After 38 years, Pablo Unate retires from Whiting Little League

WHITING | While looking over the plaques, trophies and team photos that color the walls and shelves of his office within the Whiting Police Department, Pablo Unate points out a particular team and a particular coach.

"You can't talk about Whiting Little League without talking about Bob Gulvas," Unate said as his eyes began to moisten.

Gulvas led Whiting to a state Little League runner-up showing in 1984. Much of the same team won the Senior League state title three years later.

Then in his early 20s, Unate helped Gulvas coach the team.

"I mainly threw batting practice," Unate said. "But (Gulvas) took me under his wing. He was my mentor and taught me a lot about coaching."

Gulvas recently passed away.

"Like I said, you can't talk about Whiting Little League without talking about Bob Gulvas," Unate said.

You can say the same thing about Unate. In the wake of the 2011 season, Unate decided to "retire" from the league after 38 years of service.

"I felt it was the right time to step down," said Unate, who in addition to coaching, served a season as league president.

Unate first got involved when a friend asked to help him coach a team. Unate was 16 years old at the time.

"Then I just stayed with it," said Unate, whose players went on to become policemen, firemen ... and coaches themselves.

One of his teams, the Indiana Red Hots, went undefeated at 16-0.

"Red Hots was a restaurant that sponsored us," Unate said. "The restaurant burned down, but one of the things that survived was our team plaque."

Unate was able to coach his only son, Michael, who now is a student at Purdue University. He also coached key members of Whiting High School's 2009 sectional championship team, who cajoled Unate to have his photo taken with them while displaying the championship trophy.

"And some of my players now play for Calumet College," Unate said. "With more time on my hands next season, I'll probably watch them play at Oil City Stadium (in Whiting)."

Like many leagues, Whiting Little League has seen its numbers dwindle over the past decade.

"Kids have too much technology these days. It's hard to get them to put it down," Unate said. "I just wish more kids would come by and see the new (Little League and softball) complex."

Unate says that he's grateful for the players he had a chance to coach, the other coaches who helped him along the way, and his family, especially his wife, Wanda, who was married to him during 28 of those 38 years.

"All I can say is that I always knew where my husband was during the summer," Wanda said.