World Series Grannies

I’ve never played a team sport and until I had kids I didn’t find a lot of value in athletic endeavors (read more here), but I’ve always been a casual Cincinnati Reds fan.

I’m not sure where my baseball interest stems from, but I suspect growing up with Joe Nuxhall and Marty Brennaman as the sound of summer and everyone around me having recent memories of the Big Red Machine had at least some influence. I also had a neighbor, Louella Carson, who was a Reds super fan. If I rode my bike to her house during a game, she’d give me a popsicle to eat while we watched a few innings. Top it off with Marge Schott and her St. Bernards owning the Reds and I couldn’t help but keep up with the happenings. Hell, I even used my allowance money to buy a complete set of 1990 World Series winning Reds Topps baseball cards, mostly because I had a HUGE crush on Chris Sabo and his sexy glasses.

Funway Park, Grant’s Lick, KY

Actually, the biggest influence in pushing me towards enjoying baseball was my mom. She played softball in her younger years and being a lefty who could switch hit she was quite the player. These days she spends a lot of time playing with Ollie and Harry at Funway Park, a ballfield the boys and my parents created on the farm. Grandma has spent hours and hours tossing and pitching to my boys who have a lot more interest in learning how to play than I ever did.

Speaking of grandmas, I recently learned that my maternal great-grandmothers attended game four of the 1961 World Series together. Grandma Marguerite Heitker and Grandma Frieda Wolfzhorn shared German heritage, but that was about then end of their similarities. Learning they went to a baseball game together, much less a World Series game, is beyond intriguing.

I vividly remember Grandma Heitker, who for most of my life was my only living grandparent. Born in 1900 she moved to Cincinnati from Louisville in around 1912, after staying behind for several week to settle affairs for her parents. She then rode a steamboat up the Ohio River to join her family. She lost her husband when she had 3 young children which probably played into her being assertive, persistent and tough as nails. She was challenging to say the least, so when my family suggests I share some of her characteristics I take it as a compliment and a warning to keep myself in check.

There is a legend that Grandma Heitker worked at the University of Cincinnati bookstore for many years and they eventually forced her into retirement. My guess is she was a bit too demanding and age was a legal excuse to dismiss her in the 1960’s. Not one to be kept down, she forged her birth certificate and got a job across town at Xavier. My most vivid memories of Grandma revolve around her ukulele playing, her favorite Christmas gifts (Jim Beam and Mogen David wine), her teeth shattering peanut brittle recipe and her drinking a Wiedemann beer with dinner every night.

While Grandma Heitker lived in the city and was rather worldly, Grandma Frieda, who was my grandmother’s mother, spent her entire life living and working on the farm. She died the month before I was born, so I have no memories of her, but my mom and brother’s smiles grow wide at the mention of her name. I’m told she was kind, helpful, warm and accepting. My mom, and dad for that matter too, lived next door to Grandma Frieda growing up. I’m sure this was very handy when my mom’s dad died not too many months after that World Series game. Although I have no proof, something tells me my mom embodies much of her grandmother in her loving and gentle approach with my boys.

Having all of this base knowledge about my great-grandmothers, I was shocked when my mom pulled out two tickets to Game Four of the 1961 World Series and told me Frieda and Marguerite attended together. It had been my understanding that they mostly tolerated each other, not that they were buddy-buddy. I pumped her for details, but considering my mom was 11 at the time, she didn’t remember much except Marguerite drove across the river to pick up Frieda who didn’t drive. Mom also recalled that Frieda hadn’t been to a Reds game, but Marguerite attended somewhat regularly. Lastly, they wore dresses and straw hats.

Considering what I know about the two ladies who comprise 1/4 of my DNA, I’m going to assume Frieda would have preferred a quiet fall day on the farm, but Marguerite persisted. I’m certain the drive included a one-way conversation full of opinions and instructions on what would be happening once they got to the field.

In order to round out a mental picture of October 8, 1961, I did some research. I came across a YouTube video that filled in some visual gaps and general tone of the day. I watched this several times, hoping to get a glimpse of my odd couple grannies in the sun deck, but I didn’t get that lucky. I doubt the camera made it out to the cheap seats of the sun deck.

My mom couldn’t confirm, but her gut agrees with mine that they each had a beer or two that day. I can just imagine them hanging in the cheap seats in their cotton dresses and straw hats. I imagine Marguerite loosened up a bit and Frieda got a little braver from the liquid courage.

The Yankees won that day and took the series in five games. I suspect both my great-grandmothers were disappointed in the outcome, but I like to think they got to know each other better which lead to greater respect and understanding for their polar opposite personalities. They also gifted my mom with a 1961 World Series pen and pencil, which she still has to this day. If I had to guess, I’d say Marguerite bought the pen, and Frieda the pencil—just a hunch.

Now that I know this fun fact about my great-grandmothers, my life-long casual enjoyment of baseball makes a little more sense. I already knew it, but it’s even more evident that the women in my family have been total badasses for decades. As for the Reds, next year is our year!