Baseball A Passion for Prep Hall of Fame Coach

By Peter Sciacca

Robert Fung didn't begin playing organized baseball until age 11. However, he quickly refined his skills and within a few years Fung began cracking the first few hits that contributed to his .404 batting average as a high school freshman in 1982.

During the next three years, the Washington High School second baseman and part-time catcher would post .301, .386 and .424 batting averages and lead his team in most other hitting categories. He was named a first or second team All-City player every year he played in high school and was recognized by his team as its most valuable and inspirational player at the end of his senior season.

On Wednesday, May 19, Fung was inducted into the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame, along with nine other former high school athletes. Basketball, tennis, football, soccer and track were among the sports represented by athletes at the 22nd annual ceremony.

Fung was drawn to baseball by his older brother, who played second base at McAteer High School.

"I would tag along and shag balls," he said. "Then I started playing pick-up games with other kids in the neighborhood.

"It was the thing we did after school."

Fung got his first shot at organized baseball when Marina Middle School coach Ron Gaggero, who is also in the Prep Hall of Fame, invited him to play in a summer league at adjoining Moscone Field.

"He watched me play and saw something he liked," Fung said. "He laid down the foundation for my success. I was fortunate to learn from someone with his knowledge.

"He was a father figure. Beyond baseball, he taught me how to treat others well and be a good person."

However, a bad break almost prevented Fung from reaching his potential. At the time, the San Francisco Unified School District held a lottery to determine which high schools freshmen would attend. Fung was picked to attend Wallenberg High School on the eastern outskirts of the Richmond District.

"They didn't have a baseball team so I appealed my draw and was allowed to go to Washington," he said. "A lot of my friends were also headed there."

Fung may have garnered several accolades and a .379 career batting average at Washington, but performances in two particular games are what he is most proud of.

Washington faced rival Galileo High School in a late season game during Fung's freshman year and both schools were fighting for a playoff spot. Trailing 3-0 after three innings of play, Washington's playoff aspirations appeared threatened.

In the fourth inning the rookie second baseman stepped into the batter's box with a runner on. If Washington didn't answer with at least one run in the inning a comeback might not have been possible.

But Fung ripped into a pitch - and Galileo's lead - with a two-run homer.

In the next inning, with the bases loaded, Fung picked up where he left off with a three-run double that secured the win for the Eagles.

The second game at the top of Fung's list is when he had a career-best day against John O'Connell High School as a junior. He hit a grand slam and three-run homer in the same inning and finished the contest with a total of eight RBIs.

Like Fung's first coach, Washington's former baseball coach, Joe Gualco, is also in the Prep Hall of Fame and admires the former player who will soon join him.

"Coach Gualco always treated everyone fairly and cared a lot for his players," Fung said. "He never had anything negative to say."

After high school, Fung played for two years at San Francisco State University and one season at Skyline College in San Bruno. In 1994 he returned to Washington as an assistant coach.

"I helped kids out with hitting, infield defense and catching," he said.

A year later Fung became the school's head coach and has held the position since then.

"I never imagined that I would still be coaching today," he said. "When I started we didn't even have a batting cage and practices were held on an asphalt court at the school.

"I had to use a tennis ball pitching machine during batting practice."

Fortunately, several parents contributed money toward building a batting cage and acquiring a full-sized baseball diamond for practice.

Originally assisted by only one other coach, Fung has benefited from several former players who have returned to Washington to pitch in.

"One of my coaches played in the college World Series and spent two years in the Dodgers' minor league system," he said. "Seeing my kids succeed after high school is one of the greatest joys a coach can have."

Fung also likes passing on the knowledge he has gained from his former coaches.

"I enjoy teaching kids not only the game but how to be good people," he said. "I want them all to have the same coaching experience I had.

"Just about all my players give me everything they have."

Fung said coaching is as rewarding as playing.

"When you're a kid you just want to be out there playing every day," he said. "As a coach, you see these kids execute all the things you show them and get the job done - that's pretty satisfying."

Aside from being a coach, Fung has also been a San Francisco police officer for nine years. He is currently assigned to the Western Addition's Northern Police Station. He said there are several important lessons from baseball that carry over to his chosen profession.

"You have to go about your business in a disciplined way, tackle any obstacles placed in front of you and get along with your teammates," he said.

Fung is married, has two boys - four years old and 20 months old - and lives near his Alma Mater in the Outer Richmond District.

This year's Prep Hall of Fame ceremony was held at the Patio Espanol Restaurant. For more information about the SF Prep Hall  of Fame, call Sam Goldman at (415) 731-2283.