Names & Games

Let us take a ride down memory lane and play the name game, join in any time you like, see if there are names you remember and why you remember the names:

The Turbans, Johnny & Joe, Hank Ballard, Lloyd Price, Johnny Maestro, Hy Lit, The Geator, The Jive Five, The Elegants, Clyde McPhatter.. Anything familiar yet? Well this is another time, another decade, another lifetime, would you like to continue? Sam the Sham, Gary US Bonds, The Kingsmen, The Fleetwoods, Little Jimmy Charles, isn't it a strange sense that this was so long ago and so far away.. I can remember the "Labor Lyceum", the "Legion", the "Chavous", "Saint Alice".. If you have not figured out the game it is some 55 years ago, it is a summer of sweltering heat, a summer of music that they said was inspired by the Devil, a summer that will always be remembered in Philadelphia as the time Rock and Roll began on the street corners with the acapella groups singing under the street lights and under the "El" train. It was a time when all we lived for was the music, the lyrics, and the sounds of Rock and Roll. The Days of American Bandstand with Bob Horn(before they rode him out of town on a rail), the days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night dances everywhere there was a hall available. The riding in your car cruising for chicks on the main drag of the town where you lived. The time of "Hoods" and "Cliques", the time of "Cuban Heels", Slow Dancing so close you could feel her breath in your ear. The times of parking in the woods or a place called "Lover's Lane", every town and city had one, many a baby was conceived in one, many a marriage was made in one. Are you remembering yet? Remember these: The Watusi, The Stroll, The Slop, The Mash Potatoes", The Grind, and of course do you remember the Priest or Nuns separating you when you were too close?? There were Soda fountains then, places to hang out, hanging on the corner with the boys, playing "Chicken" in your car, drinking beer and hiding from the law. House parties where all the bedrooms were taken, pool parties in the buff, Making out, Leather Jackets, Rumbles. Have I struck a familiar note yet? We had hangouts called "BABES", and "LOUS", and SHAMROCKS", mostly they were bookie joints that served as sandwich shops and soda fountains. Care to continue the journey? Doo Wop is the rage now, but back then it was Taboo, played only on the Black Radio Stations like WDAS, and WHAT in Philly, Jerry Blavat(The Geator with the Heater), made his bones in Philly playing Doo Wop for the White teens on a black station. I happen to live in an area where everyone is over 55 and remember all of this as if it was yesterday, but we have all grown up and try not to remember those days because they were times when we were rebels and not the Yuppie Conservatives we have become. Maybe the time to remember is now, and to begin to look fondly on the days of our outrageous youth and the trials that led to the Men and Women we are today. Anytime you think you can remember these days another time or another day, I will warn you that I had friends who felt the same way, please not I used the word "Had". There may be some very astute insight in another song long since forgotten and not from our early youth: "Try to remember the kind of September, when grass was green and grain was yellow" Try to remember and if you remember then follow, follow, follow" Maybe we all need to remember and to enjoy those days of our youth, to relish in the joy they once created for us, to remember all the names and faces of years gone by, remember all the friends and acquaintences, both long lost and some long gone. As you age, you begin to remember all the times good and bad with a much keener sense of what it was like, maybe we do this because we want to go back and do it again, well, let me say that you can never go back, but you can do it again if you really have the desire. Lastly, allow me to give one last shout out to those that have disappeared over the years in both my memory and in my life:

Barbara from Airy Street
Matty Raimo
Gussie Catanzaro
Sonny Raimo
Charlotte Heaton
Nick Gabrielle
Carol Johnson
Betsy Howard
Barbara Baker
The Crazy Sisters
Gerry Corrao
Joe Dimino
Tony deGrazio
Sonny Satterwhite
Harold
Jackie Abney
Franny Martin
Marty Baker
Arty Martin
Gerry Organtini
Ronnie Pascucci
Gerry Volpe
Medio Marchozzi
Linda
Joan Zelinski
Bobby Johnson
Bobby Marchozzi
Terry Livelsberger
Sonny Termine
Marie Filandino
Tulio Fierro
Milton Hathaway
Frankie Fierro
John from Conshy
Of course I have missed a large number of people, but let's attribute that to old age and a loss of memory, but to all those I have forgotten, it is only but a moment lapse and I will remember you all always and forever.
It is time to return to the world of today, and not digress any further into the past for this time, however, stay tuned for more journeys and remebrances from years gone by.



Good night all those gone but not forgotten.

Where have you gone Joe??

Chance, Frank b. September 9, 1877 d. September 15, 1924Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. Nicknamed "The Peerless Leader". As player-manager of the Chicago Cubs from 1905 to 1912, he guided his team to four National League championships and two World Series wins (1907 and 1908). He entered baseball lore as the third link in the famous "Tinker to Evers to Chance" infield trio. Frank Leroy Chance was born in Fresno, California, and made his Major League debut with the Cubs in 1898. In his playing prime he was considered the NL's best...[Read More] (Bio by: Robert Edwards)Angelus Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USAPlot: Section N, Lot 109, Grave 2 NE
Evers, Johnny b. July 21, 1881 d. March 28, 1947Hall of Fame Major League Baseball Player. As a second baseman with the Chicago Cubs in the early part of the century, he was the middle link in the famous "Tinkers to Evers to Chance" double play combo. He played with the Cubs from 1902 to 1913, the Boston Braves from 1914 to 1917 and the Phillies in 1917. He helped the Cubs to three stright World Series titles, and his alertness in a game in 1912 resulted in the infamous "Merkle Boner", which cost the Giants the pennant (and won it for the...[Read More] (Bio by: Russ Dodge)Cause of death: cerebral hemmorhageSaint Marys Cemetery, Troy, Rensselaer County, New York, USAPlot: Section B, Lot 237
Tinker, Joe b. July 27, 1880 d. July 27, 1948Professional Baseball Player. As a shortstop who played the majority of his career for the Chicago Cubs, he was known for his defense and his speed. On July 28, 1910 he stole home twice in one game. Overall he appeared in 1,804 games and gathered 1,687 hits, scored 774 runs, had 782 runs batted in and had a career batting average of .262; he also stole 336 bases and hit 114 triples. He appeared in four World Series helping his team win twice. He is forever remembered as being the "Tinker" in...[Read More] (Bio by: CSAGARresearcher)Greenwood Cemetery, Orlando, Orange County, Florida, USAPlot: Section L, Lot 21

Joe Tinker would have been 138 years old on Sunday, it is not where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, but where has Joe Tinker gone. He stole home twice in a game in 1910, Tinkers to Evers to Chance, they were days when Baseball was still a game, not anything resembling the money driven game that is played in monuments rather than ballparks.

Read the stats of Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, and Joe Tinker, all gone and buried but never forgotten by the baseball purists who love the game as it once was. Gone are Frank, Johnny, and Joe, gone are the Cathedrals they worshipped in, gone are the days when it was a child's game played for love and honor and gone is the dedication of the players that played for love of the game.

Tinkers to Evers to Chance, it meant a double play the way it was meant to be made, it meant playing every day as if it was your last day, it was honoring the memory of all the players that came before and made this the National past time.

Sometimes we fail to understand the signifigance of what was pure and honest, what was once something we all relished in the evenings on the front stoop, ears glued to the radio, waiting for our heroes to win another one. Remembering the voices of the past ghosts of the sports that made it so real for us in our youth, names like By Saam, Bill Campbell asking us to live with them the thrills of a game that was in our hearts.

Well I guess Joe Dimaggio is gone, so is the Mick, Whitey is gone, soon all will be gone, Willie, Yogi, all the heroes who we worshipped, all gone, all that is left are the memories of days gone by,and of course there is always "Tinker to Evers to Chance"

Have a good night Sam

Musings from afar

Isn't it somewhat odd that the price of a barrel of Oil goes down as the price goes up! Isn't it odd that the Government bails everyone out except us! Isn't it odd that people with Food Stamps buy better cuts of meat than we do! Isn't it odd that the Car Manufacturers buy up all the patents on alternative fuel ideas! Isn't it odd that McCain and Obama are both running on the War platform while the economy goed in the tank(I know "tank was a poor pun")! Isn't it odd that Iraq does not have any Oil for us! Isn't it odd that China is holding the Olympics and Tibet is not!
Okay let's get real, we are pawns in a game the Government plays, if all was well, why would we need to go vote for a President, maybe it is me, but this is what I would call perfect timing..
Does it strike you as odd that we care so little about Africa, obviously they have nothing we want or need. By the way, how do you run unopposed and call it an election, Mugabe seems to think it is on the up and up..
I do not profess to be an economist, but then again, after seeing and hearing most economists lately, I guess I could profess to be as good as they are!
Lastly, someone please tell CNN that there is a Republican candidate for president, I am aware that all networks are somewhat biased(somewhat is slang for REALLY), but I honestly think that not mentioning a candidate of the only other major party goes well beyond bias. Granted, McCain is more like a Mummy than a candidate, at least comment on the Mummy aspect!! Well that is all I have for this Sunny day in Florida, I will be busy for a week or so with visitors from the Northland of Philadelphia and Virginia, By the way, SAM the Mets are tied for first with the Phillies!!!
Until next time, Good Night Mrs. Calabash

McCain - Obama

Well it is a matter of months till the election process takes place and at this point in time I have not made a decision as to whom is the lesser of two evils. I guess my decision will be more dependent on the running mate choices as oppose to the actual candidates themselves.. McCain is actually Older than I am and that is not at all comforting to me, Obama is your typical politician that speaks with a forked tongue, some choice huh! Maybe we need to come up with a new system, how about Gladiatorial Debates where the candidates use Mortal combat to determine the nominee!! It is obvious that the Government and the Candidates have no answers to the Economy, the War, the Future, is it just me or does this sound eerily familiar to all the recent elections.. How about we do it like American Idol and vote someone off each week until we have a President?? Maybe we need two presidents, one for Domestic and one for Foreign Policy.. Don't you think it is time that the election process and the Presidency is no longer a joke, Maybe we actually need to take the time to actually nominate a candidate that really wants to change the process, But then again we just would much rather complain and stay home on election day. Cie La Vie!!
Dear Mr. McCain or Obama, I just filled my wifes SUV and spent $73.00, My home is worth 1/2 what it was last year, my Bank is still in business(I think so), Does Iraq have Oil?? If so, why don't we?? Lastly, Please whoever wins, don't lose my address for my SS Check....
Just a casual observation from someone who cannot decide......

Sunny 94 in the Villages Today

Another day in Paradise! Rained yesterday 2.29" in a matter of 1 Hour. My wife has gone to Andover, Massachusetts for a week and it is just me and the dog to fend for ourselves. Next week is visitor week as family is coming to visit, Sam and Deb and family from Saturday the 19th through Saturday the 26th, Jase and Kathy from Sunday the 20th through Saturday the 3rd of August, and My Sister, Brother-in-Law and Nephew from the 23rd through the 26th. I will be posting some secret recipes in the future for those who are interested, such as Macaroni and Garlic(Agl'i Olio), Cajun Beans and Rice, Gumbo, and Sausage and Peppers and last but not least Pasta fagoli and Seafood Chowder.

Stay tuned, same time, same station.

1964 - THE YEAR OF THE PHILLY PHOLD

Well let me begin by saying that this blog is for those people who remember the Philly Phold, most notably the die hard fans of the Philadelphia Phillies, and SAM you know who I am talking about. Let's see if any of these names strike a familiar note: Clay Dalrymple, John Hernstein, Tony Taylor, Dick Allen, Bobby Wine, Wes Covington, Tony Gonzalez, Johnny Callison, I need to stop here and remember that Callison hit 3 Homeruns on the last day of the season in a 14-8 loss to the Braves. Back to those names: Cookie Rojas, Rueben Amaro, Gus Triandos, Danny Cater, Frank Thomas(Not the White Sox Frank by the way), Roy Sievers, Alex Johnson, Johnny Briggs, Vic Power, Costen Shockley, Adolfo Phillips, Don Hoak, and Pat Corrales. These were the players of the PHOLD, and lest we not forget, here is the Pitching staff: Jim Bunning, Dennis Bennett, Chris Short,(Remember Bunning/Short and pray for rain), Art Mahaffey, Ray Culp, Rick Wise(Eventually traded for Steve Carlton), Jack Baldschun9Today's equivalent of a "Closer"), John Boozer, Ed Roebuck(Not related to Sears but may well have been), Bobby Shantz(A's of Kansas City), Dallas Green(Before he realizzed he would be a better manager than a pitcher), Bobby Locke, and Cal McLish(I believe he was in his 60's at the time)..
Anyway, there is the whole lot of the Philadelphia Phillies in the season that left a city crushed and in despair. Well I guess it is time to remember "GENE MAUCH", the manager that decided to pitch Bunning and Short everyday for the final week of the season. Gene was a baseball wizard and knew and studied the game, but he was never able to put it into practice.
Dick Allen was a true Superstar and of course he was loathed in Philly, he hit .318 had a Slugging percentage of .557, Scored 125 runs, had 201 Hits, 38 Doubles, 13 Triples and 29 Homeruns, so with all that, they still ran him out of town. Oh I did forget he only had 91 RBI's.
Of course for poor Richie, he came to town when Johnny Callison was their aging hero and he suffered for it, Johnny hit 31 Homers and had 104 RBI's that infamous year.
Jim Bunning and Chris Short actually won 36 games and lost 17 that year but they will always be remembered for the failure to win at the end.
It was an excruciating summer to live through and to suffer yet another disaster in Philadelphia. My buddy Sam is an eternal optimist and has been a devoted fan since I can remember, Sam bleeds for the Phillies, and he believes every year is the year they return to the Series and are crowned the Champions, and of course the parade down Broad Street to Citizens Bank park. In 1964 the parade would have been to Connie Mack Stadium(named for Connie Mack who once managed the A's and in true Philadelphia fashion sold off all the best players). Connie Mack Stadium was a true ball park, nothing fancy, built in the middle of a neighborhood(I mean a real neighborhood with row houses lining the streets) 21st & Lehigh Avenue. It cost $457, 167 to build(of that the land was 141,918 and the stadium 315,248) it was a grand old place, it was actually owned by Connie Mack and Shibe(It was originally called Shibe Park. It housed the Philadelphia Athletics from 1909(when it was built) to 1954 and the Phillies from 1938 to 1970. It opened on April 12, 1909, the last game was played on Octobe 1, 1970 and it was demolished in June of 1976.
Connie Mack Stadium was the 1st Concrete and Steel Stadium in the Major Leagues, it took less than a year to build. It was originally named for Ben Shibe who was an Athletics stockholder. It was renamed Connie Mack Stadium in 1953.
Now a final rest in peace to days gone by: Before 1953, 20th street residents could see games for free over the 12ft right field fence and fans could see the Laundry lines on the roofs of 2oth street houses. they played the 1943 and 1952 All Star games here. The Old Yankee stadium scoreboard was installed in front of the right center field wall in 1956. It is today the site of the Deliverance Evangelical Church(possibly a fitting end to the old gal).
Well Sam I hope this gives you some idea that I am still a follower and still a loyalist although I now reside in Florida(Where baseball should be illegal!!!)..
It is always nice to remember the Days of Wine and Roses so to speak.

Live long and prosper.

Remnants of Days Gone By

The 1950's and early 60's were a time to remember and a time to cherish, growing up in Norristown, Pennsylvania, on a street with row homes and a quiet neighborhood of mostly Italian people one generation removed from Italy. Isn't is funny how remembering always seems better, the balmy nights sitting on the front steps listening to the ball game on the radio, the smell of hot Italian foods being made, the sound of all the neighbors communicating on the stoops, the knowledge that within this world you were content, although at the time it seem like a place you could not wait to get away from. Days gone by, the good times, the sights, sounds, smells, oh but to relive those days for just a moment. Isn't it strange how we waste the best days of our lives so that we may remember them with fondness years later when we cannot ever go home again. The music, the food, the people, the friends, all gone now and just a remembrance. Well, here is a remembrance of all those who have gone: Matty Raimo, Uncle Johnny, Aunt Liana, Aunt Mary, Aunt Lucy, Aunt Tavia, Don Kocher, Mom, and Dad. And a remembrance of those that have become more memories than reality: Barbara Kretsch, Charlotte Heaton, Cathy, Johnson, Corrao, Rootie, Harold, Betsy, Chubby, Jackie, Delores, Anna, and finally a remembrance of those that remain close to this day and offer a reminder of the days that were worth remembering: Sully, Sam, Jase, Bobby, Charlotte, Judy, Charles...
Lastly, Florida is a great place, generic as it may be, but I have a new life with a fine wife and a dog, Oh yes, I miss the Old days, but then again don't we all.