The Ultimate Valentine’s Day Gift

Wondering what to give that special gal or guy in your life this Valentine’s Day?

A heart shaped box of See’s Chocolates? No, too fattening!

A romantic weekend on Kauai? Ouch on the wallet!

The latest sizzling outfit from Victoria’s Secret? Sure, but as you can see their top model, Giselle Bundchen, loves the Valentine’s gift she received from her hubby Tom Brady. The New England quarterback can afford any gift his wife desires, but Tom chose to give the love of his life a copy of PlayBall! – Alameda’s Sandlot Saga on DVD.

Now you can join the Brady’s and buy a copy of PlayBall! for a romantic Valentine’s Day special price of just $14.00! Click her for more details: Order Giselle’s Favorite Gift

Jim Tavernier

Park Director

During his interview for PlayBall! – Alameda’s Sandlot Saga, park rat Kevin Kearney, told of taking “road trips” to the opposition’s home field  in the back Jim’s Chevy Nomad station wagon. Coooool!

Tours of Duty: Krusi (1966)

NO PHOTO CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

7th Inning Stretch – Fake Caps

Photo of David Hardren's fake baseball cap by Acamar

If you take a passing glance at this photo from the summer of ‘75, all appears to be in order. The sun is shining down on Dick Bartell Field at Lincoln Park. No traffic jam on Fernside Drive. David Hardern of Longfellow has executed a banana turn rounding second on his way to third. Lincoln shortstop Kenny Arnerich is ready to take the incoming throw from right center field. Aah, yes, a beautiful day for baseball… oh, oh… wait just a minute!

Hardern is wearing a fake baseball cap!! The kind with synthetic mesh and an adjustable plastic strap in the back. What was he thinking? You know he wasn’t a catcher, because as you may recall, if you wore one of these el-cheapo caps backwards under the mask, you had an indentation in your forehead that lasted a week. Not to mention a wild tan line that stayed with you well into December.

To be fair, it wasn’t David’s fault that these two tone abominations became the rage in the mid-1970’s. Up until then, a Roman Pro or New Era 8-stitch wool cap was the sign of a true diamond devotee. Those were Cadillac of dome covers. And they weren’t cheap. You had to save up $5.00 for a generic blue, black, red or green model. $7.00 for one of the embroidered pro team caps. That was a lot of empty bottle returns to George’s Liquors or the New Island Market. “Hmm, 140 packs of baseball cards or a pro cap?” That was the dilemma facing a kid back in the days before somebody decided to add plastic to a one hundred year-old tradition.

And speaking of tradition… who came up with the idea of wearing pajama bottoms for baseball pants???  Don’t get me started!

Casino Measure Passes In Alameda

Here’s a great photo showing members of the Edison Band of Indigenous Baseball Players celebrating the announcement that Alameda voters approved a ballot measure enabling construction of a tribal casino. The opulent Las Vegas style gaming emporium will be located on Lincoln Avenue, between Pearl Street and Versailles Avenue. The Mayor and City Council were unavailable for comment, but a spokesperson for developer MoonPal told PlayBall!, “Despite unfounded public concerns, we believe the project will be a huge boost to the local economy.”

Tribal Administrator Barry Weiss announces the big news in July, 1970

Okay, enough of the Election 2010 shenanigans. While this photo does capture a band of Edison Indians celebrating, they are actually in the middle of a victory cheer following their fourth consecutive Bantam League win. This time their victim was the Longfellow Tigers who were scalped by a score of 26-10. Wielding the big war clubs for Edison were: Kevin Dillon (4 hits, 4 runs, 2 triples), Terry Lowry (4 hits, double, triple), David Bartley and Brad Keiffer (3 hits each).

I can still hear Barry Weiss’ favorite victory chant: “Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? Sunflower seeds! Sunflower seeds! Yeaaaaah!”

Get Out And Vote

If you still live on the Garden Isle of Alameda, you know that today is an Election Day. While PlayBall! – Alameda’s Sandlot Blog has but one agenda – preserving the legacy of the Alameda Recreation & Park Department’s amazing youth programs and the countless happy memories of former park rats everywhere – the editor (me) feels it’s important to urge you to get out and vote!

Take a moment to better understand the critical issues that will significantly impact Alameda’s future. Regardless of where you stand on Measure B, the important thing is to go to the polls and vote.

I recall Larry Wayne telling me about the day that the backstop at Estuary Field was torn down. I don’t know the reason why, but I do know that a lot of people were impacted by that decision… and not in a positive way. None of the kids who used that rocky field on a daily basis had a say in the matter. No one gave them a vote.

Today you have a vote. Please use it.

The preceeding message was paid for by the editor, who is not running for anything. (But I would like a float in the 4th of July Parade… a convertible with Kevin Kearney?… a bicycle?… roller skates and a small sign?… never mind. Just vote.)

Fashion Plate

We’ve all heard the phrase “the tools of ignorance” applied to catcher’s gear. But never has “fashion plate” been applied in describing a catcher’s attire, although in the case of this photo, “fashionable behind the plate” would be most applicable.

Johnny Plaid and Swingin' Sato in '74 (Photo Acamar)

It must have been difficult for Colt batter Mark Sato to keep his eye on this pitch while catcher John Perata’s neon plaid pants were undulating in the background. As the immortal baseball announcer Harry Caray was fond of saying, “Holy Cow!”

Actually, the suave Longfellow backstop was not alone in his bold “Pumas and Plaid” ensemble. Our mid-1970’s photo archive is loaded with other GQ statements being made on the diamonds of Alameda. (Just wait till you see our photo of Chris “The Alameda Rifle” Speier and Giants teammate John D’Aquisto in their sport jackets while attending one of the annual ARPD Baseball Awards Banquets. Somebody call the fashion police!)

Unfortunately, we don’t know the outcome of this PeeWee League duel held at Lincoln Park. However, we do know that this photo graced the cover of the weekly PlayBall! supplement on August 13, 1974. Mr. Perata was also featured in two additional center spread photos! I guess that would make John the first PlayBall! Batterymate centerfold.

Oh, behave!

Headed For Home: Curt Motton 1940-2010

PlayBall! is sad to learn of the passing of one of our own. Curtell Motton, former park rat and outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, headed for home one last time on Thursday, January 21, following a yearlong battle with cancer.

Curt played on the Alameda sandlots with other legendary Encinal High School heroes, Willie Stargell and Tommy Harper. Motton would go on to play for the University of California at Berkeley and was signed by the Chicago Cubs in the 1961 amateur draft. The next year he was drafted by the O’s in whose organization Motton would spend the next nine years.

Called up to the Show in 1967, Curt would compete for playing time in the Birds all-star outfield consisting of Paul Blair, Don Buford, and future Hall Of Famer, Frank Robinson. He would also play for the Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels during his eight years in the majors (1967-74).

Motton’s best season was 1969 when he hit .303 during the regular schedule, and .500 in his first American League Championship Series against the Minnesota Twins. He would also appear in the World Series that same year against eventual World Champions… the Amazin’ Mets. Curt saw post season action again with Baltimore in 1971 and 1974, returning home in both to play against the Oakland A’s.

So long, Curt! Thanks for the memories.

Photographers to the Stars

If you were a fan of the original PlayBall! print edition, a reader of the old Alameda Times Star (“Ten cents worth more”), or have become a dedicated follower of this blog, the names Bordanaro and Zarcone should be very familiar!

Ed Bordanaro and Don Zarcone ran a photography service out of their studio in San Leandro. They covered everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, from weddings to various park leagues, ladies social luncheons to kindergarten class photos. I don’t know how, but they seemed to be everywhere. The two pro shutterbugs are even credited for an image that graced the pages of Sports Illustrated back in 1957. Kevin Kearney, former park rat and now Alameda City Auditor, talks about Ed and Don during an interview segment that appeared in PlayBall! – Alameda’s Sandlot Saga.

Their studio, that once occupied 644 E. 14th Street, is now gone. Along with it are the many thousands of original photos taken over the years… or are they? If anyone has a clue to what happened to Don and Ed, or the master works of Bordanaro and Zarcone, please drop us a line at: playball94501@gmail.com

In the meantime, here’s one of their ads from the 1968 Bishop O’Dowd High School yearbook. Yeah, I know… O’Dowd… yuck! (Check out the tube socks. Wonder if they were purchased at the Super 88 Store?)

1968 Advertisement for Bordanaro and Zarcone Photography

Who Are We?

This photo, from a Midget League game in 1972, prominently features three individuals who’s names should be familiar to many who participated in the ARPD programs during the decade.

Photo: Bordanaro and Zarcone)

We had a number of contestants all trying to correctly identify our mystery mugs. No one person was able to come up with all three names, however, Tony Reid (Franklin), Gary Silverman (Godfrey) and John Canalin (Longfellow) have teamed up to put a name to each physique.

Charging down the first base line is Morris Bonadona of the Godfrey Gophers. Leaning for the throw is Jamie Hayame of the McKinley Bears. And preparing to make the call is stalwart ARPD umpire, Mike Benesh, who would go on to star as a backstop for the Encinal Jets. Few know that “Ben” was also an ice hockey player in the local rec leagues.

The two questions that remain are: 1) Did Mo beat the throw? (Hmm. Doubtful, unless jamie muffed the play.); 2) How will Tony, Gary and John share this week’s prize of one pair of athletic tube socks? (Suggestion: Tony gets them on Sunday/Monday. Jamie on Tuesday/Wednesday. John on Thursday/Friday. They get washed by Doris Sullivan down at Woodstock on Saturday.) Thanks to everyone who posted an entry.

This week’s Who Are We? Quiz was brought to you by Alameda’s emporium for unparalleled value and savings, the Super 88 Store.

The King of 1972

Park Director

John King holds the distinction of coaching three ARPD baseball championship teams in one season. During his assignment to Longfellow Park in 1972, the Tigers won the league crown in the PeeWee, Midget, and Little Coast divisions. John, with the help of his PD associate Doug Bertson, ascended to the throne as “King of all Managers” during that one amazing summer.

Tours of Duty: Longfellow (1972)

The King sports his RayBans along with Gabe Ponce and Gordon Smith