He’ll have a Home Run Day

Laguna’s eternal optimist, 68-year-old Skipper Carrillo, will receive another honor Thursday as the Exchange Club presents him with their annual Book of Golden Deeds award.

Carrillo, who was named a Laguna Beach Citizen of the Year in 1991 and Patriot’s Day Parade Grand Marshal in 2000, is known throughout town for his multitude of sports uniforms — which he wears daily — and his catchphrase, “Have a home run day!”

He was born as Arthur Carrillo in Alhambra, three months early with several disabilities, in 1938. His parents had visited Laguna Beach on honeymoon, and finally moved here in 1953.

Carrillo attends every Laguna Beach High School sporting event he can, volunteering, cheering on the team and offering pep talks. He gives an annual scholarship in his name to a student athlete who has overcome a major challenge.

“He grew up with disabilities and that just gave him the unique ability to give such love and positive language to everybody. He just loves people and giving them a positive message,” said Sande St. John of the Exchange Club, who is also a friend of Carrillo.

“I found out just yesterday that when he was running in the Special Olympics, one of the runners behind him had stopped, so we went back and picked them up; that’s why he got third place,” St. John said.

Although Carrillo loves all sports, baseball is his main passion. The school’s baseball field was named after him in 1994. He has also been in the dugouts of both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers; the former provided him with official baseball pants, and the latter invited him to be a batboy for a game.

He also assigns baseball nicknames to all of his friends (his father was “The Coach;” his mother “Don Drysdale”), and enthusiastically talks in sports metaphors.

“He is so special and gives so much, not just to the kids, but to the whole community,” said St. John, whom Carrillo calls “Sande Koufax.”

“He said his biggest award is that he gets to walk down the street and hear people say, ‘Hey, Skipper! Have a home run day.’”

He is also an annual alumni member of the Boys & Girls Club, and has been a member of the St. Catherine of Siena parish for over 50 years. He is an altar server there every day during the week, and ushers on weekends.

“We’re all ecstatic here, because we look at him as being our chief parishioner,” said Fr. Eamon O’Gorman, pastor of the parish. Carrillo calls him “Father Commissioner.” Fr. Mac is called “Father Angel.”

“He’s at mass here every day. He’s always dressed in his favorite uniform, and that’s part of his identity,” O’Gorman said.

O’Gorman said that whenever the church has a St. Patrick’s Day event, it is always dedicated in memory of Carrillo’s mother.

“We give the awards to people who have given a lot of their lives and their time to the community of Laguna Beach way beyond the call of duty,” said St. John.

Last year’s Golden Deeds award was given to Anne Wood; other recipients include Harry Lawrence, Barbara Painter, Doris Shields — and St. John herself.

Carrillo receives about $400 a month from his family trust, but “he spends it on all his friends,” St. John said. “It’s just grand.

He’s got to be the biggest positive icon that we’ve ever had.

“He’s like the Dr. Phil of Laguna Beach. He can’t go by anybody without talking to them and hugging them and giving them love ... to see him, how can you think you have problems?”

The luncheon will be Thursday, Oct. 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tivoli Terrace, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd. Tickets are $30; any funds that are raised at the event will benefit Carrillo’s scholarship foundation.

The Exchange Club is currently seeking people who wish to honor Carrillo at the award ceremony. Those with any stories to share, or who wish to attend the event, are asked to call St. John at (949) 494-1018.