Bobby pitches No-hitter...Wednesday, June 28,1961

It was a warm, humid St. Louis evening and I was feeling a bit sluggish before gametime as I had spent the day cutting grass & pulling weeds. I had a chance to get a quick bite about an hour before loosening up in the bullpen. It's funny...I always felt a little better about myself going into a game when feeling this way. My focus was good and I seemed to reach back for a little bit more. While warming up I made sure to simply toss the ball in the beginning to my catcher, Larry Hartstein. Gradually, my speed would pick up and after 15-20 minutes I was ready to face my first batter.

On this particular night I had some extra motivation as my sister Mary had just given birth two nights prior to my new nephew, Mark.

Our game started at 6:30 and by this time I was feeling good & loose as my fastball was loudly popping like a firecracker in my catcher's mitt. My curveball had something special tonight as it had a very tight rotation and a real nice snap. I knew the other team was it trouble on this night and it was just a matter of going out there and staying focused.

To the left of the ad for Hawaii now for $80.10 (from California) you can read the caption of my first no-hitter. My brother, Jack who was in the Air Force would turn 19 on this long, summer day. He was probably stationed at Randolph air base in Lackland, Texas at this time

By 1961 my parents, JoAnn, and myself were living in Olivette, Mo at 1135 Olivaire Lane. JoAnn would not be staying long as she was about find a place in St. louis to live. By this time Mary & Lou would be also living in Olivette on Queensridge Drive with Karen and now Mark, their newborn son. Mary, Lou, and Karen had moved from an apartment on Dale Ave. in Richmond Heights, Mo.

My Birth Announcement...St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Well, no sooner had I arrived and the papers were already writing about me. It's like they say..."A big part of life is just showing up."

You may notice that the address given on the announcement is 7019 Hunter Ave. This house was located in Normandy, Mo., a township of St. Louis. (remember to click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Also, Hopper Fur Co. has an ad on the left side. Within a year my family would move to 7525 Byron Place in Clayton across the street from where the Hopper family lived. Jack & JoAnn would meet Miles Hopper who was close in age to them.

The New Kid in Town...December 9, 1950

Here I am dressed in my favorite color. It's good to see everyone!
 

Dad at 7527 Byron Place...circa 1957

Here's my Dad as he was posing in front of our apartment. He would have 41 yrs. old at this time. He was born on March 17, 1916...St. Patrick's day.To me it looks like Karen, my neice was standing in the door opening in the background. Karen would have been around 3 at this time since she was born in March of 1954.
My Dad was born on a 360 acre farm located in Jadwin, Mo. just outside of Salem, Missouri. His father raised cattle on this farm and apparantly the land had been in the Simmons name for some time. My Great, Great Aunt who lived to be one month shy of 100 yrs. old told of Civil War soldiers from both the North & the South traveling thru the farm land. Soldiers would gather chickens and other livestock available and prepare these animals for their meals.
My Great, Great Aunt went on to say that the family would hide livestock and the Black farm help in limestone caves located on the farm to protect them from the soldiers. My Great, Great Aunt lived until about 1957-8. She lived with my Great Aunt Mary in the Central West End in St. louis until her passing.
Dad moved from the farm to St. Louis sometime after graduating from high school. He graduated from Salem H.S. in 1935. Dad must have been about 19-21 when he moved to St. Louis to live at his Aunt's residence. One thing I do know is that my Dad's mother passed away when he was just an infant. Whether it was at birth or a few months later I am not sure. Dad's father remarried sometime after Dad's Mom passed.
I loved spending time with my Dad as he was everything to me. We generally had dinner at 4 o'clock in the afternoon during the week as my Dad now worked at Wagner Electric in Wellston. Dad worked the swing shift as a brakeman & plater and would not get home til late. My favorite times with Dad were when we would wrestle on the carpet and he would always rub his afternoon facial stubble on my soft, freckled cheeks.

Santa & young Bobby...December 1954

Meeting Santa Claus was definately a major highlight for me in 1954. This picture was taken at Famous-Barr department store and I'd bet it was taken at Famous Southtown located on S. Kingshighway. I had heard a lot about this guy and I knew that he lived a long ways away and drove a bunch of raindeer just to get to everybody's house. When Santa placed me on his lap, he had my total attention. It was pure magic when he opened his mouth to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. He kept me awestruck with his deep booming voice and long, white, flowing beard. Notice that his hand with white glove was placed over my quick little hand.

Mom, JoAnn, & Jack

Here is a picture of Mom holding a young, baby boy named Jack who was born on June 28, 1942. Standing alongside Mom is JoAnn whose birthdate is February 7, 1941. To the best of my knowledge this picture was taken on Theodosia St in St. Louis, Mo. When the picture is enlarged the house number is 720. This was probably the first home for Amel, Virginia, & kids.

It looks like Jack was just a few months old and their clothing was summer-like, so this picture was most likely taken in late summer or early fall of 1942.

Mom must have been 23 since she was born on April 9, 1919.

My sister, Mary recently told me that the location of the families' home was 5746 Theodosia. (Mary has always had a super merory recall.) It was two blocks south of where my Grandparents, Joe & Della Froehly lived.

Mom & Dad's Wedding Day...Oct. 21, 1939

Meet my Mom & Dad ....Mr. & Mrs. Amel Simmons.

What a great day for them! Of course this was way before I knew them and you can tell they were very happy to be together. My Mom was a city girl in St. Louis, Mo.& my Dad was a country boy from Salem, Mo. They met one another at a carnival that came thru the area so I am told. My Mom was living with her parents and twin brothers on Lotus Ave. (I believe.). Mom's sister was married and living across the street. My Dad was living with his aunt not too far away and working for an autobody shop. Mom already had a daughter Mary who was about 5yrs. old at the time and so Mom, Dad, & Mary became a family.

My Mom is Mary Virginia and was known as Virginia. Her Mom & Dad, brothers, & sister called her 'Gin'.

My Dad is Amel Wilson. My Mom used to call him 'A', however when it was really important or urgent she called him Amel. I have heard some people call Dad by A.W. Some men he later came to work with at Wagner Electric called dad Al.

My 1st Wheels...circa 1951

As you can tell I was built for speed. This was a heavy duty vehicle that delivered a new sense of freedom. No longer was I confined to the crib or playpen as I was now out in the world with my brother & sisters and all the adults. Yep, I was indeed the new kid on the block. It was a time for exploration and a time for getting to meet new people and other little kids. We were Boomers...Baby Boomers that is. Life was good and the living was easy. I was ready to get out and see the world, however I just needed someone to power my ride.

May 25, 1969...HS Graduation pic with Family

Ok, I'm back with you. Now, some of you may say that I am jumping around with my story. Not a problem, my friend. Remember one thing...I like to move fast. I like to jump around a bit. Hang with me because I'm painting a collage here. I figure it is better to keep you on your toes or on the edge of your seat if your sitting down.

This pic was taken at 839 Westwood Dr. in Ballwin, Missouri. The subdivision was Claymont and our section was called old Claymont as time went by. My family moved here in 1962-3.

(remember...you can click on the pic to enlarge it.)

From left to right...my Dad Amel...Mark, my nephew...Patty, my niece that I am holding, me in cap & gown, my sister Mary in background, my sister JoAnn with baby Beth, my Mom Virginia, & my niece Karen. The picture I believe was taken by Gene Grant, my terrific Brother-in-Law who my sister JoAnn met at Brown Shoe Co. in Clayton, Mo.

It looks to me that my Mom & my sisters had there hair done together for this event as there is quite a similarity in style.

By the time my family moved to this house I was pretty much an only child as my syblings had moved out of the nest. Mary was married to Louis Kirn and lived down the street with their kids, Karen, Mark, & Kevin. JoAnn and Gene were married 2/8/62 and lived in St. Louis for a while and had young children, Steve, Patty, & Beth. My brother, Jack was in the Airforce and married Coby from Holland and their young kids were John & Margaret.

I was 8 1/2 yrs. behind my brother, Jack so there was a pretty fair gap in age between us really. It was just my parents & myself living under one roof and it seemed like I was the only kid since JoAnn & Jack moved on with their lives. However, since my sister Mary lived down the street with her kids & I was their uncle. Karen is 4 yrs. younger than me...Mark about 11 yrs...and Kevin is about 12 yrs. younger. Now, instead of me being the youngest kid in the family I was the oldest. I gradually gained a bit more of seniority around this time as I was now being referred to as "UncleBob."

Life seemed pretty good at the time & my family was proud of me for graduating from high school. I would spend the summer working as a carpenter for my uncle's company building modular homes and playing baseball. From there I was leaning towards going to college at Meramec Community College for a semester and then head up to Columbia, Mo. to continue my education at the University of Missouri. On the outside the future was bright, however on the inside I knew my draft number was 43 and the Viet Nam war was the main story each and every day on the news. Going to college would mean a draft deferment for me. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with my life back then. I just knew that i did not want to go to war.

Let me tell you my story...

Welcome to my place. As you can probably tell...nobody enters without my approval. If I think that you've got what it takes, you're in. Otherwise, you're out of luck...unless I change my mind. We'll see.

Anyway, for those of you within my good graces, I will let you in on my life history. You'll be able to get to know me & my family, and good buds. It wasn't always easy mind you, yet it's been worth it if you know what I mean.

This was my second residence. My first was on Hunter Ave. in Normandy. Missouri that is, not France although my Mom's Dad was from Alsace Lorraine. (sometimes France & sometimes Germany...that's a whole other story tho.) Anyway, we split from Hunter Ave. before I could walk so I don't remember it too well although I was told by a reliable source (my Mom) that we had two german shepards when we lived on Hunter.

Clayton was a great place to grow up & live. We lived there from sometime in 1950 to 1959. These were some wonderful years as I recall. The whole entire family was at home...Mary, JoAnn, & Jack. They were all older than me and even tho they had been around longer, I still had to show them the ropes much of the time. Sure they were bigger & faster than I was, but what do you expect? I had to think fast on my feet from day one.

It was not easy being the youngest & I couldn't get away with a lot since my sisters & brother had already tested my parents. All in all, I got bounced a couple of times, but I learned to get back up and dust off myself.

Again, welcome. This is a good place to begin.