20 Features The Crusader Winter 2018 Archbishop Riordan High School Crusader brothers band together to support classmate By Steven Rissotto ’20 before making a decision. He Americans love sports. It’s knew he was going to get hit no fair to say almost everyone matter what. The choice was to loves sports. It’s a mixture of get low, which produced massive exercise, mental structure, fun, head-to-head contact. It was a and competition. Some people choice Blanchard would look back love to compete. Bill Blanchard on several years later and regret. ’71 is, and was, no exception. Blanchard recalled, “As we hit, I At Riordan, fall afternoons are felt myself spinning around in flled with the forecast of either the air and then I was staring complete Antarctica temperatures at a blue-sky watching puffy or the Bay Area’s tarty summer clouds foat by, and I realized I humidity. It could have been couldn’t move my body. People either, but that didn’t stop Bill were gathered around me.” Blanchard from competing in Head Coach Bob Toledo varsity football for the Purple described it as the “loudest and Gold during the course of sound” he ever heard in 50 years playing and coaching football. his senior year in 1971. The tall Dave Mahoney ’71, Dan Hayes ’71, and Dan Ferrigno Toledo considered stepping down and slender safety was nothing ’71 support fellow Crusader Bill Blanchard ’71. but confdent during a verbally from coaching after the incident, encouraging practice, where but Blanchard convinced him help from Riordan friends. On trash talk was a rare occurrence. to stay, and he later became a my family and with my friends.” Oct. 20, Dan Hayes ’71, Dave Blanchard was a basketball very successful college coach. Blanchard devoted most of his Mahoney ’71, and Steve Mayer star out of St. Stephen’s The results of the injury adult life as an advocate for ’72 organized a beneft dinner Catholic School, where he raised were beyond what Blanchard people with disabilities at UC in Chaminade Hall to help eyebrows during a tournament could have imagined. He was Berkeley. He enjoys writing short with medical bills. The group at Riordan while he was in the paralyzed from neck down, living stories, reading, taking classes, was successful and raised more eighth grade. He was awarded his life as a quadriplegic since and hanging out with friends. than $110,000 from 344 people the most valuable player award. the crazy, loud fall afternoon. It’s not all that easy for him, on their GoFundMe page. He was recruited for hoops and “For the most part, it was however. Every morning consists “At this point in my life,” he started to play football as well. frightening. What’s in store of two hours of personal care said, “Riordan means friendship Fast forward to a short, stocky for me? What’s my future?” from an assistant and another and living your life for others running back racing towards the Blanchard said. “It was evening routine very similar. and not just for yourself. slender and tall Blanchard, who overwhelming at frst. I had a Blanchard’s recent health Crusaders are ones to not leave had to do some quick strategizing tremendous support system with problems have left him needing a fallen Crusader behind.” Remembering Giants legend Willie ‘Stretch’ McCovey By Steven Rissotto ’20 Giants fan Michael Vezzali- San Francisco Giants legend Pascual ’88 said, “My favorite and Hall of Fame frst baseman player of all-time. I wanted to be Willie McCovey died on Oct. just like him. He was a man of such 31 after a lingering and long grace. When he hit the ball, he had battle with multiple health the beautiful left-handed swing.” issues. He was 80 years old. Marvis Sutton, mother of McCovey was born in Alabama English and Journalism teacher in 1938, the same state that Willie Susan Sutton, was an usherette Mays and Hank Aaron were at Candlestick from 1964-1967 born and raised in. Young Willie and knew McCovey. He even gave loved baseball, and found himself her a ride to the park one day. signing a professional contract at “I was walking down the street age 17 for the New York Giants. to Candlestick Park one day to go Although McCovey never to work as an usherette and all of played a home game in New a sudden, this big black Cadillac York, he made his major league pulled up along side me and it debut for the Giants just a year Baseball Hall of Fame was Willie McCovey!” she said. “He said, ‘Hi, Marvis. Can I give after their inaugural season in Willie McCovey was a Giants great and Hall of Famer. San Francisco, a new home for you a ride to the park?’ and of baseball. In his debut, he went course I said YES and thank you.” four-for-four against future Hall- beam right at the second baseman the San Diego Padres, McCovey Because she worked in the of-Fame pitcher Robin Roberts. Bobby Richardson, who caught returned to San Francisco to section over the Giants’ dugout, He later won the National the missle head high. This ended fnish his career where it started. the players knew her. Sutton League Rookie of the Year. up becoming Willie’s signature He fnished with 521 home knew McCovey to be a “kind and McCovey teamed up with center moment in the orange and black. runs, a NL leading 18 grand gernerous man. Very friendly.” felder Willie Mays, to make one of McCovey won the National slams, and a legacy that will McCovey’s health problems were baseball’s greatest duos in history. League Most Valuable Player last forever. He was inducted a concern in his playing days and Mays, coming from New York, was award in 1969 and was also the into the National Baseball Hall he often played hurt. By the time the far better player. Willie Mac main event for fans in the right of Fame in Cooperstown in he retired in 1980, his knees were was homegrown in San Francisco, feld bleachers at Candlestick 1986, his frst year of eligibility. completely shot. After numerous which solidifed his relationship Park. The ballpark in the Bayview In 2000, the Giants opened surgeries, he was unable to with the fans. In 1962, the Giants Heights area of the city was AT&T Park (then called Pacifc walk steadily, keeping him in a made the World Series against known for its gusty winds and Bell Park) on the shore of wheelchair during his later years. the powerhouse New Yankees. ugly conditions. With that being San Francisco Bay. The area Beyond all of his accomplishments In Game 7, McCovey came up said, he led almost every offensive beyond the right feld wall was and statistics, McCovey was to the plate with the Giants category in the ballpark history. nicknamed McCovey Cove, which a gentle giant. He spent most trailing by one run; runners in Some say he would have hit more includes a statue on the other nights in his box at AT&T Park scoring position nonetheless. home runs if it wasn’t for the wind. side. In 1980, his jersey number and always welcomed fans. Willie Known for his strong left- After a strange, short stint with 44 was retired by the Giants. McCovey will be remembered handed power, he hit a laser both the Oakland Athletics and English teacher and lifelong forever in baseball history.