Could everyone write one simple essay about something that once happened in Saltaire…that they saw or were a part of…and put it on one big website? Somebody should collect a lot of stories before we all forget. Otherwise it is like a line in “On The Beach” : The history of the war that now would never be written.” -(JO'H)

Monday, July 1, 2013

FOSSIL FUELS THE LEGEND: THE BALL HIT OVER THE CHOCOLATE CHURCH

ROBIN WRIGHT RECALLS THE DAY A BALL WENT OVER THE CHURCH AND OTHER STORIES OF INTER COMMUNITY SOFTBALL GAMES IN THE 1950'S

ROBIN WRIGHT WRITES, AND RIGHTLY SO:

Hi Jim,

It was Wednesday a warm day at Saltaire field.  The year 1958.  Dana
Wallaces team from Ocean Beach had challenged us to a beer game.  As usual
the team was made up of mostly lifeguards.  Two that I remember was Kenny
and George Ryder.  We had played Ocean Beach before, as well as Fair
Harbour, Kismet Inn and POW before.  Saltaire had the best team and the
best field on Fire Island.  Charlie Ludlow was pitching.  Sid Greer was
catching.  Art Mol first base.  Pete Banta second base.  Joe Callahan at
short.  Robin Wright at third.  Bruce Banta at center field.  Pete Callahan
left field.

Dave Banta at right field.  We did not have short fielder or woman at the
time.  The game was a blast.  Balls flying everywhere.   We won the game
8-6.  Kenny Ryder however, hit the longest ball I have ever seen at
softball.

Batting right, he hit the ball completely over the roof of the church.  It
was still climbing as it past over the peak of the roof.  It never hit the
far side of the roof.  We send a searching party looking for the ball,
never found it.  If Dick Starkey was at the game, he would have found it.

Robin.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Robin -

Were you among the teenage hooligans that were setting off fireworks in the field one night thereby annoying Capt Al, who was diligiently tending to his bottle of Bellows whiskey in the old Shim Shack? Did he in fact send you and some of your peers up to set off a string of fireworks under Mrs. Punnett's house which when they exploded, Peter Punnett sitting in a chair reading the newspaper, was so startled that he ripped the paper in half?

Bonics said...

The fossil Rules! As far as we know he is the only player to play in Six decades! The 1999 Dogfish of which, Robin Wright was a Player/Manager has to be mentioned with the all time championship teams. Thrashing their opponents by a combined 36-2 score in both their one playoff game and subsequent Championship Game victory, with Chris wright the winning pitcher. Go fossil, your the best of all time!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Bionics:


I know of old timers who will swear that Bob Wright, Robin's Father, was the best ever.

Also, not many recall Robin's Brother Doug Wright since he never played later than the 1960's, but he was a terrific ball player. Hit well, not as far as Robin, but probably as good for average, and he was a great infielder. Doug is a couple years younger than fossil.

Derf said...

Jim, you may not know that Bonics is an archaeologist so he would have a definite tendency to vote Fossil “all the way”

Anonymous said...

Are you suggesting that Bionics may have a conflict of interest and should not be allowed to vote?

But we are letting lawyers like me vote, so I think an archeologist should pass the integrity test per se.

Anonymous said...

ALL HAIL FOSSIL!!

THE KING OF THE SOFTBALL DIAMOND!!

THE BEST OF THE BEST!!

THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT!!

Architect Builder said...

Hi All!! Greetings from CA. The Fossil sends his love to Saltaire. And I'll be looking to continue the Wright Legacy on the Saltaire's own Ball Field: Wright Field....summer of 2017. Todd