Great line about 20 fans at Ebbets Field. In '60 or '61 a group turned out a reported 1100 for a Hofstra game w/ the chance of winning ball signed by Larry Bernarth and other offers from that great STJ team. The campus was relatively new and the students would respond to almost anything promised a good time. Unfortunately, the game was rained out before it started and a large portion of the crowd diverted to Sam's for 15 cent beers. I had about a half dozen of the baseballs and they all disappeared over the following weeks. I wish I had one for the Athletic Dept, collection today.
Coach Kaiser
- Thread starter jerseyshorejohnny
- Start date
JackofVirginia
Active member
Larry Bearnarth was one of my best friends. During the summer months he would play on my Queens Alliance Baseball team along with many other St.John's players. Being from Staten Island Larry would spend sometime at our house. He didn't have much of a fastball but the Mets did some job teaching him how to mix up his pitches. A great guy.
beast of the east
Active member
What team did you play for in the Queens Alliance? I played in the old Queens Nassau league for the Jamaica Victorians. I remember the Ozone Park Dukes but not many other teams. We played at Franklin K lane, some field on Jamaica Avenue in Cypress Hills that in the early 1900s had a stadium, and a few other places around the borough
JackofVirginia
Active member
I coached and played for our sponsor the Spartan Restaurant team in the Queens Alliance. Another year we were the Maspeth Indians. In fact Gene Bonnebeau, head scout for the N.Y.Giants. got me the Johnstown Giants uniforms . (One of their farm clubs from Pa)
Sal, the Queens Alliance was a semi pro league. We played against teams such as the Long Island City A's, coached by Bill Penny. Another team I remember was the Greenpoint Indians. This league allowed you to sign ex minor leaguers. Meyer's Chevrolet and Avignon Pharmacy were also part of the Q.A.
Prior to playing semi pro ball I also played in the Queens Nassau League. If I am not mistaken Mr. Hank Hasel, who ran a sports shop in Jamaica, was in charge of the Q. N. League. Don't remember the Jamaica Victorians but do remember the Ozone Park Dukes because I no hit them once. Was the field you referred to Dexter Park? Memories.
beast of the east
Active member
Jack, thanks for the response. I'll take it to PMs because it's veered off the course of Jack Kaiser. The park I was thinking of is Highland Park, which is in Cypress Hills. Impressive that you no hit the Dukes, Jack. They were virtually a HS all-star team in the years I played. Both the Queens Nassau League and the Queens Alliance received a lot of exposure in the Long Island Press. I played in the QN league until I was 18, where the coach was a guy named Bernie Giarraputo. I think the QA team was coached by a guy named Joe Hade or Hague. I know that if I continued playing I would have played for the QA team. I don't remember it being semi-pro at the time but could be mistaken. This was around 1973 or so
Someone bring us back to Jack and where he stands on health today. Baseball guys love the old days and Mr. Kaiser would relish the reminiscences of the guys who played on the Island in the "old Days", They were his buddies, his recruits, his friends, and, today, his admirers.
How's he dooin' ?
How's he dooin' ?
JackofVirginia
Active member
:http://redmen.com/media/kunena/emoticons/tongue.pn
:cheer: Spoke to Jack today and received good news. He sounded great this afternoon, in fact he has returned to his office at St.John's for at least three days a week. I didn't realize that Jack had gone blind in one eye after his hospital visit. Still needs our prayers. He and his wife will be at the garden on Wednesday.