#chalkles Stickball at the Handball Courts at Coleman Oval Pt 2

#chalkles The panoramic view of the handball court where stickball was played at Coleman Oval. pic.twitter.com/ezMKYnlmuY

— kvillage (@kvillage) May 8, 2014

Famous lower east side photographer Walter Rosenblum took a picture near this spot in the 1940's

#chalkles Stickball at the Handball Courts of Coleman Oval

#chalkles handball court: where stickball was played at Coleman Oval pic.twitter.com/wqGlxTNQAw

— kvillage (@kvillage) May 8, 2014

Famous lower east side photographer Walter Rosenblum took a picture near this spot in the 1940's

#chalkles Coleman Oval: The Orginal LMRC Photo 2

#chalkLES at Coleman Oval part 2 pic.twitter.com/hBOD0CxCAj

— kvillage (@kvillage) May 5, 2014

The original photo

#chalkles Coleman Oval:Spot of Historic 1959 LMRC Team Photo

#chalkLES. at Coleman Oval pic.twitter.com/x5C90EolgO

— kvillage (@kvillage) May 5, 2014

The original photo

John Forsythe: Who's Almost Who In KV History

John earns the distinction by going to Abraham Lincoln High School, a destination for many KVer's who made the move to Brighton Beach to the Warbasse and Trump Houses in the mid sixties. And a great memory from Paul Levine:

Since you mentioned John Forsythe in KV blog, I thought I'd share a PS 177 connection and a couple of degrees of separation. He was in an episode of a Kraft show; it escapes what it was called, possibly Kraft Mystery Theatre or something. He was starring in an episode and they needed a playground scene. The advance crew came to 177 and selected a few kids from our class to be in the scene. It was shot in Coleman Oval and I had to bring my baseball glove the scheduled day to have a catch with someone in my class during the scene. We were in the background during filming and John Forsythe was in the foreground with a couple of actors. It was one of my greatest days at 177: got to skip class, have a catch AND got paid for it.

postscript, the episode was:

Kraft Mystery Theater" Go Look at Roses. It aired on Wed, September 11th, 1963 and starred John Albright, Norman Fell, John Forsythe and Cathleen Nesbitt

Coleman Oval Pitching Star And Son

Considered by most to be the best pitcher ever in Two Bridges Little League History.
Sorry Murray.
about Vinny Adimando, from Joe Bruno

After little league, where he dominated for three years, Vinny was all-city at LaSalle High School. And a two-time All American at St. John's. Also a member of the United States Nation team for two years. He also played in the Cape Cod League, and made the all-star team twice.
In his first year in Pony League for Transfiguration, Vinnie pitched, played the outfield, and batted third. He was 13 years old. It was my third year in Pony League. I was 15, played shortstop and was the lead off hitter.
During the season, our coach Frank Mosco, told me there was going to be a bunch of scouts at our game to watch Vinnie. He told me he wanted Vinnie to lead off, so he'd get more at bats. I was moved down to the second slot. No problem.
In the first inning, Vinnie was up, and I was standing on deck. We were playing at DeWitt Clinton Field at 53th Street, and 11th ave. in Manhattan.
In the first inning, Vinnie hit the first, or second pitch, a heat-seeking missile over the left centerfield fence, and all the way across 11th Avenue, which was a 2-way street. You could hear the jaws dropping all over the field. I don't think anybody ever saw an 8th grader hit a ball that far.
So I'm up next. There was no way for me to follow that act. In fact, I don't think anyone was actually watching my at bat. Not even the pitcher.
Not even my father.
So I did what I did best. I bunted down the third base line for a base hit.
Nobody noticed. And rightfully so.

The All Season Skateboarding Season At Coleman Oval

Skateboarding At Coleman Oval: 11/16/08

Anatomy Of A Slugger

The LMRC slugger of my generation, Allan Silverstein, is approaching his 60th birthday. Al's a strong guy but I think his power is based just as much on technique, either a technique that he created or one that was second nature. I found a series of films deconstructing what Ruth was doing. A guy named Perry Husband provides the analysis. It's fascinating. Ruth had to be powerful, but it had to be something else to explain why he was so much better than players of his generation. It's not like he was taking steroids or corking his bat. I could make contact as a hitter fairly decently, but I could never really drive one. What I'd do for another crack at the fence in the old Coleman Oval aided by time travel and some of these techniques.

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.