Photo: Pierotti Family Collection, Los Alamos Historical Society Photo Archives.
“We played the ball game. We played Tiano’s Sporting Goods, and I think we beat them 17 to 1. So that was the beginning, and it never stopped. It just kept going on and on.” — Lou Pierotti
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In 1953, security fences still surrounded Los Alamos. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) operated the town. The community was still finding its identity after the end of the Manhattan Project. Lou and Lee Pierotti ran the local soda fountain under contract to the AEC. Lou was a talented softball player and had the idea to create a fast-pitch softball team with five players rather than the usual nine. Lee suggested that the team play as clowns so that if they lost they could say they were just playing around. Lou built the team around a stellar pitcher, Bernard “Bun” Ryan. In the program for their final game, the team said, “To win, all of the players would have to field like vacuum cleaners, run like gazelles, knock the seams off the softball at the plate, and most important of all—have a pitcher of world class.”
Pierotti’s Clowns played 202 games over a span of 25 years. They won 177 of those games and raised more than $2 million for charity by today’s standard. They played in Los Alamos and the surrounding region, drawing crowds of hundreds. A Clowns game was a unique and not-to-be-missed entertainment opportunity for residents of fenced-in Los Alamos. Through their athleticism, antics, and spirit of charity, Pierotti’s Clowns shaped the post–WWII Los Alamos community. Through December 2018, visit the Los Alamos County Municipal Building to learn more about the history of Pierotti’s Clowns. The exhibit case is on the right as you enter the building through the main doors. The Municipal Building is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Navigate this page:
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1957 Porto Films of Pierotti's Clowns
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In 1957, Anthony L. Porto filmed the Pierotti's Clowns playing on what is today known as Bun Ryan Field in Los Alamos. The Porto family provided the 8mm film to be digitized by Los Alamos National Laboratory in May 2018.
The first 21-second film shows an early effort to use photography to measure the speed of Bun Ryan's pitch. His windmill windup is shown in slow motion. The second film, "Presenting the Los Alamos Atomic Bums," features Bun Ryan (pitcher, yellow uniform), Henry Filip (catcher, blue uniform), Mike Pierotti (first base and batboy, green uniform, 11 years old), Verdie Raper (second base, purple uniform and cap), and Lou Pierotti (third base, green uniform and hat). |
1960s KRSN Broadcast of the Clowns playing the Rocks
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Pierotti's Clowns traveled to the Penitentiary of New Mexico many times, to face off against their softball team, the Rocks, and entertain the inmates with their clowning. This KRSN broadcast is from a game around 1968, on a rainy, muddy day. Many thanks to Peter Pierotti for providing the audio recording and to LANL for digitizing and processing the audio. |
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Using recently digitized color film from 1957 and interviews with players, family members, and fans, the amazing story of the Clowns is captured and retold in this documentary video. The video was developed in connection with this exhibit.
Our thanks to Cary Skidmore, David Tietmeyer, and LANL for creating this video. |
Your Stories of the Clowns
The legacy of Pierotti’s Clowns is still strongly felt in Los Alamos today. Did you watch the Clowns play? What are your memories of the team? Help the Los Alamos Historical Society preserve the legacy of the Clowns and share your stories here! (It may take a few days for your response to be posted publicly here on the website.)
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Ryan Collection, Los Alamos Historical Society Photo Archives.
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Shared Stories
I did not grow up in Los Alamos and only become aware of the story of the Clowns in recent years. The more I have learned about the Clowns as a team, the players as individuals, and the family members of the players the more enamored I have become with the story. The story is too big to be captured in an exhibit. It lives in the memories and hearts of the people who experienced it. The exhibit can serve as a focal point to stimulate others to share their stories. But this is also bigger than just preserving history, this is returning unity to community where we live. — Cary Skidmore |
Walt Garcia was my Dad; one of the Original Five. I have send all Dad's Memorabilia to the Museum. — Patricia Garcia Martinez I remember the Clowns substituting a honeydew melon for the ball... When it was hit it exploded!—Susan Booth Gittings |
I was able to watch most of the Clowns games as I was a classmate of Mike. I play Little League, Babe |
The games they played against the Albuquerque Dukes (Triple A Minor League Farm Team for the L.A. Dodgers) are the ones I would have loved to have seen, but didn't get to. They played 5 games. The Clowns won 2, the Dukes won 2, and they tied one. When the Dukes had the field they played with a hardball, When the Clowns had the field they played with a softball. All games were played on the Dukes home field. |
Always enjoyed watching the Clowns play and could not believe how well they played with so few player. I always compared them to the famous Harlem Globtrotters that could "clown around" as they played basketball so well! My dad Tony Porto was very involved with filming them and this helped in my appreciation for what they could do! — Andy Porto |
I had the best fortune to watch the Pierotti’s Clowns on some occasions between 1964-1972. Lou’s son Mike was my tennis doubles partner at the University of Albuquerque between 1963-1966 and I was his Coach in 1967. Lou,was the consummate entertainer and what he did to represent Los Alamos, New Mexico, and our country was wonderful. He should be honored for the contribution and love for this town. God Bless the Clowns. — Dick Johnson |
I have fond memories of watching Pierotti's Clowns play. From the time I was 5 until they stopped playing, my whole family tried never to miss a home game. We laughed and giggled all the way through the games, waiting with bated breath for the grapefruit to hit the bat or watch them all clown around on the field. Lou, Verdie, Bun, Noe were all players we loved! My Dad, Jack Panowski, worked with quite a few of the guys in S-Site. It was an honor to enjoy such great times while they were on the field.—Lynn Ensslin |
I was a Math Teacher at the Los Alamos High School in the 1960,s and 70,s. The High School put together a team to play the Pierotti Clowns. I think I played the Clowns 3 or 4 times. One time Bun pitched me a head of cabbage and yes I hit it. Another time Bun was pitching to me from 2nd base with a blindfold on. I hit the ball into the out field. I think I got on base only 2 times in all the games. After the games the Clowns and Teachers would go over to the park, build a fire and some had a beer and I and others had pop. We would talk about the game and other things the Clowns had done. IT WAS GREAT FUN PLAYING THE CLOWNS.—Jack Gehre |
Was lucky enough to play against them in their last game in Los Alamos. Before the game started I mentioned to Lou that my favorite trick was the "Mush ball", he said he only asked Bun to throw it against the "slugger" of the opposing team, the guy who thought he was hot stuff. At about my third time at bat I'd forgotten about our conversation and was concentrating on knocking one downtown. Yup, I got Bun's last mush ball, didn't take a shower for 2 days! Great memories of the Clowns!—Mike Luna |
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Athletes Who Played for the Clowns
At least 37 athletes played for Pierotti’s Clowns over the team’s 25 years. Those marked with an asterisk played for the Clowns in their first season in 1953.
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Are we missing someone? Email educator@losalamoshistory.org to let us know!
Further Reading
Check out these resources to learn more about the history of Pierotti’s Clowns.
Exhibit Created By Los Alamos Historical Society and Cary Skidmore
Municipal Building Exhibit, June–December 2018 With Sincere Thanks To Marilee Pierotti Lau
Mike Luna Tom Marshall Jason Pierotti Mike Pierotti Peter Pierotti Trina Raper Verdie Raper Mike Ryan David Tietmeyer |
Ryan Collection, Los Alamos Historical Society Photo Archives.
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