1974 Pineapple Bowl Champions

St. Stephen's of Hungary ~ 1974 Pineapple Bowl Champions ~ above from the top left: Tom Pryor, Joe Menesick, Karl Feldman, Eddie Hauser, Eddie Zimmel, Gerard Bakay, Eddie Ohfer, Buzzie, Mike Roberts, second row, Eddie Ekis, Al Maher in front of Ekis, Russell Deutch, Freddy Muller, Benny Romano, Robby McGreal, Kevin Burns. Not shown, Dr. Robert Hauser, Hunter College.
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Below is an article on the Pineapple Bowl game from Our Town, the local newspaper.

In 1973 the Yorkville churches, Settlement Houses and Police Pcts. created a short lived Yorkville Football League. The 19th & 23rd Pct. sponsored the league paying for jerseys and referees. We had one championship game, The Pineapple Bowl.

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The Pineapple Bowl matched Lenox Hill Settlement House versus St. Stephen's of Hungary in January 1974 at the Asphalt Plant football field on York Avenue & 90th Street. St. Stephen's rolled over Lenox Hill 24-0. This win was sweet for St. Stephen's because Lenox Hill included most of the guys who regularly kicked our butts in touch football down John Jay Park. This lopsided rivalry between Carl Schurz Park and John Jay Park lasted ten years.

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Freddy Muller, Mike Roberts, Benny Romano and myself got our revenge. We were the four regular doormats for the John Jay guys.

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Joe Menesick, one of Yorkville's all-time best athletes, had a terrific game playing out of position at half back (normally he played center). Joe ran the ball for 170 yards. It was my pleasure, to finally lead Joe on a run rather than him always leading me. I loved being flat on my back after a block and lifting my head to see Joe running over the body of the guy I just cleared. Joe was a train.

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John Jay beat us in touch but Carl Schurz kicked their ass in tackle. That's a fact.

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The St. Stephen's Pineapple Bowl party down Carl Schurz Park lasted six months, until we resumed getting our regular beatings playing touch down John Jay's.

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They had talent, we had heart.

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