Most of the articles that appear in this column are written to stoke the readers memory as we relive the past. Today we will talk of the present. A column some time ago was about the Breakfast of Champions was written in the past. Today, I revisited this event and I have missed a few but the camaraderie that is present in the room is still the same.
While I was sick and hospitalized for quite a spell these meetings still took place and it was at the Cedar Crest. With the oncoming closing of this Lawrence landmark this group looked for and found a new place to have this bi/weekly meeting. Jackson’s restaurant was the new place and the attendees found that they have not missed a beat. Missing all those meetings as I tried to get back in the game of health didn’t affect my standings as a guest with this group and all of them welcomed me back with open arms. These former athletes have breakfast together and renew old memories which makes for great conversation.
Many of these guys were standouts in the area’s sports and it’s rare to hear anyone bragging about their escapades as players and or coaches. Here are some of the players that attended today’s get together, Steve Perocchi seems to be the glue of this group just as he was as LHS super star, he played three sports and is in the school’s Hall of Fame. After high school he went to and played at the University of New Hampshire and later coached at his high school. He is retired now and lives in Methuen.
Bobby French still of Andover is a CCHS grad and is a legendary coach of youth basketball both girls and boys in the suburban town. Abe Hajjar was a Methuen high multi sporter and later at Northeastern, he played football and baseball and later became a football official, a third baseman for the Andover Vets semi pro team he could hit a ball out of any park, I was a catcher for that team and Abe was a great teammate. He still lives in Methuen after retiring from Mass Electric.
George Lane shocked us all as he showed up with a bandaged head and a big league black eye, he explained that after his daily walk at the Salem mall on his way to his car he blacked out and luckily some people helped him and called an ambulance. George was and still is a fine golfer and I remember him as a smooth point guard at CCHS.
Pete Roy another Central player who is always mentioned as one of the school’s best still attends his school’s hoop games. Eddie Samra sat next to me and we talked about his LHS career that started with him at third base and when starting catcher Dick Hickey now of Newburyport broke his finger Mark Devlin “The Grey Fox” told Ed he was to be the catcher from here on in, Samra explained “I’ve never caught before coach” Devy replied you’re gonna learn”. I remember him as a fine catch and a good hitter, we spoke of how I as a kid would watch Samra and his team come out of the clubhouse with those great LHS informs at O’Sullivan’s Park. He went on to play for the US Navy team and played against the great Willie Mays and a former Duke hoop star and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates Dick Groat. He still lives locally and his walking exercise has got him almost down to playing weight.
Hank Sanders is a former NH star who rarely misses a meeting with this group and still works out at the Salem Racketball Club. John Weir a retiree from a local utility company was there but his partner and skiing buddy Walter (Skeets) Scanlon was MIA. John was originally from Lawrence and he and Brother Eli were exceptional athletes. George Wermers was a real good hoopster and was a star at Merrimack College when they play games in a Quanset Hut. He was a captain for 3 years and Georgie Lane was his teammate.
Joe Lee has been involved in Lawrence sports ever since I can remember. He was a starter as an outfielder for the great Holihans softball teams and played in the old baseball league in the city that featured the A of L, Coopers Rams and the No Andover and Methuen town teams, Joe can give you a history of Lawrence sports and has corrected this writer a few times and not in an arrogant manner. He became a coach of youth baseball leagues and to this day he preaches the basics of the game. He had many young ones under his tutelage and today watches his grandchildren perform at No Andover High. Joe was one of the premier hitters of his day but he is big into golf these days.
There were quite a few of this group missing on this day, but the ones that came were a good group. I can’t imagine having a better time than starting your day with these former greats and how welcome they make everybody feel. I know that anyone can attend and you needn’t have been a school athlete, I am definite proof of that.
With that said, mark your calendar for the next time we meet and join this classy group. The breakfasts that are served by an accommodating server is very light on the wallet. The server seemed surprised when someone left the tip of “Don’t smoke in bed.”
Remember, if you are driving…!
