Merging the Stinson and Matthews Hoboken Success

It’s been 34 years since Danny Ortiz of Hoboken High School’s baseball team was named Gatorade Player of the Year in New Jersey, followed, years later by Rashard Casey in 1995 and Tyrell Dortch in 1999 (Football), recognition that is akin to winning the Heisman Trophy - the highest honor in college.

Keep in mind that there were over 700 secondary public co-ed high schools in New Jersey, yet the red tiled box on 833 Clinton Street secured these prestigious sporting honors.

Buddy Matthews was born and raised a product of the Mile Square City. He was famously known not only for his coaching basketball and BASEBALL but the uptown signature store at the corner of 1100 Washington Street. Matthews Wine and Liquor Store which lasted through four decades was where he worked on how to connect with Hoboken residents.

The store had Maxwell Tavern on the east corner and Helman’s Restaurant on the west side and going toward Hudson Street a stone inscription from the city stating, “Hoboken the Birthplace of Baseball, June 19, 1846 on Elysian Fields.” Perhaps that was an omen to Buddy’s baseball success.

Buddy, as he was called, pinned by his mother Eileen, led many to forget his given name of Charles. He was a student of Our Lady of Grace School and Hoboken High, securing an educational degree from Kennedy Blvd. in Jersey City, St. Peter’s College.

Ed Stinson, a Sts. Peter and Paul and Hoboken High School graduate obtained an English degree from the Kennedy Blvd. college known as Jersey City State College.

Both future coaches had many things in common other than Irish roots, including a unique bond to the uptown Jacobson family. Professor Jim Jacobson was instrumental in determining Buddy’s educational pathway at St. Peter’s University encouraging him to seek a career in teaching.

Peter Jacobson went to Sts. Peter and Paul elementary school, classmate of Mr. Stinson and graduated in 1965 from Hoboken High School. Brother Michael also attended Sts. Peter and Paul and Hoboken High, playing football, and at Jersey City State College under the new assistant football coach Stinson.

Again, another twist occurred when Michael, graduating from JCSC entered the Hoboken School System and became the assistant football Red Wing coach, you guessed it, under Ed Stinson.

After a short tour of teaching at Connors Elementary School in Hoboken, Buddy was gracefully transferred to Hoboken High with Ed Stinson, soon to become a vice-principal.

Thus, both become coaches and recognized for excellence at the county, state, and national levels in football and baseball.

Buddy and Ed had a unique skill set of getting the most out of teenage athletes so much so if they changed sports, the results would still be the same.

Their assignments under the same roof at Hoboken High played a critical role caretaking their students, keeping track of attendance and course selections. In addition Coach Stinson knowing the SAT’s were a factor in division one football acceptances, created a zero period, no credit courses at 7:30, and special sessions in the library also placing a plaque on the wall with those who exceeded a thousand point on their SATs –“The “SAT-Thousand- Point Club”, initiated by their supervisor, the late Jerry Kiely.

Ed had his premier players during the 90’s, Ravon Anderson, (Rutgers) Rashard Casey, (Penn State) Keeon Walker, (Syracuse) Wilber Valdez, (University of Miami) Carlos Perez, (University of Florida) Tyrell Dortch, (Michigan State) all securing degrees with his 67-1 six-year record, a span that will never be broken.

This was all as a result of his assistant coaches, too many to mention, except for Joe Rotondi.

Mr. Matthews had a 48 straight-game winning streak in baseball during the 90’s broken by a loss to St. Peter’s Prep. Buddy’s assistant coach, the late Bruce Radigan, was a credit to this success.

Buddy had his key players in Danny Ortiz, Carmine Turso, Ralph and Michael Eusebio, Leo Colon, Rashad Casey and Eduardo Gomez. Both coaches are now retired.

“The two most important days in your life, one the day you are born and the day you found out why.’’

Buddy and Ed found out the WHY!

Dennis Sevano was born and raised in Hoboken. He writes frequently about sports figures and notables in the Mile Square City. He currently resides in Teaneck.