DePaoli’s vivid picture of his extended Italian family is a homage to a bygone era when brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—everyone lived in the same neighborhood and were indeed a village raising the children. Engrossing and full of life, Growing Up Italian in the 50’s or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys: A Growing Up Memories Book is an ode to a time that was, indeed, the “Good Old Days.”
In the grand scheme of things, sixty years is not a very long time. With the explosion of technology, however, that amount of time encompasses seismic shifts in the American cultural landscape. The 1950’s in our country were a much simpler, more naive time than we know today. And in the big and small cities alike, neighborhoods were ethnically defined: Italian, Irish, Polish, etc. This ingrained a deep sense of pride in ancestry and the close-knit feeling of extended families. Highlighting the importance of family and the feeling inspired by his large, loving Italian brood, Tom DePaoli captures the experiences of growing up in a different era and its effects on those fortunate enough to have grown up in it. Today our children are surrounded by video games, iPods, and personal computers, devices that remove them from our world and isolate them from friends and family. For the author, his family, and his friends, the only gadget they really had was their enthusiasm for sports and the limitless terrain of their imagination. Playing baseball in little league, football and baseball in the sandlot, and escaping to the nearby woods for adventure, they relied on experiencing life with one another rather than doing so alone through modern technology. Including colorful depictions of his mother, father, Uncle Pat, Aunt Bert, and a list of family that seems endless, this collection of short reminiscences boils over with the feelings of loyalty, closeness, and love borne of a generation whose values are seemingly lost in the never ending march of technological progress. DePaoli’s vivid picture of his extended Italian family is a homage to a bygone era when brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—everyone lived in the same neighborhood and were indeed a village raising the children. Engrossing and full of life, Growing Up Italian in the 50’s or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys: A Growing Up Memories Book is an ode to a time that was, indeed, the “Good Old Days.”
DePaoli's memoirs are warming, inspiring and revelatory for the reader who did not grow up in the era, but has interest in the segments and nuances of American History that don't make the standard history books. It's hard to imagine a time so different than today. And yet, so much can be learned from the previous generations in terms of their honor of family, work ethic and values.
For anyone who did grow up Italian in the 50s, I can only imagine this would be a quick and greatly rewarding trip down memory lane - perhaps even an inspiration to document one's own family history within the period.
Growing Up Italian in the 50s, is easily worth the time and investment. At a minimum, it is a great distraction from the current American way of life. At the maximum, it is reliving or learning valuable lessons from a great former generation.
I loved reading Thomas DePaoli's book. It's filled with delightful short stories of family and activities of a young boy's life growing up in the 50's. Taking place in a simpler time where families grew up in the same neighborhoods and where aunts and uncles along with grandparents played an important role in a child's life. It brought me back to my own upbringing. I thoroughly enjoyed each story!
I loved reading Thomas DePaoli's book. It's filled with delightful short stories of family and activities of a young boy's life growing up in the 50's. Taking place in a simpler time where families grew up in the same neighborhoods and where aunts and uncles along with grandparents played an important role in a child's life. It brought me back to my own upbringing. I thoroughly enjoyed each story! (Maria)
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Your Read! June 19, 2012 By Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback) I believe most of us love our family and family memories are always something we treasure in our heart. Author, Thomas Depaoli, has gone one step forward and has written a delightful book to share the treasures of his heart. He has included precious pictures of himself and those important to him. These definitely helped to bring the memories alive, and give visual. Thomas grew up in the fifties, a time when America was about families, love, guidance, and doing what was right, just because it was right to do. A good time to live, a good time to grow. Thomas takes us down Memory Lane as he shares the love and devotion of his parents, and grandparents, the unity of his aunts and uncles, the giggles of youth, and the honor of serving, God, and knowing that indeed it was an honor. Each memory is precious to him, and as you read, they will definitely strike a chord in your own life as you silently remember as well the days of your youth. Sometimes it is good to stop, reflect on the past, and remember where you came from and perhaps change around just where you are going. This book will serve several things. You will enjoy sharing Mr. DePaoli’s memories, but you will also stir up the precious memories of your own. You will think, perhaps laugh, perhaps cry, but your heart will be awakened, if just for a moment, and perhaps you can recapture a memory that will change your tomorrow. Very heart felt and well done.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Writings, June 19, 2012 By Jill (CA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback) This heartwarming read will take you back to an era, when you weren't obsessed with electronics and used your imagination to entertain yourself. Several of the Author's stories and photos took me back to my Midwestern small town as a child and I can relate to many of his wonderful writings. Grab a glass of Iced Tea and enjoy reading about the sense of community, family values, and how sports played an important role in many of the childhood memories during the 50's. I grew up in the 60's, but so much reminds me of my daily visits at my Grandparents home. I also enjoyed visiting the "neighbor's" with my Mom for tea frequently. I miss those days! We all had parents who were strict but cared about us. I cannot imagine how different I would be if it was not for all my loving relatives.
5.0 out of 5 stars The pleasure of this book is the joy of recapitulation, June 15, 2012 By Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback) The role that the extended family once had in the life of a child is the main theme permeating every short story in this book. Depaoli grew up in the small town of Royersford, Pennsylvania surrounded by the members of his large Italian family. In essence, his family was a village where all adults and older kids took responsibility for the children. He went to Catholic Schools where the nuns were strict and despite getting whacked with a ruler; Depaoli looks back at those times with fondness. This is a book of DePaoli’s memories of his childhood, the role his relatives had in his upbringing and some of the mischief that he was into but rarely got away with. One of the simplest yet telling points is how the grandchildren considered it a great honor to be the one that lit grandpa's pipe. Reading this book brought back many memories of my childhood, playing for hours with my two uncles in so many different games. That may be the most powerful feature of this book, how it helps the reader look back in fondness at the wonder and excitement of when they were a child.
I was a “challenge” growing up. As a rambunctious and inquisitive young lad, I loved to try anything for fun. Luckily, I had a lot of relatives making sure I didn’t get into serious trouble of which I am forever grateful. Capturing Nostalgia
My experiences were too much fun to be lost and forgotten. To feel nostalgic and believe that way of life can be captured again is unrealistic; however, many of the positive aspects can serve as lessons for today. In the fifties, everyone seemed to care about us as children and participated in our upbringing. There was no hesitation on the part of my aunts or uncles to correct and guide us. I believe most of them had as much fun as we did.
Thanks Alot (Grazie Mille) Growing Up Italian in the 50’s is dedicated to my parents, my immediate family members, my brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the whole extended Italian clan that helped me as I was growing up in the fifties.
Another good review on Amazon.com B. Carrigan (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME) This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback) I requested to review this book because I wanted a glimpse into what "the good ole days" were like. The author does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the era, making me wish that things were that "simple" again. I loved how the author brought you into his world, exposing his life in a way that most would not even think of doing. My favorite part of the book was the pictures that were provided. As they say...A picture is worth a thousand words :)
Common Sense Supply Management Tales from the Supply Chain Trenches by Dr. Tom DePaoli
In his new guide to supply management, author Dr. Tom DePaoli, Marian University, School of Business and Public Policy, offers no-nonsense strategies learned from his diverse career in many organizations. Told in part via a story format, Common Sense Supply Management - Tales from the Supply Chain Trenches uses real life examples to discuss what goes right, and often wrong, in the supply chain management trenches. The stories are told factually without any embellishing notes to distract the reader. By carefully following this book’s accounts, supply management professionals can learn a career’s worth of what to do and what not to do. DePaoli provides practical lessons launched from real-life cases and tested in the unforgiving supply chain management reality. Available on Amazon.com
Previously Dr. DePaoli has published Common Sense Purchasing and Growing Up Italian in the 50s also available on Amazon.com.
Christmas Gifts I remember that Christmas at our house was a very big and exciting event. My mother decorated the house beautifully and we were each entitled to ask for one big gift. The Christmas tree was always a natural pine tree decorated with lights and tinsel. It was put in the corner of the living room and a wire was tied to it so if would not fall down. My little sister had once managed to pull down the entire tree upon her. The outside of the house had all blue lights around the door and each window of the house had electric candles in the window sill. My brother and I asked for two wheel bikes one year. We sprang from our beds and rushed downstairs and looked around but no bikes. We were visibly disappointed. My parents started to laugh and told us we should look around the house. We found the two new bikes on the back porch and were thrilled. Dad as usual had put them together perfectly. Another time I asked for a five cell flashlight so that I could use it to send Morse code messages to my friend across the street. We would spend house sending secret messages to each other. We provided a lot of business for battery companies. The first time I took my new bike to school I fell off and put a big hole in the knee of my pants. My mom and Dad didn’t even yell at me when I came home. My mother who was an expert seamstress just sewed it up and fixed it. She just urged me to be more careful and watch the traffic. There was a gift exchange for Christmas at Grandma’s house. Since the family was so large every grandkid’s name was put into a hat and my aunts or uncles pull out names. Every Grandkid got one gift but the name of the aunt or uncle was not put on the gift. It added to the excitement of Christmas and the family Christmas meal.
The homerun fence in our local Little League Park was about 180 feet from home plate. Not only did I know this distance to be accurate but I had actually paced it out in the local Little League ball park. I would often play a game of solo baseball in our yard. I would throw the ball up in the air and try to hit it as hard as I could. I always used the newest baseball that I had, my theory was that it would fly or go higher and the best bat (less cracks and screws in it) to maximize the distance. I had paced out various landmarks or trees in my yard and knew the distance from where I usually batted. I would often spend hours playing this game of solo baseball hoping to break this 180 foot barrier. Weather conditions did not matter. It was often oppressively hot and humid during the summer, but I kept throwing the ball up in the air and swinging as hard as I could. I often heard the cicada's loud call while I was playing this solitary game of home run derby. I played in the rain and since I had only one good baseball, I retrieved the ball after each hit and then went back to "home plate" to hit the next one. There was a lot of walking in this game and lots of flub hits, but I don't really remember completely missing the ball very often when I threw it up in the air. Imagination was a critical part of this game and I often used situations like the bottom of the ninth of the seventh game World Series. Major league pitchers were also on the mound bearing down on me. I kept whacking the ball retrieving it and them walking back to home plate. I never really got tired or bored of this game.
During my last year of Little League I clearly remember the Friday that I actually hit the ball over 180 feet and past the tree landmark in my back yard. I was elated and actually went into a home run trot when I retrieved the baseball. More importantly I now knew that I had the power and confidence to hit a home run. A week later in a Little League game (I played for the Warriors which had green hats and a big W on them) I actually hit a home run that barely went over the fence in left field. I remember that it was also oppressively hot especially in the wool uniforms that we had to wear. Wool was used in an attempt to make the uniforms indestructible and passed down from year to year. Luckily they provided us with plenty of water which we drank out of a bucket (usually devoid of dead bugs) in the dugout from a long handled metal cup.
I did not think that I had hit the ball that hard, and ran as hard as I could with my head down. It was not until I rounded second base that I heard the third base coach yell, "Slow down Tommy, it went over the fence." I quickly went into a good home run trot and all my teammates' mobbed me when I crossed the plate. When my teammates asked me if I had known that it was going out I sheepishly responded, "I thought I hit it good but wasn't sure so I kept hustling."
One hundred and eighty foot solo baseball had finally paid off.
In the grand scheme of things, sixty years is not a very long time. With the explosion of technology, however, that amount of time encompasses seismic shifts in the American cultural landscape. The 1950’s in our country were a much simpler, more naive time than we know today. And in the big and small cities alike, neighborhoods were ethnically defined: Italian, Irish, Polish, etc. This ingrained a deep sense of pride in ancestry and the close-knit feeling of extended families. Highlighting the importance of family and the feeling inspired by his large, loving Italian brood, Tom DePaoli captures the experiences of growing up in a different era and its effects on those fortunate enough to have grown up in it. Today our children are surrounded by video games, iPods, and personal computers, devices that remove them from our world and isolate them from friends and family. For the author, his family, and his friends, the only gadget they really had was their enthusiasm for sports and the limitless terrain of their imagination. Playing baseball in little league, football and baseball in the sandlot, and escaping to the nearby woods for adventure, they relied on experiencing life with one another rather than doing so alone through modern technology. Including colorful depictions of his mother, father, Uncle Pat, Aunt Bert, and a list of family that seems endless, this collection of short reminiscences boils over with the feelings of loyalty, closeness, and love borne of a generation whose values are seemingly lost in the never ending march of technological progress. DePaoli’s vivid picture of his extended Italian family is a homage to a bygone era when brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents—everyone lived in the same neighborhood and were indeed a village raising the children. Engrossing and full of life, Growing Up Italian in the 50’s or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys: A Growing Up Memories Book is an ode to a time that was, indeed, the “Good Old Days.”
ReplyDeleteMEDIA CONTACT
ReplyDeleteTom DePaoli, Ph.D.
Email: drtomd@gmail.com
Phone: (920) 698-2959
Website: www.growingupmemories.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDePaoli's memoirs are warming, inspiring and revelatory for the reader who did not grow up in the era, but has interest in the segments and nuances of American History that don't make the standard history books. It's hard to imagine a time so different than today. And yet, so much can be learned from the previous generations in terms of their honor of family, work ethic and values.
ReplyDeleteFor anyone who did grow up Italian in the 50s, I can only imagine this would be a quick and greatly rewarding trip down memory lane - perhaps even an inspiration to document one's own family history within the period.
Growing Up Italian in the 50s, is easily worth the time and investment. At a minimum, it is a great distraction from the current American way of life. At the maximum, it is reliving or learning valuable lessons from a great former generation.
I cannot recommend this book enough.
Thank you, DePaoli.
I loved reading Thomas DePaoli's book. It's filled with delightful short stories of family and activities of a young boy's life growing up in the 50's. Taking place in a simpler time where families grew up in the same neighborhoods and where aunts and uncles along with grandparents played an important role in a child's life. It brought me back to my own upbringing. I thoroughly enjoyed each story!
ReplyDeleteCheck out this link about the 50s!
ReplyDeletehttp://oldfortyfives.com/TakeMeBackToTheFifties.htm
I loved reading Thomas DePaoli's book. It's filled with delightful short stories of family and activities of a young boy's life growing up in the 50's. Taking place in a simpler time where families grew up in the same neighborhoods and where aunts and uncles along with grandparents played an important role in a child's life. It brought me back to my own upbringing. I thoroughly enjoyed each story! (Maria)
ReplyDelete5.0 out of 5 stars Well Worth Your Read! June 19, 2012
ReplyDeleteBy Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback)
I believe most of us love our family and family memories are always something we treasure in our heart. Author, Thomas Depaoli, has gone one step forward and has written a delightful book to share the treasures of his heart. He has included precious pictures of himself and those important to him. These definitely helped to bring the memories alive, and give visual. Thomas grew up in the fifties, a time when America was about families, love, guidance, and doing what was right, just because it was right to do. A good time to live, a good time to grow.
Thomas takes us down Memory Lane as he shares the love and devotion of his parents, and grandparents, the unity of his aunts and uncles, the giggles of youth, and the honor of serving, God, and knowing that indeed it was an honor. Each memory is precious to him, and as you read, they will definitely strike a chord in your own life as you silently remember as well the days of your youth.
Sometimes it is good to stop, reflect on the past, and remember where you came from and perhaps change around just where you are going. This book will serve several things. You will enjoy sharing Mr. DePaoli’s memories, but you will also stir up the precious memories of your own. You will think, perhaps laugh, perhaps cry, but your heart will be awakened, if just for a moment, and perhaps you can recapture a memory that will change your tomorrow. Very heart felt and well done.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Writings, June 19, 2012
ReplyDeleteBy Jill (CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback)
This heartwarming read will take you back to an era, when you weren't obsessed with electronics and used your imagination to entertain yourself. Several of the Author's stories and photos took me back to my Midwestern small town as a child and I can relate to many of his wonderful writings.
Grab a glass of Iced Tea and enjoy reading about the sense of community, family values, and how sports played an important role in many of the childhood memories during the 50's. I grew up in the 60's, but so much reminds me of my daily visits at my Grandparents home. I also enjoyed visiting the "neighbor's" with my Mom for tea frequently. I miss those days!
We all had parents who were strict but cared about us.
I cannot imagine how different I would be if it was not for all my loving relatives.
5.0 out of 5 stars The pleasure of this book is the joy of recapitulation, June 15, 2012
ReplyDeleteBy Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)
This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback)
The role that the extended family once had in the life of a child is the main theme permeating every short story in this book. Depaoli grew up in the small town of Royersford, Pennsylvania surrounded by the members of his large Italian family. In essence, his family was a village where all adults and older kids took responsibility for the children. He went to Catholic Schools where the nuns were strict and despite getting whacked with a ruler; Depaoli looks back at those times with fondness.
This is a book of DePaoli’s memories of his childhood, the role his relatives had in his upbringing and some of the mischief that he was into but rarely got away with. One of the simplest yet telling points is how the grandchildren considered it a great honor to be the one that lit grandpa's pipe. Reading this book brought back many memories of my childhood, playing for hours with my two uncles in so many different games. That may be the most powerful feature of this book, how it helps the reader look back in fondness at the wonder and excitement of when they were a child.
Website is updated
ReplyDeletehttp://growingupmemories.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI was a “challenge” growing up. As a rambunctious and inquisitive young lad, I loved to try anything for fun. Luckily, I had a lot of relatives making sure I didn’t get into serious trouble of which I am forever grateful.
ReplyDeleteCapturing Nostalgia
My experiences were too much fun to be lost and forgotten. To feel nostalgic and believe that way of life can be captured again is unrealistic; however, many of the positive aspects can serve as lessons for today. In the fifties, everyone seemed to care about us as children and participated in our upbringing. There was no hesitation on the part of my aunts or uncles to correct and guide us. I believe most of them had as much fun as we did.
Thanks Alot (Grazie Mille)
Growing Up Italian in the 50’s is dedicated to my parents, my immediate family members, my brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, and the whole extended Italian clan that helped me as I was growing up in the fifties.
Check out the extensive article on my book Growing Up Italian in the 50’s
ReplyDeletehttp://growingupmemories.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Italian50sBook.pdf
Another good review on Amazon.com
ReplyDeleteB. Carrigan (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Growing Up Italian in the 50's: or How Most of Us Became Good Wise Guys a Growing Up Memories Book (Volume 1) (Paperback)
I requested to review this book because I wanted a glimpse into what "the good ole days" were like. The author does an amazing job of bringing the reader into the era, making me wish that things were that "simple" again. I loved how the author brought you into his world, exposing his life in a way that most would not even think of doing. My favorite part of the book was the pictures that were provided. As they say...A picture is worth a thousand words :)
This book is a perfect trip back in time about growing up in the 50's
ReplyDeleteSubmit a story that could be published at the website! Get Published!
ReplyDeletehttp://growingupmemories.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Brochure.pdf
http://growingupmemories.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Flyer.pdf
Common Sense Supply Management Tales from the Supply Chain Trenches by Dr. Tom DePaoli
ReplyDeleteIn his new guide to supply management, author Dr. Tom DePaoli, Marian University, School of Business and Public Policy, offers no-nonsense strategies learned from his diverse career in many organizations. Told in part via a story format, Common Sense Supply Management - Tales from the Supply Chain Trenches uses real life examples to discuss what goes right, and often wrong, in the supply chain management trenches. The stories are told factually without any embellishing notes to distract the reader. By carefully following this book’s accounts, supply management professionals can learn a career’s worth of what to do and what not to do. DePaoli provides practical lessons launched from real-life cases and tested in the unforgiving supply chain management reality. Available on Amazon.com
Previously Dr. DePaoli has published Common Sense Purchasing and Growing Up Italian in the 50s also available on Amazon.com.
Christmas Gifts
ReplyDeleteI remember that Christmas at our house was a very big and exciting event. My mother decorated the house beautifully and we were each entitled to ask for one big gift. The Christmas tree was always a natural pine tree decorated with lights and tinsel. It was put in the corner of the living room and a wire was tied to it so if would not fall down. My little sister had once managed to pull down the entire tree upon her. The outside of the house had all blue lights around the door and each window of the house had electric candles in the window sill.
My brother and I asked for two wheel bikes one year. We sprang from our beds and rushed downstairs and looked around but no bikes. We were visibly disappointed. My parents started to laugh and told us we should look around the house. We found the two new bikes on the back porch and were thrilled. Dad as usual had put them together perfectly.
Another time I asked for a five cell flashlight so that I could use it to send Morse code messages to my friend across the street. We would spend house sending secret messages to each other. We provided a lot of business for battery companies.
The first time I took my new bike to school I fell off and put a big hole in the knee of my pants. My mom and Dad didn’t even yell at me when I came home. My mother who was an expert seamstress just sewed it up and fixed it. She just urged me to be more careful and watch the traffic.
There was a gift exchange for Christmas at Grandma’s house. Since the family was so large every grandkid’s name was put into a hat and my aunts or uncles pull out names. Every Grandkid got one gift but the name of the aunt or uncle was not put on the gift. It added to the excitement of Christmas and the family Christmas meal.
One Hundred and Eighty Foot Solo Baseball
ReplyDeleteThe homerun fence in our local Little League Park was about 180 feet from home plate. Not only did I know this distance to be accurate but I had actually paced it out in the local Little League ball park. I would often play a game of solo baseball in our yard. I would throw the ball up in the air and try to hit it as hard as I could. I always used the newest baseball that I had, my theory was that it would fly or go higher and the best bat (less cracks and screws in it) to maximize the distance. I had paced out various landmarks or trees in my yard and knew the distance from where I usually batted. I would often spend hours playing this game of solo baseball hoping to break this 180 foot barrier. Weather conditions did not matter. It was often oppressively hot and humid during the summer, but I kept throwing the ball up in the air and swinging as hard as I could. I often heard the cicada's loud call while I was playing this solitary game of home run derby. I played in the rain and since I had only one good baseball, I retrieved the ball after each hit and then went back to "home plate" to hit the next one. There was a lot of walking in this game and lots of flub hits, but I don't really remember completely missing the ball very often when I threw it up in the air. Imagination was a critical part of this game and I often used situations like the bottom of the ninth of the seventh game World Series. Major league pitchers were also on the mound bearing down on me. I kept whacking the ball retrieving it and them walking back to home plate. I never really got tired or bored of this game.
During my last year of Little League I clearly remember the Friday that I actually hit the ball over 180 feet and past the tree landmark in my back yard. I was elated and actually went into a home run trot when I retrieved the baseball. More importantly I now knew that I had the power and confidence to hit a home run. A week later in a Little League game (I played for the Warriors which had green hats and a big W on them) I actually hit a home run that barely went over the fence in left field. I remember that it was also oppressively hot especially in the wool uniforms that we had to wear. Wool was used in an attempt to make the uniforms indestructible and passed down from year to year. Luckily they provided us with plenty of water which we drank out of a bucket (usually devoid of dead bugs) in the dugout from a long handled metal cup.
I did not think that I had hit the ball that hard, and ran as hard as I could with my head down. It was not until I rounded second base that I heard the third base coach yell, "Slow down Tommy, it went over the fence." I quickly went into a good home run trot and all my teammates' mobbed me when I crossed the plate. When my teammates asked me if I had known that it was going out I sheepishly responded, "I thought I hit it good but wasn't sure so I kept hustling."
One hundred and eighty foot solo baseball had finally paid off.