Al Marocco

Intern Lexi learns more from Mr. Al Marocco about what it was like to be a batboy for the Black Yankees at Hinchliffe Stadium.

NPS Photo

Al Marocco, the son of Italian immigrants, was born in Paterson in 1928. Al grew up on Cliff Street, a block away from the silk dye-house where his father, Oreste, worked. He attended School #4 and Central High School. Al attended many different events at Hinchliffe Stadium when he was a child. He remembers attending midget car races, minor league baseball games, and football games, including the famed football matches between Eastside and Central High School. He also worked as a batboy and ballboy for the semiprofessional Paterson Smartsets (featuring Larry Doby at shortstop) and the Negro League's New York Black Yankees and New York Cubans.

Al looks back fondly on his experience as a batboy at Hinchliffe, explaining that "It was fun. I enjoyed it anyway… I liked being up there seeing the guys play ball, and you would go out there yourself and field the balls, with the batting practice, the guys were hitting the ball…I had a lot of fun." After graduating high school, Al worked at an Italian pastry shop near the Great Falls district, where he once baked a cake for the legendary boxer Joe Louis. He served in the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War and completed his bachelor's degree from Farleigh Dickinson University with G.I. Bill funding. He worked in finance, eventually achieving the position of vice president at several companies.

 

• Mr. Al Marocco Remembers Hinchliffe Stadium

  
  

  Mr. Al Marocco remembers what it was like to be a batboy at Hinchliffe Stadium.

  Credit / Author:

  Al Marocco/Intern Lexi

  Date created:

  10/14/2020