The Braeside Boys started playing 16” in 1983 but the origins of this team go back even further. Six of the original players played little league baseball together in grammar school, Braeside School, starting in 1973! The “Original Six” players are: Andrew Kramer, Jim Frisch, Howard Friedman, Richard Goldman, Laurence Marks, Tony Kahan. They have all been friends since they were 4-5 years old and remain very close to this day.
In 1983, the team comprised very young athletic players including Steve Rosenberg, Pete and Josh Denberg, Josh Wexler, Jason Harris, Brad Balson, and Bob McCraren. In addition, Andrew’s Dad, Loren Kramer had some friends on the team including; Gene Cohen, David Zlatnik, Barry Feder, and Alan Shapiro. Andrew Kramer has led the team as captain, manager, and lead statistician since 1983. He remains in that role today but he could not have done it without the help of Howie, Jimmy, Rich, Loren, and the many other recruiters who found good players and great people who made the Braeside Boys a winning team that also had a lot of fun. They played in a competitive Highland Park league which at the time had 24 teams with three levels, A, B, and C leagues. The team moved up from the C League to the A-League in 5 years and they won the division league championship in 4th year and 5th year. After seven years in Highland Park they moved to more competitive leagues at Claredon Park and Evanston for 5 seasons. During these five seasons, they added some great players including Jim Klein, Jordan Shiner, Kent Projansky, and Greg Blesius. During these five seasons, they went 44-22 winning their league one year and coming second in another year. The team remained together despite moves, marriages, children, and injuries! A few years later, the team returned to Highland Park where they played the next 12 years and had a record of 94-56, and won 5 league championships. In addition, to the core “Original Six” and Loren Kramer, now in his 60s, the team added some key players; Jerry Duchen (HOF), Jeremy Galfield, Art Lurie (HOF), Joe Pacente, Mark Maloy, Barry Feldman, Bruce Zessar, Bennett Klasky, Bruce Friedman, Tony Monaco, Brian Andre, Jose Choe, and Ken Hollingsworth.