Welcome...

Here's hoping everyone had a great 4th of July!

This month we bring you a mixture of images and text that hopefully rekindle good memories of our youth and school experiences. We highlight five WHS teenagers that we believe were the original five for the Breakfast Club and we offer up a new mystery face. Last month our face was Jimmy Martelli and not one of you were able to correctly identify him. This month we think you will find our mystery classmate to be a little easier.

Two former Yankees took time from their day to visit with us. In addition, a classmate spotlight that profiles one very considerate and talented alum.

Go ahead and enjoy...we dare to to not check your toes afterwards.  :)

Rich, Cindy and Diane

3 versus 5, 5 versus 3, what say you?...

What's your thoughts? We are a few months away from the one year mark since our 40th 2010 Class Reunion. The reunion was well attended and the consensus was everyone in attendance had a terrific time. The question we pose you is the following: How many of you would be interested in pushing forward the targeted five year span in between reunions and entertain getting together as a class at the three year mark? (Fall of 2013 rather than Fall of 2015).

 

Just a thought we are putting out for your feedback and would appreciate your thoughts...pros and cons are welcomed. Email us (contacts on the right side of the web page) and let us know what you think. 

 

Thanks!

We have both sat in Johnny Carson's guest chair...

"You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time".

Jim Bouton

We have had the pleasure of visiting with some special folks that played a role or were visible in our formative years such as Chuck McCann and Cousin Brucie. This time around we're grateful to someone from the sports world that made his mark in our part of the world as a member of the Yankees during our childhood, pitcher Jim Bouton.

Jim was very gracious in sitting down with us to share life in the NY/NJ area back then. In addition to his excellent career, Jim is known for what many claim to be one of the most notorious sports books ever written: Ball Four. A very controversial piece that shared with the public the honest side of the sport and it's players. In addition to us watching him pitch for the Yankees we saw him daily as a member of the trend setting news team.. WABC-TV's Eyewitness News...Grimsby/Beutel/Bouton/Rivera and Tex with the weather. Yes, Rivera as in Geraldo. Jim remembers Geraldo well when he made the grade with his notable investigative report on abuses at the Willowbrook State School.

Jim was born in Newark and lived in Englewood. As a kid growing up his favorite team was always the Giants and often he and his brother would take the train out to the Polo Grounds to see them play. Ironically, the first time he ever set foot in Yankee Stadium was when he made the 1962 club on Opening Day.

We spoke of life in the 50/60's and Jim shared that the contract he signed twenty minutes before the start of that '62 Home Opener was for a grand total of six thousand dollars. The next year he went 21 ~7 and was given a three thousand dollar raise. Yankees are infamous, though we never said generous. In speaking with him he reiterated the fact that not many gave him much of a chance before the majors but he persevered and never failed in believing in himself. The nickname of "Bull Dog" given to him by Yankee great, Elston Howard, was a good fit.

In an effort to supplement their incomes, Jim played on a off season charity basketball team comprised of members of the Yankees and Mets. To my surprise, Jim spoke of their group playing one evening on the WHS gym hardboards in the mid sixties vs. our faculty. "We always lost to the group we played, leave them with something to brag about". For a night's work on the basketball court, each player received fifty dollars for their appearance and play. One of his Yankee teammates that evening was Al Downing. I am fortunate to call Al a friend for many a year now since his playing days with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Al and I spoke about Jim and our profile for the WHS Blog. Al, a New Jersey native himself, spoke of the fun the two had. Jim was not shy or apologetic about enjoying all the perks and attention that comes with being a member of the famed Yankee organization, especially in NY.

 For Jim's first big league appearance and start he walked the first three batters, went 3 ~ 0 on the next guy and manager Ralph Houk felt it was time to visit the mound. Jim reassured him he was fine, let me get back to pitching and that he did. He got out of the inning with no runs scored, gave up seven hits, seven walks and wore out Houk's bullpen in the process. A complete game shutout for this rookie and on the way to his locker, his manager stopped him and whispered in his ear, "next time you decide to pitch a *&%#! shutout please forewarn me, I'll need to make some *%#@! roster moves because I now have six dead arms in my bull pen! Sarcasm of course but that was the beginning of an exciting career. After seven years in pinstripes he pitched for several other teams while releasing "Ball Four". Being outspoken and honest he was met with a lot of flashback within the sport including his fellow and former teammates. To this day he has never regretted writing it.

Jim is an entrepreneur and very successful businessman, calling Massachusetts home for quite a while now. Not many realize it but it was Jim that co-founded the most popular bubble gum on the market these days; Big League Chew.

Jim's straightforward approach to life and speaking his mind is something that makes one pause to take stock in. As example, the Yankees finally invited Jim back to their annual Old Timer's Game after his long exile caused by the "tell all" book...he enjoyed the experience, the fans welcomed him back with a standing "O" and afterwards a reporter asked Jim about the plans for the new stadium to be built...in the only way a "Bull Dog" knows how to respond..."If building or renovating a stadium is a good idea from a business perspective, let the businessmen pay for it. Why should taxpayers have to subsidize a baseball stadium if they don't even go to the games? It's a national outrage, considering that you have schools, hospitals, and fire departments without proper funding." In addition he didn't like the fact that green public park space would be eliminated and not replaced on the site of the new park and so on..."Rich, my comments were published and I haven't been invited back since, so I guess I'm back on the sh*t list my friend. Guess what...think it bothers me?" After a laugh shared between the two of us I knew the answer.

"Rich, we're from Jersey, we're expected to be straightforward...be fair to yourself and others, be honest...and enjoy life is my message to your fellow Barrons."

* A footnote to the old saying "it's a small world"...in conversation I found out that Jim's wife grew up and lived on the same block with Cousin Brucie, both being close childhood friends all those years.

Oh...that Johnny Carson thing. At the height of Ball Four's popularity Carson booked Bouton as a guest on the Tonight Show. In 1981, on photo assignment for NBC in their Burbank studios I found myself working on the set next to Carson's studio/set. Couldn't resist entering the closed empty studio, removed the muslim dust covers and sat in the guest chair. Seat cushion was hard as a rock, the view fun and memorable. Bouton: Warranted  Kee: Unwarranted

The Original Cast Members...

Steve Karger, Chris Boland, Doug Diem, Pat Navalany and Bennett Singer.

The script called for five teenagers to be trapped in a day-long Saturday detention. We like the casting of our WHS alumni much better.

Next month we showcase the girls of "Sex and the City"...these babes will NOT disappoint you.  :)

Everybody Loves Raymond...

Playing a game of street ball in the early 60's he was nicknamed Chico after the then Cincinnati Reds shortstop, Chico Ruiz. This lifetime fan of our America's favorite Pastime retained the name however don't expect him to hold any loyalty to the Red's when afterall, in his world the sun rises and sets in his beloved Yankeeland. His name is Raymond Ruiz, but we knew him as Chico and to this day the nickname has stuck for many.

 

Ray reflects back on his days at WHS as a time he concentrated on his studies while much of his love for sports and music was shelved. Ray attended Kean University where he obtained his degree in Math Education. From 1974 to 2007 Ray taught math in the South River and Monroe Twp. school districts. As some of you may know, Ray has played in several bands over the years and in the mid seventies he was the front man in a band of young locals that included one talented 18 yr.old lead guitarist named Richie Sambora. We all know now how the career path turned out for Ray's good friend...some group out of Sayreville I think, the name escapes me for the moment.

 

Ray's love and priorities are clearly focused on his family, music and the Yankees. Happily married now for over 33 years to Brenda, they have three children, Raegan, Ray and ReAnna and one cherished granddaughter. In speaking with Ray recently it was very obvious his love for his family. Retired since 2007, Ray and Brenda travel as often as they can, much of the destinations determined by the Yankees road schedule. His goal is to visit every MLB ball park in the country and attend the games when the Yankees are playing...to date he has visited over 21 MLB cities. Most recently, they took a road trip to Cincinnati to catch the Yankees and Reds.

 

Today, in addition to coaching the Monroe's girl's middle school basketball, Ray handles the keyboard along with some vocals for the band LEGACY. Recently he had the chance to perform a hometown gig at Rug's and Riffy's allowing many of his hometown friends and WHS alumni to witness "Chico" rock it. When time allows, you can also find him in a cross section of roles associated with the community theatres in Monroe and Freehold. For what was a quiet man in our WHS classes our classmate broke out of his shell in a big talented way.

 

Reflecting back on his career he holds quite a bit of pride in playing a role in his students' learning process. Whether it be in that math classroom, basketball/football venue that he coached or offering up extra time to an appreciative student needing extra help, Ray will be the first to remind us to concentrate on our love of life and always find time to do what brings happiness and fulfillment to your daily routine. Whether it was during his teaching career or now in retirement, this is one very special person that finds the time to bring much happiness not only to himself but more importantly...to those fortunate to be in his company.

 

Ray, Chico, friend or whatever the moniker...we say thank you and Go Yankees!



This little piggy went to market...

How many of us as kids went to either Slobiens or Cherinsky's on Smith Street for our shoes? Do you remember the shoe fitting fluoroscopes they used in assisting in finding the perfect fit for our feet?

A fluoroscope was a metal construction approximately 4 feet high in the shape of an upside-down tea cup, with steps for us to step up on. The kids would then place his or her feet in the opening provided and while remaining in a standing position, look through a viewing port hole at the top of the fluoroscope down at the x-ray view of the feet and shoes. Two other viewing portholes on either side enabled the parent and a sales assistant to observe the child's toes being wiggled to show how much room for the toes there was inside the shoe. The bones of the feet were clearly visible, as was the outline of the shoe, including the stitching around the edges. Get this...the exposure time would have been around 15 seconds.

The gimmick changed from decade to decade to suit the market at the time, but the most famous sales pitches were that the fluoroscope allowed salesmen to better fit shoes and that it made it more fun for kids to go to the shoe store. At the peak of devices popularity in the early 1950s, about 10,000 machines were in use.In 1949, the danger of the fluoroscope was revealed and the machines in the United States were quietly phased out during the 1950's and 60's.

Makes one wonder if this guy started out with the normal five.



Parakeets, gold fish and grilled cheese sandwiches...

Photo of the month...

Robin Chanin has submitted this month's selection of a fawn spotted on a walking trail near their home.

Great shot Robin!

A step back in time...

 

A vintage photo of what was Lund's Service Station located on New Brunswick Avenue in Fords. They carried Lee's tires, Tydol gasoline and provided free road maps!