Well, friends today's entry comes from a late August edition of an Attleboro Sun from 1952. It is an account of a home-and-away series of Little League baseball games between the North Attleboro All-Stars and the Attleboro All-Stars. The initial contest was waged at Community field, and I enjoyed reading the names of so many from both teams that I knew growing up and throughout my life.
Attleboro Takes First in Little League Series
NORTH ATTLEBORO - A single in the sixth inning for leadoff hitter Johnny Balut marred a no-hit, no-run performance for Doug Robistow as the Attleboro Little League All Stars won the first of the best of a three-game series from the North stars at Community field Saturday afternoon. After going three innings without a run, the city boys teed off on lefty Collins MacCloud for four runs in the fourth and eventually went on to take a 6-0 verdict. The two teams will clash at Capron Park next Saturday afternoon.
MacCloud retired after the fourth inning in favor of Johnny Balut who was greeted with a home run over the left centerfield fence by Roger Daneau, who took over first base for Pete Gazzola in the fifth. Over the route, Robistow had his curveball working well and lost control only momentarily in the second when he walked two batters with only one away. He suddenly snapped out of the lapse to fan the next two hitters, Robistow had 12 strikeouts while issuing only four bases on balls. MacCloud was touched for five of Attleboro's eight hits.
Loose playing afield paved the way for the big Attleboro score when two errors were recorded in the big fourth inning. Dick Post led off the frame with a grounder to Alden Ketell at third which was bobbled. Johnny Doyle, the hard-hitting pitcher of the Indians who was playing third in the game, lined a single to right field and then a wild pitch was uncorked to have baserunners on second and third with none gone. Ed "Babe" Mendes then scratched a hit to short with the first run coming home. Johnny Arruda then stepped to the plate and pumped a single into right field which ushered in Doyle with the second run and sent Mendes to third. Arruda stole second, and when Denny Redding threw the ball into center field, both Mendes and Arruda rounded third and scored. MacCloud then settled down to get the next three hitters.
With one down in the top of the fifth, Daneau hit the second ball pitched by Balut over the fence, the clout just having the legs to clear the barrier. The final Attleboro run came in the sixth as Johnny Arruda singled down the third base line, stole second and rode home on a single to left by Robistow.
I hope you enjoyed recalling all these old familiar names and their boyhood exploits as much as I did.
I absolutely love the following short note which I received from a reader which was unfortunately unsigned. It is so reminiscent of the humor of years long past, back when Attleboro and Norton were decidedly less cosmopolitan and much more rural and dependent on agriculture. I remember so many farms in the area from my boyhood, but I am at a loss to think of one surviving today. By the way, anyone having correspondence to send, please mail it to this columnist, 146 County St., Attleboro MA 02703, and not to the offices of The Sun Chronicle. Thank you, and now for that precious letter which I received from my very sweet correspondent. I imagine this memory was prompted by the column on Talaquega Park.
"After a pleasant evening at Talaquega Park dancing (and maybe a brew or two), he took the trolley back to Norton. When he was close to home, he got off the trolley to walk across the fields to home. There were no streetlights, and it was pitch black and he completely forgot his neighbor's cows - that is, until he stumbled over one that he surprised, which immediately jumped up from the ground, throwing Daddy head over teakettle. He did get home, but Grandma certainly heard some words which she didn't think he knew!"
I can only hope that I may receive more of this faithful reader's wonderful bygone memories.
The AHS Class of '68 will hold its 45th reunion this coming Saturday at Ralph and Joan Arguin's beautiful Country Gardens. Wow!
I don't believe I could improve on Mark Flanagan's touching tribute to the late Dr. Jim Birch, so I will just reaffirm his opinion of a quality man and a masterful doctor; our sympathy to the Birch family.
I want to extend condolences to my friends Tommy and Darleen Wyman and the rest of the Wyman family upon the passing of Laura E. Wyman.
Our old East Side gang of guys took a big hit this past week with the passing of Mike Santos, a lifelong city resident who I always took pleasure in meeting. Yet one more piece now missing from that great jigsaw puzzle of the Attleboro faces from our youth. Sympathy to his lovely and caring wife Susan (O'Grady) Santos and the children, and also to his brother Steve.
Great to see that city stalwart Bob "Mac" McKearney is finally starting to get an upper hand on these health problems which had him in hospitals of one kind or another for most of the past two months. Mac is home now, but not getting out much, so I'm sure he'd love a phone call or a card from his good friends. Stay well, Mac, we got a bet on you.
Please be good to one another out there and try to do another a good turn daily-please remember the less fortunate, the hungry and the homeless, especially now that the weather is changing. If you think of an old dear friend, don't put off contacting them. Do it today. Peace.
Thomas McAvoy is a community columnist whose commentaries appear in this space on Tuesdays.
