This past June, the Ritz Café hosted a wonderful reunion party. However, for a select few in the crowd, the Ritz was never just a bar or a lounge. It was the “Office.”

Not for lawyers, architects or accountants. The “Office” was the home of a unique Island softball team. The Ritz was the “Office” of the Ravings.

The Oak Bluffs fast pitch softball league developed in the 1960s, and by the early 1970s was a highly competitive Island-wide league. Viera Park was the center of the softball universe, our local field of dreams. Named after Tony Viera, the field was well maintained by the Oak Bluffs Parks Department. Due to efforts of League Commissioner Tony daRosa, the field had great lights, perfect for the night games.

Tony daRosa was the glue who kept the league together. Former player Todd Rebello told me: “He was the commissioner and had a special way of juggling things. The league was never the same after he retired.”

Recently I found Tony at his store in Oak Bluffs. Never mind business. Time to talk softball.

The Ravings, back in 1975.

Courtesy Ken Goldberg

The Ravings, back in 1975.

Courtesy Ken Goldberg

Tony reminisced: “With my high school friends Bobby 'Coach T' Tankard and Tom Bennett we started the 9 Wonders in 1963. We had a couple of teachers on the team. Then we all left for military duty and when we got back by 1967 it was all family and friends.”

The team had daRosas, Combras, deBettencourts, an Oliver, a Hermann, and their up-Island “ringer” Allen Whiting.

Tony recalled with a grin: “We had a great team, and every once in a while, we let someone beat us.”

That someone proved to be the Question Marks. The ?s had knocked off the 9 Wonders to win the championship in 1977 and were looking to defend their title in 1978. The ?s were a tough Edgartown bunch led by the Bassett, Look and Leighton Brothers, and featured the very talented hard throwing hurler in John Finnigan.

Over coffee, John recalled: “In 1977 I walked into Lou’s Worry in Edgartown and asked Neil Bassett if he minded if I came to a practice. He said sure come on over. After three games I became the pitcher. We had a great team including the legendary 'Gray Fox,' Larry Sylvia. Not only that, I had my personal catcher in Mickey Furtado. We had a terrific season and won the championship.”

Now you may ask, why do I bring up the 1978 season? Why? Because the Ravings won the championship. This writer was the Ravings’ shortstop and coach.

A 1993 reunion.

Courtesy Ken Goldberg

A 1993 reunion.

Courtesy Ken Goldberg

The team had come a long way since 1973 when I joined the Chilmark Clamdiggers. One season, one win. Year two, now called the Knot Heads, just two wins and I became the coach. Practices to hold, line ups to write, signals to flash, egos to soothe. It was not easy being the coach.

I knew it was time for a fresh start. Bye Bye Knot Heads. Inspiration struck, “The Ravings!” What a great name! How or why it entered my mind, who remembers?

First the name, then it was time for the talent search. Discussions about drafts and pitchers took place accompanied by drafts and pitchers at the “Office.” My spirits were lifted there. Thank you, Lucille.

It took a long time, but by 1978 we were ready. On the softball horizon appeared Donald “Big Wid” Widdis, Mark ”Bottom of the Order” Widdiss, Jimmy “Too Tall” Hoe, “Bullet Bob” Mone,  Jim “Smokey Joe” Wallen, Johnny “Kid” Eisner, Mitchell “Farmer” Posin, Paul “Bubba” Coughlin, Andre “Hum Now Honey Chuck” Bonnell, Chris ”Lefty” Arato, Larry “Take It Easy” Bilzerian, Albert “Alberto” Warren, Fred “Effy Cee” Croft, and lastly “Spazzini” Thorpe, the league's only barefooted pinch runner.

The team was extraordinarily fortunate to find an excellent player in Lenny “Go Go Back Back” Butler. In addition to his sterling play, Lenny unleashed the Ravings’ secret weapon that proved to be the final link in the championship quest — the miraculous Mallory Butler. She rooted. She hollered. She was the Queen Bee and leader of the RAVETTES, a group of wonderfully dedicated wives and girlfriends who supplied more than enough vocal support at every game. Mallory’s charismatic leadership and outstanding vocal cords still reverberate at night through the trees at Viera Park.

As coach, it was also vital to be proactive on the administrative front. We eventually had three sponsors, affectionately known as our owners. They were the Scanlan Brothers, Hot Tar Roofers from Jamaica Plain. We were also owned by CB Stark Jewelers, aka the STARK RAVINGS. Our final owner was builder John Early who chaired many Friday off-season meetings at Early’s Pharaohs Club House, the location is still secret.

Anything goes.

Ken Goldberg

Anything goes.

Ken Goldberg

The 1978 season was a thrill. The league was packed with 12 teams, the most ever. Double headers four nights a week. Dedicated umpires in Donny Luce and Jerry Maciel. Noisy crowds. Every team had both its fans and post-game gathering place.

One night while singing at the Ritz jukebox, the team unveiled the world premiere of the song “Oak Bluffs, Oak Bluffs,” the incredible parody of Frank Sinatra’s New York, New York. “When you wake in the morning at the Ritz flat on your face” was a Lenny Butler and Mark Widdiss duo lyric highlight.

Players and fans chimed in with their memories.

Doug Hoehn: “In the early days Cozy’s had all high arc slow pitchers in a fast pitch league. I took rockets at shortstop, hence the nickname E6."

Steve Mack: “The summer of ’78 I lived above a garage across from 1st base. I witnessed many games that year.”

Jane Ordway DeBettencourt: “I was a huge fan of my now husband of 43 years who played on the Nine Wonders!”

Barbara Magnuson Phillips: “My brother John played for the Sky Hawks, and my son Andrew still has one of his game shirts.”

Mark McCarthy: “Played with the Chicago Whales. Was a home run away from hitting for the cycle against Elmer, likely one of the best pitchers in the league.”

Donna Montesion: “Went to so many games. Husband Eddie played for the ?s, brother-in-law Joey played for the Rare Ducks. Lots of screaming for their teams, Crazy, fun times.”

Wayne Jackson: “My dad Wayne played back in 70s. His nickname was Mudfish Jackson.”

Coach Goldberg: The ?s Boo Bassett always played an extremely shallow third base. One night he took a Don Widdiss shot off the forehead. The ball caromed off the left field fence. Undeterred Boo said later, “it was only a double.”

The top four teams made the playoffs in 1978. The Ravings squeaked in at number four and faced the defending champion Question Marks in the semifinals. The Ravings stunned the ?s beating them in the best two out of three.

Then came the ultimate test. The pesky underdogs would face the powerful 9 Wonders, who easily disposed of the Oops in two straight games. The finals were a best 3 of 5. Huge crowds packed Viera Park. The Ravings shocked the 9 Wonders in the first game 8-5. The following words will be the only time I ever brag during this story. With the score tied 5-5, I stepped up to the plate and on a 3-2 pitch I smacked a Viera Park short porch special home run to give us an 8-5 lead and win game one.

The 9 Wonders captured game two. The upstart Ravings rallied to win game three, 9-7.

The championship finale was a dandy. Despite early home runs by the Widdiss brothers, we trailed 7-5. But in the bottom of the 6th inning, the underdogs erupted for 5 runs. Albert Warren closed the door in the 7th and the Ravings captured the 1978 Oak Bluffs Softball Championship 10-7.

Our delirious fans poured onto the field. That night the cascading precipitation was not rain, but champagne. All activities at the post-game party still remain confidential to this day.

The Ravings’ magical season had reached softball nirvana. We competed for a few more years. Players retired. New players arrived. Other teams won the title. Cozy’s, Bandits, Chicago Whales, Sky Hawks all had their time in the sun.

Eventually, it was time to hang up the cleats. Over the years we’ve had great reunions. My championship jacket fits almost.

Ravings slugger Donald Widdiss eloquently sums up the story: “The legend of the 1978 Ravings and the metaphysical nature of the Ritz as cosmic outpost and other paranormal activities.”

For me, coach of the Ravings, it was always so simple: “No runs, no hits, we got the Ritz.”

Ken Goldberg lives in Edgartown and is a frequent contributor to the Gazette.