| Toward the end of my junior year at Weequahic | | | | were singles. While I had power I had not |
| High School in Newark New Jersey, I started | | | | displayed much of it. I dug in deeper ready |
| hearing from my friends that I was going to | | | | to smack one when Richie let loose with one |
| make All City. How did they know I asked | | | | that was very high and very tight. A curve |
| myself? In my usual mood of high esteem I was | | | | ball without the curve in it. |
| thinking that there was no way I would make | | | | |
| the all city team. "Vailburg's catcher was | | | | So tight it stuck in my ear. I guess it did |
| better than me" is what crossed my mind. I | | | | not curve like I thought. Down I went. Out |
| make the grade - No way. I told you I had | | | | like a light. While the ball did not stick in |
| high self esteem. | | | | my ear it made quite an impression in my |
| | | | head. I think some thread from the ball is |
| The two best teams in the city at the time, | | | | embedded in my ear and lobe to this day. |
| Barringer and Vailsburg would receive the | | | | |
| most recognition for their players. We were | | | | I was slowly escorted to Coach Ginsburg's |
| 3-15. And our record did not display how | | | | office. When I finally awoke which seemed |
| really bad we were. I think I was the only | | | | like hours, but was really minutes, Mr |
| player that batted over .300. Well maybe | | | | Ginsburg told me I had made the Star Ledger |
| Dashell Meeks hit over 300 as well. | | | | All City Baseball team. I was elated and |
| | | | soar. I was happy and groggy. I was proud and |
| In the last game of the season we were | | | | queasy at the same time. |
| playing Central High School in Unterman | | | | |
| Field. They were a poor to average team at | | | | At the time it seemed like the beaning I |
| best. But they had Richie Glenn. An above | | | | received made whoever voted for The All City |
| average pitcher with speed to burn and a | | | | team vote for me. They felt sorry for me and |
| curveball that was, well I'll get to that | | | | gave me a place on the team. I told you I had |
| curveball in a minute. I went up to bat | | | | high self esteem. |
| thinking home run. I was so determined to hit | | | | |
| a home run I remember standing closer to the | | | | Wow what a day. I wonder if Babe Ruth or Lou |
| plate thinking I could reach an outside | | | | Gehrig ever went through something like this. |
| pitch. Most if not all of my hits that year | | | | |