My nostalgic journey last Sunday took me across Columbia Road and into the famous Park, which forever more will be called Joe Moakley Park. I thought of all of the blood, sweat and tears that had been spilled on to that grass, Harry Woods and Hank Zablocki's Chippewas, Steve White, Joe Crowley and Stevie Flaherty's Southie High teams, George McCarthy's Mohawks Eddie Kirby's softball teams, Injun's Little League teams, Emo's Babe Ruth League teams. And I thought what a major part of our town that park has always been. I have some great memories down the old Columbia Park, but Sunday April 29. 2001 will always be my fondest memory.
Nothing even comes close.
As Joe got out of his car and headed to the stage last Sunday he saw me standing off to the left of the stage. He smiled that famous Joe Moakley smile and gave me the thumbs up sign. He still had the same twinkle in his eye as he did when he waited for me at the top of the hill, over 40 years ago, but my heart nearly broke. I wanted to rush up and tell him how much he has always meant to me, how much he has influenced my life and how much I love him. But he was escorted onto the stage and into the history books where he belongs.