THIS WEEK IN ROLLER DERBY HISTORY BY KEITH COPPAGE This week in Derby history: In 1939 the Derby was at the Ice Rink in Berkeley CA (just a few blocks from where todays Berkeley Resistance skate). 25 game series and on this night California (Peggy ONeal, Billy) scored 11-9 over Chicago. Crowd sang Elmer is a Sissy because Elbows Anderson wouldnt scrap with Roy Lil Abner Gowin. Series at this point: California 4-3-1... In 1949 Leo was excited to announce the games first World Series at MSG which would happen that fall... In 1953 the Westerners played their last series as a home team in Pasadena as they opened at the Rose Bowl against the Panthers. KTLA carried many of the games. Buddy Sr (P) ended up breaking his leg... About 57 years ago this week the Braves ended a run in scorching Bakersfield CA 32-24 (Red Smartt, Russ Massro, 8 points in the last jam) over the Westerners. Ralph Valladeres was top scorer for the night with 10. For Chicago, Gene Gammon and Loretta Behrens were big fan favorites, with Loretta being held to just two points. Jean Porter (4) led the ladies with 4,. In the 5th, Joanie (B) took the whip Little Iodine intended to give Kazmerski and it caused a big uproar. The Derby was thought to give up the ghost there because it was too hot... The next year Buddy Sr. was back at the Rose Bowl, this time with Buddy Atkinson Jr. who scored 6 for the Chiefs in a 26-24 win over the Braves giving them a 5-4 edge (Gerry scored 4). The NFL Rams opened at the Rose Bowl for the first time soon as the Braves left--they usually played Long Beach for their first preseason game but the Derby had the stadium all tied up! The same week up north the Bombers (Wild Bill, Joe Foster, Calvello) opened with a 33-38 win over the Westerners (Silva, Massro, Joanie, Liz Hernandez,). Bombers Ralph (7) and Sylvia Viramontes (4) were high scorers in Oakland...Zooming ahead this week in 68, the Cards shocked the Bomebrs 43-35. The Blonde Tiger had 9 for the Cards, Joanie had 11 and much was made over Barbara Baker sidestepping her mom for a point in Richmond. And those were the days.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 20:24:38 +0000
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