Dick Squires releases promotional video on how to play the game

Though Richard C. (Dick) Squires was a fine player, winning the Men’s title in 1966 and later adding two Men’s 45+ titles, he made his mark on the game as an outstanding promoter who helped take it on a growth spurt never seen before or since.

When Life Magazine put paddle on the cover of a 1967 magazine, you could sense that something was about to happen in terms of the game becoming the “in thing.” What the sport needed, however, was a flamboyant advocate and showman who could lead the growth and become a catalyst for opening new frontiers. Squires did exactly that and broke a few eggs along the way.

“Mr. Paddle” wrote about the game, published books on the game, produced instruction films about the game, built courts, endorsed attire, conducted clinics and found sponsors for an exciting new tournament that CBS Sports televised for its Sports Spectacular show. He also opened the first commercial platform tennis facility on a roof-top in New York City. Squires was Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003 shortly before he died.

Senior President’s Cup

Jerry Manhold, with the help of Howie Sipe in Chicago, Chet Kermode in Cleveland, Jack Wales in Pittsburgh, and Bill Ballard in North Jersey, obtained APTA sanction to explore starting a Senior President’s event.

There were some changes in the President’s Cup format used by the Senior President’s Cup players.
• Players would be selected from among active league players in the four largest leagues: Chicago area, Cleveland area, Pittsburgh and northern New Jersey.

• APTA membership was mandatory.

• Play would be along the lines of the Gordon Cup competition in tennis, i.e., two matches at 45+ and 1 match at 50+, 55+, and 60+.

• Play would be over one day only, which would provide a senior team with three matches in one day, followed by a fellowship dinner.

• The Senior Cup was to be a prelude to a major senior championship;

Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1984

The first oversized paddle

Rule changes: Singles, Sets played in Men’s Nationals & 45+, and Paddle Specifications

The October 1984 edition of the Official Rules of Platform Tennis carried the following Board-approved changes:

Doubles and Singles
The rules are the same, except for the following: In Singles, the game is played within the standard singles court, two serves are allowed, and no-ad scoring is used*. The no-ad game point is served into whichever service court the receiver chooses. The Hi-Bounce ball is recommended for singles.

*(conditional 1-year trial rule – ’84-85)

Recommended Number of Sets
Men’s – Nationals: 2 out of 3 to the finals, then 3 out of 5. Fifth set played out

Men’s – 45: 2 out of 3, all the way

Platform Tennis Paddle Standards
Total Length: 18 1/16″ maximum
Width of Head (at widest point): 9 5/16″ maximum
Play Length (handle to outside edge of rim): 10 7/16″ maximum

Source: Platform Tennis News, November 1984

National Paddle Week and 1984 National Championships. Sponsored by Great American Insurance Companies, March 4-11, Cleveland, OH

National Championships – Men’s and Women’s Nationals played in a blizzard; Juniors travel to Kalamazzo, MI

1984-2

Jim McCready filed a report on the Cleveland Nationals in PTN, April 1984

For five days, the heart and spirit of platform tennis were in Cleveland at the National Championships. From March 7-11, the top men and women competed for the titles, as well as the President’s Cup crown. Near-blizzard conditions and 15-degree temperature were the norm for most of the event. In the women’s event, which fielded a full 64-team draw, 400 fans braved the icy cold to watch Robin Fulton, the previous year’s champion, and Yvonne Hackenberg, four-time champ, pair up to defeat Pat Butterfield and Diane Tucker.

On the men’s side, 96 teams competed, including the New York-based team of Steve Baird of Harrison and Rich Maier of Nyack, who were seeking their fifth straight title. In the finals, they got off to a fast and deliberate start by winning the first two sets 6-3, 7-5. However, the four matches played the previous day and the difficult semifinals began to take its toll on all four competitors. Winning was now a matter of will and endurance. Kleinert-Russell won the pivotal third set 7-5, and the fourth set 6-3. The crown was theirs, as they went on to a 6-2 victory in the fifth set.

Quotable Quotes: Not for the faint-hearted, our sport. Here’s what champion Yvonne Hackenberg had to say about the cold: “The cold weather is invigorating. Even if the wind chill factor is well below zero, we are prepared for it. It’s like hanging your laundry outside. It’s fresher that way.” ( ••• uh-huh).

And from champion Doug Russell: “This wasn’t the coldest tournament I’ve played in. I remember Chicago a few years back when the wind chill factor was 40 degrees below zero.”

Source: Platform Tennis News, April 1984

The Junior Nationals were held in Kalamazoo, MI. The APTA had been having great difficulty finding volunteers to host the Juniors and Yvonne Hackenberg had stepped up when others had declined. The alternative would have been no Junior championships.

Source: Letter of December 29, 1983 from Diane Rinaldi, Executive Secretary of APTA, to Harriette Weil

Marilyn and Gub Gerrish at Fox Meadow Tennis Club in Scarsdale, NY

Thornton “Gub” Gerrish (1913-1984)

Gub Gerrish had served on the APTA Board in the mid-70s and had been the group’s official photographer for many years. A man of tremendous energy, enthusiasm and personal magnetism, Gub was an avid spectator, distinguished photographer and reporter at hundreds of paddle events.

He was a true gentleman who epitomized the spirit of paddle–competition, sportsmanship and camaraderie. A permanent trophy in honor of Gub has become part of the annual Rye tournament, with the trophy being presented to the winners of the senior event.

Source: Platform Tennis News, February 1984