| |
Shortly
after being traded to the
Dodgers from the New york Giants in
1939, Freddie Fitzsimmons made his home
in Brooklyn. Fitzsimmons an avid
bowler, opened a bowling alley across
the street from Ebbets Field in January
of 1942. Freddy became interested in
bowling in 1919 at the insistence of
his father, and credits condition
derived from bowling with having a
great deal to do with his being able to
remain in baseball for 22 years.
Fitzsimmons retired as a player after
the 1943 season at the age of 41. On
the inside "saddle" of the matchbook
cover reads the slogan "Bowl For Health
at Fitzsimmons"
As Advertised on this "Horizontal Full Length" matchbook cover, Freddie
Fitzsimmons Bowling Lanes had two
locations. The first located at 120
Empire Boulevard, on the corner of
Bedford Avenue, one block from Ebbets
Field. The second location, which
opened in 1943, 1414 Sheepshead Bay Rd,
at Sheepshead Bay B.M.T. Station. The
inside of this "21 Feature" trademark
Lion match corp. cover features, yellow
bowling pins on green matches, and
across the "Comb" reads "Freddie
Fitzsimmons Bowling Lanes." Behind the
matches is a directions map.
The top inside panel has a die-cut popup bust of Freddie Fitzsimmons with
a Brooklyn Dodgers cap, and facsimile
signature. Behind it reads "56
Streamline Lanes in Brooklyn 56" There
was
an earlier matchbook produced that only
lists one location, 1 block from Ebbets
Field, that reads, "24 Streamline lanes
24." After great success through the
first months of operation, 16 lanes was
added in October, 1942. In 1943
Fitzsimmons acquired a 16 lane
Sheepsheads Bay Bowling Academy,
bringing the total to "56 Streamline
lanes in Brooklyn"
February 1942 Freddie Fitzsimmons Bowling Lanes Promotional Press Release
(below left):
They Didn't Mind Strikes at All
! This grinning group of
baseball and bowling enthusuasts
welcomed strikes yesterday at Freddie
Fitzsimmons' bowling alley. Left to
right, Dolly Stark, NL Umpire;
Fitzsimmons, Dodgers; Frank McCormick,
Reds' first baseman; Marty Cassio,
bowler; Art Flynn, of Sporting News; Al
Schacht, baseball's clown; Joe Falcaro,
champ bowler, and Hank Danning, Giants'
catcher. Phil Rizzuto, Yank shortstop,
shows 'em how.
|
|
