Garity Knights

1957 As seen through #55's facemask.

We practiced in the spring and in the fall. Jim Dolan, Dom. Affatato and Torchy Smith. Alex Miller Jojo Miller’s brother was our trainer. I still remember him having Freddie soak his knuckle with Burrows solution. The end result was Freddie has a life long reminder of that year in the large calcium deposit that never went away. Eddie also sought medical advice that year (or was this in the seniors? He went to the Brooklyn College Doctor for his thumb? He was told to see a doctor if it persisted!) We all thought that response was a howler (little did we know that doctor was 50 years ahead of his time). But at least for that season, as far as I know--we were lucky and didn't sustain and permanent damage. Jim Dolan was the head coach I think it was he who decided we would run a winged-T. Torchy remembers having a 3 way discussion wtih Dom and Jim about obtaining funding from the Garity American Legion Post. It was decided that Jim Dolan would go and make the pitch for money. He was successful and we received some financial support (I think it was about $300). Even with this support we still had to raise money via raffles and even took collections on game days to pay for the referees. This was the era before TV crushed amateur athletics of this type and we drew large crowds. I believe we passed the hat to obtain additional funding from the crowd. Basically it was a neighborhood supported team. Even with the funding (which was used to purchase our jerseys) we still needed football pants. Our solution--buy white pants and dye them blue. Which is what each of us did. Of, course this resulted in an amazing ranges of shades of blue bottoms to go with our precious gold and blue jerseys.
on We built up last years pre-league team with additional players who joined us from lower Ridgewood (Danny litterini, his brother Junior and others) so it may have been the most numerous Garity team I ever played with. There were more than 30 players and we were able to practice with full team scrimmages all the time. Now football was new to all of us so we practiced and practiced. Hey, practicing was playing football so we love it. We used to scrimmage for hours on the Saturday before a Sunday game. We must have left some of our best games there on Saturday. But we were playing football. and we loved it. We thought we were ready.

PRE-SEASON

We started with a rematch against Ronnie Momian teams and beat them 18-12. Wow--from 48-0, 10 months before, to an 18-12 victory—that told us something. We were a team and much better than a year ago. (Actually we didn’t know how many of the same guys played with Marmian from the year before). But we didn’t care. We had won. We were ready. It was a good start. I remember the game early in September before the leagues started, a nice day for a game. As I remember it we were firmly in control moving the ball easily. It was a great ego booster.
Prior to the start of the season, we went to to see the Baisley Park Bombers play the Long Island Tomahawks in a exhibition game at old farmers oval. It was a night game--the first I ever attended. It was such an excillerating experience to realize that we were part of a league that played night games. Basiley Park in their white uniforms with neat green trim; and the Tomahowks in the black with red trim looked GREAT. The lights illuminated the playing field only and you could easily wander off into the surrounding darkness. I remember how alive it felt to be watching that game and knowing that in one week we would be playing our first league game ever.

As we roamed the sidelines we were telling each other how easily we would beat these guys. They would not be a problem for. We were filled with an overflowing confidence that was spilling out of us. We were ready to play in this league. We would find out soon enough how accurate our assessments were since these two teams were scheduled to be our second and third opponents. But first we had to play the defending league champions--the Lynvets. Now everyone wanted to beat the lynvets. They had won the championship the year before and their coach Larry Kelly had a gift for convincing his team that they were the best. And he was even better at galvanizing the opposing coaches and players into wanting to correct that inflated opinion. The only problem in trying to effect that correction was that this year the Lynvets had another really good team. They went on to win the championship again (but that was 12 weeks away)

GARITY 0, LYNVETS 15

It was a home game on a dark drizzily day We kicked off. I was running down field when a white jersey came flying from my front right and knocked me up in the air with a great block. My momentum sent me flying over the blocker where another white jersey hit me again BEFORE I hit the ground. They were a good team. They ran a split tee to perfection. I played middle linebacker (I really had no idea of what the hell I was doing). We used a six three so I played opposite the center (Richie Saluko) who moved like a cat and was a pretty good blocker. I think on one play he was trying to block me as I was moving to the left and I stuck my right hand out to ward him off and inadvertenly stuck my fingers in his eyes--it was an accident. He wasn't really hurt fortunately--my fingers just slid into the openening below the helmnt and above the face mask. He may have missed a single played
Most of what I remember was flashing white jerseys moving so quickly that they either went all the way on every play or ran into garity players other than myself. (Seriously I believe they had between 5 or 7 touchdowns called back due to offsides).
For half time someone got the bright idea that we could use the dark dank room under the grandstand (where the blocking dummies and base pads were stored) for a pseudo locker room.When we tried to descend the steep entrance ramp we all went skidding down because we were wearing cleats. Nevertheless we descended at half time to try and regroup after a first half where the Lynvets were running at will. They were ahead by more than one touchdown at that point. The score really didn't reflect how easily they moved the ball.
During the first half Artie Jones had taken a shot in the groin and was down on the ground in agony. Aritie was a terrific back--he had explosive speed and was powerfully built but he was out for the rest of the game. He was a really talented athelet. The next year he moved to long Island and played high school football and was the high school league high scorer one year. (I heard this at one of our awards dinners)
Back to the dugout. We were down in the underground, wet and dirty and trailing in the game when the the rumor ran through that underground tunnel--that one of Artie's testicles had been destroyed by the injury!. We were, to the man, stunned into silence. Freddie Palus remembered that John Trezzel had enough presence of mind to send his younger brother home to fetch his athletic protector. When halftime was over we stumbled and skidded back up the ramp in our wet uniforms and cleats to see what the Lynvets had in store for us for the second half. I think we did better at slowing them down that second half but we were unable to score.
They scored a few more points. But since we only lost by a score of 17-0, which really wasn't such a bad score and these guys were last years champs we really weren't discouraged. Some of their best players were from Ridgewood: Eddie Steffens, Teddy Speiz, John Schmauser and Boy Yates. They had joined the Lynvets in 1956 before there was a Garity team.
And of course there was nothing to the destroyed testicle story but we didn't know that at that time. Our first game was over--we had one of our best players injured, we couldn't move the ball at all on offense and you might think that we were off to a disappointing start. But next week we were playing Baisley Park and were sure we could beat them.

Garity 13, Baisley Park 19

This was an away game. Baisley Park had white uniforms with green trim. It was a beautiful day and they had a good back named Charlie who wore number 5. He wasn't fast but he was an effective dancer, stopping and starting and making people miss him. As I recall he had a pretty good game against us. In some respect he was like Eddie Grix on our team who had good moves but not great speed. Eddie sustained an ankle injury in this game that had him writhing on the floor of the van in which we were riding home. I don't think he played anymore with us that season. Eddie was from the Bronx-I think he went to a school called Power Memorial (is there such a place?). They had won, much to our surpise. Here we are 0-2 and we've lost one of our best players. Aritie Jones who was injured agsinst the lynvets in the opener actually did return to play after that game (see clipping of next weeks game where he THROWS 2 TD passes to Freddie Paulus). But we were still sure that we could beat the Tomahawks. We had seen them play and we now hod some experience.

Garity 13, Long Island Tomahawks 18
(here again I'm not sure of the score only the result).

Another away game played at Cunningham park. Their field had lush grass! It was like a carpet of thick green grass. I don't remember any of particular plays or events from the game--maybe I didn't play much. I think we went out in the lead. By now we were depending on trick plays--end arounds, and double reverses. One or two of those plays worked and I think Bob Kletcher may have caught a pass for a touchdown. The most prominent thing I do remember was Eddie Affatato saying his opponent was a tough guy. And coming from Eddie that meant something. Freddie Paulus scored all our points with two TD receptions from Artie Jones (that's what the paper says).

Garity 12, College Point 14

Another away game. College Point was known for their belly series running attack where they wedge blocked at the point of attack. Nevertheless jumped out to an early lead. There was a long pass down the middle and Jojo Miller and Pat Schwiger came from opposite ends and were both in the same place—one of them juggled the ball and it landed into the hands of the other. The juggling player was tackled by the defenders and the other player waltzed into the end zone to score. Jim Dolan was so excited on the sidelines he turned to the other coaches and the players and announced "see how heads up that was--he lateraled the ball to the other player and he scored". (we all know he had really fumbled and all most last the ball but we didn't care--we scored and we were on the scoreboard).
While we were still in the first half we were running end arounds with Bobby Klecther and were making good yardage on it. We scored and were coming up for a critical extra point. We ran the end around and Bobby was running bolt upright just about to cross the goal line when a tackler hit him dead center in the unprotected gut. Bobby was abruptly folded in half, his helmet and the football continued in motion flying through and out of the end zane. We didn’t score. Bobby was down on the field throwing up. He had taken a terrific hit. He was utlimately all right. Thereafter, every once in awhile Dom Affatato used to tease him, good naturedly, about that play--how he was trotting upright and got creamed. Bobby always took it with his little kid smile as if he had been caught with his hand in the candy jar. I don't think he ever took offense at Dom's kidding.
I played defense that game and remember being in pile up after pile up because College Point keep running those belly plays inside. In the belly series the quarterback puts the ball into the belly of the diving fullback and sometimes takes it out and gives it the the following halfback--all into the same hole. Both entire lines seemed to converge on the ball carrier. Once I was trapped underneath and thought my back was going to be snapped over backwards--it was really scary. This was another game we had taken the lead with our trick plays and a lucky 'lateral' and let it slip away.

GARITY 7, SAINT VINCENTS BOYS HOME

They had some good players-the Avery brothers were good runners, especially on that day. Something happened either late in the 3dr quarter or early in the 4th quarter. Kurt Tauss, who played half back (and was a pretty strong weight lifter) became enraged over something in the game and started making yardage. We caught fire and somehow woke up and put a score on the board. It was an over cast day with the game being played at home. I think I have some photos of this game.

GARITY 6, ELECTCHESTER 6

This was the first game we didn't lose. We tied them. They had gold uniforms with black trim and we had gold jerseys with blue numbers. Ray petty, who was a fullback but did some passing from the fullback spot (the F35 pass), said he couldn't tell who was who. Maybe it helped us. The thing that sticks in my mind about this game (aside from it being the game I had the least playing time in) was dressing in their park house and the music of Danny and the Juniors singing "AT THE HOP" being played. One of the other players who I split some time with a guy whose name was Danny Litterini--he was built physically like Vinny Monaco--powerful shoulders and upper body. When I think of this game I think of all three together: Electchester, Danny and the Juniors and Danny Litterini. Danny came with a few other fellows from lower Ridgewood. It's a shame but we didn't have any team pictures that I knew of. If any one has any photos please let me know and I will put on the site.

GARITY 18, WOODSIDE CHIEFS 25

This was another game we jumped out into a big lead. We were leading 18 to 6 at halftime. Torchy had an opportunity to go to the Giant game and since we were ahead by 2 tochdowns at halftime he went to the game. (Remember, this was the era when the professional games were blacked out locally--which meant we were the only game in town and we drew large crowds). When he came home and asked what the final score was I had to tell he we lost again. Woodside had a good team. We had done it again with our trick plays. I think Bob Kletcher may have caught a deep pass for a touchdown and run a reverse or double reverse for another score.
When the second half started it seemed to be a different Woodside team that took the field. The first play of the second half they ran a trap play up the middle for a 60 or 70 yard touch down. Our middle line backed was taken right out of the play by a blocker coming from the outside pushing him past the charging fullback as the back ran straight up the gut. (Oh, why do I remember what happened to the middle linebacker on that play--you guessed it--it was me). From that point on they were in charge for the rest of the game. They had a pretty good team and the website below has pictures of them preparing for the 1957 playoffs.
I found a website that has a team photo of the chiefs from 1957 and a little write-up (see the LINKS section woodside chief)

GARITY 0, RESURECTION ASCENSION 38

This game I remember a lot of. It was played at Juniper Valley. It was endless. They were kicking extra points--they were the only team in the league that did. Their kicker was great the ball was flying high above the goal posts.
I don't know if it was the opening kickoff at the start of the second half. But one time they kicked off to us and we let the ball roll to a stop in our end zone. Of course they knew the rules and we didn't so they fell on the untouched ball for an easy touchdown. It was that kind of day.
I played center the entire game against a guy who I am sure could bench press 300 lbs. They ran a 5-3 defense and this guy was killing me--he would just hold me at arms length and do anything he wanted. He played for Don Bosco, which is one of the powerhouse Catholic football schools. I knew his name and have forgotten it (it began with a K--Kreuger, I think). But very quickly we fell behind and soon gave up trying to run the ball. All we tried were pass plays and we were triple teaming this guy to keep him out of the backfield. Vinny played right guard and he helped me out (I don't remember who the left guard was). Soon Frank White gave up trying to pass and had Ray doing all the passing with guys from R.A. hanging all over him. It was someday.
They ran a single wing. On one play they were running an end run and one of our players came run up and grabbed the runners face mask an hung on while they went flying by each other. It was almost comical since it was done right out in the open. All of a sudden the runner was yanked to a dead stop. Flags were flying. (It may have been one of our more successful defensive plays). Fortunately no one was hurt of that play. R.A. had a good passing attack--they had a good receiver whose name began with S (I think) who lived up to his reputation--he caught a lot a passes against us.

GARITY 19, NAT PATERSON 18

We did it—we won our final game at home. Ray Petty scored all three of our tochdowns. It was a day for fullbacks. Nat Paterson had Woody Wickers who was a load. I can see Ray running down the sidelines through the baseball in field (between second base and first base). He had a strange running style his feet seemed to kick out sideways and his knees were inside his shoulders. It looked strange from behind. But this was his day as a runner. Next year became our quarterback.