Another baseball season is upon us; and that causes me to reflect, to take a nostalgic trip to the way baseball used to be back in the good old days.
The astronomical salaries that the modern baseball player receives is passed on to the hapless fans. At one time, local television stations broadcast two or three games a week. Today, thanks to pay-TV enterprises, such as the YES Network, the number of free televised ballgames has dwindled to a mere paltry few.
In the post-World War I years, many Jersey Cityites would go to the old Jersey City ballpark, located at West Side and Culver avenues, to see the Jersey City Skeeters of the International League play, especially against the Newark Bears. Back in those days, it was common practice to get into the ballpark free of charge by returning a ball that was hit over the fence. After all, baseballs were an expensive luxury back then.
We had our share of Negro League teams in the local area, such as the Brooklyn Royal Giants, the New York Black Yankees, and the Newark Eagles. Speaking of the Newark Eagles, one of Hudson County’s unsung heroes, Richard “Dick” Seay played second base for that team -- along with Ray Dandridge on third base, Willie Wells, shortstop, and Mule Shuttles at first base; this was known as “the million-dollar infield.