Hello my dear friends...
Well.... how could I let the fact that “Pitchers and Catchers” reporting to spring training by the Yanks and Mets in only a couple of days go by... without a little nod to "OUR INWOOD" and to our days in the Inwood LL and the Dyckwood Junior League....
I would imagine that mentioning in addition to the Inwood Little League that mentioning the Dyckwood Junior League is going to date myself....
Moreover, perhaps narrow the prospect as to just who is "IG"?...
But I really had to write this morning about our days of being the "Boys of Summer".... err, “...the boys of early Spring”.... “...no, the boys of late Winter”.... yeah, that's it.... “The Boys of Late-Winter”.... for getting ready in February & March to be standing on the field in early April... at Inwood Hill Park or down at the Henry Hudson Ball fields was most definitely what makes us all... "The Boys of Late Winter"....
Nevertheless, as my good friend "Eddie Gray" would be.... and probably is... saying somewhere....
"... Put me in Coach, I'm ready to play!"....
Our true Winter days were spent in anticipation of getting out there.... gloves that were prepared with a healthy dose of Neat’s-foot Oil.... wrapped shut with an old ball.... and placed under the bed for safe keeping were brought out and opened for the "season"....
The big diamonds (#1 and #5 at Inwood Hill) were packed for tryouts for the sponsored teams and the outfields were used as makeshift fields... GSS, St. Jude's, American Legion, Settlers Club, Dyckman Democratic Club, AAMRO.... just to mention a few.... and cuts were made quickly.... after all there would be minor league managers waiting (in a week's time) on the side diamonds #2,3 and 4.... and then we would be off and running.... bases that are....
Ahh, my friends.... those Saturday mornings were cold.... but they were soon followed by warmer days... and then even blistering hot days... but the desire to make that major league team was always red-hot.... even though the best games (I think) were played at the minor league level...
I still say.... in my wink, blink, and nod.... where "Inwood Guys" take the field for the best sandlot baseball that Manhattan ever saw....
"Put me in Coach... I'm ready to play, and play and play..."
Peace,
Inwood Guy
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