Author Archives: Streetplay Discussions

TAR HEAVEN!! I had a…

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TAR HEAVEN!! I had a friend in Richmond Hill,Queens (Carmine), his mom was the super in the apartment building on our corner. He snuck the roof keys from her one day and we went to the hardware store (Moblegots)or something like that, We called it Moblegots & Ghoul! Any way we would sneak up on the roof to hang out, it over looked “The Bagel Factory” and a bus stop. GOD I LOVE WATER BALLONS!!!! I guess I don’t even need to mention Holloween! “When this old world starts getting me down…”

WOW! The ice truck!! You…

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WOW! The ice truck!! You just brought back a long forgotten memory. We use to sneak up and grab broken pieces to eat. The guy never really cared but he always yelled at us..” Hey you kids get atta here before I call da cops!” I think he just liked to watch us run!!! Also reminded me of an old Italian guy (Richmond Hill,Queens) that would come around with a push cart with a seat on it and a pedal driven sharpening stone, and he would sharpen knifes and scissors.He didn’t speak english but we always spoke to him. We use to love giving him our pocket knives to sharpen, he charged us a nickel.

There is no social function…

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There is no social function in life that was more profound or important than hangin out on da stoop! My stoop on 113th St. in Richmond Hill Queens was the epicenter of the universe from the 60’s to the 80’s, it was a family tradition. My mom’s theroy was she always knew where we were. She was also the self appointed guardian and disciplinarian to every kid on the block. Also my grandmother kept them all fed! Now I live in Florida as does my entire family that moved from Queens. So now we teach our kids about hangin out. Only here we don’t have stoops, so we break out our beach chairs and hang out in the driveway. We call it “Trash Nite”, the Floridians in the neighbor still can’t figure us out, but there kids love learning to play kick the can, I Declare War,skelly, and much more. I’m proud to say at 45 I can still whip some butt in skelly!! I’m also teaching the unenlightened down here about stickball, fast pitch against the wall of coarse.

Troop 662 (originally 262)…

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Troop 662 (originally 262) Richmond Hill, Queens. Without a doubt the best times of my life and the best friends I ever had and still have. There was nothin like goin’ ta TMR!!!! I live in Florida now but I make it a point to go back home when I can and always take a drive up to Narrowsburg and visit TMR. Went up this summer and stayed a Bob Landers for 3 days. Took my kids, they love it there. My daughters 15 & 12 have been there before. This time I had my son (15 months old), he had his TMR baptismal, I took him swimming in the Delaware! Catching red efts (brought home a few for my tank)with him and exploring the old camps and trails. It was the highlight of my summer, can’t wait to go back again, and yes “I AM AN EAGLE SCOUT!”

A-h-h !! Growin up in Richmond…

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A-h-h !! Growin up in Richmond Hill,Queens..where does one begin!!! Skelly in the streets, stoop baseball (my house was “the stoop”), slapball, wiffleball, and everyones favorite S&M game Hot Beans & Butter!! Roller hockey in the steets, the rivalries..113th St. -vs- The World!!! Naturally any playground as part of a school was called “the schoolyard” and you never used P.S. you just said you were going to 62 to play stickball. There was the progressive growth of where you hung out and played ball. For us it was 62, Hill (H.S.),108,Smokey Park, 88th St. Park (on Atlantic Ave.), and of coarse as was stated before …”Mecca”- Victory Field !!! The playing fields where we left patches of our dungarees and flesh from sliding on the asphalt! Inner city fast pitch Softball on asphalt, there was nothing like it in the world!! Fast and furious!! “..those memories come back to haunt me…” So much fun so little time!!!!

I have had the wonderful…

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I have had the wonderful experience of playing stickball with Steve in San Diego. I am a San Diego Police Officer from Bergen County, NJ. Steve and I immediately “hit if off” like two home boys should. I was five feet from Steve when he slid full speed into home on cement. As he was comming home I was shocked when he sped up and then hit the ground as if he was running on grass. I didnt realize it at the time that I just saw a true hero in action. Although I didnt know him like his family and friends, I would imagine he worked as hard as he played. No excuses just superior effort at all times. For Steves familiy and friends I share in your loss of a beautiful person. Steve Mercado, you will always be remembered as a American hero who laid it on the line for people who he did not know. You made the ultimate sacrifice beacuse you knew that when you took the oath, it was not just spoken words but it was about actions. From one public safety officer to another, you and your fallen bothers and sisters will always be an inspiration in my life. Your Friend, Brian :>

I didn’t know Steve except…

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I didn’t know Steve except for a brief meeting at this year’s Stickball Tournament in San Diego (only one week before the terror struck). The first time we met, Steve had just slid into home base to lay it all out for his team and try to score that very important run that would have made it 11-2. That’s what I thought was a true TEAM player, someone who would give the skin off of his leg for his team. It seems Steve gave more than that for his “team” that next week. I can’t help thinking of Steve talking to his son during the tournament and teaching him the lessons of Stickball. I feel for that little boy now, as I know his world (as has countless others) has been changed forever. I pray for Steve’s family and the families of those who lost someone in that terrible disaster. I know that in some way, there will have a higher calling for Steve and the members of his firefighting unit. Their bravery and heroism was not for nothing, as I know that in some way, they had a hand in helping those who were able to escape the World Trade Center buildings. Rest in Peace, Steve.

All donations my friends…

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All donations my friends and I make to the cause from now on will be made in Steve’s name. I didn’t know the man but he truly fits the definition of greatness. It would be a fitting tribute at some point to hold a memorial stickball tournament in his name with all proceeds going to support whatever NYFD-related cause streetplay.com decides. Please let me know if this happens so I can help underwrite it.

I didn’t know Steve, but…

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I didn’t know Steve, but I got the e-mail notification from Streetplay. I got on the list after talking to some of the members who were exhibiting at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. I grew up in Brooklyn and took a walk down memory lane reminiscing about the good times I had playing punchball, skelley, etc. in the early 60’s. One of my strongest memories was hanging out playing my games on the street outside my father’s laundry on Coney Island Avenue. Anytime, a fire engine went by (and plenty went by that street), no matter what we were doing, my playmates and I would jump up and wave vigorously at the firemen. In those days, they stood on the ladder. They would chuckle and wave back. We would wave and wave until they went out of sight. We just admired them so much. My heart goes out to Steve’s family. He must have been a great guy.