I’ve written about all sorts of topics through the years, but the two that prompted the most reader return input by far were beer and baseball. Readers showed next to no interest in political, crime or governmental items that should have been of interest.
About two years ago, I did an update concerning a fire at the old Schaefer brewery in Albany. In came many comments about how lousy the old Hedrick’s Beer was … all agreeing it was the Capital Region’s worst brew.
There was pretty good reader support for Schaefer and Utica Club, once available on tap in most every bar in this area. Of course, you have to be at least 55 to remember those days.
I tried to respond to all the mail or use some of the comments in a subsequent column, but I just located a couple that fell through the cracks. Including the following Utica Club jingle handwritten from Ken Gordon of Colonie Village.
Gordon, noting he was an octogenarian, said he wasn’t giving up his pen and paper in favor of a computer. Some of you may recall this old UC sales pitch on TV.
”It’s not the very latest; the newest up to datest.
“It’s 50 years behind the times and that’s the way we like it.
“It isn’t young, it’s aged, it isn’t carbonated.
“It’s 50 years behind the times and that’s the way we like it.
“Utica Club, the natural beer.”
Jean Krause of Colonie sent along the same jingle adding, “If we were face-to-face, I would sing it for you.”
Hard sell strikes out
And combining baseball and beer, remember the good old days when the games weren’t completely saturated with commercials?
You may recall when our Amazin’ Mets’ game commercials were limited almost exclusively to the jingle “My beer is Rheingold the dry beer.”
And the years when the New York Yankees advertising air space was pretty much just Mel Allen blaring it was a “Ballantine Blast” after a pinstriper hit a home run.
Nowadays, it’s the Honda, Cadillac, Lincoln, Mazda, etc. scoreboard.
Or it’s a Subway pinch hitter; Dunkin’ Donuts pitching change. Or a GMC or Delta rain delay. The Viagra billboards behind home plate in some parks are a nice touch for America’s young sports fans.
Major League Baseball‘s relentless search for more and more revenues to pay obscene player salaries. A disgrace.
Next thing you know, baseball’s exploiting bean counters will be putting commercials on the umpires’ backs, now just wasted space. Advertisements on the dugout inside walls can utilize another vacant location.
America’s favorite pastime went from a sport to greed … simple as that.
Diamond upgrade delayed
And a local baseball news item I have to report concerns the upgrading of the Schenectady Central Park main diamond project being delayed until 2017.
Mayor Gary McCarthy said Sunday reconstruction was put back a year because the $1 million state grant also includes upgrades to 10 tennis courts and Music Haven.
“Coordinating the three pieces to obtain maximum construction savings and funding streams has been time consuming,” McCarthy said.
The park ‘A’ diamond, for decades considered the area’s best ball field, fell into complete disrepair because the city did not have enough funding to maintain it.
The bulk of grant money will go to the baseball upgrade, but some money, along with other funding sources, will cover tennis and music improvements.
Mechanicville notes standout
Old Linton High football fans may recall Dick Stipano, a fine running back when Coach Dick Lalla put the Blue Devils on the area grid success map.
That was way back in the ’60s, but most recently, he became a member of the first class of inductees in the Mechanicville High Hall of Fame. After Linton, he continued his football career at the University of Rhode Island.
He returned to this region to put in 39 years teaching physical education and coaching football at Mechanicville. He also coached at La Salle, Hudson Valley Community College and the Metro Mallers.
Bob Pezzano, head of the Schenectady Schools Hall of Fame, recalls Stipano helped Linton to a nifty 7-1 record in his senior season. The team’s only loss was to Albany High. Stipano scored two touchdowns in a victory over then city rival Mont Pleasant High.
