“80 Years of Music, Baseball, and Confused Youth Memories”

From ten straight mercy‑rule losses to a season of pure domination, this is the story of an expansion team that refused to quit. In Episode 41, we follow Andy’s rise to Senior League, the politics that shook the draft room, and the unforgettable cast of characters who turned a bunch of underdogs into the team nobody wanted to face. It’s baseball, it’s heart, it’s comedy — and it’s the year the kids who never quit finally got their turn.

Episode 40 revisits the seasons when coaching Andy, working with great people, and helping shape our Little League community brought a deep and unexpected happiness. From small moments on the field to big ideas off it — including aTag Day that became legendary — these were years that stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with the best times of my life.

After my marriage ended, I suddenly found myself with a computer I barely knew how to turn on, a tiny apartment on the poor side of town, and a schedule that involved late‑night gigs followed by 8:30 a.m. software classes. Thankfully, my friends staged an emotional rescue: Don dragged me tothe Greek Festival, Judy hauled me to a Bills game, and ATC tried to launch my computer career… before closing a month after I graduated. Of course it did. But in the middle of all that chaos, I met Donna — the woman who eventually turned out to be the marriage that finally lasted.

What started as a homemade board game in 1969 suddenly had a life of its own — tested by big‑league players, carried through storms and airports, backed by a young lawyer who believed in it, and rebuilt line by line with two programmers who didn’t know baseball but knew heart. And just when theproject needed a lift, Tony Kubek stepped in. This is the story of the year the game grew up.

The attached is a BAD COPY of Tony’s Computer Show photo as it appeared in the Buffalo News.

Returning to share details of a month-long family trip up North, and then on to more stories. The Farrell Brothers burn out, a 2-year-old toddler steals the show, late‑night border runs, drag‑queen chaos at Club Utica, and a battle‑of‑the‑bands misfire for the ages. The next few years turn into lineup roulette, with one bright spark cutting through the fog. Plus, a clip of Davey sneaking theChicken Dance into a guitar solo, often, because of course he could.

This chapter weaves together the final visit with my dad, the early years of our growing family, the chaos and comedy of life with a very large dog, and the long, exhausting run that brought the band to its last night. It’s a story of endings, keepsakes, and the unexpected grace of a simple remark from Count Basie that stayed with me for decades.

Three weeks in the Poconos, a battle of beers in Stroudsburg, a beer‑soaked amplifier, a hair dryer that saved the night, a drummer who waltzed off mid‑song, and Bowser scaring my kid straight out of Melody Fair. And just when the dust settled, Amy decided it was her moment to arrive. A wild, funny, unexpectedly tender stretch of ’79–’81.

A week in the Thousand Islands turns into a crash‑course in repertoire‑building, late‑night arcade battles, and one very unexpected reunion with the Kingston night manager from Episode 7. From there, Davey and I stumble into a house‑band gig, lose our lighting system, rebuild it in an hour, and somehow end up following Buddy Rich and his 21‑pieceband… with a drum machine named Freddy.

And then Nashville calls. This is about the work, the luck, the laughter, and a great working relationship

From a Brantford bar we refused to play, to a packed house for our live album, to a 12‑hour Jamboree that nearly finished us off — this was the year everything hit at once. Randall amps, Tammy Wynette, late‑night laughs, and the night at The Yankee Whaler when one perfect note made me wonderwhy we did this. The Farrell Brothers reached the top, fell hard, and then life pushed me toward a brand‑new beginning.

This is when the Farrell Brothers stopped being just another bar band and started becoming a show band. Elley and I were building a life, the group was finding its identity, and every decision — from jumpsuits to new players — pushed uscloser to the sound we were chasing. There were hard calls, big leaps, a Jamboree that nearly blew the doors off, and even a showdown over a pair of bib overalls. Episode 32 is where the Farrell Brothers take shape for real.