10,000 Rattos Can’t Be Wrong

How many Rattos does it take to make a reunion?

Robb "the human bullhorn" and Denise (Photo courtesy of Lester Mina)

If it’s an Alameda event you know there will be some Rattos in attendance. For decades they have been an integral part of the Island community. The recent Alameda All Parks Reunion was no exception. This reporter saw a Bobby, Donnie, Kathy, Marie, Robby, Stevie and a Denise. Only the Osmonds could pull more family fire power. It’s obvious that the Ratto clan has a nose for fun. The only question everyone asked was “Where’s Ray? Has he gone Hollywood?”

Bob Ratto, Don Sherratt, Bob Howard and Jim Pitts (Mina photo)

Kathy and Steve Ratto

Don Ratto and a member of that other prolific Alameda family

Last but not least, a “wanna-be-a-Ratto” poses with Denise

Bob "Rocko" Rhodes tries to achieve Ratto status (Photo by Mina)

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Jeff Branchaud

Park Director

Tours of Duty: Longfellow, Woodstock, Krusi Park (1982-1984)

Outside of his stellar accomplishments as a playground supervisor, poor Jeff is related by marriage to former Chronicle sports columnist Ray Ratto, the latest star of Comcast SportsNet. Jeff, we’re all wondering… does Ray say the Thanksgiving blessing at the family gathering, and if so, is the turkey cold by the time he finishes? Just kidding Ray, we’ll take you any day over Tim McCarver.

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Where’s Ratto?

That may sound like a ridiculous question considering there are more Ratto’s per capita in Alameda than there are championship pennants flying over Yankee Stadium.

The Ratto in question is Ray. Not to be confused with farmer Raymond Ratto or his son Ray, Jr. from the Gold Coast. No, we’re looking for the East Ender model. The brother of Denise. The shrill voice, who once rivaled “Sam” Spear for superior umpirical eloquence on Alameda’s sandlots.  

Rumor has it that the legendary S.F. Chronclexaminer columnist once graced the bench of an ARPD park league team. Inquiring minds have made mention of such a sighting, however, we only list the facts here in Blogville. Ray will have to comment himself unless we get a credible witness like Jim Richardson to confirm his status as a former player. (Was he really kicked out of St. Philip Neri School in 6th grade for making book on CYO basketball games?)

Perhaps Ray is busy with Frank Deford attempting to resurrect The National. Or he may be deep in the bowels of The Tank water boarding Doug Wilson on why his Sharks pursue milk toast playoff mercenaries.

I do recall attending a California Golden Seals game with Ray and his cousins Donny and Steve (Ratto, in case you couldn’t figure that out). Fortunately, Donny knew where to drop me off after the game because Ray never took so much as a breath during his post-game diatribe over why top draft-pick Rick Hampton was a bust. I think I learned more hockey lore in one car ride than I had absorbed in the 15 years leading up to that point. 

Hey Ray, drop us a line… or several hundred if you become bored with reporting the continuing saga of Fred Lewis.

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The Gang of Four

In 1970, four Franklin Eagles moved across the island to join a band of baseball mercenaries playing in the ARPD Police League.

The combined McKinley-Godfrey entry saw Bill Leitz, Ray Ratto, Jr., Mike McCollum and Steve Chavez break away from their traditional sandlot to join a heavy hitting lineup. 

During the week of August 20, they faced off against their former Eagle teammates, and pummelled the Franklin Nine by a score of 11-2. Leading the way were the Gang of Four who each contributed two hits including a two-sacker per man. 

What were the circumstances behind this Gold Coast treason? Was this an isolated incident or was recruiting widespread in the high school circuit? Perhaps this defection was the result of being 86′d from their native park or the B&M Market. 

Stay tuned while our team of crack PlayBall! reporters comb the archives and gather witnesses for waterboard interrogation.

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Who Am I?

McKinley Bear batter Mike Healy appears ready to toss the lumber in frustration after striking out against Franklin back in 1973. Do you know who the Eagles backstop is?

The mystery backstop is Franklin's John Lyons

Hint: It’s not John Boccabella, Johnny Bench, or John Edwards (or Steve Shahbazian, who has now been positively confirmed as a one-season Franklin Eagle with the power of Bench, an impossible last name like Boccabella, and that same deer-in-the-headlights look of John Edwards).

Once again hundreds of PlayBall! blog readers have been stumped by the weekly Who Am I quiz. The Franklin Eagle catcher shown in the photo above is indeed a John… JOHN LYONS. 

Thanks to sports columnist Ray Ratto, who, for the second week in a row, refrained from entering this contest thus  forfeiting a chance to display his razor wit and superior sports knowledge. That’s a shame because Ray would have looked great in this week’s grand prize: a pair of Spotbilt SA50 all-purpose cleats, provided by our sponsor Alameda Sporting Goods.

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