Today at Da Bar I would like to take an entry to pay tribute to the man who started the sports tradition in my family, my Grandad. Today he would have turned 85 yrs old and no doubt would have been beaming with joy to see that his family of 8 children (5 boys, 3 girls) has blossomed in to a family of over 100 members!
Born December 14th, 1926 to Henry and Julia, Grandad grew to a lanky 6'3" man weighing about 190lbs. He attended Mt St Josephs High School in Baltimore, where he was a baseball pitching standout. Until recently there was a picture and small trophy case dedicated to him at the school. He was so good in fact, he was signed in 1945 by the NY "baseball" Giants. He was immediately sent to "D" level Erie Sailors. He played 2 seasons for the sailors before shoulder problems cut his career short.
Here are his stats from those 2 years.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=goldbe001gil
After his baseball career he met my grandmother and started what was the beginning of the family I know and love. He was a salesman for Goodyear and did all he could to support his wife and 8 children. Sports did not leave his mind though. Grandad played in a mens fast pitch softball league (Pitcher naturally). He was a "Baltimore Boy" and loved his Baltimore sports teams. He loved the Orioles from the day they arrived in 1954, especially since baseball had been such a big part of his life. Even more so though Grandad LOVED his Baltimore Colts. He had season tickets and even kept a Colts Bobble Head a top the TV, but when the Colts played bad Grandad made the Bobblehead face the wall.
His sons all played sports growing up and their children would as well. No one quite reaching the status or level of competition the ol' man did, even if in our slowpitch softball tournaments and league championships were pretty close. I am sure he would have enjoyed every minute of his grandchildren playing and succeeding at their respective sports.
Alas he was taken too early from us in 1986 at the age of 59. I was only 7 at the time and have verry little memory of him, but to this day I hear the stories and I see the lasting impact he made on his family over and over again.
Grandad we all miss you each day and I wish I could have spent more time with you talking sports like I do with my dad, your sons and grandsons now. I can only imagine how you are reacting to each Ravens game, and what you must think of the state of our lowly O's. Today the bar salutes you and lets you know that you were the beginning and inspiration of Goldy's. Your High School Team photo will now forever sit as the sign to GOLDY's
Let all of us know about who started your sports world and who you talk with......
GOLDY
Born December 14th, 1926 to Henry and Julia, Grandad grew to a lanky 6'3" man weighing about 190lbs. He attended Mt St Josephs High School in Baltimore, where he was a baseball pitching standout. Until recently there was a picture and small trophy case dedicated to him at the school. He was so good in fact, he was signed in 1945 by the NY "baseball" Giants. He was immediately sent to "D" level Erie Sailors. He played 2 seasons for the sailors before shoulder problems cut his career short.
Here are his stats from those 2 years.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=goldbe001gil
After his baseball career he met my grandmother and started what was the beginning of the family I know and love. He was a salesman for Goodyear and did all he could to support his wife and 8 children. Sports did not leave his mind though. Grandad played in a mens fast pitch softball league (Pitcher naturally). He was a "Baltimore Boy" and loved his Baltimore sports teams. He loved the Orioles from the day they arrived in 1954, especially since baseball had been such a big part of his life. Even more so though Grandad LOVED his Baltimore Colts. He had season tickets and even kept a Colts Bobble Head a top the TV, but when the Colts played bad Grandad made the Bobblehead face the wall.
His sons all played sports growing up and their children would as well. No one quite reaching the status or level of competition the ol' man did, even if in our slowpitch softball tournaments and league championships were pretty close. I am sure he would have enjoyed every minute of his grandchildren playing and succeeding at their respective sports.
Alas he was taken too early from us in 1986 at the age of 59. I was only 7 at the time and have verry little memory of him, but to this day I hear the stories and I see the lasting impact he made on his family over and over again.
Grandad we all miss you each day and I wish I could have spent more time with you talking sports like I do with my dad, your sons and grandsons now. I can only imagine how you are reacting to each Ravens game, and what you must think of the state of our lowly O's. Today the bar salutes you and lets you know that you were the beginning and inspiration of Goldy's. Your High School Team photo will now forever sit as the sign to GOLDY's
Let all of us know about who started your sports world and who you talk with......
GOLDY
Great tribute, Steve! Thanks for doing such a nice job on it.
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