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“To have a plaque that size he must have done something memorable,” Mercede said of why he is trying to get it back even though he never knew Laureno.
Mercede said he is always looking to help people and when he first heard the plaque was taken from Scalzi Park about a month ago, he wanted to do something. After speaking with police, he decided to have Forever Sweet Bakery, which he and his wife will be opening soon in Norwalk, put up the reward money.
“We as parents have to set examples for our kids,” he said, adding that his 15-year-old son plays baseball in the park.
John “Sharkey” Laureno, was a member of the group of people who brought Babe Ruth League Baseball to Stamford in 1953. He also coached in the league for many years, winning numerous District, State, Regional, and World Series titles, including the 1953 title, according to SharkeyTournament.com, the baseball tournament that raises funds for the scholarship in his name.
Mercede has been in contact with Laureno’s grandson and the artist who created the plaque. He said it is worth $350 to scrap and nearly $5,000 to create. Police have told him they do not believe it has been scrapped, which gives him confidence they will get it back.
Mercede said he is just looking to have the plaque returned and to give the person who turns it in $500 cash. Anyone who comes forward will have their identities kept confidential.
People with information about the plaque should call Sgt. Andrew Gallagher of the police department’s property crime division at 203-977-4417.
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