BY: NYGPS Member Andrew Baumgarten

Recently there was another great event at the Bergino Clubhouse (a fabulous place with great baseball items and a truly good man, Jay Goldberg as its owner) as the highlight of the final 2015 meeting of The New York Giants Preservation Society, which is led by another truly good and hard working man, Gary Mintz.
The guests were creative producer, director (A Century in the Bleachers) Jon Leonoudakis and the 93 years “young,” “Babe Ruth of baseball writers,” Arnold Hano. Mr. Hano’s wife of 63 years, together for 67, (Mr. Hano quipped 4 years of “spring training” preceded the marriage), Bonnie was also a great, friendly informative presence.
The night with Mr. Hano talking about his extraordinary life, having met and talked with Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy, being part of a United States Supreme Court decision and of course talking about baseball could have gone on all night and remained captivating. Mr. Hano is the subject of what is an extraordinary documentary produced by Mr. Leonoudakis called “A Century in the Bleachers.” It tells the Hano story as a great writer, husband and father. One of three children, Stephen whom I also met and shared memories was also in attendance. Additionally he asked his dad about interviewing the great player, Roberto Clemente one of many greats Hano interviewed while at Sport Magazine. It was pat of a rousing question and answer session in which Hano flexed “baseball muscles” that entertained and informed in spectacular fashion. Watching some of the documentary “A Century in the Bleachers,” that night and subsequently all of it, I attest to the work as a great record of Arnold Hano, who is a treasure.
Imagine being at Don Larsen’s perfect game in the pivotal 5th game of the 1956 World Series and not only dwarfing what permeates the media today, but having a beautiful, neat scorecard to match Larsen’s perfection that day. His stories are incredible including encounters with the great Giants’ pitcher Carl Hubbell about facing Babe Ruth.

Each is a great story with the key line/question from one “H’ to the other (Hano, who by the way could and did play and knows the game as few if any ever did–we have written regarding the greatness of the book “A Day in the Bleachers”) to Hubbell being how far did he (The Babe) hit it?!! The documentary “A Century in the Bleachers” with Mr. Leonoudakis’ extraordinary visuals complimenting Mr. Hano’s story each step of the way was also hit “out of sight.” Alas, this post just glosses over some of Mr. Hano’s life and writings. There will be another part covering his work as a true giving man. He is blessed by talent, a great wife and family, but most of all by knowing and believing in giving and helping. Soon more about that giving, for now surely go out and get “A Century in the Bleachers” a great work about an amazing man.