South Brooklyn Boys Turf

Butler gents wore sweaters, like the kind you got from school athletic teams. They were Black button down v-neck, with white piping and white interlocking BG on the breast. We really thought we looked bad walking down the street together in our colors.

We hung out at Joes Luncheonette on 5th Ave and Sterling Pl., two blocks down from where an infamous plane crash occurred in 1960. A commercial airliner narrowly missed St. Augustine's school full of thousands of kids on Sterling & 6th and crashed on Sterling & 7th, demolishing the block and killing everyone aboard and people on the ground as well.

One of their biggest battles was when the Untouchable Bishops invaded Joe's Luncheonette one afternoon and their leader, Geronimo, threatened and intimidated Joe's wife, Molly. Joe's was also a big cop hangout and the cops from the 78th Pct. looked the other way as the Gents retaliated for days afterwards. A week later, a cop named Quigley walked in to Joe's and threw the G Geronimo wore on his beret on the counter. "Here you go, Molly." End of Geronimo. End of story.

In 2001, Mickey and DC, with the help of Ray, who worked in a DA's office, managed to locate and contact over 30 former Gents and Ladies from all over the metro area and beyond and had a great reunion (after 40 years) in the old neighborhood. They continue to meet and communicate regularly. Mickey can be contacted at Mickey

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