Softball At Coleman Oval

The World Series is over but serious softball is still being played at Coleman Oval on the former site of PS 177.
from Joe Bruno

NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW, BUT JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. USED TO PLAY SOFTBALL IN COLEMAN OVAL IN THE LATE 1980'S AND EARLY 1990'S. HE PLAYED FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ON CENTRE STREET. THEY PLAYED WEEKDAY NIGHTS. AND SOMETIMES THEY STOPPED AT PATRICK HENRY'S PUB AT 27 MONROE STREET (FORMERLY RAMOS'), AFTER THE GAME FOR A FEW DRINKS. I KNEW JFK JR. A LITTLE FROM WORKING OUT IN THE SAME GYM WITH HIM AT THE DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB AT 19 WEST STREET. HE USED TO HANG OUT AT THE 3RD FLOOR BAR AT THE DAC, WHICH WAS AT ONE TIME, THE LONGEST BAR IN NY CITY. HE WAS A LOUSY SOFTBALL PLAYER. AND A LIGHT BEER DRINKER. NOT A HARD BOOZER LIKE HIS OLD MAN AND UNCLE TEDDY. HE USED TO JOG ALONE AFTER WORK AT THE DA'S OFFICE PAST MY PARKING LOT AT 31 MONROE STREET, THEN UNDER THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE. I TOLD HIM ONCE, 'YOU'RE CRAZY JOGGING UNDER THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE. IT'S DANGEROUS THERE." HE JUST SHRUGGED AND LAUGHED. LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD. TRULY, ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS. NOT LIKE THE REST OF THE KENNEDY'S. OBVIOUSLY, HE TOOK AFTER HIS MOTHER.