He came from Salem St. in Southie from a prominent Irish family and at a young age he showed he would be an outstanding pitcher.
A graduate of St. Patrick’s grammar school in 1952, he became a player in the So Lawrence East Little League and later the SLE Junior League which were both sponsored by the local Lions Club. At that time, each area of the city had a team in this league. Many young baseballers played in both these games and the competition was fierce.
He threw 2 no hitters that got the notice of all the coaches and teams in his age bracket. I call him the splendid splinter because he was so thin that he had to walk by twice to cast a shadow and to this day he is not a heavyweight. Archie Halloran at a young age ad a big time curveball and the control to put it where he wanted to which was the strike zone.
Another Southsider also of slight stature and from the other end of Salem St. had a great curveball that froze many hitters, his name Bucky Poole a CCHS future star. Neither could blow the fastball by you but they didn’t have to with that nasty curve.
Arch started his high school career at the Marist School, CCHS and transferred to LHS after his freshman year. Being a welcome addition as everyone knew of his 2 LL no hitters.
If he stayed at CC, he would have teamed up on the mound with his next door buddy Noonie Costello but because of the transfer, they would become rivals on some big games.
As a starting pitcher for the LHS jv’s, he shut out the Methuen sophomores to win 15-0. Oh, byy the way, he held the Rangers to zero hits.
In 1955, e was the top pitcher for the Lancers. He won and lost 2. Arch still lives in So Lawrence and is married to his high school sweetheart Gen. He is retired from the LHA and has 2 children and his son Brian in in the LHS Hall of Fame as a golfer.
He took his big curveball into 2 big games with arch rival CCHS and out dueled his boyhood buddy in both hard fought games 4-3 and 5-3. His mound opponent was Captain Noonie Costello, his Salem St. closest pal. Both games were though fought for the bragging rights of the City and had many cliff handing scenarios. In the first CC game with the score 4-3 the Lancers, CC loaded the bases with 2 outs and power hitter Dick Fitzgerald at the plate, Arch looks around t the bases that are loaded and it’s no secret his out pitch the curve was to be his out pitch. He winds up, Fitzy is dug in and the runners are in motion. A hit will give the Raidesr the lead and the win.
Fitzy hits a long drive to left and it curves foul. Archie looks unperturbed as he steps to the rubber again and looks in at the menacing hitter who has taken his money pitch within feet of giving the tough righty a big loss. Halloran is ready and so is the hitter now breathing easier.
Archie was named the player of the month by his school newspaper, The Lawrencian in May of 1956.
The Hit Parade songs of 1956 were: #1 Standing on the corner, #2 Moonglow (theme from Picnic), #3 Money Honey; #4 I’m in love again; #5 Little girl of mine; #6 My little angel; #7 Heartbreak Hotel; #8 Graduation Day; #9 Magic touch; and #10 I was the one.
This was Arthur and Helen Halloran’s son, the Captain of Lawrence High’s baseball team in 1956.
