Mark sent his thanks.......

Please add Mark Eisenberg's expression of gratitude to the following:

President of Glen Oaks Little League Peter O'Rourke ---whose courageous and generous decision to issue plaques and baseball caps, (and lunch!), providing bottled water and soft drinks in buckets of ice to the 1957 and 1958 All Stars in the face of stiff opposition---without President O'Rourke NOTHING would have happened.

Carolyn Johnson and Darlene Richards, librarians of the Main Rochester, New York library who discovered through hard work and effort, the New York Times article covering the Venezuela game dated July 28, 1957 that no one knew existed, the population of Maracaibo at the time of 390,000 people and how Maracaibo eventually was eliminated by the Rockville Centre Little League by the score of 2-0 in August of 1957.

Librarians in Brighton, New York and Webster, New York, suburbs of Rochester, New York who for many months constantly cheerfully and graciously fielded my countless phone calls helping me track the All Stars all over the country.

All Stars Miles Pedersen, Al Uhl, Bob Borrelli, Joe Gemmo and others who networked and got me names and phone numbers of other All Stars.

Lynn Zwerling for making a sensational blog and video of the events and All Star Peter Zwerling whose generosity to absorb the cost of making the video and postage is truly appreciated.

Last and most important is All Star Joe Gemmo---his unending generosity is so many ways, the countless hours we spent on the phone, his superb work ethic his lovely wife Anna at his side to help ---could not have been taken to the level the events reached without him. An example is the New York Mets. For months I had written, called, faxed various people in the Mets organization. I struck out. When Joe came on board, he stepped up to the plate and like an All Star he hit a home run by successfully arranging for the Mets to honor the All Stars at Shea Stadium Saturday night June 23rd! Joe was an All Star on the field and he is clearly the same All Star off the field.

Pictures are starting to come in

This was a perfect way to spend a Sunday in Queens.

Pictured as follows:

Front:

Pete Zwerling, Paul Crawford, Bob Borrelli, Bobby Morton

Back :

Al Uhl, Jim Citera, Rich Cagan, Bill Cassidy, Franny Padrucco, Joe Gemmo, Miles Pedersen, Mike Felson, Barry Dank

Lettter of thanks to Mets organization from Joe

In behalf of all us “old 60+ Little Leaguers”, we thank you so very much for your hospitality and beautiful arrangements you and your fine organization provided for us at the Mets game this past Saturday evening.

It was an unbelievable experience for all of us and something that shall be remembered for the rest of our lives.

It was also great seeing the Mets break that zero-zero tie in the bottom of the ninth to win the game!!

We raised some nice money for the Glen Oaks Little League including the raffling off of the 4 Mets box seat tickets so can you kindly send them to me and I will forward it to the winner. My home address is: 18 Westvale Lane, Huntington, NY 11743.

Again, thanks again for a most memorable evening.

Best regards, Joe

Joseph A. Gemmo,

A little perspective from Mark

The 1957 Glen Oaks All Stars played against the best players of ALL the little leagues in the city of Maracaibo drawing from a population of about 390, 000 people versus Glen Oaks Little League that had a population pool of maybe 20,000 people. This is confirmed by the fact that later Little League World Series championship Maracaibo teams were represented by specific named little leagues. The 1957 Glen Oaks All Stars should be given more credit as to their excellence within this context. Submitted by Mark Eisenberg

Al sent this

It's a list of all of the World Series Little League Champions. Don’t know if you want to use this on the blog but it does answer whether Staten Island went on to win it all after beating the ’58 team.
1947 Maynard-Williamsport, Pennsylvania 1948 Lock Haven-Lock Haven, Pennsylvania 1949 Little Big League-Hammonton, New Jersey 1950 National-Houston, Texas 1951 Stamford-Stamford, Connecticut 1952 National-Norwalk, Connecticut 1953 Southside-Birmingham, Alabama 1954 National-Schenectady, New York 1955 Morrisville-Morrisville, Pennsylvania 1956 Hondo Lions-Roswell, New Mexico 1957 Industrial-Monterrey, Mexico 1958 Industrial-Monterrey, Mexico 1959 National-Hamtramck, Michigan 1960 American-Levittown, Pennsylvania 1961 Northern-El Cajon/La Mesa, California 1962 Moreland District-San Jose, California 1963 National-Granada Hills, California 1964 Mid Island-Staten Island, New York 1965 Windsor Locks-Windsor Locks, Connecticut 1966 Westbury-Houston, Texas 1967 West Tokyo-Tokyo, Japan 1968 Wakayama-Wakayama, Japan 1969 Taipei-Chinese Taipei 1970 Wayne-Wayne, New Jersey 1971 Tainan-Chinese Taipei 1972 Taipei-Chinese Taipei 1973 Tainan-Chinese Taipei 1974 Kao Ksiung-Chinese Taipei 1975 Lakewood-Lakewood, New Jersey 1976 Chofu-Tokyo, Japan 1977 Li-The-Chinese Taipei 1978 Pin-Kuang-Chinese Taipei 1979 Pu-Tzu Town-Chinese Taipei 1980 Hua Lian-Chinese Taipei 1981 Tai-Ping Little League-Chinese Taipei 1982 Kirkland National-Kirkland, Washington 1983 East Marietta National-Marietta, Georgia 1984 Seoul-Seoul, Korea 1985 Seoul-Seoul, Korea 1986 Tainan Park-Chinese Taipei 1987 Hua Lian-Chinese Taipei 1988 Tai Chung-Chinese Taipei 1989 National-Trumbull, Connecticut 1990 San-Hua-Chinese Taipei 1991 Hsi Nan-Chinese Taipei 1992 Long Beach-Long Beach, California 1993 Long Beach-Long Beach, California 1994 Coquivacoa-Maracaibo, Venezuela 1995 Shan-Hua-Chinese Taipei 1996 Fu-Hsing-Chinese Taipei 1997 Linda Vista-Guadalupe, Mexico 1998 Toms River, New Jersey 1999 Hirakata, Osaka, Japan 2000 Sierra Maestra Little League
Maracaibo, Venezuela 2001 Kitasuna Little League,
Tokyo, Japan 2002 Valley Sports American Little League Louisville, Kentucky 2003 Musashi-Fuchu Little League,
Tokyo, Japan 2004 Pabao Little League,
Willemstad, Curacao 2005 West Oahu Little League,
Ewa Beach, Hawaii 2006 Columbus Northern Little League
Columbus, Georgia © 2007, Little League Baseball Incorporated

More old photos have arrived

Bill Cassidy sent these photos of the 55 &56 Glen Oaks Littile League team.Thanks to all those parents and volunteers who made all of us pretty lucky guys!!

Important details for the events of this coming weekend

Here are the details for donation costs: Funds realized after out of pocket which we intend to keep low, will be donated to the Glen Oaks Little League in honor of our appreciation for the lifetime of memories.

- Video/audio - $20 (This video will be highlights of the Mets event and a record of the Sunday event at the Oval)

- Laminated team photo/news article reproduced from original 1958 newspaper - $10

- 8 X 10 color photo of All Star team taken at Oval - $8

- 50/50 cash raffle - $10

- NY Mets tickets packages raffle - $10

Also, lunch at $10 per person covers cost.

NY Mets tickets at the Sat evening game at cost to be determined.

Awarding of Plaques and All Star hats to players – No Charge!!!

Greatest Memories of a Lifetime – No Charge!!! (Like Master Charge commercial – “Priceless”)!!!

At the Oval on Sunday, everyone including spouses should be checking in at a reception table which will be situated near home plate and also there they can select the various donations at that time. Looking forward to renewing old memories and meeting new friends. Don't forget to advise Joe Gemmo of your intent to attend and the number of participants.

More old photos

Rich Cagan said:


I am sending you two Hawk team pictures. They came out pretty small. I believe 1955 & 1956, but I couldn't say for sure.

In the 6 player photo, the manager is Irving Fendel. Standing, far right is Joshua Fendel.

I am kneeling in front of Josh. I cannot name anyone else.

On the second photo, the one above, I am sitting at the far left My father, Louis, is the man in the center of the three. I can't name anyone else on this one, either. Sorry.

Maybe Joe can; or even Peter. If they can, let me know.

I will bring 5 copies of each with me for whoever...

Another old photo

And here's a photo from a newspaper article. The article is so yellow and fragile, but the caption reads:
"Glen Oaks Little Leaguers Feted" Peter Zwerling, 12, of 80-19 254th Street, Glen Oaks, receives the championship trophy for his team, the Glen Oaks All-Stars, from Assemblyman Louis Wallach of Little Neck, the guest speaker, as Louis Cagan pictured from left, vice-president of the Glen Oaks Little League and Murray Cohen of Glen Oaks, league president, look on at the dinner held at the New Hyde Park Inn, Hyde Park."

Black Jack Gum

Black Jack Gum history... William Finley Semple of Mount Vernon, Ohio obtained the first chewing gum patent on December 28, 1869. Patent number 98,304 claimed the "combination of rubber with other articles, in any proportions adapted to the formation of an acceptable chewing gum." Semple never commercially made any chewing gum.

Development of Chicle Gum came with a big breakthrough in 1869 from another source. Exiled Mexican former president and general, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (infamous for his victory over the Alamo defenders) was living in New Jersey. He brought a ton of Mexican chicle with him, in hopes of selling it.

He persuaded Thomas Adams of Staten Island, New York to buy it. Adams was a photographer and inventor. Adams intended to vulcanize the chicle for use as a rubber substitute. But his efforts at vulcanization did not work. However, Adams noticed that Santa Anna liked to chew the chicle (the Mayans chewed chicle many years previously).

Disappointed with the rubber experiments, Adams boiled a small batch of chicle in his kitchen to create a chewing gum. He gave some to a local store to see if people would buy it. People liked his gum, and before long his business was quite successful.

In 1871 Adams received the first patent on a gum-making machine and began mass producing a chicle-based gum. His first gum ("Snapping and Stretching") was pure chicle with no flavoring, but sold well enough to encourage Adams in his plans.

He began to experiment with flavorings, beginning with sarsaparilla. In 1884, he began adding a licorice flavoring and called his invention Adams' Black Jack, the first flavored gum in America. At this time, chewing gum changed shape from lump or chunks, to sticks. It was also the first gum to be offered in sticks as we know it today. It was an instant success.

Black Jack Gum was sold well into the 1970s, when production was halted because of slow sales. Adams became part of the American Chicle Company. This company was eventually purchased by the Warner- Lambert Company, part of Pfizer. In 2003 Adams was purchased by the Cadbury Company.

Occasionally Adams (maker of Chiclets) has whipped up a batch including other old time favorites Beeman's and Clove. The last batch was in the fall of 2005.

Oh, those fifties

Here's a photo of the 1957 Eagles. Most of the players can be identified. From right to left as follows:
Mr. Sperling, coach, Harold Costello, Bobby Tabita, Steve Karpin, Sam Sperling, Johnny Cronin, Peter Zwerling
Bobby Raben, unknown, Mr. Bob Raben, unknown, Steve Padnick
Johnny Crawford, younger Raben brother, ? Mcay.

And here's a photo from a newspaper article. The article is so yellow and fragile, but the caption reads:
"Glen Oaks Little Leaguers Feted" Peter Zwerling, 12, of 80-19 254th Street, Glen Oaks, receives the championship trophy for his team, the Glen Oaks All-Stars, from Assemblyman Louis Wallach of Little Neck, the guest speaker, as Louis Cagan pictured from left, vice-president of the Glen Oaks Little League and Murray Cohen of Glen Oaks, league president, look on at the dinner held at the New Hyde Park Inn, Hyde Park."

Calling all Glen Oaks Players from the fifties

Here's your opportunity to add your comments. What would be most useful is your name, age, where you live now and what position or positions you played and on what teams.

Here's the first and a example. Push the comments button and please add your information.

Peter Zwerling, 62, living in Columbia, MD. '55, Orioles, '56 Tigers.'57 Eagles, pitcher, catcher and shortstop.

Paul Sherwin said...

Paul Sherwin, 60, Oakland CA, now a dean at San Francisco State Univ. On the Leafs in '54; on the Hawks '55-'58, catcher. Chief accomplishment back then: having hit 1 home run in '57 and 7 in '58. My brother Bob (an MD at Yale New Haven Hospital) played on the '54 Glen Oaks all-star team.

JOE GEMMO, 61, CPA, HUNTINGTON, LI, NY, PLAYED ON HAWKS AND ALL STARS 1957-58, PITCHER (PAUL SHERWIN BATTERY)AND SHORTSTOP; CHEWING "BLACKJACK GUM" AT ALL STAR GAMES; CLAIM OF FAME: ONE PITCH AWAY FROM PITCHING A PERFECT GAME WALKING BATTER ON 3/2 COUNT WITH 2 OUTS IN LAST INNING. RECENTLY RETIRED FROM HARDBALL.

Bill Cassidy, 62, retired, Montpelier Vermont. Jackie and I moved after 30 years in Vermont to Ponte Vedra Beach FL ten years ago, Grandfather.
55 Eagles & Wings 3rd base and outfield, 56 Tigers 3rd base and outfield, 57 Tigers 3rd base. All Star teams 56 & 57...Mark tells me that he has copy of Glen Oaks News that I was the winning pitcher of the final game of the 57 Championship game against the Eagles...that may be...I can't even remember what I had for breakfast!

RICH CAGAN, 62, CPA, SCOTTSDALE, AZ; SEMI RETIRED. PLAYED ON HAWKS 1955 thru 1957, PLAYED I YEAR COLLEGE BALL(PITCHED FOR L.I.U. FRESHMAN TEAM). Loved Little League.Umpired & Managed in son's Little League (Scottsdale); umpired w/son as a team in grandson's Little League (Chandler, AZ). I recognize some names, but will need a little help w/memories.



Mark Eisenberg 58 Rochester, NY 1957 Glens of the Eight Year Old League Pitcher, First Base -Eight Year Old Stars defeated Farm League All Stars 1958 Cubs Pitcher and Second Base Went 9 for 21 for the season (don't ask me how I remember that!) Cubs defeated Wings for International League Championship 1959 to 1961 Hawks Played Every Position On The Field 1960 Broke up no-hitter of Jim Renda of Tigers with sharp single to right and later hit a grand slam homer per Glen Oaks News article; 1961 Had second highest batting average on the Hawks. Hawks won second half of season. Played the Orioles for Championship-- Hawks won first game but lost the next two.

As pitcher and first baseman, Michael Felson played for the Orioles from 1957 – 1958. Of all the memories, his most vivid was the ‘long car ride’ home after the final loss (with extra innings) for the Eastern Seaboard Championship. He also recalls how Herman Dunsey, who headed the league and had a sports equipment store, “Dugout” on Springfield Boulevard would hand out “Blackjack” gum to the team. He remembered Dunsey to be one of the most decent and committed gentleman of his time. But, Michael’s fondest memory were the long-lasting friendships built from being part of a great team. Michael Felson, 61, married for 39 years, has two children and a first grandchild, Lily.

Robert Morton, 60, retired, Wading River L I.
Catcher for the Tigers, '58, '59. All-star catcher in '58.
Played for St. John's '64-68.
Loved riding my bike down to the oval to play ball with a great bunch of guys and in front of terrific fans.
Still playing baseball on two 48+
teams.

Al Uhl, 62, ’56 and ’57 All-Star teams, Eagles

My Dad was an FDNY fireman and was going to make the game but got called in at the last minute for a four-alarmer. So my Mom had to get me there and I got there late. So late that the coach said "I'll give you five pitches and we've got to get off the field". I hit a hard line drive in the left center gap, three that hit or short-hopped the fence and one that one out to left. When the line-up was posted he had me batting third (vs. 5th or 6th where I had been hitting). I was shocked and of course nervous because it meant hitting in the first inning rather than later when the nerves might settle down a little. I remember being surprised by the Venezuelan pitcher’s curveball which may have been the first honest-to-goodness curve I had seen. It not only broke a bunch but also dropped a bunch. I walked and was thrilled!J I also recall being shocked at how fast the game went by; seemed like a blur. Probably explains my general lack of detailed memories of the game itself inning by inning. Do recall that we had a rocky start and fell behind early and had to come back.

Anonymous added:

I have such great memories of playing at the oval. Bob Morton was a wonder behind the plate, and he was one of the few players that ever hit a home run offJoe Gemmo.
I remember Mr. Herman Dunsey, a great man that loved the Glen Oaks Little League. He always had a convertible, and as many of us as possible would pack into his car for a road-trip!

Mike Berkley wrote:

Mark Eisenberg called me about next week's exciting 50th anniversary ceremonies. Here's my Bio/Glen Oaks Little League info:
Mike Berkley 59, Tempe, AZ.
Position: 2nd base and catcher
I found my trophy for the Hotrods being American Association champs in 1959.
I also found an undated certificate from Ben Hessel, League President, congratulating me on being an International League All-Star, along with a Little League graduation certificate.

and added:A couple of additional comments to my recent submittal: At one point my father, Jules Berkley, was the Manager of my team. Also, I took my wife and 2 sons to see the Oval in 1998.

Little League Facts

Although most people use the term "little league" generically to refer to any kind of organized baseball played by young people, Little League® legally refers only to the leagues and teams associated with Little League, Incorporated, founded in Williamsport, Pennsylvania in 1938.

Little League is in fact only one of several associations that promote youth softball and baseball. Other well-known leagues with long histories and national or international reach include PONY Baseball, Babe Ruth League and its subsidiary Cal Ripken Baseball, American Legion Baseball, and Dizzy Dean Baseball.

Although they may provide services for all ages of young people, many leagues are associated with a particular age group. Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball are mostly for over-13s, while Little League's flagship division is its "Majors", played by 11 and 12 year olds. This is the division, which is highlighted at the Little League World Series and shown in SMALL BALL.

Facts & Figures
1. The distance between the pitching mound and home plate is 46 feet. The distance between bases is 60 feet. This is 14 and 30 feet, respectively, shorter than a Major League Baseball diamond.

2. A regulation Little League game is six innings long. Of course, extra innings are possible to break ties. If one team gets ten runs ahead of the other after four innings, a "mercy rule" is invoked, and play ends.

3. A base runner is not allowed to leave the base before the pitched ball crosses home plate.

4. Little League umpires are officially unpaid, although they must go through extensive training.

5. Playing in Little League does not necessarily lead to a career in pro ball. Less than 1% of all Major Leaguers ever played Little League. Ex-Little League pros include Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Carl Yastrzemski, Mark McGwire and George Brett.

6. Danny DeVito was not small for his age when he played Little League. Other famous Little Leaguers include Tom Selleck, Bruce Springsteen, Kevin Costner, Huey Lewis, Dave Barry, Bill Bradley and George W. Bush.

7. The country that has won the most World Series is the US (27 championships), followed by Taiwan (17 wins). In 1997, Taiwan withdrew from Little League entirely because it disagreed with Little League recruitment rules. Non-US teams have been world champions 30 times.

8. An umpire can officiate only once in his lifetime at the World Series.

9. Because of its size, California is the only state divided into two halves, Northern and Southern, for the purposes of state tournament play. On the other hand, North Dakota and South Dakota are combined at the State level.

Glen Oak Little Leaguer continue to maintain The Oval

The modern day Glen Oaks teams pitched in to clean and maintain their fields. Approximately 200 little leaguers volunteered to clean, rake and paint the benches at ten parks across Queens as part of Parks & Recreation’s annual Pitch In for Parks. The purpose of the event was for the borough’s little leagues to develop a sense of stewardship toward the fields that they utilize.

Known to all as The Oval

The Oval
is really named Tenny Park. Click on the link to read more of it's history.

History of Glen Oaks Little League

The Glen Oaks Little League originated in 1951 and continues to grow and thrive in recent years. Only 6 years after it's inception, the same year that the Brooklyn Dodgers played their final game in New York, the 1957 All Stars were undefeated champions of the annual Dugout Tournament, which was an unofficial inter-league ad hoc committee involving 12 leagues from Nassau and Queens.

The 1957 All Stars hosted a game on July 27, 1957. They invited the All Star Team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, the home of Luis Aparicio

The Maracaibo 1957 All Star from Venezuela traveled by steamer to Miami and then arrived by train in NY.

It was a thrilling game, lost in extra innings. The win was decided in favor of the Venezuelan team by one run, 5 to 4. It has been estimated that over 300 people witnessed the game.

Grown men still get misty eyed recalling the play by play.

Then in 1958 when the Glen Oaks Little League was only 7 years old, the All Stars became the first time ever District 26 Queens-Brooklyn champions and finalists. It was not until 1964 that this feat was duplicated. Ironically, both teams lost to Staten Island Little League teams.

Creedmoor

No memory of those days in the fifties of Queens and specifically Glen Oaks is complete without the mention of Creedmore Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, Queens, New York,
which provides inpatient, outpatient and residential services for severely mentally ill patients. The history of the hospital and its campus, which occupies more than 300 acres and includes more than 50 buildings[1], reflects both the urbanization of the borough of Queens, New York, and a series of changes in psychiatric care.
By 1959, the hospital housed 7,000 inpatients. Then the population began to decline leaving a present population of under 300.

Often mentioned on Law and Order, it was a highlight of the community. Euphemisms like "what are you nuts or from Creedmoor,or something" can be heard wherever you find ex-New Yorkers and current New Yorkers, as well. Not every community could boost such a world renown asylum!

Look at this link for everything you ever wanted to know about major league baseball parks

Everything you ever wanted to know about major league baseball parks

Locating Glen Oaks, the community

GLEN OAKS, LONG ISLAND

No one can be sure how William K. Vanderbilt would react if he were to know what has become of his home, but it is certain that this predominantly first-generation immigrant dominated part of Queens is well organized to serve the community. The private estate of Glen Oaks that includes the highest point in Queens was converted for mass housing after World War II. Military personnel returning home from various theaters of war were to be the beneficiaries, but apartment rents in 3 figures have resulted in people from the third world with new visas and passports settling here in large numbers.

Glen Oaks is a little over one half of an hour away from Manhattan. A maze of highways serves the area, putting it within convenient reach of the entire State and beyond. Apartment blocks dominate the housing scene. The locality has bounteous outdoor sports and recreation choices. These include lit tennis courts, racquetball and also bocce for older people who prefer more gentle pastimes. There are two Elementary Schools and District 26 that covers Glen Oaks has an enviable academic record. The local branch of the Queens library has an admirable collection of materials in some of the many languages of the Indian sub-continent. Crime rate is amongst the lowest in any part of Queens. Overall, the neighborhood offers excellent value for money in terms of public amenities, though neighboring Nassau may turn up its wealthy nose at the poor cousin.

There are two important institutions in Glen Oaks. One is the Queens County Farm Museum and the other is the Zucker Hillside Hospital. People from all over the United States may have cause to associate with one or both of these places and their collective work puts Glen Oaks and Queens on the international scene in their respective fields of farming and mental health.

The Queens County Farm Museum lends some rustic charm to Glen Oaks. It is a key component of the agricultural heritage of this part of the United States. It is also an operational farm with crops and animals. This makes it special in the extreme urban environment of New York. Young people with little exposure to the ways of agriculture benefit by spending time within the liberal limits of the farm. Museum exhibits contain a complete set of tools used over the centuries to look after and to harvest crops.

The Zucker Hillside Hospital is an important part of Glen Oaks. It has over 200 beds and makes key and on-going contributions to the science of Mental Health. It is one of the leading centers for the study and treatment of schizophrenia in the United States. The hospital has an atmosphere that is quite unlike that of most impersonal medical institutions. It is set in a large estate with relaxing greenery and much open space for some 250 thousand patients every year. Children can keep studying at schools on site even as they recuperate and heal. The hospital complex has comprehensive outdoor recreation and sports facilities for the people it serves.

Memories

Oftentimes childhood memories are lost. But sometimes, those defining moments, big or small, simply take hold and are available to call up, to hold, to savor. That's what happened to Mark Eisenberg. It's the memory of Little League games played during the summers of 1957 and 1958. These were not just a sandlot games, but games that took hold of his developing mind and has stayed with him ever since. Baseball, all things baseball, continues to be his passion.

He thought, those summers of '57 and '58 meant so much to him that surely the players, the pre-teen little leaguers and their families and participants might also be holding that memory, savoring it. So, he began what some might call an obsession. Mark determined to contact as many of the players from those summer days and all of the enthusiastic bystanders he so vividly remembered.

Maybe you were there...maybe your older brother played in the game...maybe you had to work or had to study or simply heard of the game. This electronic scrapbook is dedicated to Little League Baseball, the winning plays, the heartbreaks...the fabric of young lives and the men they were to become.