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Post by dyf7 on Apr 26, 2023 9:26:10 GMT -5
Another one off the wall for Left.
Have you ever met anyone who happened to be a relative of any past Bomber?
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Post by Lefteroo on Apr 26, 2023 11:18:02 GMT -5
No, Rip, I don't believe I have. Unless you count Knuckles' being Whitey Ford's cousin!! (He isn't.)
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Post by dyf7 on Apr 26, 2023 11:49:17 GMT -5
No, Rip, I don't believe I have. Unless you count Knuckles' being Whitey Ford's cousin!! (He isn't.) Ok thanks, no problem, took a wild shot and came up empty this time.....
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Post by dyf7 on Apr 26, 2023 11:51:07 GMT -5
No, Rip, I don't believe I have. Unless you count Knuckles' being Whitey Ford's cousin!! (He isn't.) I also had asked a question on your last post from page 4....
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Post by Lefteroo on Apr 26, 2023 11:53:54 GMT -5
Glad you asked, Rip. No, I never met or had any connection with Sandy Koufax. But my close friend Rabbi Bruce, whom I have referenced on BTB many times, did in fact correspond with Koufax and has an autographed ball signed by Sandy. Rabbi Bruce, as you might recall, is a huge Chisox fan originally from Chicago. He was rabbi at my synagogue for 29 years, but retired about two years ago. We are still in close touch, and I can ask him about the Koufax contact. Hey Left, ever get a chance to ask Bruce about Sandy? I will have to ask him to discuss it with me again. We talked about it many years ago, and I can't remember the story exactly.
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Post by dyf7 on Sept 19, 2023 18:01:56 GMT -5
Ok Left, been quiet in here too long.
This thought, or question, occured to me. At what age did you become a certified died in the NY Wool, Yankee fan, if you have a distinct memory of it.
I know for me, it occured sometime after the 64 season (a year I kept up with them and followed the World Series), but before the 65 season. 65 (age 10-11) was the first year I was more than just an observer, and found myself in the deliriously happy clutches of Yankee fandom, hooked for life.
But anyway, what say you.
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Post by Norkee on Sept 20, 2023 9:57:49 GMT -5
Ok Left, been quiet in here too long. This thought, or question, occured to me. At what age did you become a certified died in the NY Wool, Yankee fan, if you have a distinct memory of it. I know for me, it occured sometime after the 64 season (a year I kept up with them and followed the World Series), but before the 65 season. 65 (age 10-11) was the first year I was more than just an observer, and found myself in the deliriously happy clutches of Yankee fandom, hooked for life. But anyway, what say you. If I may add a somewhat related question for Lefty -- and I believe he has addressed this i in the past -- how did you become a Yankee fan, seeing as how your dad was a die hard Giants fan? (Did you once say that of your brother, too?) Were you a rebellious child? I assume Ripper got there by way of national coverage in the era of The Mick, but is there a story there too, Rip?
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Post by dyf7 on Sept 20, 2023 12:59:49 GMT -5
Ok Left, been quiet in here too long. This thought, or question, occured to me. At what age did you become a certified died in the NY Wool, Yankee fan, if you have a distinct memory of it. I know for me, it occured sometime after the 64 season (a year I kept up with them and followed the World Series), but before the 65 season. 65 (age 10-11) was the first year I was more than just an observer, and found myself in the deliriously happy clutches of Yankee fandom, hooked for life. But anyway, what say you. If I may add a somewhat related question for Lefty -- and I believe he has addressed this i in the past -- how did you become a Yankee fan, seeing as how your dad was a die hard Giants fan? (Did you once say that of your brother, too?) Were you a rebellious child? I assume Ripper got there by way of national coverage in the era of The Mick, but is there a story there too, Rip? Living in Oregon with no MLB anywhere nearby, I began, at age 9, to take note of the Yankees in 63-64, yes mainly because of The Mick and Rajah, but something spiritual? clicked in at some point after the 64 season, hard to pin point or explain, but I became rabidly devoted to Yankee Baseball and began to eat, drink and breathe it non stop, even during the soon to arrive years of World Series slump, didn't matter, followed everything about the team as best I could back then, constantly bought all the baseball magazines and the Sporting News, again, obsession lol, but I loved it.
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Post by Lefteroo on Sept 21, 2023 22:32:51 GMT -5
I will reply to these questions next week. Very grateful that you have asked, Rip and Norkee. Plan on my making a reply on Tuesday - if I don't put one up, please remind me.
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Post by Lefteroo on Sept 26, 2023 14:42:37 GMT -5
OK, time to reply. I was actually away this weekend (in the Bronx!!!), and yesterday was Yom Kippur - but now I'm ready to respond.
I became a Yankee fan in 1956. I'm sure I watched games all season long on TV, but the first game I can vividly remember watching was Game 6 of the 1956 World Series. I got home from school in time to see the 10th inning, and the Dodgers beat us 1-0 on a walk-off single by Jackie Robinson. I was so disappointed, and I hatched a plot to stay home from school the next day so I could watch Game 7. I successfully convinced my mom that I had a sore throat, and I got to watch the entire game, a laugher which we won 9-0. I'm proud of the fact that I pulled that off even though I had not yet reached age 7!
Norkee has asked how did I become a Yankee fan when my father was a huge Giant fan and basically hated the Yankees, which is a fabulous question. Here's the key - I had three brothers, two of them were half-brothers who were significantly older than my twin brother and me. Their father had died at an early age, and my mom re-married. It was my father's only marriage. They decided to try for one more child, and they got twins! Now my older brothers were both big Yankee fans. So I rooted for both the Yankees and the Giants. My first game ever was when my Dad took me to the Polo Grounds on May 4, 1957 to see the Giants host the Redlegs. Cincy won, 5-2, on a very cold day. I can go into great detail about that game here , but won't in this post.
My first trip ever to Yankee Stadium was on September 4. 1957, to see the Yankees host the Red Sox. My oldest brother, Eli, and his then-fiancee (Renni - they ultimately were married for 56 years), took my twin brother and me to see this one. More details later on this one, too.
But to further discuss Norkee's question, I continued rooting for both teams (Yankees always harder) until the Mets came to town, when I saw no reason to root any longer for the Giants. My twin brother followed my father's lead and hated the Yankees with more passion than my father ever had. It's a shame that we could not share a rooting interest in the Bombers.
BTW, I was in the Bronx this weekend for a wedding - Eli's granddaughter got married at the New York Athletic Club in Pelham! So I was back in the Bronx due in a way to Eli and Renni!
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Post by dyf7 on Sept 26, 2023 18:48:01 GMT -5
Great stuff Left.
It's like a turning, twisting Lefteroo family NY Baseball Soap Opera!
So glad the right Team picked you, just like me.
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Post by Lefteroo on Sept 29, 2023 10:33:30 GMT -5
Truly grateful the wedding was last weekend and not this. It rained all weekend when we were up there, but not for the drive up on Friday. This weekend would probably not have been do-able, and at best would have been most unpleasant. The rains in NY this weekend sound awful.
We stayed at an AirBnB in New Rochelle - nice house, really conveniently located. The wedding was at the NYAC in Pelham, right at the top of the Bronx. Nice ceremony and lovely reception - choice of sea bass or filet for entree.
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Post by dyf7 on Oct 9, 2023 18:38:03 GMT -5
Left, did you ever play any Little League, Babe Ruth, Legion, or anything like that as a youngster?
I played all three of the ones I mentioned.
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Post by Lefteroo on Oct 11, 2023 11:35:54 GMT -5
No, Rip, I never played any organized ball as a kid. I was in various softball leagues (slow-pitch) as an adult. I loved playing since I didn't play in my youth. I was a pretty good fielder (outfield/first base), and I surprised myself as a hitter - no power, but a decent OBP.
There were a bunch of kids in my neighborhood, and we played choose-up teams almost every day in the summer.
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