My name is Larry Pizer...and here my story...every word true.
 
I saw my very first game in 1954 at the Polo Grounds. I was not a fan yet,
unless hot dogs and peanuts count.  The Dodgers,the blue guys, won and #14 for
them hit a homer. The very next year I saw my second game, in Brooklyn.  I
believe it was Philly but I am not sure.
 
My dad knew the umpire with the big blue thing. Now I know what it is but I did
not then. I got to meet #14, GilHodges before the game.  His hands went to my
elbow, maybe beyond.  He hit another homer in that game and scored 2 more
times.  He was my first baseball hero and I went on to wear #14 for 20 years.
 
In 1958, when the Dodgers moved it was only slightly traumatic. I was a Jersey
boy, and had just reached the age of 9, when playing ball was more important
than Hot Dogs and peanuts in the shell. I missed them,but not until much later
when I had tryouts in Pittsburg and Philly. ( I bombed!) I would have much
rather been a Bum.
 
I have been a Dodger fan for 54 years. I am not much for changing my rooting
interests.  I have lived in 13 cities and never cheered for anyone but the the
Bums, Jints,Knicks,and Rangers.  Call me loyal to a fault.
 
Sandy Koufax may have taken #1 in my heart, because I am Jewish and his Yom
Kippur boycott was a really big deal.  But Gil should be a hall-of-famer.  He is
surely in Heavens Hall of Fame. I hope he gets in the second best Hall, at
Cooperstown.
 
Good luck with the book and I would love to buy one.

--- On Mon, 6/30/08, Trusted_Swordsman <vikmetrang@...> wrote:

From: Trusted_Swordsman <vikmetrang@...>
Subject: [GIL HODGES HALL OF FAME SUPPORT] Looking for a few quotes from some
members
To: gilhodgeshalloffamesupport@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 8:32 PM






Guys,

My name is Stephen Hart and I'm a sportswriter for the Staten island
Advance daily newspaper in NYC. I've also been a longtime member of
this group -- though I haven't posted before.

I'm 43 years old, and one of my first recollections of my childhood
was of my mom dragging me by the hand from kindergarten after school
and racing home in the fall of 1969 to watch the Mets win the World
Series. It's a cherished memory and one I have Gil Hodges to thank for.

I've been a sportswriter at my newspaper since 1989, and I am
currently working on a story that I would like some feedback on. This
year is the 50th anniversary of the first summer without the Dodgers
and Giants in NYC. I know last year, a lot of publications did stories
on the golden anniversary of their last seasons in New York; I'm
looking to do a 50th anniversary story on what it was like for the
fans who were left behind. Did they continue to root for the Giants &
Dodgers, even though they were on the West Coast? Did they actually
switch over to the Yankees? Did they give up on rooting for baseball?
Or did they bide their time and wait to cheer on the Mets starting in
1962?

Since I'm betting that there are a few former Brooklyn Dodger fans (or
maybe even ex-Giants fans) in this group -- or you might know people
who fit the bill -- I was hoping to speak with you for my story. You
can either correspond with me via this site or you can email me at
either my home email address (vikmetrang@aol. com) or work address
(hart@siadvance. com).

If you were a Dodgers (or Giants) fan 50 years ago, I want to know
what the summer of 1958 was like for you, and who you were rooting
for. I'd especially like to hear from either Staten Island residents
or former residents. But even if you're not, I'd still like to hear
what you have to say.

Email me and, if you really have an interesting story, I'll try to set
up a phone interview with you and have your quotes in my story.

Thanks again,
Stephen Hart

If you want to read some of my sports blogs that I've written, go
to ...
http://blog. silive.com/ sportsspotlight/ stephen_hart/


















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