Roller Derby - SF Bay Bombers - NE Braves 7-4-70

[rdcommish]

Unfortunately, all games prior to the 1973 season were erased on the tapes, so the tapes could be reused for the following season (we needed almost 100 on hand to ship to the various stations......no satellite then). And there was no home taping so we didn't see the need to keep them.....of course they would be invaluable now.

[hayesman76]

I was a huge roller derby fan around the time this game was played (1970). Finally got to see a game at Madison Square Garden soon thereafter. As I recall, roller derby was aired on Channel 9 in NYC and also, possibly, the Spanish-language channel, Channel 47 on the UHF dial. If I recall, lots of games were aired from the Spectrum in Philadelphia. Later a new league called "Roller Games" made its appearance before the whole sport faded in popularity for many years.

[djbillyg100]

Hey drguffey, do you have the FULL game instead of just the last half? I want the whole game. I am interested in the Bomber games you have for sale from the 60's-70's. AND YES they were @ their best then. st761200869@yahoodotcom

[drguffey]

@djbillyg100 Don't have this game. Wish I did. I grew up in Alameda, CA. One block from Charlie O'Connell, Joe Chaump & others. My sister trained for 1 year, skated one game & quit. Too rough. I loved going to the games live. Sure miss it.

[djbillyg100]

does anyone know where a San Fransico Bay Bomber fan could purchase dvd's of these roller derby games?? anyone know

[drguffey]

@djbillyg100 I got a bunch on eBay!!! Too bad they are from the 70's & 80's. Roller Derby was at its best in the early 60's IMHO!

[OldeSkool1]

HOLY COW!!! I too remember watching the Bombers with my parents back in mid 60's even went to a match at the Cow Palace. Those were the days.

[momagon]

I just found a tshirt for the bay bombers at the thriftstore it's gotta picture of number 40 (guy) on the front, it's from about this era- anyone know who that would be ?

[noelamezquita]

@momagon mr roller derby charlie o connell

[didlysq4]

@momagon

That would be Charley O'Connell

[rdcommish]

@momagon Charlie O'Connell was #40.

[jgast1d]

damn, i remember seeing roller derby sat night after all star wrestling does any body remember the team from los angeles i believe with that one chick that different color hair

[00phenomenon00]

@jgast1d well the only los angeles team would be the thunder birds, or sometimes called the t-birds any ring a bell?

[THXOPS]

As far as the women's roster for the Bombers, I assume that it contained Weston, Delores Tucker, Carolyn Moreland, Peanuts Meyer, Barbara Baker and Francine Cochu to name a few. My memory is too hazy for who skated on the Braves in the women's field

[sixerjman]

Charlie O'Connell, "Joanie Weston out on the jam", ah, memories.

[twdeck]

I wonder if any of the gals footage skating in this game survived. I still remember seeing the Braves defeat the Bay Bombers in the 1969 championship game, breaking the Bombers 5 year winning streak as champions! Wow, if only that game was still available!

[Tripleggg1959]

love the classic pullaway at the end. When I was speedskating in my younger days we practiced the pullaway!

[ddenuci]

Ronnie Robinson is the son of boxing legend, Sugar Ray.

[bandstand54]

My dad took me to Shea Stadium on May 26, 1973 to see my first Roller Derby game. I will never forget, the weather was pretty bad, it was cloudy and very cold for late May.

We were up on the bleacher's. so it was even colder. Anyway, the first game was terrific btw the Jolters and Pioneers. The pioneers kicked ass, I was rooting for the Jolters because I had a crush on Rose Duran.

The NY Chiefs won the Gold Cup. Over 27,000 at Shea Stadium. Read about it the next day in NY daily news.

[hcjc57]

Now here's a real chalenge: See if any one can come up with footage of the Bay Bombers against the LOS ANGELES Braves from the Braves' last year in LA, 1965! Now that would be cool, seeing those unis with "LA Braves" on front in script lettering!

[OaktownABQ]

Love that "high-tech" scoreboard!!

[kes1963]

i remember watching this on saturday afternoons in east-central illinois

[hibob418]

Was this the record-setting attendance game at the Oakland Coliseum? i remember seeing clips from this game when I was a kid. Thanks very much for the post!!!

[anlrcptvchnkcnt]

anyone know what the women's roster for these 2 teams?

[Greener316]

Had Jerry Seltzer not completely FUBAR'd the sport and not refused to allow it to be played anywhere else afterwards, it wouldn't have taken almost 40 years to gain a real fanbase again.

[huffnpuff2]

Roller derby was on a roll!!! look at so many fans- I still have some games from this era on video too, maybe we can trade a few!! I will be posting clips soon too! thaks!

[richardcoreno]

What makes fantastic is the amount of footage. This was the glory years of Roller Derby.

[snarbush]

YEAH this rules. Right on dude!!!!!!

[keithcop]

It's July 4, 1970.

[OaktownABQ]

I was at this game -- it was the Fourth of July, and there was a fireworks show after the game.

I was 13 going on 14.

Thank you so much for posting this!

[zachw225]

You are the same age as my uncle! He was born on September 18, 1956!!! He turned 14 two months after this game!!!