“8”: Center Field in New York, 1951–1957

By Louis Saulino

At the onset of the 1951 season, the NY Yankees were the defending Major League Champions having captured their second straight title. They were led by their future Hall Of Fame center fielder, Joe DiMaggio. The Brooklyn Dodgers were developing one of the most formidable teams in baseball and were blessed with one Edwin Duke Snider, an All Star center fielder entering his prime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 12, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465307248

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Louis Saulino.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2011961063

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-4653-0723-1

                Softcover        978-1-4653-0722-4

                Ebook             978-1-4653-0724-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

106668

Contents

Introduction

Chapter I The Book Report

1

2

3

4

Chapter II 1951: It Started with DiMaggio

1

2

3

Chapter III Commerce Comet 1 and Duke 1

1

2

3

4

5

Chapter IV Mantle’s Griffith Shot

1

2

Chapter V 1954: The Say Hey Kid Returns

1

2

3

4

Chapter VI 1955: Duke or Willie? A Vote For …

1

2

Chapter VII 1956: Triple Crown

1

2

3

4

Chapter VIII 1957: Let’s Talk MVP

1

2

3

3

Chapter IX The Baseball Maze

1

2

3

Chapter X A+ from Sister Marie Angela

1

2

3

4

Chapter XI Much More Than Friends

1

2

Bibliography

Author’s Notes:

For Marc and Scott, and a special thank you to Willie, Mickey and Duke.

Introduction

I was born at home in the toilet. My mom had been partially correct. It was #2, but #2 son, not what others may perceive as the result of a normal sitting on the throne. I made it even though I was only four and a half pounds and had yet to learn the back stroke. That was 1949 in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of the five Boroughs of New York City.

The three story brick residential house on 83rd St. just south of Northern Boulevard was originally owned by my grandmother, and later willed to my mom. One of the major settings of 8 Centerfield in New York, 1951 – 1957 takes place in the basement of this house. By the way, I cheated a little bit in the Book. I was actually only eight years old in 1957. However, I needed the three major characters to be thirteen so I could tell my own eighth grade stories as if they had occurred in 1957. The stories told in the Book were principally from my 8th grade school year, the fall of 1961 into the spring of 1962.

Jackson Heights was a great place to grow up. The neighborhood was a melting pot of Americans from Italian, Irish, Polish, German, Hungarian, Spanish, Chinese, and other descents. Catholics, Protestants, and Jews all lived together in harmony. I was the Italian American kid who went to Catholic School, St. Joan of Arc, a five minute walk from my house. One of the three protagonists, Lou Marciano, the Italian American character, was for the most part, me.

Baseball was my first addiction. I followed the family tradition; my dad and older brother were both fans of the Bronx Bombers. My dad’s favorite Yankees were Italian; Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and of course, the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio. My brother, John, got hooked on Mickey Mantle. Mickey became my idol also. Looking for his baseball card every year became a passion. Coming home from school on a day that the Yankees had played an afternoon game was cause for two questions to be asked. Did the Yanks win? What did the Mick do?

Willie Mays was the favorite player of several of my friends. When I was growing up, that was the real debate, Mickey vs. Willie. After Duke left Brooklyn following the 1957 season, his career began to decline. I was just too young to have appreciated the Duke of Flatbush in his prime.

I retained a curiosity as to how Duke Snider had been acclaimed on a par with the other two guys. I decided to research it myself, that is, after forty years in the engineering profession. Hey, better late than never.

Well, I am truly glad I did. The comparisons of Mantle, Mays and Snider from 1951 to 1957 are astonishing, even more so, from 1954 to 1957. The early years were tarnished by Willie Mays induction into the Army in 1952, and missing almost two full seasons.

I was extremely fortunate to have gotten through 8 without much of a hitch. (Note: If you have ever used a scorecard, there is no reason to ask why the name 8?) The ideas were ingrained in my head but the support of my family and friends made the writing easier. I had a professional in my corner, my cousin Carole, who served in both a Publicist and general public relation capacity. In addition to my brother, my cousin, Roger, was also a baseball enthusiast and readily available to bounce ideas off of. Then to really make sure that the story was relevant, I sent copies of the first draft of the book to the old friends who formed the basis for the other two thirteen year old characters; thank you Bob Ludwig, Tom Olsinski and Joe Carriero for your valuable input.

I also have to thank Jane Leavy, author of The Last Boy; a no holds barred’ look at Mickey Mantle. I learned a thing or two about writing from Ms. Leavy. I also realized that she was an authentic and gifted writer, while my background consisted of forty years of professional experience as a civil engineer. I coined myself Lou ‘Hemingway no way’ Saulino".

I was never deterred however. I figured I knew baseball, the stories were based on my own experiences, and I was immensely enjoying doing the research on Mickey, Willie and Duke.

I am hopeful that there will be those of you who see creativity in the writing, stories which make you laugh and perhaps one which evokes a tear. I would hope these elements will overcome any deficiencies in the vocabulary and writing technique.

Chapter I

The Book Report

1

The atmosphere is glum as the good friends sit in their chairs on that Friday morning at the St. Joan of Arc School in Jackson Heights, Queens. Three thirteen-year-old boys—one Polish, one Irish, and one Italian—have a reason to be despondent. Their typical glow at seeing the strikingly pretty face of Sister Marie Angela would usually alleviate any feelings of depression, but this week has taken its toll on each of them.

Jozef Joey Kowalski had learned that it was official. Walter O’Malley is really doing it. His beloved Dodgers would definitely be leaving Brooklyn. How will I be able to watch the Duke next year? he contemplates to himself. The twelve-mile drive with his father and sister to Ebbets Field—where he often witnessed the exploits of his favorite player, Dodger center fielder Duke Snider—would be a thing of the past.

For Robert Bob Murphy, the news of the Dodgers is a rude reminder of the fate of Willie Mays and his Giants. The thought of not getting in the car with his dad for the less-than-ten-mile drive across the Harlem River into Upper Manhattan to the Polo Grounds has troubled him since August, when the Giants announced their plans to head West. I hope those assholes from San Francisco appreciate Willie, he privately deliberates.

Although Louis Lou Marciano knows that the Yankees—and therefore his favorite ballplayer, Mickey Mantle—are staying put in the Bronx, he is really upset after the Braves had just won Game 7 of the World Series and defeated his Yankees the previous day. Screw Lew Burdette and the horse he rode in on, he reflects.

And so it was on October 11, 1957. Sister Marie Angela’s eighth grade class is now in session. I am truly sorry for all you Yankee fans, she remarks, but it is time for me to discuss the most important assignment that you will have this year. I bet that you all just can’t wait.

Joey, Bob, and Lou are all sitting toward the rear of the classroom, each in close proximity to the other. They give one another the look of Yeah sure, Sister, now we can say our lives will be fulfilled.

Well, Sister Marie Angela continues, pass along these homework assignment descriptions. They illustrate what you have to do in detail. I’ll give you an overview now.

As she goes to the blackboard and picks up a piece of chalk, Lou takes out his handkerchief and loudly blows his nose, something he does just to disrupt the class. As Joey and Bob try to control their laughter, Sister Marie Angela, who has witnessed this act before, exclaims, Are the Three Stooges prepared to allow me to continue yet?

In unison, Yes, Sister is the reply.

"Your assignment is a book report, but I would surmise that it will be in much greater detail than anything you have done in the past. I want you to combine the writing techniques that we are learning in class now with extensive historical research on a topic which is of interest to you. In doing so, I would hope you will be creative in your choice of subject matter and maintain cognizance of grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

"Additionally, I will give extra credit if mathematics is integrated into the report. Review the handout. It will provide examples to what I am referring to. The report must be done in teams. Either two or three students should comprise a team. If anyone is left without having a team to work with, let me know. I’ll make arrangements to overcome that dilemma.

You can begin to discuss your teams now. I’d like to have all of the teams formed in an hour. Once you have your team in place, you can begin to discuss a topic that you would like to write about. Your homework assignment this weekend will be to pick a topic and provide me with a brief outline of the report. If you have any questions about the assignment, just come up and ask. OK then, please get started.

After ten seconds, the Joey, Bob, and Lou team is formed. The three amigos commence discussion on the selection of a topic.

What can we do that is sports related and fulfills the requirements of the report? Bob asks.

What about the Dodgers and Giants leaving New York? Joey responds.

Wow, Joey, not bad for a moron, Lou chuckles. "You guys can write about what the Dodgers and Giants mean, or should I say meant. to New York, and I can add how the Yankees will remain and hopefully fill a void for you misguided National League fans."

No way the Yankees will ever be able to fill this void for me, Bob says defiantly.

The Yankees will never overcome this loss. I’m moving to Los Angeles! adds Joey.

As all the students are talking in the classroom and forming their teams, Sister Marie Angela identifies that the report will be due right before the Christmas holidays. I won’t be assigning anything during that time, so you can all enjoy yourselves. I’ll be reading and grading your reports. I will also be checking on your progress every two weeks and will be available after class on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help any team who asks for assistance.

After an hour, all the teams are successfully created and have begun to discuss potential topics. Joey, Bob, and Lou are now really into their subject-matter selection, but the choice has a few question marks. The following conversation ensues:

Lou asks his buddies, How can we add mathematics into this report?

Joey responds, Hey, you’re the math guy of the group. I figured I would lead the writing of the report. My sister is majoring in English at Queens College, and I’m sure she will help me. Bob is the history buff, so he would be mainly responsible for the research. We all could chip in with our respective knowledge of the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees. That leaves the math angle to you, Lou.

After a momentary pause, Lou hits his friends where it hurts most. Sure, no problem, a comprehensive historical table of the Yankees playing in the World Series and comparing all of those victories to the paltry Giants and Dodgers successes would work fine.

Bob, at least, has one on his friend Joey. Well, the Giants certainly have a lot more World Series accomplishments than Dem Bums.

Joey does not find the humor in his buddy’s comments. You guys are really hilarious, but can we save the rest of your asinine remarks until the weekend? I want to see what some of the others are doing.

Yeah sure, the ‘others,’ chirps Lou. Mr. Masculinity wants to see what his heartthrob, Susan, is doing.

F-U, Lou, is Joey’s emphatic response.

"Good one, Lou, you got him with that