The New York Giants Preservation Society’s first meeting at Finnerty’s will take place on Tuesday, November 13, at 6PM. Our guest speaker will be author Lincoln Mitchell whose new book entitled Baseball Goes West will be available for purchase. This from Google Books:

-Following the 1957 season, two of baseball’s most famous teams, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants, left the city they had called home since the 19th century and headed west. The Dodgers went to Los Angeles and the Giants to San Francisco. Those events have entered baseball lore, and indeed the larger culture, as acts of betrayal committed by greedy owners Walter O’Malley of the Dodgers and Horace Stoneham of the Giants. The departure of these two teams, but especially the Dodgers, has not been forgotten by those communities. Even six decades later, it is not hard to find older Brooklynites who are still angry about losing the Dodgers.

This is one side of the story. Baseball Goes West seeks to tell another side. Lincoln A. Mitchell argues that the moves to California, second only to Jackie Robinson’s debut in 1947, forged Major League Baseball (MLB) as we know it today. By moving two famous teams with national reputations and many well-known players, MLB benefited tremendously, increasing its national profile and broadening its fan base. This was particularly important following a decade that, despite often being described as baseball’s golden age, was plagued with moribund franchises, low wages for many players, and a difficult dismantling of the apartheid system that had been part of big-league baseball since its inception.

In the years immediately following the moves, the two most iconic players of the 1960s, Sandy Koufax and Willie Mays, had their best years, bringing even greater status and fame to their respective ball clubs. The Giants played an instrumental role in the first phase of baseball’s globalization by leading the effort to bring players from Latin America to the big leagues, while the Dodgers set attendance records and pioneered new ways to market the game.

Sports historians, baseball fans, and historians of American culture on a broader scale will appreciate Mitchell’s reframing of baseball’s move west and his insights into the impacts felt throughout baseball and beyond.

Mitchell’s book will be available for $27. Lincoln will gladly sign his book as well. We look forward to establishing a long-term relationship with Finnerty’s, similar to one we forged with Jay Goldberg and the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse. Finnerty’s is located at 221 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. We will have use of their backroom. For your enjoyment, libations will be available at the Happy Hour rate until 8PM. Drinks specials are:
$5 draft beers
$6 mixed well cocktails
$7 glasses of wine
Please RSVP ASAP to me. If you have intentions of purchasing the book, let me know as well so I can give Lincoln a rough estimate of books he needs to bring. All the best, Gary

www.finnertysnyc.com

NYGPS FINDS A NEW HOME

With the unfortunate news of the Bergino Clubhouse closing shortly, rest assured I will not let the society crumble and be homeless. Our new meeting place will be Finnerty’s Sports Bar located at 221 2nd Avenue, in NYC, a few blocks from Jay’s place. Thanks to owner Dieter Seelig and his party coordinator Annie will will be able to use a private area off the bar in the back. The bar is the home of many transplanted San Franciscans. For those who don’t know it, Finnerty’s regularly schedules bus trips to Giants/Mets game yearly. The bar also has tremendous amount of Giants memorabilia. Our future events will allow you to purchase libations while listening to our guest speakers. I feel that this is the best situation for the group moving forward. I see us adding many new members who will want to learn about the history of the Giants franchise. We had a tremendous relationship with Jay and the Bergino Clubhouse and I hope to have a similar one with Dieter and Finnerty’s.-Gary

This past Wednesday (11/8), the NYGPS conducted its final meeting of the calendar year with the author of 1921:The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York Steve Steinberg. Steinberg spoke of the battle between the kings of NY baseball with emphasis on two of the series main combatants and characters, John McGraw and Babe Ruth. A great Q/A then took place. Thanks to Steve and Jay Goldberg, owner of the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, for a wonderful and informative evening!!!

Our last meeting of the calendar year will take place Wednesday, November 8th at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse at 6:30PM. Author Steve Steinberg will be our guest speaker. Steve will talk about his 2010 book 1921: The Yankees, the Giants, and the Battle for Baseball Supremacy in New York

His chat will focus mainly on McGraw and the Giants.
Here is a brief synopsis:
The Yankees won their first pennant in 1921, and the World Series against the Giants was a struggle that pitted the slugging Babe Ruth (with his 59 home runs) against the legendary Giants manager John McGraw, who had the allegiance of most NY sports fans until that time. It was also a thrilling Series, with much drama and many surprises.

Please RSVP ASAP

If you would like a book, please let me know as well. All the best, Gary

Before a large audience at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse in lower Manhattan, the NYGPS held its final meeting of 2016. Paul Kocak discussed his book, Chasing Willie Mays.
https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Willie-Mays-Pa…/…/ref=sr_1_1…
Kocak spoke about the book for about 35 minutes before entertaining questions from the audience. Kocak told us of his admiration and lifelong “seeking out” of his favorite player despite the Giants leaving his state and moving 3000 miles away. We want to thank Paul and Jay Goldberg (Owner of the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse) http://www.bergino.com/ for a wonderful evening!

By John Shea

In 1954, the year Willie Mays made his epic Game 1 catch at the Polo Grounds in New York, the most replayed highlight in World Series history, there was no World Series most valuable player award.
The first World Series MVP was awarded in 1955 to the Dodgers’ Johnny Podres.
Now, the award will be named after the great Mays, starting this season — the Willie Mays World Series most valuable player award.
“I think that’s a great honor,” Mays said in a phone interview. “It’s an ongoing thing. You never know who’s going to win the World Series or the World Series MVP. Every year, it’s somebody different. This is a wonderful honor.”

Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement Friday on the 63rd anniversary of Mays’ over-the-shoulder catch (and magnificent whirling throw to the infield) that robbed Vic Wertz and created momentum for a four-game sweep of the favored Cleveland Indians.
“Major League Baseball is thrilled to honor Willie Mays on our game’s biggest stage and in a manner that befits his many contributions to the sport … This annual recognition will forever celebrate the life and career of a legend of the national pastime,” Manfred said.
Mays issued a statement thanking Manfred and MLB and added, “Baseball has always taken care of me, and for that I am grateful. I think it’s just a wonderful thing to know that at 86 years of age, I can still give something back to the game. I am proud to lend my name to this important award. What a day this has been.”
Also Friday, Mays had a street named after him near the Polo Grounds site in New York. The northeast corner of 155th Street and Harlem River Drive now is Willie Mays Drive.
The Giants have had three World Series MVPs: Edgar Renteria in 2010, Pablo Sandoval in 2012 and Madison Bumgarner in 2014. Last year’s MVP was the Cubs’ Ben Zobrist.
“That’s a really cool honor for him and for all of us to see the MVP named after him,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s going to remind people who Willie is and how great a player he was. I’m sure the player who receives the award, it’s going to mean a lot to him, having an award named after Willie Mays.”
Mays, 86, played in three World Series with the Giants (1951, 1954, 1962) and one with the Mets (1973). He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979, voted by fans as one of the four greatest living players in a 2015 promotion and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.
John Shea is The San Francisco Chronicle’s national baseball writer. Email: jshea@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnSheaHey

https://www.si.com/…/2017/09/28/new-york-giants-polo-grounds
HARRY SWARTOUT
Thursday September 28th, 2017
New York is a two-team town Giants-Jets, Knicks-Nets, Yankees-Mets but it hasn’t always been. In the Golden Age of Baseball, New York had three teams, all championship-caliber, in the Yankees, Giants and Dodgers.
Since 1883, the New York Giants had played ball in Manhattan (and in the Polo Grounds since 1911), but the stadium was getting old, and the city was changing. In 1957, Horace Stoneham decided to move the team west along with the Brooklyn Dodgers, absolutely gutting New York baseball fans.
The Giants moved and prospered, but the fans they left behind have been reckoning their love for a home team 300 miles away.
https://www.si.com/…/2017/09/28/new-york-giants-polo-grounds

By Shannan Ferry
City officials celebrate the life of a baseball legend by pitching up a permanent tribute. NY1’s Shannan Ferry was there and has the story from Harlem.
A lot has changed in Harlem since the 1950’s — it’s been sixty years since the New York Giants called this neighborhood home.
But on Friday, city officials honored the past — and one man in particular, renaming the corner of West 155th Street and The Harlem River Drive after Willie Mays, the baseball great who began his career with the Giants at the nearby Polo Grounds — and lived in the neighborhood, too.
“I mean how many guys brought a World Series, to Harlem?!” asked Jacob Morris, director of the Harlem Historical Society.
The ceremony came on the 63rd anniversary of a magic Mays moment.
His iconic over-the-shoulder catch in Game One of the 1954 World Series against the Cleveland Indians at the Polo Grounds.
The ‘Say Hey’ kid spent six years with the Giants here through the 1957 season, then moved with the team to San Francisco, where he played until ending his career back in New York with the Mets in 1973.
His son Michael Mays says he and his dad who is 86 are thrilled by this honor, because Harlem is where it all began.
“You can’t beat the pride,” the younger Mays said. “He’s a person in history, he’s a significant person, he’s in the white house, and a medal of honor, I mean the achievements in his life, it’s incredible.”
Organizers say they hope the street sign also inspires the younger generation. Some young players we spoke with say seeing it right here in Harlem, makes them even more motivated.
“Now just want to be like him, especially I’m an outfielder he was an outfielder, so that inspired me to look at videos and try to be like him,” said Wanter Martin, a high school junior.
This is not the only new honor for Mays. Major League Baseball announced Friday that the World Series MVP award will be named the “Willie Mays World Series Most Valuable Player.”
And from this ceremony near the old Polo Grounds, it is clear Mays is still an MVP to Harlem.
http://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2017/09/29/city-honors-new-york-giant-willie-mays-with-street-renaming-in-harlem.html

A three-section mural of the fabled Polo Grounds site was officially dedicated today, August 30, at the Polo Grounds Towers at 2931 8th Avenue in Upper Manhattan. The mural, “Illustrates the story of the Polo Grounds housing development’s past, present, and future, including the Polo Ground’s rich sports history as the location of the NY Giants fabled field.” The project was spearheaded by Groundswell www.groundswell.nyc, an organization that “Brings together artists, youth, and community organizations through the Scaffold Up! model to use art as a tool for social change, for a more just and equitable world. Projects beautify neighborhoods, engage youth in societal and personal transformation, and give expression to ideas and perspectives that are underrepresented in the public dialogue”. Claudie Mabry and Robyne Walker Murphy, spoke on behalf of the Groundswell group. Remarks were then made by former Polo Grounds Towers tenant leader Barbara Williams and Property Manager Clara Garcia, as well as the President of the NYGPS. Lead Artist Demetrius Felder and Assistant Artist Iris Loughran then closed out the ceremony thanking everyone including their hard-working artists!!

Pictured are members Carmine Magazino, Paul Ellis-Graham, Tim Penman, and Gary Mintz

June 21st saw Robert Garratt visiting the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse (www.bergino.com ) to discuss his fabulous new book, Home Team: The Turbulent History of the San Francisco Giants, in front of 2 dozen members of the New York Giants Preservation Society. Garratt spoke about the ownership of the team in particular, the Horace Stoneham era. This era, especially the latter part of his Stoneham’s tenure in both NY and SF, has much to do with the title of the book. Garratt then added wonderful tales about the Bob Lurie era and spoke of Peter Magowan’s era as well. The night ended with a Q/A session before Mr. Garratt signed books for those who purchased them. I want to thank Robert Garratt and of course Jay Goldberg (owner of the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse) for making this a wonderful event!!