TOUR OF SOMERVILLE

My wife and I just got back from the Tour of Somerville bicycle races in nearby Somerville,, New Jersey.

The Tour of Somerville is an annual series of bicycle races in Somerville held over Memorial Day weekend, with the premiere race held on Monday. The series of races are called "tours" due to a New Jersey state law forbidding racing on highways for prizes.

2013 marked the 70th race.


The event, dubbed the "Kentucky Derby of Cycling," is considered the oldest major bicycle race in the nation. It culminates in the 50-mile Kugler-Anderson Memorial race.  That centerpiece race offers a $15,000 prize. 

It is very exciting watching the cyclists.  They race at about 25 to 30 miles per hour and the final sprints can be at 35 miles per hour.

Today there was a crash of maybe 6 cyclists in one of the races about 20 yards from me.  A very scary situation.  I do know that one of the competitors was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Congratulations not only to the winners, but to all competitors.

Frank Umont

Frank Umont was an umpire in Major League Baseball's American League from 1954 to 1973.  Prior to that, he was a guard for 4 years for the New York Giants football team.

Though he was born in Staten Island, he grew up in my childhood home town of Dunellen, New Jersey.

Here is his baseball card from the 1955 set issued by Bowman.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, I delivered the local weekly newspaper to the house he grew up in.  His sister lived on the same block as my Aunt Jo and my Aunt got me a baseball personally singed by him.

He umpired in All Star Games as well as World Series Games in addition to regular season games.  He was also the umpire in the last regular season game played at Yankee Stadium in 1973 before it was remodeled.

He was the first umpire to wear glasses.

Frank passed away from a heart attack in his Florida home on June 20, 1991. 

ZOE

It's been a year since you left us but you are in our hearts everyday!