johnson found himself slated behind Hall of Famer, Eddie Matthews on Milwaukee’s depth chart at third base. A determined Johnson hit 19 home runs, had 82 RBI and batted .278 for the 1959 Eau Claire Braves of the Northern League. Then he crashed 18 homers, 92 RBI, and hit .292 for the 1960 Cedar Rapids Braves of the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League. Even as he was hitting .316 in the Texas League for the 1962 Austin Senators, Johnson decided to step aside from professional baseball. After eight seasons and 91 minor league homers, he returned to Connecticut to start a family.

Gene and his wife Helen had six children and made their home in Manchester. He immediately appeared for Moriarty Brothers and won the GHTBL batting title in 1962. The following year, he took over as player-manager and eventually led the Comets to 8 Regular Season Titles and 10 Playoff Championships during in the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly every season, Johnson and his Moriarty Brothers were contenders for the Jack Rose Playoff Championship Trophy. Most playoff games took place at Dillon Stadium in Hartford and later at St. Thomas Seminary in Bloomfield.

Comet home games were hosted at what would become Moriarty Field at Mount Nebo Park in Manchester. Crowds came by the hundreds to watch the best amateur players in the state. Their roster was stacked with professional caliber players like Leo Veleas, Jack Taylor and Bob Carlson – though it was Gene Johnson who won MVP year after year. As a 5-time Batting Champion, Johnson was bestowed with GHTBL’s Player of the Half Century Award in 1979, when the league celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The 1980s proved to be another successful decade for the Moriarty Brothers dynasty. Johnson recruited the best collegiate players, prospects and local veterans to create a new generation of champions. University of Connecticut first baseman Dave Ford, and Wake Forest University outfielder Bill Masse were mainstays who later signed to play in the minor leagues. Johnson’s sons, Mike Johnson and Jeff Johnson followed in their father’s footsteps. While aboard Moriarty Brothers, they were drafted to the minor leagues by the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves.

On December 1, 1985, Matthew Moriarty Sr. passed away at the age of 82. Moriarty Brothers reorganized and the car dealership became Newman Lincoln-Mercury in 1990. Matt Moriarty Jr. continued to sponsor the baseball team, who would don the new name. Even though his playing days were over and the team was no longer the Comets, Gene Johnson remained manager for Newman Lincoln-Mercury.

The franchise originally known as Moriarty Brothers won seven more GHTBL titles as Newman Lincoln-Mercury. The club fielded strong lineups due to players like Brian Crowley and Chris Peterson from the University of Hartford, Craig Steuernagle of the University of Connecticut and Ray Gilha from Eastern Connecticut State University. Dave Bidwell, an Assumption College graduate and seasoned veteran pitched effectively for the Gene Johnson franchise since 1976. Bidwell pitched until 2015 and currently holds the all-time GHTBL record for games started, wins and innings pitched.

In 2004, Mark and Jane Foss of Foss Insurance sponsored Gene Johnson’s timeless franchise. With a mix of young players and seasoned veterans, the team continued to compete at a high level. Foss featured players like Mark DiTommaso and Kevin Jefferis of Western New England College as well as Evan Chamberlain and Mike Susi of Eastern Connecticut State University. On November 10, 2014, Gene Johnson passed away at the age of 77. He spent 58 years of his life playing or coaching in the GHTBL. In 2015, Foss Insurance won the GHTBL Playoff Championship and dedicated the win to Gene Johnson.

In 2018, the team received a new sponsorship from Rainbow Graphics, a Manchester-based apparel and design company. Mark DiTommaso carried the torch as player-manager until 2018. The following year, Ryan Pandolfi and Tyler Repoli assumed manager duties for the Graphics. Gene Johnson’s franchise holds an all-time Greater Hartford Twilight record of a combined 35 Season Titles and 18 Playoff Championships. Rainbow Graphics are seeking their next title and will continue developing ballplayers in the Manchester area for years to come.

Dedicated to Gene Johnson, 1937-2014.