When I see that photo of that double wall in the HN Girls schoolyard I immediately think of one person playing stickball….Frankie “The Ace” Coles. Out of all the people that used to play that game against or off the wall with the stickball bat and ball always seemed to have Frankie Coles in those games. Whether we were in the yard playing or as a meeting place for our CYO teams before they went out on the road for a game I always remembered stickball being played there.
I’ve made some good and not so good catches off that shed. I also recall climbing up there and watching others play. You’d sit against the wall at the top and always be conscious of not touching the ball when it was hit that deep. I recall someone telling me, “You better not get in the way.”
HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES OF PETE RELYEA, MYSELF, AND A FELLA NAMED WALTER THAT LIVED OVER IRV’S OUTLET OF THAT SHED. I WAS IN 2ND GRADE AT PUT WALTERS WINTER HAT ON TOP OF IT DURING SCHOOL. HAD TO GO TO SR. RERESA’S OFFICE BECAUSE OF IT. SHE ASKED MY WHY I HAD THROWN WALTERS HAT UP THERE. I TOLD HERE WALTER HAD DONE IT TO ME WITH MY HAT A ND A BIRD TOOK IT AWAY TO MAKE A NEST OUT OF IT. SISTER THERESA LET ME GO BACK TO CLASS AND THAN CALLED MY MOTHER HYTERICAL LAUGHING. SHE TOLD MY MOTHER THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD OF AN EXCUSE LIKE THAT IN HER LIFE AND SAID I HAD A VIVID IMAGINATION.
MY SISTER MARY & EILLEN NEVER LET UP ON THIS STORY.
I once saw him dive for a ball when it bounced off the shed! Head first…didn’t come up with it. But you are right, he was great at playing it. I think we should have a get together one Saturday afternoon and play all the games we played in the yards; sorta like a carnival-type atmosphere.
steve, if everyone from the neighbor went back and we played baseball, softball, basketball, football. never mind the games played on the streets, just talking about the school yards, the yuppies would have us all arrested LOL!!!!
I am with hoops.. warm up with Doulble Wall, move on to pitch it in or hard top softball.. Richie F and I were talking about a three on three tournament…as a fund raiser….
followed by food and beer..
Although Frankie Coles played the shed in the HN Girls yard like Yazz played the “Green Monster” in Fenway but down in PS 154’s schoolyard Carson Tang played the fences like Ichiro!!
Ray how’s your hoops game. You were one of the top players in the summer league. Which teams did you play for? I recall you playing for Collurra’s team, right?
Hey I used to love that double wall game. We used to put one guy close to the shed and another guy far back for the crazy bounces. I still play hoops with all the younger guys. Every tuesday night we go to the gym and play some full court.That idea about renting holyname schoolyard is awesome. I loved all those games.Count me in.Yes i played with collora and bundrick pat burns alan lang and also with the gerard cash teams.keep in touch with info on reunion thanks.
Recognize the image?
Brooklin said:
When I see that photo of that double wall in the HN Girls schoolyard I immediately think of one person playing stickball….Frankie “The Ace” Coles. Out of all the people that used to play that game against or off the wall with the stickball bat and ball always seemed to have Frankie Coles in those games. Whether we were in the yard playing or as a meeting place for our CYO teams before they went out on the road for a game I always remembered stickball being played there.
hoopscoach said:
I’ve made some good and not so good catches off that shed. I also recall climbing up there and watching others play. You’d sit against the wall at the top and always be conscious of not touching the ball when it was hit that deep. I recall someone telling me, “You better not get in the way.”
TonyF16thSt said:
What a bitch when the ball hit low on the wall and bounce off the shed over your head. or hit one of the ribs and bounce right to left or vise versa
MIKE SLAVIN said:
HAVE A LOT OF MEMORIES OF PETE RELYEA, MYSELF, AND A FELLA NAMED WALTER THAT LIVED OVER IRV’S OUTLET OF THAT SHED. I WAS IN 2ND GRADE AT PUT WALTERS WINTER HAT ON TOP OF IT DURING SCHOOL. HAD TO GO TO SR. RERESA’S OFFICE BECAUSE OF IT. SHE ASKED MY WHY I HAD THROWN WALTERS HAT UP THERE. I TOLD HERE WALTER HAD DONE IT TO ME WITH MY HAT A ND A BIRD TOOK IT AWAY TO MAKE A NEST OUT OF IT. SISTER THERESA LET ME GO BACK TO CLASS AND THAN CALLED MY MOTHER HYTERICAL LAUGHING. SHE TOLD MY MOTHER THAT SHE HAD NOT HEARD OF AN EXCUSE LIKE THAT IN HER LIFE AND SAID I HAD A VIVID IMAGINATION.
MY SISTER MARY & EILLEN NEVER LET UP ON THIS STORY.
Rich Ferraiolo said:
Frankie “Ace” Cole played that shed like Yaz played the Green Monster in Boston
hoopscoach said:
I once saw him dive for a ball when it bounced off the shed! Head first…didn’t come up with it. But you are right, he was great at playing it. I think we should have a get together one Saturday afternoon and play all the games we played in the yards; sorta like a carnival-type atmosphere.
richiek said:
steve, if everyone from the neighbor went back and we played baseball, softball, basketball, football. never mind the games played on the streets, just talking about the school yards, the yuppies would have us all arrested LOL!!!!
hoopscoach said:
Screw them…maybe we should look into this! Schoolyard day at HNS! $100 bucks per family, all proceeds go to the school. Let’s put it out there!
JIMMY VAC said:
I am with hoops.. warm up with Doulble Wall, move on to pitch it in or hard top softball.. Richie F and I were talking about a three on three tournament…as a fund raiser….
followed by food and beer..
hoopscoach said:
I’m going to look into this…but NO PARKING in the schoolyard. This can be fun.
Maureen Rice (Flanagan) said:
maybe around the same time as the reunion, people will be in town, kind of like all-star weekend!
Brooklin said:
Although Frankie Coles played the shed in the HN Girls yard like Yazz played the “Green Monster” in Fenway but down in PS 154’s schoolyard Carson Tang played the fences like Ichiro!!
hoopscoach said:
If I recall, Carson was an excellent Tennis player, right?
Kenny Whelan said:
Coach,
You getting the stickball bats and spaldeens at Ray & Ottos’s or Ronnie’s?
Rough game last night, but Texas put up a good fight considering they lost McCoy in the first series.
Kenny
hoopscoach said:
Kenny, wish McCoy would’ve played. Hopefully we can get some spaldeens/stickball bats too.
jimmy vac said:
better have EMT and the containers on hand…..
Kenny Whelan said:
Don’t forget to look for a pensy pinky. I think Ronnie’s carried them.
Ray Goffio said:
Sign me up I still have a red stickball bat from ray and ottos.Just post times for all these reunions or email me at sugar.baby2@earthlink.net thanks
hoopscoach said:
Ray how’s your hoops game. You were one of the top players in the summer league. Which teams did you play for? I recall you playing for Collurra’s team, right?
Ray Goffio said:
Hey I used to love that double wall game. We used to put one guy close to the shed and another guy far back for the crazy bounces. I still play hoops with all the younger guys. Every tuesday night we go to the gym and play some full court.That idea about renting holyname schoolyard is awesome. I loved all those games.Count me in.Yes i played with collora and bundrick pat burns alan lang and also with the gerard cash teams.keep in touch with info on reunion thanks.