So many folks ask me about my love for sports, especially baseball, and how it was ingrained in my being. I have noted before that my training started when I was very young and Dad, before he went to the plant, would leave the Plain Dealer sports page box scores open on the kitchen table. I consumed them along with my Frosted Flakes!
Another reason that my love of baseball grew was my oldest cousin Frankie. Yesterday we laid Frank Jude Vallo to rest at Old Larnerd Cemetery in Chardon Township. He would have been 85 July 21st. Frank along with cousins Carl and Kenny were Cleveland James Dean characters. Fast cars, gals, bars on Harvard and Broadway plus a good “throw down” now and then were staples of their existence but Frankie still always had a love for sports. Baseball was his game and often times he would call our house and ask Mom or Dad permission to take me to an Indians game. They never relented so Frank would show up on his blue Corvette (which was later stolen from in front of Mother’s Bar on Harvard) and take me to the game. I was very young but stoked to be hanging with a Dude.
He was a fan to the point of looking for star players coming through town with their teams (Mickey, Yaz and more) so I may witness greatness. We also made a point of going to see Sudden Sam pitch whenever he toed the rubber. One time when I hopped in the passenger seat of the ‘Vette he told me “we are going to see this NBA player pitch for the White Sox today named Dave DeBusschere!” He was huge (as was another hoopster who pitched for the BoSox named Gene Conley) plus he could bring the heat. Now the Tribe worked him over that day, and I learned that if you just throw fast without any movement on the ball, hitters will get to you sooner than later. Frank also whisked me away to some Barons games at the Cleveland Arena.
To demonstrate his love for Cleveland sports after moving to Cali, finding the love of his life, Sandra, he returned to NE Ohio and moved to Hambden Township, east of Chardon. When asked “why all the way out there” he responded that with a rotor antenna he could pick up Browns games from Erie. So, on Sundays, all the Uncles, Cousins and friends would head out to Venus Street in Hambden to watch the games.
Frank not only enhanced my love of sports but my Slovak ethnicity as he journeyed to the Mother Land on more than one occasion to visit relatives in Terchova and elsewhere in Slovakia. In fact, he instilled much pride in the fact a relative, Matus Vallo is the Mayor of Bratislava, Capital of Slovakia. He also taught me that when you have a drink and say “na zdarovie” one is expected to down everything in the glass!
I truly miss you already ‘Cuz, not just for the sporting memories but the cookouts and clam backs in Hambden but most importantly because you helped me grow as a guy. Oh yeah, Frank was also my Confirmation sponsor so his fingerprints on my life loomed large. RIP Cousin Frank.. I know you are HOME and in your GLORY!
Read more of my thoughts and musings on NEO Sports Insiders. Munch on Sports is powered by the Ken Ganley Automotive Group & Ken Ganley Chevy Of Aurora.
Please take care of each other and it’s your world, pay attention. Indeed, enjoy every sandwich and for now ADIOS AMIGO, long may you run.
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