God must be a baseball fan, and the events of the 1961 season solidify this claim. Only God could have allowed two Roman Catholics to be linked forever in one of the game’s greatest moments. Those Catholics were New York Yankees slugger Roger Maris and Sal Durante, the young man who caught Maris’ 61st home […]
Author: Jim Mancari
In New Book, Branca Talks of Faith, Family
Many people think of the American Revolution’s Battle of Lexington and Concord when they hear the “Shot Heard ’Round the World.” However, for baseball fans, the phrase takes on a completely different meaning. It refers to New York Giants’ outfielder Bobby Thomson’s three-run home run off Ralph Branca of the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the […]
Optimism Kicks Off H.S. Football Season
“Dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Hard work is the price we must pay for success. I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.” These famous words were spoken by two-time Super Bowl champion coach and Sheepshead Bay native Vince Lombardi. Though Lombardi spent his senior […]
Baseball Always a Passion for Joan Hodges
“Behind every great man, there stands a great woman.” Such is the case for the iconic Gil Hodges. On Dec. 26, 1948, Hodges married East Flatbush’s own Joan Lombardi. The soon-to-be 85-year-old Joan Hodges was born a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, so meeting Gil just seemed right. The couple had four children – a boy and […]
Debut as a Met Is a Dream Come True
Though scores of young men love the game of baseball, very few earn the chance to play the sport professionally. Of those lucky enough to make the big leagues, a miniscule percentage play for their hometown team. However, for Whitestone’s Mike Baxter, not only did his dreams of playing professional baseball come true, but he […]
St. Joe’s of Brooklyn Earns NCAA Status
Be prepared to hear an even louder roar from the Bears and Lady Bears of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, starting this fall. Effective Sept. 1, St. Joseph’s College’s Brooklyn Campus became the newest member of the NCAA Division III. The athletic program persevered to get where it is today, thanks to the support of the administration […]
Cyclones’ Skipper Has a Story of Faith
Normally in tune with his Catholic faith, there was a time when Brooklyn Cyclones first-year manager Rich Donnelly lost his religion to the peer pressures of baseball. However, one chilling experience reeled him back in and gave him a new look on life. Donnelly has been a Major League Baseball coach for nearly 30 years. […]
Behind-the-Scenes with Rudy Riska
From University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger to Auburn University quarterback Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy has been a part of American culture since 1935. And for the better part of the award’s history, Brooklynite Rudy Riska has been the behind-the-scenes force that has held the ceremony together. He served as the athletic director of […]
CYO Golf Classic Honors Mike Piazza
When we hear the name “Mike Piazza,” many of us automatically think of the New York Mets baseball player who was the greatest hitting catcher of all-time. However, in addition to his accolades on the field, Piazza is a devout Catholic that found solace in prayer throughout his career. Piazza was the honoree of the […]
Catholic School MLB Draftees Eager To Start Pro Careers
St. John’s University, Jamaica, as well as some local Catholic high schools, had a good showing in this year’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, June 6-8. St. John’s has built a tradition of producing professional prospects, and this year was no different, as four Red Storm players will be given a chance to pursue […]