Fond Memories Of ‘American Ball’ In Montclair Leads To Reunion Game

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Remember playing “American Ball” in Montclair’s schools? An ex-gym teacher and his former students do – and it’s still causing smiles.

Recently, ex- Montclair physical education teacher Kevin McGrath – who is a former Nishuane assistant principal – dug deep into the nostalgia bin and organized a reunion game for the sport he popularized when he first started teaching gym at Glenfield Middle School and Hillside Gifted and Talented in 1977.

It was a hit, he said.

The reunion game, which took place last spring at the Charles Bullock school, attracted dozens of enthusiastic former students and raised funds for the Montclair Animal Shelter.

McGrath recalled the gathering with fondness. He wrote:

“June in Montclair is full of graduations, promotions and reunions. On June 11 there was an interesting and unique reunion at the Charles H. Bullock School. It was a gathering of students who were in my physical education classes when I taught at Glenfield School (1973-1977) and at Hillside Gifted Talented School (1977-1985). Some quick math tells you that the eighth grade students I taught “back in the day” were 13-14 years old and now they are 62-63! I was only 23 and was just starting out and I went from physical education at Glenfield in THE PIT, to Hillside physical education to Nishuane as assistant principal for 2 years but I digress.”

McGrath continued:

“Over the past few years I got reacquainted with many of them through Facebook. There were just a few at first and then the number grew. I think the first shout-out I got was from Anthony “Sugabear” Sutton, the #1 Steelers fan in all of Montclair; I was thrilled. Then Collien “Bubblehead” Hinton jumped on the Facebook platform and off we went. Social media thank you! Little by little I was engaging in “conversations” with students that I had taught decades earlier. They brought up activities from both schools and they remembered them so vividly that I was drawn back to a time. From the Mile Run, to the Junior Loop, the Roller Coaster, the Bulls eye Club to the 200 Club to the hallowed Mc Grath Olympics to name but a few. Camp Munsee and the Campout at Willow Lake were mentioned but the activity or game that was a constant was AMERICAN BALL! They remembered the terms and phraseology associated with this free-wheeling but a controlled “me against the world” tone that is set. (Please be advised that through the 12 years this game was played there was never a fight or argument that couldn’t be settled with the primary Mc Grath Ground Rule; do it over.” There was the Angle Shot, the Headhunter; (automatic removal from the game), the Slam Bang and the dreaded but encouraged Booty Bomb. No explanation needed and encouraged on all levels.”

According to McGrath:

“The picture you see above you was the design of the shirt and the caption, compliments of my son Jeffrey (MHS class of 1997) that caught Calvin Rose’s (MHS class of 1989) eye. Cal Cal, childhood name, called Kathy (Little Murr) Murray, also class of 1989 and ran the idea for the “tournament by her and off they went. Little Murr contacted Jeff and the game was afoot. This was in early October and one thing led to another than another and phone calls were made, permits obtained more shirts ordered, former teachers contacted and former students got on board and they told Calvin “do it. We will be there.” Those who couldn’t come supported the venture by purchasing a tee shirt on line. The sale of over 100 shirts allowed Little Murr and I to give a check for $300 to Liz Morgan who is the director of Montclair Township Animal Shelter. And yes, we gave her an honorary tee shirt in gratitude for all the work she and her team do. Kathy is a volunteer there and they are always looking for help.

“The 2022 American Ball Reunion was speared headed by Calvin who wouldn’t take no for answer. Be it securing the Bullock School for the day; thank you principal Nami Kuwabara for letting us use your lovely school for the tournament and barbeque in the street to Samantha Lennon for allowing Calvin access to the drums stored in at closet room #17and stored at his cousin Desiree’s house between practices. Prior to this event Calvin contacted one of my colleagues at Hillside during those Golden Years, told him about the event and asked Lou if he’d be interested in assembling students who were in Creative I Drum Corp then renamed Drums of Thunder. His response was an emphatic “yes”, former players were contacted, secret practices planned and they were good to go. They performed during the intermission of the tournament. They knocked my socks off! Their enthusiasm and energy was amazing. I was back in 1979! Calvin’s work was not done by a long shot. He contacted Buildings and Grounds about the two schools in play and if they were available in the spring. There was a question of liability, custodial help and permits had to be secured. This process took many weeks and would’ve hit a brick wall if not for Rev. Craig Dunn who was happy to intervene and told Cal Cal to relax and pray on it. He did and it paid dividends; game on! (For the sake of brevity many people had a hand in making the day a success beyond any ones expectations this article more about the game and all that it entailed.)

“My wife Carol and I were met at the door by former students and their children wearing these shirts and handling the registration. I had nothing to say but my face and body language spoke volumes for what was taking place. As I walked into the gym, I swear to God time stood still. It was a feeling I can’t describe other then “is this happening?” I felt blessed beyond words and I was taken back to those years in the gymnasium where my “kids” and I worked together to make the 42 minutes we had two times a week the best part of their day and mine too. Their spirit, energy and commitment to help make the Mc Grath Gymnasium or the PIT the best it could be. Yes, A.B. was an integral part of the gym “experience” but the students drove me to try new things, embellish what was already in place, and challenge each other and above all foster team work and sportsmanship. I can say almost 50 years later, mission accomplished.

“The three games played were exciting, fast paced and with some surprise winners. The winners were: Joyce Brogdon, Claiborne and…And I tell you sports fan the competition was hard and fast and us watching the game appreciated what we saw and important to me was the competition, the quick moves on most of the A.B. alumni and the handshakes and hugs after the games ended.”

McGrath offered a little bit of American Ball trivia for those seeking to test their own memories of the sport.

GLENFIELD

• Roughly speaking when and where was the first official game of AMERICAN BALL played? MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24. GRADE 6.
• What do the number 362, 822 and 1087 mean? THE DISTANCE IN YARDS OF THE JUNIOR LOOP, THE MCGRATH LOOP AND THE ROLLER COASTER.
• What are the names of the Physical Education department at Glenfield from 1973-1977? PAT BLACKWELL, SARAH IVORY AND TED LAWRENCE.
• In American Ball what was a slam bang? IF YOU WERE TOO CLOSE TO A PERSON AND YOU THROUGH THE RED BALL MUCH TOO HARD. YOU WERE INVITED TO LEAVE THE GAME.
• In AB what constitutes an angle shot? IF YOU THREW THE BALL OVER THE SIDELINE THAT THE ELIMINATED STUDENTS WERE STANDING (DR. M. TOO) IN THE AIR.
• Who was crowned AMERICAN BALL KING in the first AB tournament? STEVEN PURYEAR.
• Who were some of the hardest throwers in A.B. history? SCOTT DAWSON, TERRENCE FRYE, STEVEN PURYEAR, AND TODD CARNEVALE.
• Who was the security guard at Glenfield who wore white shoes, big lapel shirts and loved sports MR. BUTCH ARMONDO.
• What scuffle involved an 8th grade teacher and a parent? THE PARENT/TEACHER BASKETBALL GAME IN THE PIT. MR. TORPEY AND…….
• Who was the captain of the 8th grade girl’s basketball game that I coached? (I don’t think we won a game!) TERI FESTA.
• Who was the physical education teacher who taught in the Little Gym? He was a very good wrestler. MR. JOHN LUCIA
• What was Charlie Evan’s nickname? CHA-CHA CHARLIE. ALWAYS TOOK AN EXTRA STEP IN A.B. AS HE WAS ABOUT TO THROW THE BALL.
• What was the destination for the 8th grade overnight? CAMP MUNSEE.
• Who avoided getting hit in AB by doing his signature “split in the air? COLLIEN HINTON.

HILLSIDE

• What were the 4 activities in the Mc Grath Olympics? SQUAT THRUSTS, SIT-UPS, PUSH-UPS AND 5 MINUTE RUN.
• Who was the last student to earn 200 points in the Mc Grath Olympics? JOSH SIEBERT.
• One year these 2 Hall of Famers duked it out the Olympics and were separated by a few points and the grudge is carried along to this very day? PETER “PZ” ZORICH, AND ROBERT “BOBBO” STANTON.
• How many laps in the fill gym constituted a mile? 22 LAPS
• What was the greatest team name ever given to a floor hockey group? NINI’S NINOS! JUST ASK STEFAN IF THIS WAS TRUE!
• What was the name of the greatest floor hockey goalie, boy or girl?
• Who were the holders of the 2 fastest times for the 60 yard dash in the lower hallway by my office? ROBERT ROSE AND RONNIE LINDSAY.
• What were the names of the certificates that were awarded throughout the year in P.E.? MILE RUN, HALL OF FAME, 200 CLUB, BULLSEYE CLUB AND…I KNOW I AM FORGETTING ONE! HONOR ROLL, CERTIFICATE OF AWARD FOR PHYSICAL ARTS, AND 5 MINUTE RUN.
• Where did we go for the Creative I overnight and who accompanied us? WILLOW LAKE AND MR. SINGER.
• Who was the greatest Science teacher ever? He put Hillside on the map and had an extra room with a huge dinosaur in it. MR. WARREN SINGER. IN THE VIEW OF BIG M., THE BEST TEACHER EVER.
• Who was responsible for bending the hockey blade and therefore sending the puck real high? In some instances hitting the backboard! HUNTER ROSS, ERIC BAYERSDORFER, CRAZY JOHN, CRAZY BILLY AND THE MANDRY BROTHER, BRAD AND CARLTON. MAYBE DAVID “MERCURY” EPSTEIN TOO BUT THE FILM IS NOT CLEAR.
• One of the fastest female runners in the 60 who left most of the girls behind. KATIE EPSTEIN.
• One year we took a hike for fifth day hike to where and who led on the hike? EAGLE ROCK AND MR. BELMONTE.
• What was the name for Thursday at Hillside? RAINBOW DAY.
• What teacher on this day had students catching golf balls on the field? MR. KOWALEK.

“While the American Ball games had a profound effect on the day being a success, I think that ‘tournament’ worked because of what it represented,” McGrath added.

“Not to get too deep but I think the day brought us back to a time and place that taught us and expected us to play by the rules, compete but stay grounded and learn how to be a good loser and a good winner,” he continued. “The time in the gym was a wonderful place to be for a long time and there must have been something good going on that so many were beckoned to buy a tee shirt, come to watch, compete and compete hard or send support through social media.”

“How cool is that?” he added.

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