VISITING THE BABE AND BILLY THE KID

(November 14, 2015) Last night while I was having supper at the 84 Diner, I saw on the TV where there had been a terrorist attack in Paris.As the night went on the news from France was not good and this morning the news was event worst and would end up altering my plans for today.

Today was the day that I had chosen to ride the train into New York. My plan was to drive down to the Peekskill Station and catch the train into New York City. But when I arrived at the Station security was very high and there was a very long ling entering the area.  So I quickly moved on to Plan B, and made my way over to the Taconic State Parkway and headed down to Hawthorne, New York.

Sunday was going to be a day that I had set aside to visit the area cemeteries but with the heightened security in New York, I opted to spend the day chasing down some to the more famous graves that can be found in the lower Hudson Valley.

My first stop of the morning was The Gates Of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York. I had downloaded a cemetery map on my phone but it was still kind of hard locating the grave sites that I was looking for.  Once I got to the right section I ended up walking the section in an attempt to find the grave.  One thing that helped is this cemetery allows headstones, which allow me to check several rows at one time.

John McSherry

The first grave site on that I was able to locate was that of John McSherry. As a long time high school and college umpire, I wanted to pay my respects to one of the the Major Leagues best umpires.  John was a Major League Umpire from 1971 -1995.  During his career he worked two World Series (1977 and 1987), eight National League Championship Series and three All-Star Games.   I remember John was the home plate umpire during the 6th game of the 1977 World Series at Yankee Stadium. It was in this game that Reggie Jackson belted three home runs off of three different Dodger Pitchers.

John was scheduled to open the 1996 season working the plate in Cincinnati. Seven pitches into the game, John called time, took a few steps toward the Reds Dugout and collapsed. He died of a massive heart attack. He was 51-years old.

Bess Houdini

A short time later I was able to find the grave of Bess Houdini, the wife and stage partner of Harry Houdini. Bess and Harry were married for 32-years and accompanied him on stage throughout his career.  After Harry died in 1926, Bess opened a tea house in New York. Later, she moved to Hollywood and continued to promote Harry's Memory. On Halloween 1936, she conducted the "Final Houdini Seance on the roof of the Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood. For several years others with Bess's blessing continued to conduct the seance. Whether or not they were successful or not depends on who you talk too.  On February 11, 1943, Bess Houdni was traveling by train from Los Angeles to New York. Near Needles, California she suffered a fatal heart attack. She was 67-years old.  Be raised in the Catholic Church, her family would not permit her to be buried beside Harry in the Machpelh (Jewish) Cemetery.  Instead she is buried here in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery.

Babe Ruth

Next, I was off to probably the most visited grave at Gates of Heaven. Buried in section 25, just a few yards apart are two great New York Yankees. My first stop in section 25 was at the grave site of the Sultan of Swat, George Herman "Babe" Ruth.  One of the most beloved Yankees, The Babe was a member of the first Hall of Fame Class in Cooperstown. In 1927, he hit 60-Home Runs, which is still the record for a 154-game season. His 714 career home runs was the record until Hank Aaron pass him in 1974.   Babe Ruth died on August 16, 1948 from complication of throat cancer. He was honored for two day as his body lay in repose at the main entrance to Yankee Stadium, where thousands of people stood in line to pay their respects. His funeral mass was conducted at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and following the service he was laid to rest here in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery.

Billy Martin

Just around the corner from Babe Ruth, rest another proud Yankee, Billy Martin. "Billy the Kid," spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues and was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 1953. After his playing career ended, his managerial career began, first with the Minnesota Twins then briefly with the Tigers and Rangers.  He became manager of his beloved Yankees in 1975 and lead the Bronx Bombers to the World Series Championship in 1977. He was fire as Yankee Manager for the first time in 1978 and moved on to manage the Oakland A's from 1980 - 1982.  Billy returned to the Yankees as manage a couple of more time, in 1983, 1985 and again in 1988. Had Martin not been killed in a vehicle accident on Christmas Day 1989 he would have returned for his 6 stint as Yankee Manager in 1990. Billy tomb stone is inscribed "I may not have been the greatest Yankee to put on the Uniform, but I was the proudest."

James Cagney

It was cold and wind during my visit to the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, and the morning was slipping away from me.  The were several other cemeteries on my list but as I was leaving I decided to make one final stop. Located near the entrance is the 8-wing mausoleum.  The multi-talented actor James Cagney is entombed in wing #1.  James Cagney was could play the tough guy in one movie and be a comedian in the next, while also starring as a song and dance man.  He died at his Dutchess County Fame on Easter Sunday in 1986.  He as 86 years old. During his funeral mass, his good friend and President of the United States, Ronald Reagan delivered the eulogy.  Following the service he was interred in
this crypt in the Gates of Heaven Cemetery's Garden Mausoleum.

From the Gates of Heaven Cemetery it was just a short 5-minute drive to the Kensico Cemetery where I will continue my adventure.

BASEBALL AND PRESIDENTS

(November 13, 2015) I spent the night at the Holiday Inn- Cooperstown, which is a wonderful accommodation. The staff is first rate and the rooms are spacious and clean.  After a great nights rest I made the short journey back to  Cooperstown. Yesterday was spent entirely at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and before departing the area I wanted to walk around and enjoy the Village of Cooperstown.

James Fenimore Cooper

It was another cold and rainy morning as I once again parked in the lot at Doubleday Field. A steady drizzle accompanied me as I walked up Main Street toward the Hall of Fame.  Located just behind the Hall of Fame is Cooper Park, named after James Fenimore Cooper who is buried nearby in the cemetery at Christ Episcopal Church.

In the park is a large statue of James Fenimore Cooper who was one of the most popular writes of the 19th Century.  He lived most of his life in Cooperstown and is best known for the book "The Last of the Mohicans."  James Fenimore Cooper died on September 15, 1851, his 62nd birthday and is buried with the other members of the Cooper Family in the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery.

After walking around Cooper Park and visiting the grave of James Fenimore Cooper, I stopped by the Monument Garden located just outside of the Hall of Fame.  Here just outside the Hall of Fame are statues of Roy Campanella, Satchel Paige and a couple of other great stars of the game.

The steady drizzle picked up into more of a light rain and cut my visit short. So after visiting a few of the shops along main street I decided to head out and make my way over to Albany.

It took about an hour and a half for me to make my way through rural upstate New York. As I made my way along U. S. Route 20, the light rain turned into snow and sleet and the thermometer on Hannah Honda showed it was 28 degrees as I stopped in the community of Central Bridge to get gas.

President Chester A. Arthur

By the time I reached the Albany area the snow and sleet had turned back to a steady drizzle.  I traveled a few miles north of Albany and into the very large Albany Rural Cemetery. I wanted to stop here to visit the grave site of President Chester A. Arthur.

President Arthur assumed the Presidency following the assassination of President James Garfield.  While he was born in Vermont, President Arthur lived most of his life in New York. He died on November 18, 1886 and is buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery.

The Albany Rural Cemetery is a very large cemetery, but there are signs through out the cemetery directing visitors to President Arthur's grave monument. A year after his death, a large monument was placed at Presidents Arthur's grave.  The monument was designed by Ephraim Keyser which consists of a giant bronze angel placing a palm leaf on a granite sarcophagus. It is one of the most unique grave monuments I have seen.

The stop at Albany Rural Cemetery was a quick one and after a quick lunch it was off to the small village of Kinderhook and a visit to the Martin Van Buren Historical site.

Just south of the Village of Kinderhook on the old Albany Post Road is Lindenwald. Martin Van Buren purchased this estate in 1839 during his presidency. It became his primary home during his retirement.

Lindenwald - Home of Martin Van Buren

One of the disadvantages of travel late in the year is that some sites are open seasonally as was the case with Lindenwald.  Even though I wasn't able to tour the house, I was able to spend about an hour walking around the grounds. The grounds surrounding the mansion is marked with historical plaque detailing the life of our 8th President.

The 36-room mansion stands on part of the 125-acre estate owned by Martin Van Buren. It faces the Albany Post Road which was once the main route between Albany and New York City.

Grave of Martin Van Buren

After about an hour of walking the grounds at Lindenwald I made my way back through the Village of Kinderhook to the Dutch Reform Cemetery where President Van Buren is buried. There is very little parking at the cemetery so I ended up parking on the shoulder of the road near the historical marker which stands in front of the cemetery.

The Presidents grave sits at the center of the cemetery and is easy to find. I spend a few minutes snapping a few photos and then mad my way back through Kinderhook.

It was late afternoon by the time I found my way back to U. S, Route 9 and headed south toward Fishkill where I would spend the next couple of day.

I passed through Hyde Park which is the home to President Franklin Roosevelt.  It was about 4 p.m. when I arrived at President Roosevelt's Home and missed the last tour of the day but I was allowed to walk the ground. I will return Sunday for the full tour.

About an hour after leaving Hyde Park I arrived at the Quality Inn in Fishkill. This will be my home for the next couple of day while I spend some time in Westchester County.

After a quick supper at the 84-Diner right next door I brought this day to an end.

TODAY, I WAS A KID AGAIN

(November 12, 2015) From Binghamton it was abut a 90-minute drive up Interstate 88 and New York Highway 28 to the Village of Cooperstown.Visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame has been on my bucket list for years and today I would be able to scratch it off my list.

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Babe Ruth's Uniform

Parking in Cooperstown is very limited during the spring and summer and visitors should plan on parking in one of the remote lots located around the out skirts of town and taking the trolley into town. However one of the advantages of visiting in November it is less crowded and arriving early I was able to find free parking in the small lot just off of Main Street at Doubleday Field. From there it is just a short walk up Main Street to the Hall of Fame.

I arrived in Cooperstown a little after 8:30 and there was a light cold rain falling. As I made my way up Main Street the rain was mixed with sleet and a few snow flakes.  Right at 9 a.m. the doors opened and I stepped into the Mother Church of Baseball.

I spent the entire day roaming the the hallowed hall of Cooperstown, and seeing some of the most historic artifacts of our National Pastime.

From Babe Ruth's locker and uniform, to Hank Aaron's bat that he used to hit his historic home runs to the famous George Brett pine tar bat, they were all on display with thousands of other of the games most treasured artifacts.

Hank Aaron's Uniform

As I walked through the the exhibits as happily remembered that night back in 1974 when I was listening to the radio and as Hammerin' Hank stepped to the plate, the great Milo Hamilton said, "He's sitting on 714.....Here's the pitch from Downing....." And the rest is history.  The Uniform that Hank wore than night along with the historic ball and bats are on display.

Pee Wee Reese - Hall of Fame Plaque

I spent most of the morning and early afternoon making my way through the galleries, reliving the history of the artifacts on display. Then it was time to make my way downstairs to the Hall of Fame Gallery.

This is the most sacred of all the galleries. It is here that the Hall of Fame Plaques are on display. The plaques of Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner are displayed at the front of the gallery. These five individuals were the initial Hall of Fame Class in 1936.  Over the years such greats as Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and Ted Williams have joined them in the Hallowed Hall of Cooperstown.

As I made my way through the Hall of Fame Gallery, time slipped away and it was closing time. The Day flew by and was filled with memories, but it was time to leave and return to the real world but for a brief few hours in a place called Cooperstown, I was allowed to be A Kid again.