Re: Five memorable events

07/17/06 - posted by Paul Judge

Would you believe that there were auto races in Golden Gate Park in the early 1950's. I watched it at age 3 these fast, colorful speeding cars, some of which spun out of control through straw bales lining the roadway, with my Dad. Prompted by the way my Dad used to kid his kids, when we got home I declared to my Mom that I had just come from the Human Race! She liked that one.

Moving from a flat on 19th and Fulton to our house in the Outer Richmond that had a view out the back bedroom windows of the Pacific Ocean. I spent tons of time on the back porch watching the waves, fishing boats, and parade of ships transiting offshore. It was a family ritual to call all hands to view spectacular sunsets, storm clouds, or storm waves breaking on the bar.

When the B-Line/Geary Street Car line was yanked out it was the end of a great rail trip of sights and sounds. If our destination was only within the Richmond then we could wear street clothes. If we were truly heading’ downtown then we had to put on our Sunday clothes.

Playing street games and ball games while living on a steep hill. Making forts, trenches, and scrap houses to reenact W.W.II, or play cowboys & Indians, and being endlessly occupied with the neighborhood kids in each other's backyard and garages.

When the Giants came to town in ‘58 and we began living and dying by the radio voices of Russ Hodges and Lon Simmons. The tension and thrill of that rivalry with the ‘Bums’ in LA. The early and only broadcasts on TV (Thank you, thank you KTVU, Ch 2!) of ANY Giant games when they played the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine (Such deprived lives we led, eh!?). AND going out of my mind during the 1962 Pennant Race and World Series. Oh why couldn’t Willie McCovey’s line drive with two out and runners on the bases in the 9th inning of the 7th game have only been 3 feet higher off the ground?? That was the biggest heart break and sadness of my (our) young life up until the following autumn, November 22, 1963.

Just growing up in the City, it was a sweet and exciting place to be raised. A little of everything from throughout the City could rub off on you, whether you were aware or not, and it made for a richer understanding of the bigger world we grew into.