SAN FRANCISCO BASEBALL

OLD TIMERS ASSOCIATION

(Established 1941)

FROM THE DUGOUT

September 2016 Edition
_______________________________
Officers

Directors

Rich Murphy (President)

Bill DeMattei

Jim Jarvis

Bob Fife (Vice President)

Dave Longa

Frank Brady

Ken Mooney (Treasurer)

Paul Varni

Nick Poppin

Anthony Boyadzis (Secretary)

Cliff Righetti

Gary B ader (Membership)

Leo Martinez (Health & Welfare)

Joe Marino (Sgt. at Arms)

Rich Ford (Golf Commissioner)

Lou Landini (Newsletter Editor)

Editors Column
So far, since Ive taken over the duties of editor of the SFBOTA newsletter, pieces
that Ive written about special guys in SF baseball annals and in the Old Timers are
men Ive had the great honor and supreme pleasure of knowing personally. The
subject of this months column is a man whom I did not know, and I feel cheated that
I did not make his acquaintance and get to know him.
That man is the late and very great John McCarthy, in whose steps I try to follow
every month in getting this publication out to the members. Taking over after
Johns passing, I feel like a .195 hitter just called up from Poughkeepsie to play
center field in Joe DiMaggios place. John was an artist, historian, wordsmith,
reporter, baseball encyclopedia and hyper-dedicated Old Timer. His work in
producing this newsletter set a standard that I strive to reach each month, but I
know I miss the mark. In Johns honor and memory, I keep trying. I silently
dedicate each issue to him and ask for his guidance and inspiration. I also beg his
forgiveness when I screw up.
We lost John way too early, but his spirit lives on in this humble monthly
remembrance.
Thank you, John McCarthy, for all you did. Im sorry I missed you.
A Serious Moment
OK, Men! The battle is on. We have officially started the campaign Old Timers vs.
Alzheimers with a donation can placed at the raffle ticket table at the August
monthly dinner. We ended up with a total of $230, starting with a most generous
1

donation of $100 from none other than Leo Martinez. On behalf of those Old Timers
whose loved ones have been afflicted by this brutal disease, we in the press room
thank you all for donating. And a special thanks to Vice-President Bob Fifes wife for
designing a great can in which we will be collecting our donations. Lets keep this
going, Gents. Each dollar we send off to the Alzheimers Association is a dollar closer
to a cure.
Help SFBOTA Save Money!!
The number of members who have signed up for e-mail delivery of their monthly
newsletter continues to grow. We are close to 90 members and are hoping for a lot
more. The August production and mailing costs were reduced by $115. If we were to
stay at that number, the yearly savings would be close to $1400.00. We would urge
those members who have e-mail to sign up by send me a message at
insplfl225@hotmail.com and we will add you to the list. Lets see how much more
money we can save!
Important Dates Department.
September 13, 2016---The monthly Dinner will again be at the Irish Cultural Center,
with cocktails at 6:00 PM, and dinner begins at 7:00 PM. On the menu will be Pasta
in meat sauce.
September 21, 2016---The Marino Pieretti Group luncheon will take place at
Dominics at Oyster Point in SSF. Cocktails begin at 11:30 and lunch is at Noon.
October 11, 2016---The monthly Dinner at the Irish Cultural Center will commence
with cocktails at 6:00 PM, followed by dinner at 7:00 PM, featuring Pasta with Meat
Sauce. This will be Sponsors Appreciation Night.
October 19, 2016---The Marino Pieretti Group will convene for its monthly luncheon
at the SSF Elks Club, with refreshments (aka cocktails) at 11:30 and lunch at Noon.
October 21, 2016---Save This Date!!! This is a Biggie!! Its the Annual Spaghetti Feed
and Raffle. The party starts at 6:00 PM with no-host cocktails, with dinner at 7:00
PM, at the Irish Cultural Center. The cost is $30 per person, wine included. Please
send in your reservations by 10/14/16. A flyer with instructions is attached to this
newsletter. Also, a special reminder to all Members: please get your sold ticket stubs
and money into Dave Longa as soon as you can! He gets real nervous, and we dont
need a Nervous Dave on the loose!
Golf News---Upcoming Events
September 26, 2016, a shotgun start at 8:30 AM---Peacock Gap in San Rafael. This is
the first of 3 events that will determine the club championship.
October 17, 2016, tee times beginning at 9:00 AM---Sunnyvale Golf Course in, you got
it, Sunnyvale. This is event #2 in the competition for the club championship.
November 14,2016, tee times beginning at 9:00 AM---Santa Teresa GC in San Jose
and is the final event in the chase for the club championship.
2

Results for the Closest to the Hole at Metropolitan Golf Links on 8/15
Hole 5: Forward Tees---(1) Larry Ratti 68 (2) Rod Rodriguez 111
Back Tees--------(1) Paul Navarro 244 ..(2) Nobody
Hole 7: Forward Tees---(1) Bill Jessen 101 (2) Gary Bader 107
Back Tees------- (1) Paul Navarro 96 (2)Roger Strack 154
Hole 12: Forward Tees---(1) Leo Martinez 12 inches (2) George Bacigalupi 1511
Back Tees--------(1) Lou Landini 210 (2) Rod Rodriguez 245
Hole 15: Forward Tees---(1) Leo Martinez 182 (2) Pat Dianda 398
Back Tees--------(2) Steve Kavanaugh 910 (2) Lou Landini 180
On the Mend
Im sorry to note a lengthy list of our Members on the DL this month. Bob Martinez,
Rich Blackburn, Bill Kennaugh, Don Benedetti, Charlie Silvera, Clarence Grider, Terry
Roach, Don Collopy, Jerry Big Sully Sullivan and Hal Fox---All these great guys are
spending time in the Trainers Room, and the Old Timers wish each and every one of
these honorable Members a speedy and complete recovery.
A Special Note from Leo Martinez: Jim Perry is on the DL and is at Laguna Honda
Home. Jim would be brightened up with cards and letters addressed to him at
Laguna Honda Home, 375 Laguna Honda Blvd, Building 1 North, Room 133A, San
Francisco, Calif. 94116.
You Know Youre an Old Timer When
...you speed when you drive so you can get to where you are going before you forget
where you are going.
---Happy Hour is a nap.
---your secrets are safe with your friends because they wont remember them.
---you notice that first grey hairon your kids.
Overheard
Bobby Mitchell, bon vivant and man about town, was scheduled to have lunch with
his good buddy Nick Poppin one day, and Bobby showed up with two black eyes and a
fat lip. Out of genuine concern Nick asked Bob what happened. Well, Nick, ya see,
yesterday I went to see my accountant, who is on the 20th floor of an office building.
As I was leaving, I got on the elevator. It stopped at the 18th floor, and this beautiful,
extremely well-endowed woman got on. She smiled at me and asked Would you
press one for me? So I did, and then she beat the snot out of me! Nick ordered a
triple martini and downed it in one gulp.

Baseball Trivia
(Last Months Questions & Answers)
---In how many seasons did the Iron Horse Lou Gehrig play every inning of every
Yankee game? (Believe it or not, only 1 season.)
---In how many seasons did Hank Aaron hit 50 or more home runs? (Believe it or not,
Zero.)
This months questions
---How many home run titles did slugger Roger Maris win?
---Which pitcher had the most wins in Dodger history?
A) Don Drysdale B) Sandy Koufax C) Don Sutton

New Members Department

Mike Koppel, a graduate of

Washington HS, a 35-year veteran of
law enforcement, and currently an
authenticator for Major League
Baseball. Welcome aboard, Mike!

Special Event Notification

The 2016 Balboa HS Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame and Hall of Merit Awards Luncheon
will take place on Saturday, November 5, 2016. We usually do not advertise in great
detail those functions that are not SFBOTA sponsored events, but we are gladly
making an exception in this case because three outstanding Old Timers are being
honored that day, Nick Poppin (Athletics Hall of Fame), Bob Volkert (Athletics Hall of
Fame---Special Recognition), and Bill Magidson (Hall of Merit). This memorable event
will be held at Patio Espanol, 2850 Alemany Blvd., San Francisco, no-host cocktails at
11:30 AM, with lunch to follow at 12:30. The cost is $40. Make your check payable
to Balboa Alumni, and send it to P.O. Box 31866, SF, CA 94131. Please respond
quickly. Any questions? Contact Emily Powell, Balboa Alumni President Emeritus,
at 650-851-8101, or e-mail her at emilybalboa@comcast.net (If space permits in the
October edition of this newsletter, well insert the Balboa Alumni invitation.)

Rogues Gallery

Nick Poppin, 2016 Balboa HS Athletic Hall of Fame

Inductee

Bob Volkert, 2016 Balboa HS Athletic Hall of

Fame Inductee for Special Recognition

Bill Magidson, 2016 Balboa HS Hall of

Merit Inductee

Tony Ribera, esteemed Old Timer and retired

Chief of the San Francisco Police Department
gives an informative and straight-from-the-hip
talk at the August dinner meeting.

Kris Kimball, an Old Timer who keeps giving and

giving and asking nothing in return, received the
richly deserved Good Guy Award at the August
dinner meeting. Thanks, Kris, for all you have
done and will continue to do for the Old Timers.

Final thought---Renowned scientist

Albert Einstein once said that the big
difference between Stupidity and
Genius is the fact that Genius has
limits!

Thank You Once Again and Always to Our Loyal Sponsors

DEE MURATORE, MURATORE GENERAL CONTRACTOR & CABINET MAKER

2825 Phelps St, SF 94124; 415-826-1220; www.muratorecorp.com
DENNIS DICKEY, 1st CHOICE MORTGAGE AND REALTYJohn Le
1553 Second Street, Napa 94559 707-252-2400 dennis@realtorcite.com
ROB FIFE, 729 SOLUTIONS
1618 Sullivan Ave, Suite 535, Daly City 94115 650-755-7049
GERI CAMPANA, AL GRAF BAIL BONDS
859 Bryant St, SF 94013 415-431-3333
ERNEST CHUCKAYALA, AYALA REAL ESTATE
532 Castro Street, SF 94114 415-861-0704 ecayala@aol.com
KRIS KIMBALL. BRADLEY REAL ESTATE
563 San Pedro Cove, San Rafael 94901 415-706-4100
ROGER MINHANDO, CHALET BASQUE RESTAURANT
405 No. San Pedro Rd, San Rafael 94901 415-479-1070 chaletbasque@hotmail.com
LOREN A. KERTZ, CHARLES SCHWAB CO.
403 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera 94925 415-945-6408 loren.a.kertz@schwab.com
JOE MARINO, COLUMBUS CAF
562 Green St, SF 94133 415-326-3088
FRANK J. PISA BARBER SHOP
5 Civic Center Lane, Millbrae 94030 650-697-0736
PAUL NAVARRO, LUCETIS RESTAURANT
109 W. 25th Avenue, San Mateo 94403 650-574-1256 or 650-458-6550

lucetis.com

GREG RIGHETTI, MARIN LOCK & SAFE

808 Third St, San Rafael 94901 415-456-4346 marinlockandsafe@gmail.com
MARK BENEDETTI INSURANCE
199 California Dr, Suite 702,Millbrae 94030 650-697-2044 mbinsuru@hotmail.com
NICK DUTTO, METROPOLITAN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION, INC.
2400 Third St, SF 94107 415-642-3002 ndutto@metroelectric.com
CHUCK GUST, NICKS SEASHORE RESTAURANT
100 Rockaway Avenue, Pacifica 94044 650-359-3900 www.nicksrestaurant.net
RAY McDONALD, PERSONAL AWARDS CO.
1842 E. 3rd Avenue, San Mateo 94401 650-558-0860 pawards@pacbell.net
DANIEL E. COLLINS, PORTSMOUTH FINANCIAL SERVICES
250 Montgomery St, Suite 200, SF 94104 415-543-8500 or 800-443-2227 toll free
TOM LaTORRE, SABELLA & LaTORRE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
#3 Fishermans Wharf, SF 94133 415-673-2824

SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTERS TOY PROGRAM

Leo Martinez, Al McCarthy, Vince Tudoni. Rich Blackburn, Skip McKinney, George Schnapp,
Jim McCoy, Art Citron, Dan Jacobsmeyer, Brian Kearney, Ray Molinari
TOM CREEDIN, SCOMAS RESTAURANT
Pier 47, Fishermans Wharf, SF 94133 415-771-4383
MARLENE VOGELSANG, SOCIETY for AMERICAN BASEBALL RESEARCH (SABR)
510-589-8523 mvogelsang@sbcglobal.net
THOMAS J. BRANDI, THE BRANDI LAW FIRM
354 Pine St, 3rd Floor, SF 94104 415-989-1800 tjb@brandilaw.com
DAVE LONGA,
THE MARINO PIERETTI GROUP
TERESA MOORE, THE UNITED IRISH CULTURAL CENTER
2700-45th Avenue, SF 94116 415-661-2494 UICCBanquets@yahoo.com
JAR OF GOLD
Fellow Old Timers Jim Jarvis & Ernie Golding
THE GRIDER FAMILY
RETIRED SAN FRANCISCO FIREFIGHTERS
Nick Cannuli, Bill DeMattei, Mel Canevaro, Jim OConnor, Don Dennehy, Bob Moser,
Milt Panagotacos, Mike Pera, Jack Bonnici, Roger Bross, Frank Kelly
DANIEL DUGGAN, DUGGANS SERRA MORTUARY
500 Westlake Av, Daly City 94014 650-756-4500 dan@duggansserra.com
TABLE 6 (TRUCK)
Hank Sanchez, Al McCarthy, Art Citron, Jim OConnor, Larry Lawson, Jim Dowd, George Schnapp
ALUMNI of MISSION HIGH SCHOOL
Vince Belli, Eddie Gutierrez, Joe Blea, Steve Riordan, Terry Roach
THE BALL TEAM
The Late Frank Strazzullo, The Late John Alameda, Mike Bagdon, Rich Ford, Con Maloney, Billy Jones,
Art White, Ken Mooney and Big Sully
THE 1956 BIG 8 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP BASEBALL TEAM
Bob Bandetini, Glen Buckowatz, Ron Castro, Ken Dito, Russ Fadelf, Roger Ferrari, Lew Flores,
Fred Glosser, Blair LeMire, John McCarthy, Larry Nielsen, Larry Nissim, Jim Poppin,
Fred Quinn, Ray Waruman, Frank Cic Williams, Vince Bud Williams
ANONYMOUS DONOR
Thanks Old Timers---Your Monthly Newsletter Is A Great Read
DR. PAUL NIDERMAN, DDS, DENTAL CARE SF, HIGH TECH COSMETIC DENTISTRY
2310 Judah St @ 28th Av, SF 94122 415-564-8330 contact@dentalsf.com