Taking a stroll around the neighborhood

It was a nice Saturday afternoon in May and I wanted some black and white cookies from Leons. As I walked up Dictum Ct it seem like almost everyone I knew was outside doing something. I said hello to Mrs Carlson and her daughter Helen who were planting flowers in their yard as brother Roy workout on his high bar on the side of their garage. Jimmy McCandless and Tommy Moore were playing stoop ball as Mrs Hinte arrived home with her groceries from Food Haven, Rosemarie O'Donnell and Carol Burtchell were skipping rope in front of Rosemarie's house. I waved hello to Mr Lombardo and Tony Zara who was helping his dad clean their yard in preparation for planting, Sonny Lombardo said hello on his way to work as a police officer. I crossed Bijou Ave to see Bobby and Jimmy Gibbons helping their dad load up his Bungelow Bar cart, as I go up Dictum Ct I see Richie Erwin coming home from his job at the Sugar Bowl. I see Mr Gleason heading towards the Tamaqua docks, he'll probably see my dad Neal hanging out on the Falcon with his friend John and maybe have a few cold ones. I went down Dictum Ct to Allen Ave and I saw Mr Chandler walking on Allen Ave with his umpire gear headed to Gerritsen Beach Little League to umpire a game. Jim Cincola  yelled hey Bobby from down Allen Ave, while I waited for Jimmy Richie Haas came by and we went to Greg Thives house on Plumb 2nd St. They asked if I wanted to play some stick ball up the park I told them I was headed to Leons for some black and white cookies so they decided to tag along. We headed down Plumb 2nd St as fast as possible so we could get back and get a few games of stick ball in. We arrive at Leons and we pool our money, we have enough 1/2 pound of black and whites, we each had 2 cookies walking back up Gerritsen Ave. Mr Byrnes was outside his funeral home he was the official greeter of anyone coming down Gerritsen Ave. He greeted us with a big smile and a hello, if you went by the funeral home and he wasn't there you would think something was wrong. We went by the Sugar Bowl on the corner of Whitney Ave and we saw Frank Rogers and Tommy Cavanagh inside. We went in and asked if they wanted to play some stick ball they finished their small cokes and came with us, Tommy and Frank bought a spaulding(spauldeen) now we were ready to play because Greg had brought his stick ball bat with him.
We saw Harold Olsen outside Tim's grocery store where he worked for many years we all said hello and headed across Gerritsen Ave to the hand ball courts to play some pitch in stick ball. We saw some of the older guys playing basketball, Charlie Hintz, Richie Hanson, Dickie and Bobby Johns were playing some half court two on two. These guys were good, we stood and watched for a while. Charlie dominated the boards while Richie got his share of rebounds plus he had that soft left handed jump shot. Dickie was one of the best players in the Beach he could pass and had great jump shot, Bobby wasn't afraid to go to the basket plus he had nice left handed jump from the foul line. When we got there it was Charlie and Bobby against Dickie and Richie the score was 20-19 in favor of Dickie and Richie. They needed 21 to win, Dickie takes a set shot that hit the rim and was rebounded by Charlie who passes to Bobby who fakes a shot and passes to Charlie for an easy layup now the score is tied 20 up. Dickie has the ball he dribbles around Bobby then passes behind his back to Richie who takes a jump shot from the foul line, Charlie tries to block it but just misses, the ball goes in without hitting the rim game over. We go to the hand ball court with our blue box painted on it, we choose up sides it is Jimmy Greg and me against Richie, Frank and Tommy. We proceeded to play two games each side winning one each, that's the way it went most of the time then we headed to the candy store for a coke. Then we all headed up Allen Ave to go home and eat, then we'd go out for the night games on the block until our parents called us in. This was just another day in paradise, growing up in the best neighborhood in the world, thanks Aunt Jean and Uncle Bill for finding this place called Gerritsen Beach for our family.

Gerritsen Avenue

Gerritsen Ave is the Main St of Gerritsen Beach, just about anything you needed was on Gerritsen Ave. My Grandfather "Pappy" was well known on the avenue, he use to take me with him every morning to visit his favorite stores, every store we'd go in they'd yell "hiya Pappy". This warm Summer morning we walked down to Channel Ave towards Jimmy's Deli we go in and there is no one there, Pappy yells out Jimmy because he wanted to pay the ten cents for the two packs of baseball cards for me, Jimmy pops out of the back says hi to us then runs back to the back room. We continue walking down the avenue Solly Ryback and his Dad are standing outside their store Pappy says hello and tips his hat as Solly and his Dad return the hello. Ryback's is right across the street from the bus stop and the Barracks housing for the WWII veterans, the Barracks starts right there and runs to Florence Ave. Each Barracks was home to eight families, four families on each floor. There were many buildings in the Barracks complex including a three room school for first to third grade. We continue our walk down the avenue going past Hobans bar, Sal's Barber shop, Cardboard Joes shoe store, the Cort Club to Fran & Izzy's candy store. This is the middle 1950's so Fran & Izzys was still on the corner of Gerritsen Ave & Devon ave. When you walk in Fran & Izzy's you see rows and rows of candy under the cash register on the counter you see big jugs of penny candy, bubble gum and baseball cards. The stools and counter where you drink your 6 cent cokes, egg creams, malteds and eat your devil dogs, ice cream or bag of potato  chips is on the right. Izzy made the best malteds in town and I still have his recipe. They also sold comics, magazines, newspapers ( remember the four cent NY Daily News), toys such as water guns, cap pistols, tattoos, they had everything a kid enjoyed. Pappy goes in and buys the News and Mirror like he does everyday, I had five two cent bottles to return so I buy two more packs of baseball cards. Pappy kibitz's a bit with Izzy a big burly guy with a small mustache and Izzy jokes with Pappy, Fran working on the other side of the store comes over to say hello. We continue our stroll down the street go past the Park Tavern (It was always called Tagney's after owner Pat Tagney, I hung out and played ball with his son John when I was older). Next to the bar was Doc's Pharmacy later it was owned by Marty who I worked for delivering prescriptions, Marty was just out of the Army and loved telling war stories. As we go down closer to Food Haven we see D-TV owned by Vinnie who was a tall skinny guy with a mustache, I hung out with his son George a few years later, Vinnie could fix just about anything you brought in. We arrive at Food Haven our local grocery store it is owned by John McBride a wonderful hard working man who worked there for years before he bought it from the original owner of Ralston's grocery store. John had his son working there part time, later on Bob Olson took over when his son went in the service then I worked for John when Bob went in the service. After chatting with John and buying some bananas and a loaf of bread we went on to Bill Doyle's Meat market to buy a 1/2 pound of Bologna, I also hung out and played ball with Bill Doyle's son Billy. Now we were ready to go home for lunch, I will visit more places in Gerritsen Beach in my next Blog.

The Brooklyn Dodgers

This was a big day for me, I woke up early to go to school at the Barracks school across Gerritsen Ave, I was going to Ebbets field to see my Dodgers play the Giants. When I arrived at school I told my friends Diane, Rich and my teacher Mrs. Esser about going to the game that night.  It was very hard for me to concentrate all I thought about was going to the Dodgers game. Mrs Esser announced to the class that I was going to the Dodgers game. She picked me first for "Show and Tell" that day I brought in my new baseball glove and told the other kids I was bringing it to the game. The day dragged on finally the lunch bell rung I ran across Gerritsen Ave past Fran & Izzy's, Cardboard Joe's, Sal the Barber's and Ryback's down Channel Ave to Dictum Ct. I was at 84 Dictum Ct in less then 5 minutes, my Mom was at the door to greet me and my lunch was on the kitchen table, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk was waiting there for me. My sister Tina who was 3 years old a week ago ate lunch with me while trying to feed her doll, my Mom comes in to find peanut butter all over the doll and Tina, I finished lunch it was only 12:22pm so I spent some time looking at my new 1953 Topps cards. I was a little disappointed because after buying many packs there was still no Gil Hodges my favorite player, but I did get a few Dodgers including Number 1 card Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella. My Mom tells me it is now 12:45pm time to go back to school, I didn't want to go. There was only one thing on my mind today that was my Brooklyn Dodgers. With some urging from my Mom I ran out the door down Channel Ave towards the school, I had a nickel burning a hole in my pocket so I stopped at Jimmy's Deli where I bought a pack of Topps cards. I made it back to school just in time. In between our reading and math lesson I snuck a look at my new cards there were no Dodgers but I did get five cards I needed for the set. The afternoon dragged on but finally the bell rang at 3pm and I ran home with my book bag and glove in hand.
I got out of my school clothes put on my t-shirt, dungarees, and Keds sneakers that were bought at Cardboard Joe's. I still had two hours before Uncle Bill would arrive to take us down Bedford Ave to Ebbets Field. I decided to go over to Rocky's house to see if he wanted to have a catch, Rocky the only Yankee fan in the area puts on his Yankee hat and we run over to the Tamaqua parking lot. We had our catch for about an hour until our Mothers called us in, Rocky for supper and me to get washed up before my uncle arrived.
My mother had my Dodgers uniform laid out on my bed, it was a bright white with royal blue Dodgers across the chest there was a small number 14 in red on the lower left and a large 14 in royal blue on the back. It is now 4:50pm so I start to put my uniform on, I hear my Dad returning from work, Uncle Bill and Aunt Jean will be here soon. Aunt Jean will spend the night with my Mom, Grandma and Aunt Louise while the guys go to the game. My Grandpa is in his room putting on his Sunday best, I hear the door bell I run downstairs to greet my Aunt and Uncle, most adults dressed like Grandpa for the ball games. They wore Fedora hats, suits, white shirts, ties and dress shoes, my father and uncle liked dressy casual but always wore a hat. Around 5:15 my uncle said it was time to go we all piled into his 1952 Ford and headed down Gerritsen Ave towards Bedford Ave. We had taken this route many times in the past, my Uncle Pete is meeting us at the game because he lives near the ball park, every time we took the route I'd ask a  bunch of times how much longer until we arrive at Ebbets Field. We arrive at the gas station across from right field, my uncle knows the owner, he parks the car and I get out to the smell of freshly baked Bond bread.
We got there early it was about 5:50pm, Uncle Pete was waiting, so we stopped to buy a pennant, yearbook, scorecard and a new Dodgers hat for me. The gates opened up at 6pm, my uncle bought five box seats ten rows up to the left of the Dodgers dugout, the Giants were taking batting practice and the Dodgers were playing catch near the dugout. My Uncle Pete worked as a special cop at Ebbets Field so he knew all the players and became good friends with Gil Hodges. He took me down to the railing to see Gil, Gil said "Hi Pete how are you" then reached over the rail to pick me up with his big hands and hugged me. Gil signed my yearbook and program while talking to my uncle about getting together, Gil called over Roy Campanella who also signed my two books. Now it was time for Dodger batting practice so Gil and Roy left us to go into the batting cage, I stood and watched as Gil then Roy hit ball after ball into the left field stands. My father and uncle went to get hot dogs and drinks for everyone, I had a coke the four adults had a beer, the game was starting in 15 minutes. Both teams had their regular lineup in the game with Billy Loes pitching for the Dodgers and Jim Hearn for the Giants, the Dodgers are on a 4 game win streak while the Giants lost their last game. The Dodgers take the field led by Pee Wee Reese, the Giants go down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, in the bottom of the inning Jim Gilliam the rookie walks and Pee Wee knocks him in with a triple after one inning it is 1-0 Dodgers. In the top of the second Hank Thompson singles advances to second on a hit and run then scores on Tookie Gilbert's single. The score remained 1-1 until the top of the fourth when Thompson hits a home run to left field, then in the bottom of the inning Campanella homers to left to tie the score at 2. The Giants come back with a run in the top of the 5th on a home run by Wes Westrum, The score remains 3-2 until the bottom of the ninth inning. Jim Hearn is still in the game for the Giants, Joe Black relieved Billy Loes in the 8th inning, Jim Gilliam leads off and grounds out to second base. Pee Wee walks, Duke Snider flies out to right field, Robinson gets on when Al Dark bobbles the ball. Roy Campanella is coming up with Gil on deck, runners at first and second with two out Hearn tries to sneak a fastball by Roy and he hits it deep into the left field stands. The Dodgers win the game 5-3 a perfect ending to a perfect day, I don't remember getting home because I probably fell asleep on Bedford Ave about 5 minutes from Ebbets Field.

The Game

It was about 9:30AM on a warm summer morning we had just finished our school year a few days before and I was eating my breakfast when I hear "Bobby" my mother went to the door to tell Rocky I'd be right there. Rocky was one of the better stick ball players in the neighborhood and the only Yankee fan on our block. I finished my breakfast then ran out the door with my bat and ball. There was no need to tell my mom where I was going she knew exactly where we were going. Rocky was dressed in his Yankee shirt and hat, I wore my Dodger stuff so you know I looked better. We headed down the block to get Jimmy and Tommy another two very good ballplayers, we now had enough to play our pitch in stick ball game between the Tamaqua and Civic Club. We also had two other regular players Victor and Vinny who weren't from our block but good friends from near by in the Beach, normally we played with all six players it was always a better game with all the guys there. We had another friend Ralph who came to visit his grandparents for the whole summer, he was the only lefty thrower we had and he could really hit. On this beautiful morning when we got to the field Victor and Ralph were waiting for us, Rocky and I as the oldest choose the teams I won the draw so I choose Victor. The teams wounded up Victor, Jimmy and me, Rocky choose Tommy then Ralph. We were the home team so I went to the mound with Victor playing near second base and Jimmy catching. Tommy stepped up to the plate with Joe one of the regulars at the Civic Club calling balls and strikes. Tommy was a good contact hitter with a little power but he could run like a deer, if he hit the ball and it wasn't caught he'd be on base. With Rocky on deck and Ralph hitting third you had to keep Tommy off base, I tried sneeking a fast ball by him Tommy hit one into Jimmy's yard. The game went back and forth until the seventh and last inning, the score was 19-17 in favor of Rocky's team after six innings, I had to shut them down in the top of the seventh. Ralph led off the inning I threw him 2 straight fastballs he hit both of them deep to right foul one wounded up in the water the other under a car in the next lot. Jimmy calls for the curve I load the ball up(spit ball) then throw a big sweeping curve that dips down that caught Ralph by surprise Joe the umpire calls "Strike Three". Tommy steps in and on the first pitch hits a high fly ball to deep center field but Victor had him played just right catching the ball with his back against to the wall. Now with two outs Rocky their best power hitter steps in, I start him with a curve he takes it for a strike then I try to get a fast ball by him he hits a long home run over the peak of the Tamaqua roof. Ralph hits a single off the wall, Tommy hits one up the middle Victor fields it and touches second base for the force out. Now to the bottom of the seventh Rocky is still throwing bullets, with the score 20-17 we need four to win. Victor hits a first pitch fastball off the roof for a double, I step in and foul off 2 pitches then hit a long fly ball that Tommy catches Victor tags up then goes to third. Jimmy looks at two pitches then hits Rocky's next pitch way up over the peak of the Tamaqua roof for a home run Victor jumps on Rocky's first pitch to hit a shot way over the peak. With one out and the game tied I step into the lefthanded batting box with 3 home runs in the game I'm looking for another one. Rocky throws the first three pitches out of the strike zone like he's pitching around me then he throws a strike I hit it off the wall for a single, Jimmy comes up hits the first pitch off the lower roof for a double. Now its up to Victor, knowing its second and third all he needs to do is hit the ball, he chokes up a bit on the bat the tension is now higher then anytime during the game. He punches at the first pitch and hits it foul into the water, the second pitch is a called strike it looks low to me then Victor lines one over Rocky's head Tommy dove for the ball just missing it. We win 21-20. It's time for a lunch break before we come back and play a few more games. Mr Lombardo retreats into his house with his dog, he will be back in his box seat for game two.

Our Block

Dictum Ct was a wonderful place to grow up, we were a few hundred feet from the water, a few blocks from the park. We had a bunch of kids who were always up to play Stick ball, we had our own field in the sand between the Tamaqua and the Civic Club. We'd chip in 10 cents a piece to buy a few "Spauldeens", a few kids had bats  made from a broomstick some even bought the new factory made Sticks for about 50 cents. We played there mostly during the week and we always had spectators watching us like it was a Dodgers-Giants game. One of these spectators was Mr Lombardo a retired cop who had a box seat on his back stoop then we had the regulars at the Civic Club taking up a seat by each window. One guy sat at the window behind home plate and called balls and strikes for us, we only played pitch in stick ball on that field. We had ground rules too, anything over the peak of the Tamaqua was a home run if it just hit off the lower roof it was a double. The big problem we had was the water being 50 feet off first base so a lot of balls had to be retrieved from the water with a crab net. We had to find another place to play on weekends because "our field" was filled with cars from the fisherman, we tried putting up no parking signs but that didn't work. Today I just touched on a few highlights of  growing up on Dictum Ct., next time we'll go a bit deeper until then keep the memories coming.
BobC 84 Dictum Ct