1954: THE YEAR WILLIE MAYS AND THE FIRST GENERATION OF BLACK SUPERSTARS CHANGED MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FOREVER
New book by Bill Madden due on Willie Mays’ birthday.

Jackie Robinson heroically broke the color barrier in 1947. But how—and, in practice, when—did the integration of the sport actually occur? Bill Madden shows that baseball’s famous “black experiment” did not truly succeed until the coming of age of Willie Mays and the emergence of some star players—Larry Doby, Hank Aaron, and Ernie Banks—in 1954. And as a relevant backdrop off the field, it was in May of that year that the US Supreme Court unanimously ruled, in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, that segregation be outlawed in America’s public schools.

Featuring original interviews with key players and weaving together the narrative of one of baseball’s greatest seasons with the racially charged events of that year, 1954 demonstrates how our national pastime—with the notable exception of the Yankees, who represented white supremacy in the game—was actually ahead of the curve in terms of the acceptance of black Americans, while the nation at large continued to struggle with tolerance.

Wednesday night, January 8, was our first meeting of the NYGPS for 2014. NY Post columnist Ken Davidoff gave his insights to his Hall of Fame ballot and the electees as well. Ken spent about an hour answering all the great questions asked by the group regarding steroids, AROD, Bonds, Clemens, Piazza, and his baseball insights in general. It was a great way to start talking and thinking about baseball on a frigid night in NYC. Ken took out some time on a day for us when he was probably getting many requests for his reaction to the Hall of Fame voting results. Many thanks go to Ken and his family for making this a night to remember. Of course we thank Jay Goldberg owner of the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse for always making the NYGPS feel at home!! Make sure to see all of the wonderful baseball items Jay sells at
http://www.bergino.com/
You can read Ken’s columns on line at
http://nypost.com/author/ken-davidoff/
Here is the podcast:
http://berginobaseballclubhouse.podbean.com/2014/01/10/new-york-giants-preservation-society-winter-2014-meeting-with-special-guest-ken-davidoff/

Our first meeting of 2014 will take place on Wednesday, January 8 at 6:30PM with NY Post Writer Ken Davidoff. Ken spent 11 years at Newsday before moving to the NY Post in 2012. He covers the Mets, Yankees, and all of baseball. He was the former President of the Baseball Writers Association of America (2010-2011). Ken also appears on Fox’s Sports Extra during the year and is frequently heard on WFAN with Richard Neer on Saturday mornings. Ken is a tremendously knowledgeable baseball man and just a great guy as well. If you don’t already read his column your are missing something.

Here is a link:
http://nypost.com/author/ken- davidoff/

The meeting will take place the day the 2014 Hall of Fame Members will be announced and Ken will be able to discuss the electees and non-electees as he has a vote. He will also be discussing hot stove news, spring training, history of the game, etc. His dad will be accompanying him and the elder Davidoff is and was a huge Willie Mays fan attending the SF Giants January 2013 Trophy presentation which we were specially invited to.

The meeting will take place at our “home base” the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse. Jay Goldberg always welcomes us with open arms. If you need that perfect baseball gift for the holidays, birthdays, etc., Jay is your guy and his store is the place. Here is his link:
http://www.bergino.com/
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After a brief hiatus, the Bedford & Sullivan podcast picks back up the research process with its 33rd episode!

The founder of the NY Giants Preservation Society, Gary Mintz, joins to discuss how the Society got started, some of the highlights so far for the group since its inception, and stories Gary’s late father told him regarding the Upper Manhattan ballclub.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bedfordandsullivanbrooklyn/2013/12/09/ep-33–ny-giants-preservation-society-founder-gary-mintz

WITH OCTOBER 3RD SOON ARRIVING…………………
This will be released next week.

From Amazon:
On October 3, 1951 Ralph Branca became a legendary figure in baseball history. The 26 year-old Brooklyn Dodger pitcher became infamous for losing the National League Pennant to the bitter rival New York Giants, by giving up the game winning homerun termed The Shot Heard Round the World. Jeered by once adoring fans and labeled a scapegoat for the rest of his life, Ralph never reclaimed his career. From Executive Producer Bobby Valentine, BRANCA’S PITCH follows 86 year-old Ralph Branca’s journey to pen a memoir that finally tells his side of the story, to try and restore his fascinating, yet overlooked legacy in baseball’s Golden Age of the ’40s and ’50s. The documentary features a mixture of verite, and archival materials including many of Branca’s own films and photos such as a recently discovered and restored color 16mm film of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

Let’s just say “What a Night”!! A SRO crowd attended our meeting this past Thursday. Mr. Peter Magowan was our key note speaker and had the audience in the palm of his hand. He discussed his love of the team as young boy all the way up to his “retirement” as the CEO of the team. Magowan spent much of the night reveling about the history of the team here in NY and his subsequent purchase of the team in the early 1990’s when it appeared they were moving to Tampa Bay. He told wonderful stories about the purchasing group that saved the team, the Barry Bonds signing and the building of AT&T Park. He truly loved the Q & A with members of the NYGPS.

The entire night’s program can be heard here thanks to Jay Goldberg on his podcast:

http://berginobaseballclubhouse.podbean.com/2013/09/20/peter-magowan-the-ny-giants-preservation-society/

Robert Garratt who wrote an amazing expose on Horace Stoneham captivated the audience with his perspective on the former owner of the team. Garratt explained how Stoneham was a true trailblazer of an owner and broke the second barrier in the game by signing many Latinos to contracts with the Giants. He explained that Stoneham and his scouts were concerned with putting the best team on the field and race had no barring as the Giants started the first All-African American outfield of Mays, Irvin, and Hank Thompson in the early 1950’s. Garratt also spoke of Stoneham’s spearheading a move out west regardless of the Dodgers when it appeared the Giants were going to Minneapolis. Garratt left us stating that Stoneham belongs in the Hall of Fame for all his noteworthy contributions to the game. A movement to do so appears imminent with Peter Magowan on board.
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SEPTEMBER 18, 1963-
FROM THE BOWERY BOYS NEW YORK CITY HISTORY

http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-polo-grounds-final-game-50-years.html

Thanks to NYGPS Member Ed Logan for finding this article which explains the last baseball game played at the Polo Grounds between the Mets and the Phillies., 50 years ago last week.

Fifty years ago today, the final game was played at the Polo Grounds, the legendary sports field that had once been home to the New York Yankees, the New York Giants (both baseball and football), and the New York Mets in their debut season.

The last game at the Polo Grounds was hardly memorable. The Mets were in their second season, almost as forgettable as their first. The team went 40-120 in its inaugural season, one of the worst results for a season in baseball history. In their second season, they fared marginally better (51-111). The Mets last home game of their second season — and the last game ever here — was a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-1.

Hardly anyone cared. No, really, that’s how the New York Times put it. “Hardly anyone cared”

“The smallest crowd to watch the Mets at the Polo Ground — 1,752 paying customers — turned out for this finale at the Harlem ball yard. Maybe the fact that there had been two previous major league ‘last games’ at the Polo Grounds took a bit(e) from the occasion.”

The writer is referring to the last game by baseball’s New York Giants in 1957 and the Mets last game from the 1962 season, when there were supposed to move into their new digs at Shea Stadium. But Shea wasn’t ready, and the Mets remained at the Polo Grounds for a final season, apparently to an audience of crickets.

“There wasn’t too much fuss and bother about the affair yesterday,” the Times lamented.

The Mets first game at Shea Stadium was in April 17 the following year. The brand-new stadium dazzled; the Mets did not. They lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-3. One week earlier, April 10th, their former home was torn down

Was at site today. Looking good. Probably a few weeks away from use. Looking forward to re-dedication. Here are two shots. Many more pictures on our yahoo page. Just click on Join button on tool bar above to navigate to yahoo page.

The last meeting of the year will take place on September 19 at 6:30pm at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse . Thanks Jay Goldberg once again!! The Giants (What happened!!) will be in town that week playing both the Mets and the Yankees. Our guest speaker will be NYGPS Member and current Giants executive Mr. Peter Magowan. Mr. Magowan is the major reason why the present day club still honors its glorious roots in NY. AT&T Park, his showcase while he was the chief managing partner of the team, spotlights many of the great moments, players, teams, and events that happened well over 55 years ago, 3,000 miles away. Mr. Magowan continues his passion and love for the history of the team to this day. Last year at NY Giants Night at At&T Park, he gave a tremendous speech concerning the team’s legacy and also paid compliments to our organization. Here is the video for those who haven’t seen it.

Mr. Magowan will be accompanied by Robert Garratt who wrote a terrific expose on Horace Stoneham. Mr. Garratt will share his thoughts on Stoneham’s tenure as owner. Much to the chagrin of many, Stoneham did many wonderful things for the baseball world writes Garratt.

This will be a tremendous evening!! You need to RSVP ASAP. Space is limited!! When you RSVP, please send it on a separate email to GIANTSGURU@GMAIL.COM so that everybody doesn’t continue to get this email and your email thus get cluttered with unwanted mail.

Thanks to many of you for your continued support. Please try to RSVP regardless of you coming or not.-Gary

As a bonus that day for those who can attend:
NYGPS Member and past guest speaker Larry Hogan will be conducting a discussion about the legendary clubhouse men of the New York and San Francisco Giants, who are at the center of his new book, So Many Seasons in the Sun, at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center at 1PM at the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center. Contact info is below should you have questions I can’t answer

By Casey Pratt

Throwing a strike isn’t an act exclusive to the pitchers on the mound when inside AT&T Park in San Francisco. Select fans can also attempt to obtain strikes in an ultra-exclusive two-lane bowling alley on the suite level.
The bowling alley soft launched on Friday and it is part of what the team is calling “The Gotham Club.” In addition to the bowling alley, there’s a bar, pool tables, and game room. If you’re roaming the ballpark, don’t bother trying to find it. It’s behind an obscurely marked door and well guarded.
The only way to get inside is if you are a season ticket holder and a member of a premium club. Anyone that has ever played for the Giants is also automatically a member of the club.
The Gotham Club and its new bowling alley is just one of three exclusive “Gotham” areas that will be hidden inside the ballpark by next season. Next season the Giants will be building a the “Gotham Clubhouse” somewhere in centerfield. They already have the “Gotham Bullpen” in right field.
The clubs were given their Gotham theme to honor the franchises roots as the New York Gothams back in the 1800s. All three of these areas are supposed to duplicate spots that existed inside the Polo Grounds in New York.
Members of the Gotham Club are given access to the swanky off limits areas inside the ballpark and invitations to special team events. Field of Teams requested access to the Gotham Club, but was denied permission to go inside and shoot video of the club.