Classic American West Coast Boxing

[El Gallo]

Arnie Koslow, Hall of Fame timekeeper.
Rest in Peace, Arnie. You will be missed!

Armando Muniz and I both talked with Arnie at the CBHOF event on October 20th.
One of the greatest recantors of boxing history, much of which he was a part of.
He also fought in WW2, the Battle of the Bulge. He was heavily decorated.
Armando remembered that moment, as did I, when we heard the sad news today.
Muniz said, "Since I read the news a few minutes ago, I have not felt so sad and heavy in quite a while. I last saw Arnie at the CBHOF event in Oct. and as always a great outlook on life and a hearty smile and a great friend. Arnie has been a time keeper since the late 1960's. His smile meant he was a friend. Arniie, rest in piece my friend. the local atmosphere in boxing while NOT be the same !!!"

[Chuck1052]

I am sorry to learn that Arnie Koslow passed away. Over the years, I saw him a number of times, always a friendly person. I hope that Arnie's family and friends accept my condolences.

- Chuck Johnston

[El Gallo]

Mr. Baltazar,,,,,,,,,

Anything on Eddie 'Motor Boat' Logan

One hot Bantamweight in 1979 at The Olympic.

Too many tough bouts in a row, and his war (W TKO 9) with Alfonso Zamora in November 1979.

I boxed with Logan at the Main Street Gym in 1975, before he was stopped by Benny Rodriguez. He had a lot of talent, but they threw him away, matched him tough too early. I had fought Rodriguez a few years earlier, lost a decision, and knew that matching Eddie with him was biting off more than he could chew. It happens all the time in boxing, too bad for Logan.

[dagosd2000]

Film Noir

They say he was a second cousin to me on my father's side of the family but I never knew who he was related to. And didn't care much. It wasn't that important. He was Christened Pascuale Boromeo De Stefano but he fought under the name of Paddy Stevens.

Visiting the house where Diamond Joe,my grandfather lived on Polk and Oakley on the southwest side of Chicago was a commoon occurance back then. My grandmother still lived there with my aunt and my two cousins.

Uncle Paddy,as we called him,was older than us kids. A good looking guy. Not a stretch to say he looked a lot like Elvis. He waalways a good athlete.We'd watch him play basketball at the muni gym. He was fast and led his team in scoring. Uncle Paddy played baseball too. Was in the Cubs organization for a while. Stan Hack was his coach. But he loved boxing. That was his sport. Hanging around the neigborhood all you heard were the boys talking about Uncle Paddy. A good amateur career got him off to a nice start. The Gianelli brothers saw the potential and handled him(I imagine with some help from the Outfit).

Uncle Paddy was popular with us kids in the neighborhood. He'd play stick ball with us and always drew a crowd when he walked the street with his girl Ginny. A nice Italian girl from a nice Italian family.

Uncle Paddy started working his way up at the Marigold and the Armory. The whole neighborhood would come to see him fight.He was undeafeated and after he beat Womber he cracked into the rankings. He was a cutie. More like Pep than a slugger like Marciano. He was always working in the ring though sometimes it was hard to tell. He'd work his jab,feihgnt,counter,tie a guy up,work out of it a nd throw a combination.

The boys downtown got him lined up to fight Basilo in New York. The winner would then fight DeMarco who held the belt. The Gianellis wanted my Uncle Paddy to train a couple of weeks in the Catskills just to try to get used to things. While they were up there a car with the Gianellis and Uncle Paddy skidded off the road and hit a tree. No one was hurt except my Uncle Paddy. He was on the passenger side that slammed into the tree and cracked some vertabraes in his back.

The doctors told him his fighting career was finished,but that couldn't stop him from trying to comeback. For ten months he did all the exercises and more to get in shape again to fight. He surprised the docs and everyone else. They got him a fight at Chicago Stadium in a main event. It was a big story in the fight world not mention the proportions in Chicago. Uncle Paddy was to fight Bomber Kelky in a ten rounder. Kelky was at the end of a journryman career and figured would get Uncle Paddy back in the picture. The fight was to be televised across the country.

Well I'll never forget that night. After two rounds you could tell Uncle Paddy had lost it. He was stiif and instead having the punches miss they were connecting all over his body.He wasn't winning a round when Sammy Gianelli wouldn't let him come out for the seventh round.

After that fight there were no more fights in Chicago let alone New York. Uncle Paddy began to show up at the pool room and Washington Park. The Outfit used him as an errand boy and before he knew it he was arrested on an assault charge. He did he short stretch in Cook County but by that time Ginny had gone to Ohio to her mother's taking the kids.

After Paddy got released he was a silent partnet in a tavern called "A Fine Romance." It was located in Calumet City. One of those places with the slot machines in the back. But Uncle Paddy was into the Outfit for a lot of dough. The race track was killing him. the boys downtown turned their backs on him. The Vice Squad raided the place and shut it down.

It's been years since anyone has heard of him. I don't know if he's alive or dead. Someone said that later he tried fighting again somewhere out west as a middle weight. It's like Budd Shulberg scripted his life. I guess if I could find Palooka ville on the map I might run into him.

[El Gallo]

El Gallo,

Eddie 'Motor Boat' Logan got ranked #10 WBC, after defeating (W Dec 10) Rafael Pena in October 1979.

Then he was matched with #2 WBC - Alfonso Zamora at The Forum (November 16, 1979 on the Alexis Arguello
vs. Bobby Chacon undercard).

It was a WBC Elimination bout, with the winner to get WBC Champion - Lupe Pintor, as Carlos Zarate pulled
out of the rematch bout with Lupe.

Eddie won in a war (TKO 9), but took some frighteningly hard-bombs from the Z-Man.

Ring Magazine moved Eddie to the #5 Bantamweight after that win, but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Heard the California Boxing Commission pulled Eddie's boxing license after the win. Too many blows to the head.

I was at the Forum the night he fought Zamora, a big win, but he was lucky he wasn't fighting the Zamora of a couple years previous.
As I said, he was a good little fighter that was brought up wrong, but never in the league of a prime Zamora, Pintor, etc.

[El Gallo]

El Gallo,

Eddie 'Motor Boat' Logan got ranked #10 WBC, after defeating (W Dec 10) Rafael Pena in October 1979.

Then he was matched with #2 WBC - Alfonso Zamora at The Forum (November 16, 1979 on the Alexis Arguello
vs. Bobby Chacon undercard).

It was a WBC Elimination bout, with the winner to get WBC Champion - Lupe Pintor, as Carlos Zarate pulled
out of the rematch bout with Lupe.

Eddie won in a war (TKO 9), but took some frighteningly hard-bombs from the Z-Man.

Ring Magazine moved Eddie to the #5 Bantamweight after that win, but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Heard the California Boxing Commission pulled Eddie's boxing license after the win. Too many blows to the head.

I was at the Forum the night he fought Zamora, a big win, but he was lucky he wasn't fighting the Zamora of a couple years previous.
As I said, he was a good little fighter that was brought up wrong, but never in the league of a prime Zamora, Pintor, etc.

Eddie Logan

bantamweight
alias Motor Boat
residence Los Angeles, California, USA
won 8 (KO 3) + lost 7 (KO 2) + drawn 0 = 15
rounds boxed 118 KO% 20



1979-11-16 Alfonso Zamora 32-3-0
Forum, Inglewood, California, USA W TKO 7 10
referee: Vince Delgado

1979-10-23 120 Rafael Pena 116½ 1-0-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA W UD 10 10
1979-09-06 Oscar Muniz 20-1-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA L KO 6
1979-07-12 119½ Alberto Davila 119 32-6-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA L PTS 10 10
1979-05-03 Alberto Sandoval 28-3-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA L UD 10 10
1979-03-15 118 Alberto Sandoval 117½ 28-2-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA W MD 10 10
referee: Richard Steele 97-96 | judge: Larry Rozadilla 96-96 | judge: Bobby Rings 97-94

1979-01-18 119 Oscar Muniz 118 16-1-3
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA L UD 10 10
1978-12-14 120 Mario Chavez 118 16-5-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA W PTS 10 10
1978-10-05 Leo Randolph 3-0-0
Seattle Center Arena, Seattle, Washington, USA L PTS 8 8
1975-03-06 118 Benny Rodriguez 119 19-4-0
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA L TKO 5 10
time: 2:55 | referee: Larry Rozadilla

1974-07-09 117 Flavio Barcena 117½ 9-4-3
Forum, Inglewood, California, USA W PTS 10 10
1974-05-10 120 Francisco Rodriguez 121 3-2-1
Coliseum, San Diego, California, USA W KO 5 10
time: 2:50

1974-04-15 122 Joe Guevara 123 7-0-0
Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, USA L UD 10 10
1974-04-02 Fidel Frajo 4-0-0
Sacramento, California, USA W PTS 6 6
1974-02-14 Carlos Estrada
Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA W KO 1

[El Gallo]

El Gallo,

Thanks,,,,,,

I remember Eddie was so excited after beating Francisco Rodriguez (KO 5) at the Coliseum in San Diego
May 1974.

I think they posted his record at 13-1-0 (7 KO's) on the fight program. His only loss, to the tough Joe Guevara.

Then he got a big fight at The Forum, on the Ruben Olivares vs. Zensuke Utagawa undercard.

The big time, with over 13,000 in attendance.

Eddie Logan vs Flavio Barcena.........an entertaining bout, that went the 10-Round distance.

Il Duce . . . I thought he was a good fighter, one that might have gone farther if handled differently.

[dagosd2000]

Carmen Basilio

[scartissue]

El Gallo,

Eddie Logan vs Flavio Barcena.........an entertaining bout, that went the 10-Round distance.

Not surprised, Flavio Barcena was never in a dull fight in his life.

Scartissue

[scartissue]

Film Noir

They say he was a second cousin to me on my father's side of the family but I never knew who he was related to. And didn't care much. It wasn't that important. He was Christened Pascuale Boromeo De Stefano but he fought under the name of Paddy Stevens.

Visiting the house where Diamond Joe,my grandfather lived on Polk and Oakley on the southwest side of Chicago was a commoon occurance back then. My grandmother still lived there with my aunt and my two cousins.

Uncle Paddy,as we called him,was older than us kids. A good looking guy. Not a stretch to say he looked a lot like Elvis. He waalways a good athlete.We'd watch him play basketball at the muni gym. He was fast and led his team in scoring. Uncle Paddy played baseball too. Was in the Cubs organization for a while. Stan Hack was his coach. But he loved boxing. That was his sport. Hanging around the neigborhood all you heard were the boys talking about Uncle Paddy. A good amateur career got him off to a nice start. The Gianelli brothers saw the potential and handled him(I imagine with some help from the Outfit).

Uncle Paddy was popular with us kids in the neighborhood. He'd play stick ball with us and always drew a crowd when he walked the street with his girl Ginny. A nice Italian girl from a nice Italian family.

Uncle Paddy started working his way up at the Marigold and the Armory. The whole neighborhood would come to see him fight.He was undeafeated and after he beat Womber he cracked into the rankings. He was a cutie. More like Pep than a slugger like Marciano. He was always working in the ring though sometimes it was hard to tell. He'd work his jab,feihgnt,counter,tie a guy up,work out of it a nd throw a combination.

The boys downtown got him lined up to fight Basilo in New York. The winner would then fight DeMarco who held the belt. The Gianellis wanted my Uncle Paddy to train a couple of weeks in the Catskills just to try to get used to things. While they were up there a car with the Gianellis and Uncle Paddy skidded off the road and hit a tree. No one was hurt except my Uncle Paddy. He was on the passenger side that slammed into the tree and cracked some vertabraes in his back.

The doctors told him his fighting career was finished,but that couldn't stop him from trying to comeback. For ten months he did all the exercises and more to get in shape again to fight. He surprised the docs and everyone else. They got him a fight at Chicago Stadium in a main event. It was a big story in the fight world not mention the proportions in Chicago. Uncle Paddy was to fight Bomber Kelky in a ten rounder. Kelky was at the end of a journryman career and figured would get Uncle Paddy back in the picture. The fight was to be televised across the country.

Well I'll never forget that night. After two rounds you could tell Uncle Paddy had lost it. He was stiif and instead having the punches miss they were connecting all over his body.He wasn't winning a round when Sammy Gianelli wouldn't let him come out for the seventh round.

After that fight there were no more fights in Chicago let alone New York. Uncle Paddy began to show up at the pool room and Washington Park. The Outfit used him as an errand boy and before he knew it he was arrested on an assault charge. He did he short stretch in Cook County but by that time Ginny had gone to Ohio to her mother's taking the kids.

After Paddy got released he was a silent partnet in a tavern called "A Fine Romance." It was located in Calumet City. One of those places with the slot machines in the back. But Uncle Paddy was into the Outfit for a lot of dough. The race track was killing him. the boys downtown turned their backs on him. The Vice Squad raided the place and shut it down.

It's been years since anyone has heard of him. I don't know if he's alive or dead. Someone said that later he tried fighting again somewhere out west as a middle weight. It's like Budd Shulberg scripted his life. I guess if I could find Palooka ville on the map I might run into him.

Roger, that was an AWESOME story. Now I have to try and figure out who is who because there is always a lot of hidden inuendo in your stories.

[dagosd2000]

Film Noir

They say he was a second cousin to me on my father's side of the family but I never knew who he was related to. And didn't care much. It wasn't that important. He was Christened Pascuale Boromeo De Stefano but he fought under the name of Paddy Stevens.

Visiting the house where Diamond Joe,my grandfather lived on Polk and Oakley on the southwest side of Chicago was a commoon occurance back then. My grandmother still lived there with my aunt and my two cousins.

Uncle Paddy,as we called him,was older than us kids. A good looking guy. Not a stretch to say he looked a lot like Elvis. He waalways a good athlete.We'd watch him play basketball at the muni gym. He was fast and led his team in scoring. Uncle Paddy played baseball too. Was in the Cubs organization for a while. Stan Hack was his coach. But he loved boxing. That was his sport. Hanging around the neigborhood all you heard were the boys talking about Uncle Paddy. A good amateur career got him off to a nice start. The Gianelli brothers saw the potential and handled him(I imagine with some help from the Outfit).

Uncle Paddy was popular with us kids in the neighborhood. He'd play stick ball with us and always drew a crowd when he walked the street with his girl Ginny. A nice Italian girl from a nice Italian family.

Uncle Paddy started working his way up at the Marigold and the Armory. The whole neighborhood would come to see him fight.He was undeafeated and after he beat Womber he cracked into the rankings. He was a cutie. More like Pep than a slugger like Marciano. He was always working in the ring though sometimes it was hard to tell. He'd work his jab,feihgnt,counter,tie a guy up,work out of it a nd throw a combination.

The boys downtown got him lined up to fight Basilo in New York. The winner would then fight DeMarco who held the belt. The Gianellis wanted my Uncle Paddy to train a couple of weeks in the Catskills just to try to get used to things. While they were up there a car with the Gianellis and Uncle Paddy skidded off the road and hit a tree. No one was hurt except my Uncle Paddy. He was on the passenger side that slammed into the tree and cracked some vertabraes in his back.

The doctors told him his fighting career was finished,but that couldn't stop him from trying to comeback. For ten months he did all the exercises and more to get in shape again to fight. He surprised the docs and everyone else. They got him a fight at Chicago Stadium in a main event. It was a big story in the fight world not mention the proportions in Chicago. Uncle Paddy was to fight Bomber Kelky in a ten rounder. Kelky was at the end of a journryman career and figured would get Uncle Paddy back in the picture. The fight was to be televised across the country.

Well I'll never forget that night. After two rounds you could tell Uncle Paddy had lost it. He was stiif and instead having the punches miss they were connecting all over his body.He wasn't winning a round when Sammy Gianelli wouldn't let him come out for the seventh round.

After that fight there were no more fights in Chicago let alone New York. Uncle Paddy began to show up at the pool room and Washington Park. The Outfit used him as an errand boy and before he knew it he was arrested on an assault charge. He did he short stretch in Cook County but by that time Ginny had gone to Ohio to her mother's taking the kids.

After Paddy got released he was a silent partnet in a tavern called "A Fine Romance." It was located in Calumet City. One of those places with the slot machines in the back. But Uncle Paddy was into the Outfit for a lot of dough. The race track was killing him. the boys downtown turned their backs on him. The Vice Squad raided the place and shut it down.

It's been years since anyone has heard of him. I don't know if he's alive or dead. Someone said that later he tried fighting again somewhere out west as a middle weight. It's like Budd Shulberg scripted his life. I guess if I could find Palooka ville on the map I might run into him.

Roger, that was an AWESOME story. Now I have to try and figure out who is who because there is always a lot of hidden inuendo in your stories.

Dan,it's what you don't write that makes a good story.

[dagosd2000]

The Last Of The Good Deals

On the weekends there's a big swap meet in the parking lot at the San Diego Sports Arena. It has to be the biggest in town. Last Sunday I had a little time in the morning so I drove down there to see if something jumped out at me. I'm not that interested in the usual commercial vendors who have their scheduled circuit around the area,but the garage sale types that are set up along the fence at the back perimeter.

I was taking my time nosing around. I used to go more often,but I kept seeing the same stuff all the time. Nothing to interest me. But last Sunday something happened. On a card table I saw a picture folder with the word "Baseball" printed on it. I figured it was some old cards. I was right. As I slowly turned the leaves I noticed that most of the sleeves were empty. The cards were all "commons". Guys that played the Big League without putting up any big numbers.As I got to the last leaf I figured there were around 50 or so cards. On the last page I saw something. It was an old card of a pal of mine that I plyed ball with in high school. The kid's name was Johnny Barnes. I held the folder and started reminiscing.

Johnny was a year behind me in school. His brother Tom was our catcher. I played third base. Johnny Barnes was our shortstop,and one hell of a player if I ever saw one. He was taller and faster than his brother. Had the rifle arm and could hit a ball a mile.

With Johnny on the team we cruised to the league championship. He made the All CIF squad and right after school signed with the Angels organization. They sent him to single A for a year. Johnny hit everything in sight and so they worked him up to the 3A team. The big team had a hole in the outfield that spring when Miller tore his achilles so they gave Johnny his chance.

We were all excited for him. He married a Canadian gal when he was in Tacoma. A good looker. She was as excited as any of us because Johnny got called up.

One weekend we drove up to Anahaim to watch him play a series with Kansas City. The Angels started him right away. Johnny didn't show too much. In 3 days he got a single in 10 tries. His stance looked uncomfortable all hunched over with his bat almost resting on his shouler. His stance wasn't like that in high school. But Musial looked uncomfortable in the box and he's in the Hall.

After the series we'd all go out and Johnny would be buying drinks at the local watering holes. We didn't go back to watch him anymore that season. In July he was riding the bench. However he did save one of Ryan's no hitters with a diving catch late in the season.

The next season he was sent back down. I remember one winter he showed up at one of our slow pitch games at the rec center. We asked him to play. He didn't hesitate. He said the organization wanted him to play winter ball in Puerto Rico,but for some reason he never made clear,he didn't go.

No need telling you with him on our team we won the B division easily. After the games we'd pile into the local saloons in Ocean Beach. Johnny was a fast drinker and couldn't last long. Before midnight we'd have to carry to the car.

That B team and the league folded the next year. Johnny dropped out of site. Just as the Vietnam War was still going on in 71, I heard Johnny got drafted. He wasn't married anymore. A few years back I saw him at the Home Depot stocking shelves. We said hello and went to the snack bar to have a cup of coffee. We did't exchange numbers and I picked up the tab.

Well I set the folder down on the card table. The guy asked me what I'd pay for it.He'd give me a good deal.I tossed the folder on the table. I told him I wasn't interested.I was just looking.

[CNorkusJr]

The Last Of The Good Deals

On the weekends there's a big swap meet in the parking lot at the San Diego Sports Arena. It has to be the biggest in town. Last Sunday I had a little time in the morning so I drove down there to see if something jumped out at me. I'm not that interested in the usual commercial vendors who have their scheduled circuit around the area,but the garage sale types that are set up along the fence at the back perimeter.

I was taking my time nosing around. I used to go more often,but I kept seeing the same stuff all the time. Nothing to interest me. But last Sunday something happened. On a card table I saw a picture folder with the word "Baseball" printed on it. I figured it was some old cards. I was right. As I slowly turned the leaves I noticed that most of the sleeves were empty. As I got to the last leaf I figured there were around 50 or so cards. On the last page I saw something. It was an old card of a pal of mine that I plyed ball with in high school. The kid's name was Johnny Barnes. I held the folder and started reminiscing.

Johnny was a year behind me in school. His brother Tom was our catcher. I played third base. Johnny Barnes was our shortstop,and one hell of a player if I ever saw one. He was taller and faster than his brother. Had the rifle arm and could hit a ball a mile.

With Johnny on the team we cruised to the league championship. He made the All CIF squad and right after school signed with the Angels organization. They sent him to single A for a year. Johnny hit everything in sight and so they worked him up to the 3A team. The big team had a hole in the outfield that spring when Miller tore his achilles so they gave Johnny his chance.

We were all excited for him. He married a Canadian gal when he was in Tacoma. A good looker. She was as excited as any of us because Johnny got called up.

One weekend we drove up to Anahaim to watch him play a series with Kansas City. The Angels started him right away. Johnny didn't show too much. In 3 days he got a single in 10 tries. His stance looked uncomfortable all hunched over with his bat almost resting on his shouler. His stance wasn't like that in high school. But Musial looked uncomfortable in the box and he's in the Hall.

After the series we'd all go out and Johnny would be buying drinks at the local watering holes. We didn't go back to watch him anymore that season. In July he was riding the bench. However he did save one of Ryan's no hitters with a diving catch late in the season.

The next season he was sent back down. I remember one winter he showed up at one of our slow pitch games at the rec center. We asked him to play. He didn't hesitate. He said the organization wanted him to play winter ball in Puerto Rico,but for some reason he never made clear,he didn't go.

No need telling you with him on our team we won the B division easily. After the games we'd pile into the local saloons in Ocean Beach. Johnny was a fast drinker and couldn't last long. Before midnight we'd have to carry to the car.

That B team and the league folded the next year. Johnny dropped out of site. Just as the Vietnam War got hot in 68, I heard Johnny got drafted. He wasn't married anymore. A few years back I saw him at the Home Depot stocking shelves. We said hello and went to the snack bar to have a cup of coffee. We did't exchange numbers and I picked up the tab.

Well I set the folder down on the card table. The guy asked me what I'd pay for it.He'd give me a good deal.I tossed the folder on the table. I told him I wasn't interested.I was just looking.

Your story brings back some memories Rog. I collect older Topps Baseball cards. Mostly early 1960's to be exact and I have completed 5 yearly sets over time. I also have my father's Topps Exhibition Card from the 50's. The photo that the card portrays has him in his orthodox stance taken in the Bayonne, NJ gym he trained in. As I attended various sports cards and memorabilia shows here in the NY region, occaisionaly I would see his card pop up in various dealers offerings.
The usual price in good condition runs about $5.00 and is considered a "common card". Ebay dealers run them at $14.00-$29.00 range. When I saw a couple in that $25.00 high end range I would laugh to myself that dad "made it to semi-star status". Other fighters from that era that my father fought in are in the same set and I get enjoyment thinking that one day, some kid plunked down a nickel or so in a machine and got a "Charley Norkus" card, instead of a "Archie Moore" or kingpin "Rocky Marciano "card. Today's rates has the Rocky card going about $200 in good condition.
Last year,at a show,as I looked at one of my dads cards, a friend who was at the show with me came up from behind me and said what does he want for it ?
I did not tell the dealer that it was my father on the card. The dealer wanted $10 bucks for the stained card. My friend, who has a big yap, said to the dealer loudly " Ten Bucks-that all for a Charley Norkus card, dont you know this guy was a KO artist back in the fifties and belted some of the best fighters in the heavywt. division !!!!"
I just shook my head as I knew what was coming next. My friend went on " Thats Charley Norkus the fighter" shaking the card at the dealer and "this is his son, Charlie Jr,right here !!!".
The dealer said " Yeah, your this guys son ? This is your father ?" taking hold of the card back.
I said "yes, thats my dad". The dealer asked if I had ID. I showed him my drivers license (which by-the way has "Jr", on it). The dealer then asked about my dads career and I told him among other things that he was from Queens, NY originally. After 15 minutes, he asked if I wanted the card for free. I told him no Thanks-I have a few at home and I told him if he can get $10 for it in that condition, good luck. As I walked away, the dealer called me back. He asked if I would sign it, as he wanted to keep it for himself.
He gave me a sharpie, I wrote "Keep Punchin' and Best Wishes, Charlie Norkus Jr." a phrase my father used on many pictures and other things over the years.
The dealer Thanked me and told me that he will look up his career on Boxrec. when he can (I told him about the website).
AS we walked away, I told my friend, "dont do that, real boxing fans will know what my father did in the ring even at $5.00 a card".

[Expug]

Film Noir

They say he was a second cousin to me on my father's side of the family but I never knew who he was related to. And didn't care much. It wasn't that important. He was Christened Pascuale Boromeo De Stefano but he fought under the name of Paddy Stevens.

Visiting the house where Diamond Joe,my grandfather lived on Polk and Oakley on the southwest side of Chicago was a commoon occurance back then. My grandmother still lived there with my aunt and my two cousins.

Uncle Paddy,as we called him,was older than us kids. A good looking guy. Not a stretch to say he looked a lot like Elvis. He waalways a good athlete.We'd watch him play basketball at the muni gym. He was fast and led his team in scoring. Uncle Paddy played baseball too. Was in the Cubs organization for a while. Stan Hack was his coach. But he loved boxing. That was his sport. Hanging around the neigborhood all you heard were the boys talking about Uncle Paddy. A good amateur career got him off to a nice start. The Gianelli brothers saw the potential and handled him(I imagine with some help from the Outfit).

Uncle Paddy was popular with us kids in the neighborhood. He'd play stick ball with us and always drew a crowd when he walked the street with his girl Ginny. A nice Italian girl from a nice Italian family.

Uncle Paddy started working his way up at the Marigold and the Armory. The whole neighborhood would come to see him fight.He was undeafeated and after he beat Womber he cracked into the rankings. He was a cutie. More like Pep than a slugger like Marciano. He was always working in the ring though sometimes it was hard to tell. He'd work his jab,feihgnt,counter,tie a guy up,work out of it a nd throw a combination.

The boys downtown got him lined up to fight Basilo in New York. The winner would then fight DeMarco who held the belt. The Gianellis wanted my Uncle Paddy to train a couple of weeks in the Catskills just to try to get used to things. While they were up there a car with the Gianellis and Uncle Paddy skidded off the road and hit a tree. No one was hurt except my Uncle Paddy. He was on the passenger side that slammed into the tree and cracked some vertabraes in his back.

The doctors told him his fighting career was finished,but that couldn't stop him from trying to comeback. For ten months he did all the exercises and more to get in shape again to fight. He surprised the docs and everyone else. They got him a fight at Chicago Stadium in a main event. It was a big story in the fight world not mention the proportions in Chicago. Uncle Paddy was to fight Bomber Kelky in a ten rounder. Kelky was at the end of a journryman career and figured would get Uncle Paddy back in the picture. The fight was to be televised across the country.

Well I'll never forget that night. After two rounds you could tell Uncle Paddy had lost it. He was stiif and instead having the punches miss they were connecting all over his body.He wasn't winning a round when Sammy Gianelli wouldn't let him come out for the seventh round.

After that fight there were no more fights in Chicago let alone New York. Uncle Paddy began to show up at the pool room and Washington Park. The Outfit used him as an errand boy and before he knew it he was arrested on an assault charge. He did he short stretch in Cook County but by that time Ginny had gone to Ohio to her mother's taking the kids.

After Paddy got released he was a silent partnet in a tavern called "A Fine Romance." It was located in Calumet City. One of those places with the slot machines in the back. But Uncle Paddy was into the Outfit for a lot of dough. The race track was killing him. the boys downtown turned their backs on him. The Vice Squad raided the place and shut it down.

It's been years since anyone has heard of him. I don't know if he's alive or dead. Someone said that later he tried fighting again somewhere out west as a middle weight. It's like Budd Shulberg scripted his life. I guess if I could find Palooka ville on the map I might run into him.

That's a fantastic story Rog. Great,great stuff.

[CNorkusJr]

Brian, I guess you will be hitting the road soon for those Blackhawks games. Good luck this year.

[Expug]

Charlie, I knew about you're Father prior to coming to Boxrec. Over time reading your posts about him and hearing the stories and seeing the pictures,I believe your Dad was truly a "fighters fighter" aman truly admired and respected amongst his peers.

[Expug]

Brian, I guess you will be hitting the road soon for those Blackhawks games. Good luck this year.

Thanks Charlie. Yep looks like we are starting Jan 19th. The schedule isn't set yet but the date looks set. It will be good to get goin again.

[CNorkusJr]

Charlie, I knew about you're Father prior to coming to Boxrec. Over time reading your posts about him and hearing the stories and seeing the pictures,I believe your Dad was truly a "fighters fighter" aman truly admired and respected amongst his peers.

Thanks, my friend, I like posting stories and pictures about my father. The feedback I get is phenomenal and of course, it makes me very proud to hear feedback on his career. Over the years, I heard part stories or rumors about his career and life in & out of the ring. Of course we were very close during family times, but I wasnt around for any part of his career that I can remember personally (the exception being the refereeing years), but blanks have been filled in, and new stores have been told to me (which can be verified in a good way). Plus the internet helped tremendously. Many contributors to this thread have also given me more stories about his life that I could ever imagine, and for that I am very Grateful.
But the Majority of the readers of several sites were unaware of his prowess in the ring, and I am very glad to share what I have and know with all.

Today, with his Induction to the CA Boxing HOF in 2012, a newer and larger audience has now shown up from everywhere. and it is truly remarkable to see the interest in his life. For that alone, I cannot Thank You all enough for your kind words and support.

[dagosd2000]

Charley,I had some cards also. An Old Cabinet Card of John L. Sullivan and one of Jim Corbett. The Corbett card was a little worn,but the Sullivan was in good condition. I sold them with some other baseball cards last year. Because of the economy the hobby isn't what it used to be.

[CNorkusJr]

Charley,I had some cards also. An Old Cabinet Card of John L. Sullivan and one of Jim Corbett. The Corbett card was a little worn,but the Sullivan was in good condition. I sold them with some other baseball cards last year. Because of the economy the hobby isn't what it used to be.

Nice Roger- Cabinet Cards were real beauties, rich colors. Your right, the market is a buyers market right now, I'm working on a 67 Topps baseball set right now. Selling however, no one gets a good price, especially if you sell to a dealer which is about 50% of value.

I collect, so I will probably hand all cards I got to my nephews or cousins kids. The boxing cards is good for them as I can tell a story usually of my dad meeting up with his friends or opponents. No price is good on those.

[dagosd2000]

Charley,I had some cards also. An Old Cabinet Card of John L. Sullivan and one of Jim Corbett. The Corbett card was a little worn,but the Sullivan was in good condition. I sold them with some other baseball cards last year. Because of the economy the hobby isn't what it used to be.

Nice Roger- Cabinet Cards were real beauties, rich colors. Your right, the market is a buyers market right now, I'm working on a 67 Topps baseball set right now. Selling however, no one gets a good price, especially if you sell to a dealer which is about 50% of value.

I collect, so I will probably hand all cards I got to my nephews or cousins kids. The boxing cards is good for them as I can tell a story usually of my dad meeting up with his friends or opponents. No price is good on those.

Same with me Charley,but my grand kids don't know Mickey Mantle from Mickey Mouse. Man did I get stuck with a load of Bonds ,McGwire,and Sosa rookies. You can use them to light your fireplace.

[dagosd2000]

Benny Leonard

[Expug]

speaking of Mickey Mantle,about 25 years ago,my brother in law who lived just off North Avenue about a half mile west of Austin blvd.here in Chicago,decides to walk around the corner to have a beer at the local neighborhood tavern. Now this area aint Laguna beach by any stretch. Tough working class area where my wife grew up. Any way he comes back an hour or so later with a baseball in his hand. We asked him,whats with the ball. It was signed by Mickey Mantle who was sitting in there having a few beers.

[dagosd2000]

speaking of Mickey Mantle,about 25 years ago,my brother in law who lived just off North Avenue about a half mile west of Austin blvd.here in Chicago,decides to walk around the corner to have a beer at the local neighborhood tavern. Now this area aint Laguna beach by any stretch. Tough working class area where my wife grew up. Any way he comes back an hour or so later with a baseball in his hand. We asked him,whats with the ball. It was signed by Mickey Mantle who was sitting in there having a few beers.

Brian,went up to Anahaim Stadium in 68 ,Mantle's last year,to watch him play against the Angels. By that time he was playing 1st base and was so banged up we were hoping he'd just get into the game. His first time up he swung late on a pitch and popped up to the 2nd baseman and hobbled back to the dugout. They took him out of the game after that.

[CNorkusJr]

speaking of Mickey Mantle,about 25 years ago,my brother in law who lived just off North Avenue about a half mile west of Austin blvd.here in Chicago,decides to walk around the corner to have a beer at the local neighborhood tavern. Now this area aint Laguna beach by any stretch. Tough working class area where my wife grew up. Any way he comes back an hour or so later with a baseball in his hand. We asked him,whats with the ball. It was signed by Mickey Mantle who was sitting in there having a few beers.

If it was an out-of-the way place, I'm sure Mantle was in there before. Maybe in his playing days, he stopped in on his way TO a White Sox -Yankees game. LOL