Photo: Mort Zuckerman, playing for the Writers team with Ray Kelly officiating
Saturday saw the 66th Annual East Hampton Artists & Writers Celebrity Softball Game at Herrick Park. The Artists won the game 14 runs to 8. Publisher Mort Zuckerman led the Writers Team and former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly was the referee. The event raised money for local charities including The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Centre, Phoenix House, The Retreat and East End Hospice.
The game began in 1948 and this year sponsors included HBO, Dan's Papers, The Daily News, Mort Zuckerman, 1010WINS and The Regal Entertainment Group. For a full list of donors who have given money to the game, visit the game's website. Players in this year's game were Carl Bernstein, Ken Auletta, Walter Isaacson, Mike Lupica, Benito Vila, Walter Bernard, Eric Ernst, Richard Weise, Billy Strong and the Rev. Katerina Foster.
Midway through the game, photographers began gathering in the public restrooms in front of the parking lot, hoping that President Bill Clinton might be late to the game. His wife, Hilary, was across the parking lot at BookHampton, signing copies of “Hard Choices.” However, President Clinton did not join the crowd at the softball game this year.
The game has a colorful history. The rosters from the early days of the game read like a Who's Who of the famed bohemian community that flourished in the East End after World War II. Willem de Kooning, Philip Pavia, Jackson Pollock and Joan Mitchell were members of the group of artists. Everyone brought a plate. Some brought drinks. Two writers attended the picnic, Barney Rosset of Grove Press (who was seeing Joan Mitchell) and art critic Harold Rosenberg. All this took place in Wilfrid Zogbaum's front yard.
Artists had moved to the Springs and the East End for cheap rent, bigger studios and an easier life. They talked about art, gossiped, ate, drank and shared a camaraderie. They remembered a glorious time. the war was over, the depression was waning, and more artists' work was being shown in New York galleries. Some were successful in sales and fame. Some drank too much. Most were just young artists eager to be a part of the emerging art scene.
Writers joined artists in the 60s and 70s. Irwin Shaw, Willie Morris, James Jones, Jimmy Ernst and Carl Stokes, the mayor of Cleveland were among the group that expanded to include politicians, actors, musicians, publishers, publishers and television personalities. The game featured governors, mayors, senators and a Supreme Court Justice and a former US President.
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