Im58 I grew up on west 82 so many precious memories at the park I played football at Navy Park I'm sure some of you remember that place your video made me cry it's as if I live in another world now
Navy Park was dear to me. I played many days there of basketball and baseball. Brookside Park topped it though. We certainly do live in another world today but we lived in a previous world that few people could top. Thanks for your comment.
I still think about mom and dad climbing that hill in front of me, and I was just scrambling to keep up. So many people on a weekend, kinda dressed up too, as we did going anywhere in those days. And after watching many of your other videos, if for nothing else, Buddy, you are small-town America's story teller. Watching my parents, God parents and sometimes aunt and uncle watching the games and calling out. And I remember it seeming to take forever building that freeway bridge. That, to me, was when it all...changed...like time had finally caught up with us all? I remember driving over that bridge with my parents, looking down at the park...like something truly American had died somehow? And then we moved...
I just keep gravitating to this little slice of real Americana. I'll never forget when I was a kid, trying to climb that hill to watch the ball games. Pop loved Bob Feller & pitching, which he taught me something of. And picked me up & put me in that train where I satin the engineer's seat, imagining I was Johnathan " Casey" Jones. So many memories, fading now, as both I & that park age, fading into a few all-to-precious memories. But the heart-felt emotions remain, to drive the splinters of the mind's eye firmly into place...Buddy, you & I are of a few that remember.
Good to hear from you. Keep the stories coming when they strike you. I will never tire from any Brookside story. The Brookside Park Preservation Society is still trying to gather funds to bring back diamond #1. The only hold up is the City of Cleveland, as usual.
Thanks. Not too many of us left that remember such a cool place to grow up. A whole different world I'll be all to happy to reveal as the memories of old come flooding back from the emotions that drive them. I'd write a book if I only knew what to say. Wish my books were making more money to help out... As for ol' smoke...he was always very sure of himself. Very head strong, he knew what he wanted & how best to go about getting it. I just can't shake that memory.
Love all your videos, bring back memories. I grew up on the west side of Cleveland, first at W. 156th/Puritas, went to elementary school at RG Jones. Then moved to W.139th/Bellshire Ave., Carl Shuler Junior High School and West Tech High School. I saw the Indians play downtown a lot, also saw the Beatles when they played at the stadium, Cole Brothers Circus too. As many times that we drove through Brookside Park to get to the zoo I never remember spending much time at the park itself. Thanks for posting all the great videos, enjoying your music too.
I'm so glad you enjoy the videos. I lived a 5 minute walk from the big Diamond #1 and spent every single summer day in Brookside Park for 10 years starting at 5 years old. And also later as an adult till I was 23.
I lived on 46th and Bush. I spent a lot of time in Brookside going through the woods, going to the city swimming pool and the zoo. In the winter, the best place to go sledding. The old stone bleachers still existed back then. We explored Big Creek for treasure. Fond memories of Cleveland and Brookside Park.
@@brooklynbummer Please to meet you. I went to Boniface, drank at Kmetz, the Compact and Eichorn and played baseball down Brookside for 19 summers from Little F to Class A, as did my Father who was born in 1914 in that house. I'm not sure I was ever in your store. We had Kuhel's market on 49th & Carlos,
Those days are over I grow up all over the Westside was born on 58st in store moved to west 82st off Denison in 1976 I was 3 my parents still live there we even lost a family member hit by a train by brookside park Rip Charlie Graley but besides that I miss everything about Halle school West Tech we grown up there we would walk everywhere on the tracks even to brookside hop the fence spend all day at the zoo for free we even walked the tracks all the way to brook park Rd I'm 47 now and I would give back everything in my life to go back for one summer in the 1980s Tim and Billy Graley
LIved at 3579 W. 49th. I was down at the RR tracks the day after and found particles of green and yellow clothing after the accident. So sorry. Glad you found this video.
I grew up in the house right up from the ball diamond. Brookside was our backyard. I was a very lucky kid to have that area to play in. Miss the area a lot, but oh what memories I have.
Then you watched me and my brothers play many games. J. Schrader Co. I grew up at 3579 W. 49th. I loved that neighborhood and dreamt about where you lived. I was close to renting a chain saw cut some trees to get a view of the diamond from Denison.
I posted this in a facebook thread about old times in Elyria. Remind them of where we were before Elyria. I don't think many of them do? I, for one, will never forget spring & summer days at Brookside park with parents, godparents, aunts & uncles...little things, ya know...I was just remembering one time we were down there, & I asked smoke a question...I forget what about. He answered me, almost abruptly so, like he just knew he ran the place. But flashing that smile of his gave me to know I " had nothing to dread"...
How things like this doth tug at the heart strings! When my parents & godparents were alive & vital, taking us to this park to see the ballgames. when i tried to climb the hills...
I was getting some lunch while my younger son & my wife were mixing up Christmas cookies. I reminisced about watching the ball games on the hill, & dad putting me up in the old steam engine. I sat in the engineer's little seat & imagined moving that lever that controlled the speed....
+unionrdr Yep, that's heaven. My Dad worked on the railroad and let me ride in the engine and caboose. And he just about owned Brookside Park. He for sure ran it in the summer. 500 kids would play baseball!! Happy Holidays
@@rschmot My FIL worked with his father at the train yard in Cleveland. His dad was a BIG Hungarian that had a wedding band so big, it'd fit over my big toe with room to spare! I keep remembering some kind of concession down there as well? some splinters of the mind's eye come back to me these days.
Brookside Park is on the border of Brooklyn and Cleveland. between Fulton and Ridge Roads. The historic diamond #1 is located at the intersection of Denison Ave. & Fulton Rd near the Cleveland Zoo. The park is in two sections divided by railroad tracks, one large area that once included 9 baseball diamonds and the other historic area with the Diamond #1. Through poor, improper design, presently the only entrance is on Ridge Road. The Fulton/Denison entrance has been blocked off to vehicle traffic but can be accessed on foot or bike.
+unionrdr It is I who played it and who penned the words and music taken from a belief that someone should make a movie on such a special person and place. I cannot imagine anyone who could have had a better youth. I still shake me head. It warms my heart everytime I hear of an old cronie who shared those times. I hope it never ends.
My uncle used to play minor league ball in Brookside Park. The zoo, the big NKP steam locomotive on display, that bridge that looked a thousand feet tall to me as a kid. Not to mention that curvy, dangerous brick road we took to get to the park. At least the bridge is still there.
Don Cooke. I was a little kid so it had to be in the 50's, maybe around 1955. He was my youngest uncle and a pretty good ball player. Unfortunately, he liked beer as much as ball so the minors were as far as he went. The ballpark was huge to my memory with maybe 10,000 people there on a Sunday, especially if the Indians were on the road. My brother and I had a good time at Brookside.
My Father, Ray Schmotzer, played and coached at Brookside in 7 decades. I'm pretty sure he knew your Dad. Me and my 4 brothers played as well. Brookside, beer and baseball went together especially with the Brookside Inn on the hill. My Father played in the first night game in 1938, estimated 60-100, 000 fans! GO TRIBE!!
I remember your dad's name. I can't remember who coached Uncle Don's team but it seems to me it was Ray. Don played shortstop and I used to love spending Sunday afternoons at Brookside watching the games. I got to sit in the dugout for my uncle's games so it was doubly fun. I remember going to a few night games but his games were almost all day games. Minor league ball was a big deal then, especially for fans that couldn't afford a dollar for Indian seats. A dollar was a lot of money then. I could have bought one each from the concession stand for a buck. The guys used to bring coolers of beer to the games and I guess there weren't any rules against it. Don could play just as well after 12 bottles as one when he was 20 but it caught up with him fast by the time he was 25, The story in the family was that an Indian scout was ready to sign him for a farm club team and decided to go watch him one more time. Don didn't realize the scout was there and was drinking his usual amount of beer. The scout actually counted how many bottles were under his place on the bench, That was the end of his baseball career. He passed away about 10 years ago, mostly from the effects of his alcoholism. I haven't been back to Brookside in at least 30 years. I left Cleveland in 1967 because I could see what was going to happen. and didn't think I'd have many opportunities there. I was a respiratory therapist at St. Alexis, which was a good job, but I wanted to finish college, something I couldn't afford to do in Ohio. I moved to California and got my degree for less than I would have paid for books in Ohio. I was back there in 2006 and drove by St. Alexis to see how it had changed. Well, change it did. It wasn't there any longer. I guess it had just been demolished after University bled it dry. St. Alexis is a good example of what has happened ot Cleveland, It survived because all the Polish, Slovenian, and other Eastern European people in the area supported it. When they all moved away, it was nothing but medicaid cases, so the end was inevitable. Very sad, but the city has gone the same route. I miss all the good times I had there when I was young, but there is no Cleeland left like the one I lived in. GO TRIBE indeed. If they can pull this off, it will be the first Series they won since I was 2 years old. I have prayed that the Indians would win a Series and the Browns a Super Bowl before I died. Maybe I'll be halfway there in the next two weeks.
@@rschmot I attended Corpus Christi and we played baseball at other baseball fields at other schools like William Rainey Harper. I think we played a tournament there. I know baseball tournaments were popular there at Brookside.
Thanks, seriously. We lived on Winchester near the Madison avenue end. But this park lives now, only in my memories. They oughtta make a movie, dontcha think?
Yes I do. I don't know if you're aware, but there is a strong possibility they're going to bring the big diamond back. There is a movement called the Brookside Preservation Society, check it out. the big diamond was made an Ohio Historical site last September.
Im58 I grew up on west 82 so many precious memories at the park I played football at Navy Park I'm sure some of you remember that place your video made me cry it's as if I live in another world now
Navy Park was dear to me. I played many days there of basketball and baseball. Brookside Park topped it though. We certainly do live in another world today but we lived in a previous world that few people could top. Thanks for your comment.
I have the same feeling. It was a whole different world. I sometimes wish I could go back...just for a moment or two.
What a touching tribute and beautiful song. For those of us who grew up on the West Side, what a great trip down memory lane.
+Maureen Munshower Thank you, I miss it all. We were lucky for sure. Was it heaven?
Thank you for sharing these memories
I still think about mom and dad climbing that hill in front of me, and I was just scrambling to keep up. So many people on a weekend, kinda dressed up too, as we did going anywhere in those days. And after watching many of your other videos, if for nothing else, Buddy, you are small-town America's story teller. Watching my parents, God parents and sometimes aunt and uncle watching the games and calling out. And I remember it seeming to take forever building that freeway bridge. That, to me, was when it all...changed...like time had finally caught up with us all? I remember driving over that bridge with my parents, looking down at the park...like something truly American had died somehow? And then we moved...
I just keep gravitating to this little slice of real Americana. I'll never forget when I was a kid, trying to climb that hill to watch the ball games. Pop loved Bob Feller & pitching, which he taught me something of. And picked me up & put me in that train where I satin the engineer's seat, imagining I was Johnathan " Casey" Jones. So many memories, fading now, as both I & that park age, fading into a few all-to-precious memories. But the heart-felt emotions remain, to drive the splinters of the mind's eye firmly into place...Buddy, you & I are of a few that remember.
Good to hear from you. Keep the stories coming when they strike you. I will never tire from any Brookside story. The Brookside Park Preservation Society is still trying to gather funds to bring back diamond #1. The only hold up is the City of Cleveland, as usual.
Thanks. Not too many of us left that remember such a cool place to grow up. A whole different world I'll be all to happy to reveal as the memories of old come flooding back from the emotions that drive them. I'd write a book if I only knew what to say. Wish my books were making more money to help out...
As for ol' smoke...he was always very sure of himself. Very head strong, he knew what he wanted & how best to go about getting it. I just can't shake that memory.
Love all your videos, bring back memories. I grew up on the west side of Cleveland, first at W. 156th/Puritas, went to elementary school at RG Jones. Then moved to W.139th/Bellshire Ave., Carl Shuler Junior High School and West Tech High School. I saw the Indians play downtown a lot, also saw the Beatles when they played at the stadium, Cole Brothers Circus too. As many times that we drove through Brookside Park to get to the zoo I never remember spending much time at the park itself.
Thanks for posting all the great videos, enjoying your music too.
I'm so glad you enjoy the videos. I lived a 5 minute walk from the big Diamond #1 and spent every single summer day in Brookside Park for 10 years starting at 5 years old. And also later as an adult till I was 23.
Brookside park and St. Boniface school and church!!! J McDonnell
I remember when a kid from St. Thomas More fell into the creek went over the falls, unfortunetly died. This was 1974. R.I.P. Scott Theil
I lived on 46th and Bush. I spent a lot of time in Brookside going through the woods, going to the city swimming pool and the zoo. In the winter, the best place to go sledding. The old stone bleachers still existed back then. We explored Big Creek for treasure. Fond memories of Cleveland and Brookside Park.
You and me both and a so many in that hood. I lived at 3579 W. 49th. My Father, in the video, was born at 4515 Bush Ave. right across from the store.
@@rschmot I lived at 4520 Bush, my parents ran the deli in that building.
@@brooklynbummer Please to meet you. I went to Boniface, drank at Kmetz, the Compact and Eichorn and played baseball down Brookside for 19 summers from Little F to Class A, as did my Father who was born in 1914 in that house. I'm not sure I was ever in your store. We had Kuhel's market on 49th & Carlos,
@@rschmot I went to Boniface. I loved that old neighborhood, so much to do and so many kids.
Those days are over I grow up all over the Westside was born on 58st in store moved to west 82st off Denison in 1976 I was 3 my parents still live there we even lost a family member hit by a train by brookside park Rip Charlie Graley but besides that I miss everything about Halle school West Tech we grown up there we would walk everywhere on the tracks even to brookside hop the fence spend all day at the zoo for free we even walked the tracks all the way to brook park Rd I'm 47 now and I would give back everything in my life to go back for one summer in the 1980s Tim and Billy Graley
LIved at 3579 W. 49th. I was down at the RR tracks the day after and found particles of green and yellow clothing after the accident. So sorry. Glad you found this video.
@@rschmot My daughter's half baby sister that the baby sitter killed in the 1990's body was found there also the family lived on 33rd in denison
I grew up in the house right up from the
ball diamond. Brookside was our backyard. I was a very lucky kid to have that area to play in. Miss the area a lot, but oh what memories I have.
Then you watched me and my brothers play many games. J. Schrader Co. I grew up at 3579 W. 49th. I loved that neighborhood and dreamt about where you lived. I was close to renting a chain saw cut some trees to get a view of the diamond from Denison.
The good old days!...when times were amazing!...
I posted this in a facebook thread about old times in Elyria. Remind them of where we were before Elyria. I don't think many of them do? I, for one, will never forget spring & summer days at Brookside park with parents, godparents, aunts & uncles...little things, ya know...I was just remembering one time we were down there, & I asked smoke a question...I forget what about. He answered me, almost abruptly so, like he just knew he ran the place. But flashing that smile of his gave me to know I " had nothing to dread"...
I played and watched many games there. I recognized Mrs.. Schmotzer in some pics she hired me for my first job at Cleveland stadium.
And I bet she knew you too. Glad you found the video.
How things like this doth tug at the heart strings! When my parents & godparents were alive & vital, taking us to this park to see the ballgames. when i tried to climb the hills...
I was getting some lunch while my younger son & my wife were mixing up Christmas cookies. I reminisced about watching the ball games on the hill, & dad putting me up in the old steam engine. I sat in the engineer's little seat & imagined moving that lever that controlled the speed....
+unionrdr Yep, that's heaven. My Dad worked on the railroad and let me ride in the engine and caboose. And he just about owned Brookside Park. He for sure ran it in the summer. 500 kids would play baseball!! Happy Holidays
@@rschmot My FIL worked with his father at the train yard in Cleveland. His dad was a BIG Hungarian that had a wedding band so big, it'd fit over my big toe with room to spare! I keep remembering some kind of concession down there as well? some splinters of the mind's eye come back to me these days.
@@unionrdr Train yards were a way of life on West 49th. Rock on!
As this ball park located anywhere near W 117th, or was it more towards Tremont and downtown?
Brookside Park is on the border of Brooklyn and Cleveland. between Fulton and Ridge Roads. The historic diamond #1 is located at the intersection of Denison Ave. & Fulton Rd near the Cleveland Zoo. The park is in two sections divided by railroad tracks, one large area that once included 9 baseball diamonds and the other historic area with the Diamond #1. Through poor, improper design, presently the only entrance is on Ridge Road. The Fulton/Denison entrance has been blocked off to vehicle traffic but can be accessed on foot or bike.
Say Buddy, was it you that did this purty lil song? It gets me every time...remembering old times...
+unionrdr It is I who played it and who penned the words and music taken from a belief that someone should make a movie on such a special person and place. I cannot imagine anyone who could have had a better youth. I still shake me head. It warms my heart everytime I hear of an old cronie who shared those times. I hope it never ends.
I just can't help but remember those days. Dimming now in my old age, but still burning just the same...
@@rschmot I loved it
I grew up there, I lived on west 50 and eichorn, I new your dad and your brothers, I am Tony Citino
I'd say welcome to the club, but you're already in the club. How lucky were we?
I've been in contact with Don Billie recently.
My uncle used to play minor league ball in Brookside Park. The zoo, the big NKP steam locomotive on display, that bridge that looked a thousand feet tall to me as a kid. Not to mention that curvy, dangerous brick road we took to get to the park. At least the bridge is still there.
Who was your uncle? Do you know what years he played in Brookside?
Don Cooke. I was a little kid so it had to be in the 50's, maybe around 1955. He was my youngest uncle and a pretty good ball player. Unfortunately, he liked beer as much as ball so the minors were as far as he went. The ballpark was huge to my memory with maybe 10,000 people there on a Sunday, especially if the Indians were on the road. My brother and I had a good time at Brookside.
My Father, Ray Schmotzer, played and coached at Brookside in 7 decades. I'm pretty sure he knew your Dad. Me and my 4 brothers played as well. Brookside, beer and baseball went together especially with the Brookside Inn on the hill. My Father played in the first night game in 1938, estimated 60-100, 000 fans! GO TRIBE!!
I remember your dad's name. I can't remember who coached Uncle Don's team but it seems to me it was Ray. Don played shortstop and I used to love spending Sunday afternoons at Brookside watching the games. I got to sit in the dugout for my uncle's games so it was doubly fun. I remember going to a few night games but his games were almost all day games. Minor league ball was a big deal then, especially for fans that couldn't afford a dollar for Indian seats. A dollar was a lot of money then. I could have bought one each from the concession stand for a buck.
The guys used to bring coolers of beer to the games and I guess there weren't any rules against it. Don could play just as well after 12 bottles as one when he was 20 but it caught up with him fast by the time he was 25, The story in the family was that an Indian scout was ready to sign him for a farm club team and decided to go watch him one more time. Don didn't realize the scout was there and was drinking his usual amount of beer. The scout actually counted how many bottles were under his place on the bench, That was the end of his baseball career. He passed away about 10 years ago, mostly from the effects of his alcoholism.
I haven't been back to Brookside in at least 30 years. I left Cleveland in 1967 because I could see what was going to happen. and didn't think I'd have many opportunities there. I was a respiratory therapist at St. Alexis, which was a good job, but I wanted to finish college, something I couldn't afford to do in Ohio. I moved to California and got my degree for less than I would have paid for books in Ohio. I was back there in 2006 and drove by St. Alexis to see how it had changed. Well, change it did. It wasn't there any longer. I guess it had just been demolished after University bled it dry. St. Alexis is a good example of what has happened ot Cleveland, It survived because all the Polish, Slovenian, and other Eastern European people in the area supported it. When they all moved away, it was nothing but medicaid cases, so the end was inevitable. Very sad, but the city has gone the same route. I miss all the good times I had there when I was young, but there is no Cleeland left like the one I lived in.
GO TRIBE indeed. If they can pull this off, it will be the first Series they won since I was 2 years old. I have prayed that the Indians would win a Series and the Browns a Super Bowl before I died. Maybe I'll be halfway there in the next two weeks.
Hopefully you can remember the name of a team or teams. GO TRIBE!
As a kid in the early 70s, me and my friends played on the train
Did anyone of your friends or family play baseball down Brookside?
@@rschmot I attended Corpus Christi and we played baseball at other baseball fields at other schools like William Rainey Harper. I think we played a tournament there. I know baseball tournaments were popular there at Brookside.
...Niagara Falls, jonny angel...
+unionrdr But better.
Terrica Williams Taft primary princess Lavengra
Pretty lil song about yet another thing gone from the old days...
unionrdr did you grow up in the hood?
I was from Lakewood, but I remember this place from when I was a kid.
Welcome back. Grew up on 49th and Denison.
Thanks, seriously. We lived on Winchester near the Madison avenue end. But this park lives now, only in my memories. They oughtta make a movie, dontcha think?
Yes I do. I don't know if you're aware, but there is a strong possibility they're going to bring the big diamond back. There is a movement called the Brookside Preservation Society, check it out. the big diamond was made an Ohio Historical site last September.