• Contact the Author
  • ROLL CALL

CONTAINER DIARIES

CONTAINER DIARIES

Category Archives: St. Finbar’s

THE BATTLE IN BROOKLYN

20 Thursday Jul 2017

Posted by Steve in 1977, All-Around Athlete, Angry Men, Athletes, Babe Ruth, Baseball, Bensonhurst, Brother Joe Mussa, Container Diaries, Holy Name, Joe Mussa, Red Slavin, St. Finbar's

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

kids

A couple of years ago I had the chance to talk with Red Slavin about the disturbing incident back in June of 1977.

Whenever I see a brawl in baseball I think back to June of 1977.

Only this wasn’t your typical “Pitcher hitting batter,” dugouts empty-type fight.

On a warm sunny day at the Parade Grounds, there was a catholic youth organization baseball going on; a huge fight broke out between Holy Name and St. Finbar’s.

The players were 15 and 16 years old.

The Parade Grounds was the place to be. I witnessed so many great ball players come through there. I was lucky enough to play a few games on those fields when I was a kid.

Kids in the Lot

Holy Name was handling St. Finbar’s pretty easy on this day.  The coach for Holy Name was Joe Mussa (he later became Brother Joe).  Holy Name had only lost one game the entire season.  By the way, Mussa was my favorite teacher at H.N.S. – I had him in the 5th grade.

Holy Name’s team consisted of neighborhood guys; Kevin Maloney, Timmy Hardy, Gonzo Gonzalez, Donald Barbieri, Jose Bolono, Tommy Parker, Chris Bullock, Jody Stanizewski and Robert Price. I’m sure I’m leaving a few out.

From behind the chain-linked fence a fan from Holy Name began ribbing the Finbar players for their effort.  At the conclusion of the game, some of the Finbar players had heard enough. They grabbed the antagonistic fan and began beating him up.

Seeing the fan getting attacked by the team, a Holy Name player ran over to help his friend.  It’s what you did when you saw a friend getting beat up by a group.

A St. Finbar player wound up with a broken nose in the melee.

It was a mess.

One week later it got worse.

The scene was Dyker Field in Bensonhurst.  Not too far from St. Finbar’s.

Only the opponent this day wasn’t Finbar’s, it was St. Bernadette.

During the course of the game tons of kids were making their way from the Golf Course towards the baseball field.  They proceeded to walk through the left field fence. I don’t think they were here to watch the game. They had revenge on their mind.

Standing in the outfield, they resembled the “Baseball Fury” from the 1980’s film, “The Warriors.” You know, the wimps;

“I’ll shove that bat up your ass and turn you into a Popsicle,” My boy Ajax said.

Ajax was played by James Remar, a fine actor.

These clowns were at the game for the big payback.

The rowdy group of teens began shouting at the lonely left fielder for Holy Name.

Next thing you know they are going after him.

The entire Holy Name team seeing this, took off towards the outfield to try and help their teammate.

It was no use, Holy Name was outnumbered.

At one point, the rowdy group trapped Holy Name’s team in the dugout.  After lots of yelling and screaming, they began throwing things at the scared baseball team.

“One guy took my cap so I went after him,” said Red Slavin.

The red-headed ninth avenue resident was a member of the team and within minutes was hit over the head with a baseball bat after retrieving his cap.

Red wasn’t about to let someone snatch his cap. A Holy Name baseball cap was Gold…

“I felt my left arm going crazy, then I blacked out.” He said.

Red was having a seizure.

An ambulance arrived and took him to Kings County hospital.

“I wasn’t hurt or anything. No pain, no headache.” Slavin admits.

Holy Name kids were built tough!

Also in the melee, Gonzo was whacked over the head with a bat. Luckily he had a helmet on. As a memento of that day ‘G’ still has the cracked helmet.

After the x-rays Red Slavin was diagnosed with a depressed skull fracture. He spent three days in the hospital.

Upon his discharge from the hospital Slavin went up to Bishop Ford to clean out his locker; the semester was over. Red had just completed his Freshman year. Brother Sullivan walked by and expected Slavin to take his History final.

“Brother, I have a 100 percent in History and I just spent three days in the hospital.  Do I really have to take it?” Slavin pleaded.

Hearing this, Sullivan explained;

“Unless you want to attend summer school, yes, you have to take it.”

Slavin did as he was told and took the final.  And being the outstanding student, Slavin aced it.

Back in the day teachers didn’t take any shit from the students.

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007

Categories

  • #TBT
  • 10th Avenue
  • 13th Street
  • 16th street
  • 17th street
  • 1959
  • 1964
  • 1970
  • 1977
  • 19th Street
  • 2001 Unisex Hair Cutting
  • 228 A Prospect Park West
  • 4th Avenue
  • 4th of July
  • 68 Bus
  • 8th avenue
  • 9-11
  • Abby Wambach
  • Advice
  • Affordable
  • Al Martin
  • Al McNeil
  • Al Pacino
  • Al Powers
  • Albums
  • Alex Rodriguez
  • All-Around Athlete
  • American Flag
  • Angela's Ashes
  • Angry Men
  • Annabel Flynn
  • Antoinette Cicala
  • Associated
  • Athletes
  • Aunt Eleanor
  • Babe Ruth
  • Ballard's Pharmacy
  • Barbecue
  • Barclays Arena
  • Barry Rohrssen
  • Bartender
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Basketball Old Timers Of America
  • Bay Ridge
  • Beans
  • Beer
  • Ben's Pizza
  • Bensonhurst
  • Bernard King
  • Bill Cwikowski
  • Bill Mazer
  • Bill Parcells
  • Billy Lang
  • Billy Lang Jr.
  • Billy Mudge
  • Birthday
  • Bishop Ford
  • Bishop Ford High School
  • Blog
  • Bob Terry
  • Bob's hardware store
  • Bobby Burke
  • Bobby Corbett
  • Bobby Hickey
  • Bobby Leaver
  • Bobby Powers
  • Bobby Valentine
  • Bologna
  • Bonalli's
  • Book cover
  • Book Report
  • BookShelf
  • Booze
  • Bowling for Dollars
  • Boys Schoolyard
  • Brian Corrigan
  • Brian Keating
  • Brian Lang
  • Brighton Beach
  • Broadway Bomb
  • Brooklyn
  • Brooklyn Bike Patrol
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • Brooklyn Gang
  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Brooklyn Settler
  • Brother Joe Mussa
  • Brown Bag
  • Brownstone Dreams
  • Bruce Davidson
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Buck Showalter
  • Bully
  • C.Y.O.
  • Camp
  • Cannonball
  • Carol Corbett
  • Catherine Gigante-Brown
  • Cathy Gigante-Brown
  • CC Sabathia
  • Central Michigan University
  • Charlie Cummings
  • Charlie Watts
  • Chase Utley
  • Cherry Hill
  • Chicago
  • Children
  • Choices
  • Chris Logan
  • Chris Mullin
  • CHSAA
  • Church
  • Church Avenue
  • Citadel
  • Clayton Patterson
  • Cleon Jones
  • Clown
  • Coach
  • Coffee
  • Colin Mixson
  • Colin Quinn
  • Colitas
  • Coloring Book
  • Complaining
  • Coney Island
  • Coney Island Avenue
  • Confession
  • Container Diaries
  • Convent
  • Converse
  • Cookie Monster
  • Current Sports
  • Curtis Granderson
  • Dad
  • Daddy Dewdrop
  • Daily News
  • Daniel Murphy
  • Danny Raymond
  • Darryl Wheatley
  • Darth Vader
  • Dave Kingman
  • Debi Mazar
  • Denino's
  • Denis Hamill
  • Depression
  • Derek Jeter
  • Devil Dogs
  • Dice
  • Dick Bavetta
  • Don Kent
  • Doreen Kawas
  • Double Windsor
  • Double-Parking
  • Dougie O'Connor
  • Dragnet
  • Driveway
  • Duncan Blair
  • Dunkin' Donuts
  • East 5th Street
  • Easter
  • Eddie Gilligan
  • Edgar De La Rosa
  • Edgar DeLaRosa
  • Edward Heegan
  • Egg Cream
  • Eleanor Roosevelt
  • Elmore Leonard
  • Erin Moran
  • ESPN
  • Esquire Magazine
  • F-Train
  • Farrell's
  • Farrell's Bar
  • Farrell's Bar & Grill
  • Farrell's Football
  • Father
  • Father Patrick Burns
  • Father's Day
  • FDNY
  • Fence
  • Fight
  • Final Four
  • Fire Hydrant
  • First Street
  • Fish Cakes
  • Fishcakes
  • Five Balls of Life
  • Flo Leopoldi
  • Florida Shooting
  • Football
  • Frank Cullen
  • Frank McCourt
  • Friends
  • Fuller Place
  • G Train
  • Gambling
  • Garbage Cans
  • Gargiulo's
  • George Brett
  • Gerard Trapp
  • Gil Hodges
  • Girls Entrance
  • Gladys Mastrion
  • Glenn Thomas
  • Gourmet Butcher
  • Great Irish Fair
  • Green Wood Cemetery
  • Green-Wood Cemetery
  • Greenwood Lake
  • Grit
  • Guns
  • Halloween
  • Hang out
  • Happy New Year
  • Happy Thanksgiving
  • Harry Mills
  • Henry's Deli
  • Hippie Hill
  • Hockey
  • Holy Name
  • Holy Name Church
  • Holy Name Foundation
  • Holy Name of Jesus
  • Holy Name of Jesus Church
  • Honor Molloy
  • Hooley
  • Horace Court
  • Howard Place
  • Howie Bischoff
  • IHM
  • Ironworker
  • Ironworkers
  • Irving Buitrago
  • J.R. Moehringer
  • Jack Kelly
  • Jack O'Connell
  • Jack Ryan
  • Jacob deGrom
  • James "Jocko" Noftell
  • James Cacaci
  • James Corden
  • Jay Cusato
  • Jay Ruiz
  • JHS 51
  • Jim Fields
  • Jim Routhier
  • Jim Valvano
  • Jimmy Breslin
  • Jimmy Houlihan
  • Jimmy Rail
  • Jimmy Riches
  • Jimmy Routhier
  • Jimmy Wares
  • Jimmy's Candy Store
  • JJ Cortese
  • Joe DiMaggio
  • Joe Farrell
  • Joe Lee
  • Joe Leopoldi's Hardware Store
  • Joe Mussa
  • Joe Torre
  • Joe's Pizzeria
  • Joey Bag of Donuts
  • Joey Corrar
  • John Cain
  • John Corbett
  • John Corrar
  • John Devaney
  • John Gray
  • John Jay
  • John Rafferty
  • John Rowland
  • John Thomas
  • John Wickham
  • Johnny Mack's
  • Johnny Pump
  • Jon Lester
  • July 1
  • Kansas City Royals
  • Katz's
  • Kelly's Tavern
  • Kenny Murray
  • Kerry McKeon
  • Kevin McPartland
  • Kevin Molloy
  • Kevin R. McPartland
  • Key Food
  • Kings Plaza
  • Kristaps Porzingis
  • L&J Bakery
  • Lafayette High School
  • Larry King
  • Larry Racioppo
  • Latte
  • Laundry
  • Lee Mazzilli
  • Lenny Melfi
  • Lenny's Pizza
  • Leonard Gidlund
  • Leslie Albrecht
  • Limelight
  • Linda Lavin
  • Local 361
  • Local 40
  • Loser
  • Lou Gehrig
  • Lou Gehrig's Disease
  • Louisville Slugger
  • Lower East Side
  • Mallory Hagan
  • Manhattan
  • Manhattan Beach
  • Maria
  • Marist College
  • Marty Fox
  • Mary Kawas
  • Matt Harvey
  • Matt Long
  • Matthew Lang
  • Mayor De Blassio
  • McBears
  • Merry Christmas
  • Mets
  • Michael Buffer
  • Michael Bundrick
  • Michael Greco
  • Michael Larkin
  • Michael Woodworth
  • Micheal Ray Richardson
  • Michele Moran
  • Mickey Breen
  • Mickey Mantle
  • Mickey Reilly
  • Midnight Mass
  • Mike Larkin
  • Mike Shepherd
  • Mindfulness
  • Miss Monzillo
  • Mother's Day
  • Motivation
  • Mountain Bike
  • Mr. Mussa
  • Mrs. Rafferty
  • Music
  • My Bad
  • Neighborhood
  • Neighborhood Reunion
  • New Jersey Nets
  • New Utrecht High School
  • New Year's Eve
  • New York
  • New York Basketball
  • New York City
  • New York Jets
  • New York Knicks
  • New York Mets
  • New York Rangers
  • New York Story
  • New York Times
  • New York Yankees
  • New Yorker Magazine
  • Newspaper
  • NFL
  • Nicholas D'Elia
  • Nick Sisto
  • Ninth Avenue
  • NLDS
  • OLA
  • Oscar Robertson
  • OTB
  • P.S. 154
  • Pack 237
  • Park Bench
  • Park Slope
  • Parkside
  • Pat Conroy
  • Pat Fenton
  • Patty Byrnes
  • Paul McCartney
  • Paved Paradise
  • Pavilion
  • Pete Hamill
  • Pete Iulo
  • Phil Jackson
  • Picnic
  • Picnic Table
  • Pizza
  • Play the Right Way
  • Port Authority
  • Potatoes and Eggs
  • Power Memorial
  • Priest
  • Pro-Keds
  • Prom
  • Prospect Avenue
  • Prospect Expressway
  • Prospect Park
  • Prospect Park Southwest
  • Prospect Park West
  • Queens
  • R-Train
  • Rae and Otto
  • Rae and Otto's
  • Rain
  • Randy Pausch
  • Ray Corbett
  • Red Holzman
  • Red Slavin
  • Regina Bakery
  • Rejects
  • Rev. Monsignor Joseph Nagle
  • Richie Ferraiolo
  • Ricky Ferro
  • Ring Dings
  • Robbery
  • Robert Moses
  • Robert Vitale
  • Robin Leslie Brown
  • Robin Williams
  • Rock
  • Roger Chebba
  • Rolling Stones
  • Ron Artest
  • Roof
  • Rose Lang
  • Ruben Tejada
  • Ryne Sandberg
  • Sanders
  • Sandy Koufax
  • Santander Bank
  • School
  • Schoolyard
  • Sean Keating
  • Second Avenue
  • Seeley Street
  • Seventh Avenue
  • Sex
  • Sexton Big Reds
  • Sherman Street
  • Shirley MacLaine
  • Shootings
  • Shovel
  • Sidecar
  • Sirico's
  • Sister Barbara
  • Skateboard
  • Sly and the Family Stone
  • Smiling Pizza
  • Sneakers
  • Snow
  • Spanking
  • Spider Man
  • Spike Lee
  • Sport Prospect
  • Sports Talk Radio
  • Spumoni Gardens
  • St. Finbar's
  • St. Francis College
  • St. Francis Prep
  • Stabbing
  • Starbucks
  • Stephen Whelan
  • Steve Finamore
  • Steve Jobs
  • Stick Up
  • Stickball
  • Stoop
  • Stoopdreamer
  • Suicide
  • Summer League
  • Super Bowl
  • Supper
  • Susan Rail
  • T-shirts
  • Tavern
  • Teacher
  • Teen
  • Teena Caccamo
  • Terrace Bagels
  • Terrace Place
  • Terry Collins
  • The Circle
  • The Conroy Family
  • The Deerr Family
  • The EL
  • The Jokers
  • The Kinks
  • The Late, Late, Show
  • The Lot
  • Theodore Staniszewski
  • Thomas Ryan
  • Tim Lee
  • Timboo's
  • Times Square
  • Timmy Leary
  • Tired
  • Tom Izzo
  • Tommy Brick
  • Tommy Mills
  • Tug McGraw
  • TV
  • Twin Towers
  • Ty Cobbs
  • Vincent Brunton
  • Vincent E. Brunton
  • Voit Basketball
  • Walgreens
  • Wayne Dyer
  • Webelos
  • Whiffle Ball
  • White Irish Drinkers
  • Wi-fi
  • Wife
  • Wiffle Ball
  • Wild Irish Rose
  • Wilhelm Busch
  • Willy Wickham
  • Windsor Cafe
  • Windsor Place
  • Windsor Terrace
  • Winner
  • WKAR
  • World Series
  • World Trade Center
  • WWF
  • Xaverian
  • Ya Gotta Believe
  • Yankee Doodles
  • Yankees
  • YBA
  • YMCA
  • Yodels
  • Yogi Berra
  • Zaid Abdul-Aziz

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy