Silver Memories

Well. To paraphrase a much better writer what's in the stadium isn't just steel and stone and SOD some places maybe but not so over from the time its gates first opened it became a stage for high drama and low comedy its beauty lay in irregular stretches and shades of green. It welcomes moments of athletic grace some of the dead and rose to much higher expectations. The stories you'll hear come from those who were there those who lived in and around it and those who for a short time in spring and summer brought home memories for a lifetime. Those are silver memories before you hear anything about Silver State it's players fans or neighbors. It's important to talk a little bit about baseball. Baseball is the reason silver or Red Wings stadium was built. Baseball is a madness walk hysteria is caught before there was a rush to the early game was played with a soccer ball.

You get a person out by actually throwing the ball at them on what they called Selfie. This could be done with a softer pulse for use for bases and that was a problem because runners would run into them and injure themselves and when the modern game was developed it was partly to eliminate some of these problems. The modern game developed by Alexander Cartwright came here perhaps a decade after a city ordinance banned ball playing in the streets by the 1850s. There were baseball clubs with dues and uniforms. There was a system of fines for a variety of ill mannered behaviors including swearing. Baseball had no color line. Frederick Douglass manage a team on which at least one of his sons played. I don't think the had much trouble with sports back there. They had trouble getting in the school black or white. The boys of summer couldn't bear to have baseball season and they were like

I guess they just. Started playing against clubs in other cities in the late 1850s. A player from the Buffalo Niagara was so taken by the rivalry with the Rochester club that he put pen to the baseball. It may not be Willie Mickey and the duke but it may be the first music ever written about baseball. There are limits to everything for baseball here. That limit was Sunday. It's that once in a while even kids weren't even allowed to plan the story as far as I can see. People would. Actually be arrested for playing baseball on Sunday. I mean you've got the Rochester baseball players being arrested for playing on Sunday.

How they got around there they went to a place. Where. They experimented Winsor beach near Somerville didn't last long told complained loudly to local authorities about the flaunting of state law. That's my great grandfather. And. He became a ball that he stopped. Baseball on Sunday that was his being a very religious person I understand this very religious person and he just went to the proper people as a. Whole more baseball on Sunday. Can we do something about it. Sure enough. No more baseball on Sunday. The ban on Sunday baseball wasn't the only hurdle the sport had to leap into the 20th century the people who rebuild a burned down Culver field made the mistake of putting a tractor bicyclists around it. Biking became more popular than baseball. That didn't last long. One thousand away fans were packing themselves into the baseball park at Bay St.. Grandfather went to his first game there in a horse and wagon.

He went and took a bunch of his buddies with him sat on the horse and wagon and they drove the wagon right out listener field and watched the first game his first home opener and he waved. Like Silver Bay Street had its share of drama of great plays and colorful players. This film tucked away until now in the archives of the George Eastman House is a rare glimpse of the 1923 Rochester tribe. Among the players who did backflips for manager George Stallings was the immortal red bonehead Merkle. Fans old enough to remember the drive have warm memories of those players. And their feelings about the park itself a downright chilly. I do recall is that it bleaches out there already has to be all within the fence as well wouldn't it confuse this. On some boards up and sneak through the fence to get in there and I do recall that. Terrace in center field with the flagpole. He announces the coming down the Perth place line and they go it down the third base line in and then now a line up it was like a barn.

I left I had my plans up there where I could skip school I jumped over I forgot they had that wire wire thing that caught out of my fans while I was away in the stadium the other was no it was a compliment like it is today that the words the stadium you know I love. I'm often surprised I never burn down. The metal the thermo we played on is gone. Windsor beach is a housing development. Boulder field is now the Gleason works. But Bay Street. What an ugly you can still see if you look hard enough. Its mines are still visible as bay meets Webster and we're back some balls and mitts are still being used. For most of us since 1929 500 Norton street was the only address worth remembering in that neighborhood. Johnson remembers when even that wasn't much to look at. He grew up across the street at 499. Well before the ball park. It was off farmland around us. You've been part of our land through trees process tree was raspberry

bushes. Points 3. It was the place the circus came to in Rochester and in 1986 it was where the St. Louis Cardinals came to build their farm system. We were fighting for something new or someplace just wife stuff and place to go. After it was built. We always went to the NA again games on Saturdays and they were always always crowded. Seeing those crowds put a glint of gold in the eyes of the stadiums neighborhoods and they could see a little moneymaking there with their property because they figured on doing a little park and for the cars and parking at that time was 25 cents a car. It is hard to believe. It was still twenty five cents when the earth along a family moved in just down the street started hawking cars when he was eight. With inflation and some enterprise he made baseball pay off if the IRS is going to be watching this I made enough money to put myself through college. They were

simply living across the street was bonus enough for Frank Johnson. The view from his grandmother's side of the attic was perfect. If you were to walk today and it was still Larry if I know all the back scores that I used to keep track of Frank's dad for had a good reason to dislike the stadium. City police would shut down roads around the stadium during games. A constant irritant to a man who made his living as a chauffeur. But many who lived around Norton treated the stadium like any other neighbor visiting rarely or not at all the whole time we lived there you never went to one again not a complete game maybe at the end of a ballgame they do open the doors like when there were fireworks. They would open the doors in the neighborhood people would go in and watch the fireworks but to sit there all through a game you know I understand the game because we played it in school but I never let. It. Take 67 years. Multiply that by at least two dozen players a season and you've seen. Well a lot of talent. Standing out from that crowd took something special

with balance of powers. Out my mind because he was my idol. A lot of people said I played like I look like my actual life. And I went down purposely to watch him. That's how I became a first baseman. Another great ballplayer was that supports that first ball player to work for laughter. And that had never been tried before. And later on there was Marty Marion. Called derringer Johnny I stand he was in fact I saw Stan Musial. The very first game he played here. And he was not tolerated. People like Russ Terry Steve Bilko I remember him he's a great big heavy first baseman. I remember distinctly one play them always stay with me was Peffer Martin with a line drive home run. And over the four hundred foot mark and center for you know that bar

just kept going up and up and up. Dan Logan was a very favorite of mine because he could be over 13 and also hit a ball 450 feet Jack FAZ holds he was a Lutheran minister and he had pitch for the wings for several years from the day he stepped foot on the dirt at Silver stadium. You knew Cal Ripken Jr. was destined for bigger and better things if not Cooperstown. Yeah there comes today. He was a great excitable player and he would go. Move you get one there to. It's home run I ever see in my life. You couldn't see the ball and then you could savor it would look as it took about two minutes to go around the bases the guy was a slowest guy who ever lived probably but now he was my idol he was he was a wonderful man and to this day I regret that I never got an

autograph from Luke Easter. Some players are memorable more for a game than a career. Some players are remembered for their careers both in and out of baseball. I recall any number of times when Montreal came into town that you wanted to go to the game to see Chuck Connors who eventually went on to become the Rifleman I believe for the people of blue and I don't know why he aggravated the people somehow because he go around. Around the umpire and he's play praying at the crowd. If you give him a big shell. But one night he was in a rather Firstly mood and he had the night I was out there you had a waterfall solo. When he was scoring. All the players I mean the umpire. But the umpire never did throw him out of my recollections. A very few fans grew up to be good enough to play alongside the whens can Slater was one of those later wound up in the Yankee farm system but only after a serious courtship by the Cardinals. That's why he was on the field one day against another young man with some town during batting

practice hitting him. Well I'm going to call it a home run hitting the ball over the fence off the bat. Gibson of course was batting prey and no big deal he certainly wasn't throwing away that man was capable of throwing the ball or I would have probably been walking back but was being preggers you know how that speed is but it was sort of a thrill to get up there and use the bats that those players head which is top notch quality and just to swing the bat and then have the ball jump 385 over the fence I think. Much of his fans generally remember their heroes with a warm smile. That's what comes with years and distance. They are occasionally less generous in the heat of the moment. Unfortunately when you go to the supermarket after having a horrendous day they wouldn't. Worry. Too about telling you how bad it really was and you and I used to try to tell him hey I was there I know about it was it should have been in my seat. That was horrible but they were they were more than glad to stand up and cheer when you did well to. The most popular player never to have played for the Red Wings. No contest. Several

exhibitions at Red Wings stadium and a bay St.. George Herman Ruth put fans in the seats and baseballs out of the park. If you remember you know seeing him come on to the field the crowd was all excited and requests for baseball. And of course everybody wanted a you know home run. That went over the fence. And. You hear a chorus of wives. Behind the scenes. Ruth inspired conflicting emotion. It was a dummy really well I'll try to. Watch was given a dozen baseballs for Ruth the sign. Tiny remembers an arrogant Bambino telling him to just toss him over to the other side of the dugout. He had it. Dead person right. George Ben has a much richer memory of Rube my boss Elliot Cushing sentimental or Columbus as a go see what he wants. So I went and Ruth gave me a $10 bill he said I want to hotdogs and two beers. So I went to the concessionaire he wouldn't take the money that was her Babe Ruth. Brought it back to Ruth.

Two hot dogs were gone two minutes I swear. The birds were gone the other two minutes later he handed me back the ten dollars of your kindness is yours. $10 was a fork in the lot. Baseball is tradition. Baseball is statistics and strategy. It is time best enjoyed on a warm summer day or night. Silver was an indelible part of all that. No matter how you got there. Boss Brown needed a thumb from Avalon. It was during the war and people were willing to help you out. We didn't have that. It seemed like we didn't have all the characters that we have. Riding the highways today. Hitchhiking wasn't the only dangerous way to get to see a ball game. The train trestle spanning the river from Lake to St. Paul was a speedy convenience for some young fans when they we're right in the middle of the bridge and the train is coming from the other way. And. We. Ran and just barely made it through the other side when the train came back and that was the deciding factor that we were going to use the

truck for if you're getting work. Once you got there. If you got there you needed to decide on the perfect place to sit. We both like to sit in a position to see that her. Look Great down the line to see all of what you see almost everything except her reign in a corner out where they get the OK that's the only thing you can see beautiful. And once you're in silver stands burgers refined peanuts divine but only one thing was numero uno. Yeah you have to have. You got to go to a ball game you've got to have it. Texas hot. Dogs. Gotta have a hike with mustard. And I thought I'd. Never miss having no. More. You're. Right. Michael started supplying the ballpark in 131.

If you got a hot back then you might still want to thank Bob Birrell time they did especially with all their big crowds. That. Are so. Well. Who want to take the order that I will put my hand up. To the bargain. Imagine how all of this might have changed if Cornwallis had won it your. If baseball had still developed would we be eating what British football crowds are used to. And what we're looking at the game through different eyes. Last. Question. The other question. If you couldn't hear the crack of the bat or the hitting leather

what would the attractions of the game be. Second birth more death row the poker world look for work when they are something good about baseball or. Watched or as had many champions but which was the best two teams stand out above the rest. In 1938 the Red Wings had seven players who hit well above 300 but 41 years later there was a different kind of magic. Beautiful part about baseball is you never know what to hide. A lot of times you know you might think you're the ballclub but haven't seen the other teens.

It was the most fun I ever had in my entire professional career was 1971 including all my years in the big leagues. This is my favorite year of playing baseball writer Nathan said he want to sit with stadiums. There were more leaders on this team. And you know guys that were gone to whatever they would do or be successful in whatever shows in the year those two major league managers as a film director everybody on the team has gone on to do something successful. It didn't start well after opening 0 and 5. The wings were a mediocre game under 500 at the All Star break. Their second baseman was injured. His replacement Don Fazio had already retired from baseball to concentrate on a steadier career as a high school teacher and coach. Harrison started the season with teammates he barely knew and didn't much care to have. I got down there a little bummed about not going to the big leagues so I figured well Baltimore's got a great team and if I do well who knows and who knew why another pitcher was even pitching.

Probably my second favorite Redwing all time was Freddy bean and I think anybody that was a wrestling fan back in the late 60s early 70s has a fun spot in his heart for Freddy Bean a little guy about 5 foot 9 tremendous gots great competitor great curve ball didn't throw very fast. But in the 171 season he had it just a dead arm his arm was killing him. And as matter of fact there was a traded up and the team they traded him to send him back because he was damaged goods. They never fully diagnosed him but I was trying to ligament in my album and it was extremely painful but I was I was done quite well and in the pain category. And I would take enough. Pain killers so to weather the storm. And. I didn't actually her out there pitching but it was always a I don't know if I can be able to go out there. Dead arms injuries nothing mattered in the second half of that season. Once they caught fire they became a hive a ball club. At any tame blue game night ever broadcast in my life it was the kind of streak that inspires

superstition you that's it. I remember DEC in the same way home in the same way here when I was managing I drive the same route no doubt. And along the way they had some fun. Probably shouldn't say to me plays a very with it general we had barges that are ours but we played real hard on the field when a lot of games we played hard off the field that was part of the legend of the team that we had but we were all ready to play the next day and we didn't do anything bad that out we were just young 21 22 year old guys you know 21 is what it was it was the kind of season that help second baseman Ron Shelton fill in some of the holes in a movie you later write and direct. There's a scene in Boulder where the manager threw the bats in the shower that happened with another manager not drop a volley but he said he thought it was a good idea. We all hope that the season season that I mean. Everybody loves playing here and frankly I get so wrapped up into it. It was almost end of August I was and this is it. You know I don't want to say that.

ANNOUNCER Joe Cullinane wondered if Hughes life would end when the Wings wrapped up the pennant in Richmond. They had already begun a celebration and the team's coach Pete Ward held me up side down under a shower and I kept hoping that grip would wrong and that I I have a hard head but that I wouldn't go down. The drama on the field continued deep into the playoffs. The wings edged past Syracuse in Tidewater to meet the Denver bears in the little World Series scheduling conflicts forced all seven potential games to be played at silver. Our fans gave them a standing ovation for seven straight evenings. We introduced each ball club every evening that we play and every evening that the Denver club was introduced our fans gave them a standing ovation. With the wings up three games to two Baltimore made a difficult wildly unpopular decision. Sliding badly but still in first place.

The Orioles called up the eventual Minor League Player of the year enjoyability called me into the locker room after the fifth game. And he said the Orioles want to call you up. And said we have is that we got just one game to go all we do is win win one more game it's all over. He said I'm sorry you got to go up right now. Rich did go to the Orioles and Wings lost the next game sending the series and the season to one last effort. Freddy Bean was a starting pitcher and he had nothing. I mean they were hitting rockets against him all night but he hung in there got a key hit to keep the rally going broke up a double play at second base and when they took him out in the summer he got the probably the biggest standing ovation I've ever seen or I would get. That drama was lost on the diehard fan Don Del Wayne sat next to that night. You're talking about I happen to have gotten a ticket to that game because it was sold out. When the game started and about the second picture the game ball was fouled back and right straight back and this lady right square

in the face backed her out. And he was taken away from that game and never got to see the finality. Fred being watched the finish of the game through the holes in the back of his cap Bobby Griffin heard about it in the on deck circle of Yankee Stadium has come about a turnaround going on Dexter look up on the scoreboard right center in the said the International League champions Rochester Redwings just defeat the ginger bears 9 to 6 in the in the last game to win four out of seven games so I you know I was I was thrilled to see that score on the scoreboard. It was a season that ended with one last surprise. Five hundred sixty nine of them actually. But Joe Cullinane he read the next morning over his coffee about how the players had voted split the shares of the playoff money. But as I go down the list I think my own name I am flabbergasted. I almost fell off my chair at the breakfast table. And I was voted on. Happy they are.

Baseball in Rochester has changed over 170 years. The rule places the players are all different but at a certain level the colors are just the same. In our neighborhood we had an all black team. They had an all German team they had all a tag team. But there always was time to want to be out there could be play not. I managed a team and I had a couple of tags and I know that didn't make a bit. They could play ball. It wasn't hard for Charles Frazier and Louis Bracy to find people of their own skin tone to play with or against. It was almost impossible to see anyone like them to root for at Red Wing stadium that was the way of things we want to do. We put up for pooch and Nellie and specs of course and all those players there so we never thought of that. Why are we there. The only exception came when Negro League teams came to the stadium to play against local semi-pros Les Harrison took a summer detour away from basketball to bring in the best of black baseball

while they were welcomed at the stadium. Housing was another matter. On at least one occasion Harrison found room for a team at a main street mortuary. We were cleaning the anybody would take them. Nobody took them any place. Very few. A new record from about an hour hold will memorable players game here. Josh Gibson called the black Babe Ruth buck Leonard and Satchel Paige Tommy Castle a Hall of Fame softball player whose first love was hardball stood in once against Paige Satchel had gotten the scouting report on Castle's power. So when I got up the bat he threw me to fair and I I knew he was going to throw me a fastball he threw me too fast and I didn't even see him lie and then the last pick she threw me was it over my head and I said look I can see this I said I'm going to get it and I won and I swung at the damn thing and I grounded out to him at least I can say well I I I hit set the pace. There were plenty of reasons to see Negro League exhibitions. White players made out routinely

black players made them a show. You take a team like the Birmingham Barish got there they had to have a fella called rocking chair basket. He caught the ball in the chair. But you on first try to steal on him. Yeah the check of the way of things changed in 1906 when the Montreal royals came to town and you know when you thought you know he was something special. Robinson for fans of every color to realize what baseball had been missing for so many years is daring his success but a painful spotlight on what prejudice meant still to fully appreciate Robinson as a pioneer and an athlete. It helps to know a little about baseball. Take for instance the two older women who sat near Louis bracing for the dagger rather than just go first to second. Oh yeah gravity of all the hard times he had to get everybody to go around the limb bases anyone alive during the 1040s probably

remembers that Aquinas played football against other big league high school and prep plant teams from Texas Maryland Michigan even Boy's Town flew here to play at Silver and the thing I remember they had the bleachers and we sat out and left right field in center field and that's where I sat. Fewer people remember when there was no football and city high schools. Weren't primo remembers. He spent one thousand thirty eight a cook Academy in Montour falls getting ready to play football. There were no schools playing football at that time. And I did hear before I went to cook that rock just who was going to participate in playing football and they were trying to enter do is put back in Rochester after thirty nine years. Freeman returned to West High in 1039. He was one of the few dozen All-Stars picked to help determine the fate of football a fate that would be played out at Red Wing stadium.

Our coach Coach Brown he he brought that to our attention to be gentlemen at all times because we were going to be the shining stars so they could have put. We played three times and the first time that I went out of Theo I do believe there was almost 9000 people in that stadium at that time. And. The cheers. When when the team the east and west team out on the field. People just applauded it. It. Put chills up your head. It did mine in their way. It's tough to find anyone who's worked at Silver stadium longer than Harold Chinese which. Time he's been doing this since 1940. Through all of that time he doesn't think anything other than

management has changed all that much. I mean you had good management. And something that stinks. Believe me when I tell you really there's a rueful smile on Tony's face when he admits that the money out of the ballpark lets time spent away from his late wife and their children. But I know you know and help them go through. Oh every one of my even my grandchildren are all college graduates and last summer I met. A few of the people who worked at Silver stadium in upper left wealthy Leon Berman might have earned as much as two dollars a day as a vendor when he started in 1909. He was hawking peanuts and popcorn. Graduating later the cigars and cigarettes cigars was a big seller. Oh sure especially in a bar she's sure there were more if half for France and the cigars were bigger in the face of the true masters who I remember Alex the cat he started his long career at the stadium working the crowd noise a shout you get your you have your popcorn Cracker Jacks you know.

You've made money but you had to hustle down Del Wayne spent a summer hustling suds up and down the stadiums the piles when we got down to the last bottle. Somebody down the line and a boy is it mere cold. I'd say yes to all beer here but when I snapped off the tab we had to take the top off and poured into a cup pass it down to the customer. I made sure I got my dollar first. And I'd snap the pappa. And. Add on the 90 degree July day after being shaken up and down those stairs. I can support that ballast in your day oh 10 customers. Down through the roof it's a it's a tough job for a little money. A combination of makes you wonder about all of those who have ever done it. I don't know if I sold on a lot of beer made in those days because I was too busy laps in the bog and couldn't get out of the way wait I can't see the game. Cold beer.

Is an accountant in real life. A pitcher with some pop left in his bag at this fantasy camp. He's also the wings official score a job that helps meet the needs of a love that's grown since his father started bringing him to games in the 40s. One of my earliest recollections was pointing up to the hearse and wondering what went on up in the rough and then who is to think that for twenty four years I'd be up there doing the games I was always mystified what people did up stairs now I know very little. They do pay the school. But often not enough to bear the grief of players on happy with the ruling. At first start the Sensei's it was my biggest enemy it seemed that every ball was either. A sun storm would hit them on a ground ball or a dust storm or the ball hit in the copter or it was always something it was never his play it was always his view of the laces had broken. John Clements at your last week in the early 80s on the home broadcast team getting paid to go to a baseball game is the best of all worlds. Life was good in Rochester New York when you go to a ballgame

have free food free drinks. Enjoy the ballgame. No the ball players know the people in fast box and on top of all that get paid for it. Even to this day I have my very first rattling paycheck that I ever received. And he spares you know spent most of his professional life as a city policeman. The rest of it came as head of security at the stadium to the players in the rowdy years of the Gasthaus gang and he was something of a father confessor. Sometimes I used to give him a little talking to a better place without him as a place but. I have to tell a guy that you know you follow the drinking and everything else with it but you know you get it you get to play your game a lot of getting in the right arm is it to be a baseball player was you know made exactly one arrest. You know all of his years at Silver an obstinate profane man found himself in handcuffs and later banned from the park until he could behave like a gentleman. So years go by probably eight or nine years later a friend of mine

comes up to me that Andy remember the guy you arrested that time and brought him in it. Yeah. Can he come back to the ballpark. So how is that a lasting effect. Postal wanted to play ball professionally but thanks for the curveball. He now plays the stadium organ. Well I tell you something about baseball the fans are great. We could be down 15 to two. We get to base hits and get a rally going and can't just jump right into it. They're loyal Yeah that's not too hard to motivate. When he wasn't using between the mock arena or a mambo I saw there was something of a mother hen his sons wants bad boys positons. I mean we got in the morning and find one teacher I might in my front room you know pitch in the other bedroom and another ball player sitting out in the backyard sleeping so my wife got to go and I cook for George Zimmer saw the romance of the stadium fade quickly one afternoon when the groundskeeper hired him to trim the grass surrounding the outfield fence

with a pair of pants years well you can imagine was it but that was like I got a word through our right center field and by then my home was full of blisters and I just bought headed with the heat busters. That was the end of Plymouth dribbling stadium. Ever wondered what it took to change a light bulb it's over. All you had to do was ask Elmer flack. How do you do that. Well I often wonder that too I mean he climb those light towers which were I believe hundred ten feet to the base one hundred twenty five feet to the top of them. I use the Grover after now to help them once in a while unbeknown to the union. Titled light bulbs on the roll going after reclaim the towers would if you could change the light bulb during the game. Ted Leonhardt wrote a few boring dollars waiting in parking lots to retrieve foul balls or home runs on a few magical days. He got sent to the roof. It's a great place to be and it was almost like I was a star you know and when a ball

got a foul ball going to hit back there who did they see. I shall be running for the ball you know. In 1055 Lenhart went the extra step and entered the batboy contest. I was not an outgoing person and I had to do was write a essay and out of that essay they picked like a finalist. I guess if I had known that those eight fine lines tend to go to me right and dinner and make the speech I probably wouldn't have responded much to his relief. LEONHARDT came in third. Franklin Sr. Bob Payton won the job with his essay about the emotional and moral benefits of baseball. It's an essay he has never regretted writing. Never. Never because it was probably one of the greatest experiences I ever had. Another other Stu but that was one of the greatest experiences I've ever had and I think over remember that for the rest of my life. The bad boy has some obvious duties taking care of equipment running errands maybe even helping during batting

practice. You can also catch a little good natured ribbing back then. You know this cute girl was in the stands and I struck up a relationship with her and the players are always kidding me about you know my having my head in the stands instead of my mind on what I was supposed to be doing out on the field. And finally here's a test for trivia buffs who was Prince's Red Wing and what did she do in 1968. She was Bonnie Galloway Princess Redwing was the mascot for the team at the time. And she was supposed to be the creator of kids walk around. Shake hands sign autographs and promotion days. I was the one who draw the winning numbers so people loved me and would come up and ask me please pick this number please pick that number and I had no control. Who was the best manager to step through a dugout at Silver stadium. I have to say the happiest.

That's easy. He was the one who wasn't. Earl Weaver more about him in a minute but let's talk about the people who really did the job. The oldest fans have good reason to be called Billy Southworth who coached what may have been the best team in Rochester's long baseball history somewhat less successful but equally popular was Harry Walker better known as Harry the half because every time he got up to bail up he would consciously step out of the batter's box where doctors have command of the foot and he would drive picture absolutely wild. Most of the time we talk the walk out of the booker or book with her with throwing over a plate just to get it over with. George band traveled with a team in the 50s covering even spring training in Florida. Perry Walker would knock on my door at 4 o'clock in the morning with three of his redneck friends from Alabama and say you got me bear band also got to know Harry successor his brother. Pixi water little Lottie couldn't remember names and he left his luggage down a couple airplanes had some trouble in there and I said why don't

these people speak English you know. Cal Ripken Sr. spent two seasons here giving way to the belly arguably the best and certainly the most popular coach in recent history. But for sheer force of personality there's only one name that needs to be mentioned. I remember saying Earl Weaver kind of checking walking out to talk umpire went out like I'm cold and you know something was going to test explode. Earl Weaver always looked like you Castillo. He would give you a little short sort of dumpy had he had a face that sort of said you know I'm going to I'm going to cause some trouble. And I honestly think there were weavers ultimate goal was to come across as a world class pain in the ass and I think he achieved it. You know you know about the time you picked up third baseman to get into the clubhouse when they couldn't finish the game. Told Lee talked them out of putting it back and he did that down in Albany or someplace.

We were short career in Rochester impressed more than the beleaguered umpires on his first exhibition visit back with the Orioles. He had stepped without enthusiasm onto the field for his introduction and then all of a sudden one of those moments came when everything went quiet. The P.A. shut down the beer vendor stab Tyler in the crowd going quiet no wind and out of across the field out of the stands floated this stand tore him deep clear voice and the words were Weaver. You're still bomb. Which brings us back to the man who would be Weaver. I got to tell you a story of a little boy came up to my father and wanted his autograph said he was or a weaver. My father says I'm not or a Weaver says yes you are. Says I'm not. So he went back to his father the little boy and said that's not all Wever are the five there ran up to my father and said You're a

waiver saying that. So my father signed it he signed it. Earl Weaver lookalike Rusk Ogger. And even before Weaver and his animated bluster came to town Gallagher matched him in personality. Oh yeah oh yeah. Definitely. He was like him in every way. Turn they head around kick the dirt. Four letter words coming out of his mouth oh yeah. Earl met his mirror one special day. My father was excited all day about it we all got down early and one zero appeared and I saw my father shake his hands. I mean if he was the pass waited they he would have been a happy man. When we finally did die a few years ago his children made sure he'd go to eternity a happy man. Yes as a matter of fact we buried him with an Orioles jacket. As he had a baseball and a bat. And two bottles of Johnny and his picture with arrow Weaver also. You never knew what might happen when you went to a game at silver. If your grandfather had more ham than the

average dog he might arrange to get you noticed in the newspaper. Halfway through the game I noticed somebody taking some pictures and I said Hey Grant There's a guy down there taking pictures. He says yeah don't worry about he says in a minute he'll be up interviewing us. I was like whoa man what to do now you know. But it turned out to be a fantastic afternoon and great memories till this day. Once in a great while you might offer some unwanted advice that will get a coach's attention. And I turned around and I made a big mistake I turned around and said What do you know about baseball. So every night after that for six straight seasons this guy would say out the valley What do you know about baseball. And then there's love. When you watch baseball romance may not seem to fill the air but there's the case of David and Linda and one night in 1903 each had volunteered to help raise money for Camp good days and special times. He arrived at the ballpark in a T-shirt and shorts she in a tux and top hat. Neither was allowed to help. He was underdressed she over.

And we had came with a mutual friend. So as long as we were already here and that it was a great evening and you know red rays are always a terrific team we decided that we would just sit down and watch the game. So David offered to share a bag of peanuts with me and Linda bought a Coke or a Pepsi or whatever it was and we shared the peanuts drank the coke and watched a great ball game. After that we became very very good friends. And after we became very good friends we got to like each other. And then we kind of loved each other once in a million never happen again. Already have. This is what happened when Gary ditched a job interview and Lori skipped school. One circle of friends met another on opening day. She sat next to him. And before you knew it there was shoving cake in each other's face. This mess went back to the stadium on their wedding day to take a picture in front of Morrie's plaque Kang the general manager happened to be there and wanted to know what we were doing we told him and he said why don't you go out in the field.

It led to a problem most people don't have on the pitcher's mound. You fret about dirt. That was my main concern was dragging that train through. You know down the first baseline and over on to the mound. One postscript the Smiths came home from their honeymoon as newlyweds and guests of honor. It isn't often that love leads to throwing out the first pitch. It was an incredible feeling it was it was special very special that the general manager went there for us. We asked at the beginning what's in a stadium but what was in the name. Why silver stadium. Maurice Silver is the reason thanks to him. Local baseball fans will go on seeing games at a stadium that doesn't bear his name. Maury Mario is the prince Maury you're the fellow that didn't want credit for anything more you know he started out selling newspapers on the street corner money on the music shop he was a very successful businessman. He loved baseball I just loved it. He was hooked on baseball.

Baseball is ultimately a business when the cardinals chose to change the way they did business. Rochester faced a quick decision come up with the cash to buy the team and the stadium or lose baseball perhaps forever. I had a paper route at the time and I decided I was going to go out try to save the team and we. I sold it so close to a thousand dollars worth of $10 shares of going door to door here in this neighborhood and and my family and another friend who said next to me at school he started doing it too and he sold it to three hundred. So between us we had well over a thousand dollars and we did. We just did it just to try to save the team and they put us on the front page of the paper. The stock drive needed every paper boy and girl scout. But at its heart it needed a leader. Carl Heller went to his friend Maurice silver. Just malty organized the whole thing without them we would have all baseball for the last 20 or 30 years. So it was something that you say hey we're going to have baseball. We got an opportunity.

We're going to see whether we can get enough money to buy the franchise. When he approached people when they began this campaign the response was just so overwhelming. You know they they probably could have bought a major league team that was just that you know it was just in people's hearts to do something for baseball and I still today talked to are many of those original shareholders and their feeling for the club hasn't won gold in all this time. More help save the team again when the cardinals pulled out for good help switch affiliations to Baltimore and made sure Rochester had good teams to watch. He learned the game and he was brilliant. You know he went to winter meetings and learned about players and he thought the Scouts and he talked to General Managers and he negotiated for talent. By the late 60s declining health sets over into retirement and down to Florida he returned in August of 1998 received a singular honor. Unlike many stadiums today he didn't buy the right to have his name on the wall.

Here and. It certainly was the most emotional. Thing that I've ever seen my father. I had never seen my father go through you know if it meant more to him than anyone could imagine that this honor was being bestowed upon him. I don't know if I understood the magnitude of it but certainly you know through the years it's certainly has come to mean a whole lot to me. The fans of Rochester baseball before 1970 have friendly disagreements about the best players teams or games. They'll argue the virtues of red hots or white or the best place to sit while eating those dogs. There is no argument about who Rochester's biggest fan wants in 1929 right through 1970. You had to have heard of Red Smith you get here all over the spot. They had one of those voices that was Bowman I remember Red I remember him very much. Well he used to come around and raise. Rates how I mean get to the folks that

share a regiment. He was a cheerleader there and I remember him with presents when I first when he was in his 70s and so was that old guy with a cane in the white cap in the white hair and the booming voice and that was Red Smith and he used to lead cheers. And the one thing I do remember is him given money all the time the little kids. All the time. VALLIERE dollar there. I remember that vividly and I very seldom get allowance so we always knew Reg was going to be at the state himself I could get over in France. I knew I had some food money. Does he pass now quarters and dollars and as a child watching wrestling at the very first time I saw him scared the daylights out of me because I thought he was a wild man. And when my father told me what that man was doing and the cheers that he had you could as the slowest baseball game going you could have had zero to zero the bottom ninth and nothing is happening and the red would come along and give the chant and give the yelling get the people gone. It was a great.

Victory Joseph Red Smith was born in early August of 1885 in Utica. He grew up in an orphanage spent time as a farmer and as a professional foot racer. Before serving in World War One. Most people in Rochester first saw him at baseball games. But if you like any sport here you probably ran into red. It was kind of a roughneck. He was a downtown guy he was out there all of fights and all the ball games and football games he just came up because he loved he could stir up a crowd. You know both born boys. Track I remember Red Head Island Time Agency. In times of Genesee Valley Park and he was to introduce the batteries for some my pro baseball games which was which was quite a big deal in the in the 30s 30s during the Depression. He was a ring announcer when boxing was a big thing in Rochester and he kind of fancied himself as a modern day Harry Ballo who used to be the public address announcer for many heavyweight

championship fights in New York. I used to see him down an edge in a park at a wrestling match as he walked right in the door and never say anything to happen in the front seat. He's quite a character. Wherever you heard him you paid attention. All he just stand up and start yelling and you know let's go wings or people want to cheer let's go let's you know really on let's go let's go and all let's go for the Red Wings you know we need raises arms and he said let's get going for the Red Wings let's cheer for the Red Wings and he'd walk around and go back and forth and he'd get everybody really. Charged up there for a guy who used to come around with his cane in the end as in his remaining years and he was just start walking and everybody yelling red red and he'd say come on come on let's really let's rally. Everybody knew and I I don't think he had an enemy in the world. Never knew much about him but I just remember him so well for a person so public.

Few people knew the private red wound up working in a almight blackjack parlor. He will go for you know go get a coffee and sandwiches for the players when the deal is done one thing about his personal life. I don't think I think it was sort of a lone bachelor Heidi Jones got to know him after agent Rob read of everything but his voice and he told me a little bit about his history that he was from odd known here within the city of five just to get to baseball and then he gave me his Shia and His Will Rob how he did that and. That was it I was hooked. Red made himself on welcome at several homes and spent his last years at Monroe Community Hospital. Players visit him there from time to time. He'll be sitting there he looked kind of old and withered go when he started talking about body just got energized. He wasn't. A much talk about. Red Smith was the one that talked. Then there was the old days Sam. The old times. And. Why was the

stadium that named after him he deserved it. Those results provided the strongest clue to why anyone would spend all that energy in all those games over so many years. I think he liked the limelight. He said I like good people did pay attention. She's you know I think it was just for Ali. I don't think that he would get my money right. How do you know her family were the only people to help celebrate Red's 90th birthday baking him a homemade burger and some baked goods. You don't one bite from his hamburger and that we know Heidi. Thank you. No more. And no cake. He just said there was enough Red Smith died alone 23 days later. A few short hours after his beloved wings were thrashed the mud had his passing was little noted and sparsely attended. His ex-wife with whom he may or may not have had children did not come as pall bearers were Joelle to belly wings general manager at

Barnard and four players. For someone who had so many people pay attention to them. It was lonesome and. At its beginning and long past its middle age. Silver was a palace. Some called it the Taj Mahal of minor league stadiums. The four hundred fifteen thousand dollars used to build it in 1929 were well spent right through the seventies. Outside or in it was a special place to go but time age weather and newer ballparks caught up to it. Even a multimillion dollar facelift couldn't restore it to being the envy of the league. And so the place we saw baseball the field echoed with music the temporary temple with billboards came to its end. How would you write its epitaph. What are your silver memories. Silver stadium is the most sand friendly baseball stadium I've been in in a long long time. The well manicured fields

the euro close to the action. It's just an amazing feeling of just being out there you're pumped up. The great thing about soever stadium also is its irregular dimensions and it's a short porch in right field which means that at any moment ago a wind blown fly could go out and in the game could turn around so you never felt the game was over. There's a real low spot right field when it rains everything rolls in that we played a lot of games with the right field ballplayers and their feet and ankles under water. One of the things that I'm going to miss. At Red Wing stadium we're so overheated is walking through all the cinder parking lot from invariably ending up with a pub or a fender in your shoe. Oh sure of myself and I got a lot of good memories of that state. This stadium was the most beautiful minor league baseball park I had ever laid eyes on but feel is so impressive now that perfect

landscaping perfect green emerald field. I love silver stadium I went down there and worked there went down there as a fan and I'll miss overstated and I think it's a wonderful it's a very beautiful state it's very unique. It's got a lot of special memories for me. So overall as they know the old the grass on the great billboards in the outfield and the steel construction and it just it's what I think of as a as a baseball field. When I began going to Silver stadium was one of the finest ballparks in the country including the major leagues. It was the next morning for some of the Fords kind and this is a truly great ballpark for me and I've been around a while I played 17 years and I've been in baseball there was that. Part of minor league parks go this is the classic. I still think it's a beautiful serviceable medium but I think at times it's like the guy at first party loves a car but there comes a time in life where you have to find the car and.

It's time for us. I feel I would have lost the crown. To me the greatest memories not to put the stadium down but the greatest memories of the people that occupied that stadium there the the pets the things that you remember forever. We went through generations. Your father took you there. My father took me there. I took one of my first dates ever there to Silver stadium. It's home the neighborhood is home time. It feels just you know it feels right to come here. And that'll be sad to me. I mean I love this ballpark. If you'd like a copy of this program send 1995 to WXXI. Post Office Box

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