Playing At The Grand

originally from the early days of pseudo-intellectualism Quite a find at the NYPL! Either there is new material there, or there are nooks and crannies previously undiscovered. No date, however. The Grand was demolished in 1929 when the area was cleared for Roosevelt Park. This slide show is compromised of photos taken by Percy Loomis Speer. I would guess it was part of an effort to document the large scale clearing of buildings that was required to build the park. FDR was the Governor of the state at the time and my understanding is the Eleanor, who had worked for a time at University Settlement, was instrumental in making the case for urban renewal. Maybe he resisted and part of his concession was that he had to name it after his domineering mother.

Louis Lefkowitz: Last Of The Street Politicians

lefkowitz from a 1979 New York Magazine article by Fred Ferretti. Louis went to PS 188 on East Houston Street. He also went to the University Settlement House where he belonged to the Solon Club. A Republican Federal Club at 44 Avenue C that Louis belonged to is also mentioned.

Another Jewish MLB Figure From The LES: Emil Edwin Fuchs, part 2

The inset shows Fuchs in a team photo

Another Jewish MLB Figure From The LES: Emil Edwin Fuchs

Fuchs played for the University Settlement team.

Emil Edwin Fuchs (17 April 1878 in Hamburg, Germany - 5 December 1961 in Boston, Massachusetts was a German-born American baseball owner and executive.
Fuchs was the attorney for John McGraw's New York Giants when he bought the Boston Braves with Christy Mathewson and James McDonough; the team struggled with financial problems throughout their ownership. After Jack Slattery quit as manager, Fuchs hired Rogers Hornsby to manage the rest of the 1928 season. He then sold Hornsby to the Chicago Cubs and managed the team himself, finishing in last place. The Philadelphia Phillies loaned Fuchs $35,000 to keep the Braves solvent.
By 1935, he was in such dire straits, he could not afford the rent on Braves Field. When he learned that Babe Ruth's days as a New York Yankee were numbered, Fuchs bought the slugger from Jacob Ruppert. Ruth was named vice-president and assistant manager of the Braves, and promised a share of the profits and a possible part-ownership. When he realized that Fuchs was broke and was using him as a last-ditch effort to revive his fortunes, Ruth announced his retirement on May 27. Soon afterward, Fuchs sold the team.
Emil Fuchs graduated from New York University Law School, and became a magistrate for New York City from 1915 to 1918. He was an attorney for the New York Giants for a time, and became friends with John McGraw. He was owner of the Boston Braves from 1923 to 1935, paying $550,000 for the team, while being $300,000 in debt when he sold. He managed the club in 1929 as well. Fuchs brought Babe Ruth back to Boston in 1935, the last season for both of them.
After selling the team, Fuchs resumed his law practice in Brookline, MA and paid off all his debts.