The 2nd Annual Polio Bowl will be played in Lynn at the famed Manning Bowl on Friday, August 29, 1958. This game will pit the North Shore All Stars featuring potential college players from Marblehead, Gloucester, St Mary’s of Lynn, Swampscott, Lynn English, St John’s Prep, Revere, Salem, Beverly, Lynn Classical, Winthrop and Saugus.
The opposition The Merrimac Valley Stars will have players from Lawrence High, No. Reading, Haverhill, Central Catholic, Woodbury (now Salem). Donning the pads for the Valley boys were Lancers Paul Halloran College AIC, Joe Carter now of Derry, NH 3-sporter at LHS, Joe is heading to Alabama to play for the great Bear Bryant. Jason Murphy headed to RI State; Ralph Forgione, Billy Adams, Wyoming; Larry Klimas, UConn; Vinnie Mello, Andy Shea, Andover; Benny Guzzone, Wyoming; John Hale will join Carter at Alabama; Buddy Ralph will attend Buffalo; Ken Spires to Indiana; Mike Riccio now a retired cop in Lawrence and Johnny Reusch, Iowa State; and Joe Pauta now a local businessman, Ron De Ferrari of No Reading, heading to BU; teammate Dan Tompkins, Haverhill sends Barry Ruth, Dick Dion, Ed Sheehan and Sheldon Paridis headed to BC. Central Catholic players donating their talents were Dave McCabe, Billy Gallant of Tower Hill, Mike Silke, Lowell Tech (now U/Lowell); James Hewitt Burdett, Paul Courtemanche, BU.
The coaches of the MVC Stars were Head Coach Ed Buckley who later became an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs when they won the Super Bowl. He once showed us all at a reunion for his great LHS teams at Bishop’s and most of us tried the diamond and ruby studded bauble on for size. Assistant Ralph Wolfendale, who once played the line in school with Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi of the Green Bay Packers, and for whom the gym at the old LHS is named. Steve Perrochi who later became the football coach at LHS, Bob Rosemarino was a 3-sporter at CC and later coached at St Rita’s in Chicago, and St Thomas Aquinas in NY leading the Greater Lawrence Reggies to many winning seasons. Manny Lavoie was the trainer, he retired from the Lawrence DPW, and tended bar at many watering holes throughout the City including the Capri, the Wonder Bar and Jimmy Middletons. In his spare time he served pitches in the Fast Pitch League. In high school he was a fullback for Haverhill HS.
These young men must be applauded for giving up most of their summer to practice and play in these charity games. For many of them it’s their second All Star Game.
It was the Polio Charity Game in Lynn on Friday, August 29, 1958.
