DCS: choo-choo coleman

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Bub

Young, eager Choo-Choo Coleman was drafted by the Washington Senators in 1955, however he was soon released. He was picked up by the Brooklyn Dodgers but signed with the Philadelphia Philles in a Rule 5 draft. In 1961, after getting hit by a pitch in his first Major League plate appearance, he played in 33 more games for the Phillies. He posted a dismal .125 batting average and was taken by the brand-new New York Mets in the expansion draft.

He was perfect for the abysmal Mets. He had a low batting average. He had only nine career home runs and as a catcher, he was awful. He had great difficulty handling pitchers, prompting Mets’ manager, Hall of Famer Casey Stengel to offer this back-handed compliment: “I never seen a catcher so fast at retrieving passed balls.”

Choo-Choo called it a career in 1966 and returned to his native Orlando, Florida. After his first wife passed away, he married into a family who owned and operated a Chinese restaurant in Newport News, Virginia. He helped to run the business, even working as a cook when needed. He lived in relative obscurity until he was invited to a 2012 event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mets. He graciously appeared at the celebration in New York, taking his first airplane ride in 35 years to get there. He dispelled many rumors and confirmed others, including the origin of his nickname. “I got it as a kid ’cause I was fast,” he said proudly. At the celebration, his former teammate and roommate Charlie Neal asked him if he remembered his name. Choo-Choo replied, “Sure. You’re Number 4.” Known to be forgetful, Choo-Choo called everybody “Bub.” When asked what was his wife’s name and what’s she like, Choo-Choo answered, “Her name is ‘Mrs. Coleman and she likes me.”

Choo-Choo Coleman passed away earlier this month at the age of 78.

 

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DCS: fyvush finkel

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Philip Finkel was born in in Brooklyn in 1922. Using the Yiddish name “Fyvush” he made his stage debut at nine-years-old in New York’s thriving Yiddish theater. He performed all types of roles, including stand-up comedy.

In 1964, he made his Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof. He stayed with the show for many performances, playing several roles along the way. He eventually took the lead of “Tevye” in a national touring company. Later, he took over the role of ” Mr. Mushnik” in Little Shop of Horrors. He continued to work with the Jewish theater while simultaneously taking roles on TV dramas and comedies. In 1992, he was cast as public defender Douglas Wambaugh in the television series Picket Fences. He won an Emmy for the role, saying at the televised ceremony, “I’ve waited 51 years for this moment.” Producer David E. Kelley cast him again in Boston Public as crotchety history teacher “Harvey Lipschultz.” Fyvush even found time to lend his voice to episodes of The Simpsons and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. He appeared in a number of theatrical films including Nixon, Brighton Beach Memoirs and A Serious Man.

After a long and celebrated career, including a stage production chronicling that career,  Fyvush Finkel passed away at 93.

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DCS: raquel torres

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Oh, for heaven's sake, whatever you do, don't make a sound! If you found, you lost!

Paula Osterman, a Mexican-born beauty, made her motion picture debut in the 1928 silent film White Shadows of the South Seas. She used the more exotic-sounding stage name “Raquel Torres” to match her exotic looks. The picture was the first entry into fully synchronized sound effects and music for MGM Studios. She followed that role with a series of appearances in films playing mostly bathing beauties and exotic temptresses of indeterminable ethnicity.

Raquel’s most famous role was that of the deceitful Vera Marcal, in The Marx Brothers 1933 classic Duck Soup. Working alongside the scheming Ambassador Trentino (as portrayed by a young Louis Calhern), she prompted Groucho to deliver the line “I could dance with you until the cows came home. On second thought, I’d rather dance with the cows until you came home.”

In 1935, Raquel promptly retired from acting after her marriage to businessman Stephen Ames, despite his Hollywood connections. The couple remained married until Ames’ death in 1955. Four years later, she wed actor Jon Hall, a union that ended in divorce after a few years.

Out of the spotlight for nearly 50 years, Raquel found herself front and center in 1985 when a Malibu, California fire swept burning embers onto the roof of her home in nearby Las Flores Canyon. Her home was destroyed, but Raquel escaped unharmed.

Two years later, 78-year old Raquel passed away from a heart attack. Her death warranted a five sentence obituary in the Los Angeles Times.

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