Songwriters a hit at Hall of Fame

DEFERIET — Vincent J. Schneider Jr. has been a New York Yankees fan all his life.

The 55-year-old village native recently had two songs he wrote about his favorite team accepted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He co-wrote the songs with former village resident Thomas M. Ventiquattro II, with whom he's been friends since kindergarten.

Two songs, "Thank the '61 Yanks" and "Home of the Babe," were submitted to the hall in October 2008. Mr. Schneider received word in February that the songs would be added to the hall's media archive collection.

Mr. Schneider went to his first Yankees game in August 1965 with his father, Vincent J .Schneider Sr., who was originally from Long Island.

"I got a Joe Pepitone bat," he recalls of the game.

He thought of the idea of Yankee-inspired songs in 2007 and sent the lyric ideas to Mr. Ventiquattro, who has been playing guitar and performing since 1966.

Mr. Ventiquattro, who lives in Chateaugay, recorded the songs in his home studio, then sent them back to get Mr. Schneider's opinion. Mr. Ventiquattro, who is a member of Broadcast Music Inc., had the songs catalogued, archived and copyrighted when they were complete.

"We seem to put our heads together really well," said Mr. Ventiquattro, who sings on both tracks.

The two men have steadily written and recorded about one song per month since they partnered up in 1998, Mr. Schneider said.

Their song catalogue features tunes inspired by the north country, including "Deferiet," "Safe 'n' Sound in Watertown," dedicated to Fort Drum soldiers, "Carthage Central High," and "Coach Sam," which the pair wrote about their former Little League coach, Samuel A. Millich Sr.

Mr. Ventiquattro said sending the songs to the hall of fame was his friend's idea. He said Mr. Schneider is very good at promoting and marketing their music.

While he is proud of what the pair has accomplished, Mr. Ventiquattro is not as big of a Yankees fan as his friend.

"I like the Mets," he said.

The Hall of Fame sent Mr. Schneider a certificate of donation May 3, thanking him for the musical contributions. He then sent a copy of the certificate to his writing partner.

According to a letter to Mr. Schneider from John Hirabayshi, the hall's director of merchandise, the song will not be available for retail in Cooperstown.

Mr. Schneider still hopes his favorite team will get to hear the songs he wrote, saying he plans on sending a copy to Yankee Stadium.

He has already sent the recordings to Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J., and to the famed Yankee catcher and manager personally.

Mr. Schneider says he plans to keep writing songs with his friend.

"We've still got a bunch more to do," he said.