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In 1958, New York Yankee greats, Yogi
Berra and Phil Rizzuto put up a
$1,200,000. - 40 lane bowling center in
Styertown, Clifton, New Jersey. Stars
from baseball, television, radio, and
local political figures, were among the
5,000 who crowded the new Rizzuto-Berra
Bowling Lanes, for it's opening on
March 28, 1958.
Mantle was mobbed by the kids as he walked from the parking lot into the
bowling center as were other Yankee
players on hand, like Don Larsen, Bill
(Moose) Skowron, Hank Bauer, Bobby
Shantz, Tony Koubek, Johnny Kucks. Gil
McDougald, and Manager Casey Stengel.
They were only a few of the Yankee
stars on hand for the opening,
including master of ceremonies Mel
Allen. The establishment also featured
a trophy case, with such items as
American League's Most Valuable Player
Plaques, won by both Berra and Rizzuto,
and a cocktail lounge shaped like
Yankee Stadium.
The inside cover features a location map, and reads "Cocktail Lounge &
Restaurant -Serving the finest domestic
& imported Liquors, Sandwiches to full
course dinner." In 1962 the
Berra-Rizzuto Bowling lanes and Stadium
Lounge, was sold for close to $1
million. Phil Rizzuto's wife Cora was
President of the cocktail lounge and
bar, Berra's wife Carmen headed the
Bowling Lanes, Yogi Berra was vice
president and Ugo Antonucci was
treasurer and business manager. Lence
Inc., who the purchased the business
continued with the same management.
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