Cup of Joe- the Joe is a spin on Cup of Java, which is where more coffee came from before South America, I guess.

Down memory lane is my theme. When I started Little League at age 11, the entire local league only started that year. I had the first AB, first hit (single up the middle), and scored the first run in the entire league. Courtesy of my father I have that hit on 8mm, so you can discount bad memory or grassy knoll theories. Four teams in the “majors”, or true Little League age. We were called Indians (us), Yankees, Giants, Dodgers. We had “real” uniforms, not T-shirts, with stirrups for legs. Rubber cletes, way pre-Nike. The lettering across the chest was not the team name, but sponsoring businesses (not a true licensed Williamsport LL probably). The businesses were: Laurie Funeral Home, Ann’s Luncheonette, (‘I Forget’) Pharmacy, and McGinn’s Bar and Restaurant. Of course, the names were abbreviated for the front of the uniform. Thankfully, I did not have to wear “Ann’s Lunch”. Today that would be vaguely suggestive on 17 pubescent males. Sorry, LL Yankees.

My team was McGinn’s Bar and Restaurant. Owned by Peter McGinn, who lived a few hundred feet up the block. Subsequently when he passed away, the bar was run by his son, Sylvester. I just added that in case you thought Sylvester the Cat carried exclusive rights to that name.

As to the “restaurant” part of the sponsor’s establishment, I think you technically had to serve food in bars in NYC then. Technically. But this was a Irish gin mill with no pretention otherwise. Wise potato chips were haute cuisine in this place. This bar was the closest one to a major construction site for the New York water tunnel. The “patrons” were these sandhogs- men’s men, for sure. Over four decades later and the tunnel is still not finished! Anyway, my entire team went for free cokes after many games, while the coaching staff imbibed. More about the manager, coach, and hangers-on in subsequent installments, if you can bear it.

Notice the word “Yankees” appears above so I have a legitimate post here. (What a stretch.)