HAPPY DADS DAY
By Phil Speranza

This year Fathers Day takes on a whole new meaning for some of us here at BTB.  2004 was not a very good year for some of us.  Maureen and I both lost our dads in 2004.  Long time regulars Nancee and PattyK also suffered that loss last year.  LisaP returned to us this year with similar sad news as well. 

I am really into music and over the years I had become friendly with Lou O’Neill Jr. a rock columnists who’s father use to write for the New York Post.  Lou use to publish a RnR newsletter as well as columns in many of the top magazines, and every year he use to rerun a tribute article to his dad who has passed away.  I can now look back and appreciate what Lou has been through.  Lou O’Neill Jr inspired me to do BTB, which has started as a paper newsletter.  So in turn I have Lou to thank for all the fine friends I met here on line. 

Among other things in life my dad taught me to be a Yankee fan, he taught me all about the game of baseball that we all love.  He loved the team.  A big Joe D fan my dad would tell stories about him and would compare every outfielder that ever set foot on the hallowed grounds of Yankee Stadium to Joe.  Nobody could compare with DiMaggio in his eyes the same way nobody can compare with my dad in my eyes.  

Over the years my dad took my sister and me to dozens of Yankee games.  However the first game he ever took me to was a Mets – Cubs game in the Polo Grounds in 1962.  He got free tickets to the game from a distributor at work and reluctantly I went along.  We both loved baseball and I got me to see one of the classic ballparks of the game.  True I was only six years old and barely remember the game I do remember the Cubs won.  Most of all I remember being with my dad, being the only boy with three sisters that was really special.

My dad loved Volleyball and played right up to his heart operation.  He went from a younf 79 to an old 80 almost overnight.  My saddest day was when he realised he would never play the game again.  I only could wish to be half the man he was.

We went to Cooperstown together as a family as well.  And he grew to love our Staten Island Yanks.  He loves a game where the umpires could hear him.  He was a great fan of Andy Phillips.

Upon his retirement my dad would do the book reviews for BTB on line.  My one regret is that he didn’t write his stories from his heart.  I loved his memories and his stories he always wanted his stories to be perfect and would do research for them.  They were great articles but his stories beat them hands down.