Thank You, Ed Moose

Restaurateur Ed Moose died this morning at California Pacific Medical Center at the age of 81. With Washington Square Bar & Grill maitre d’ Hal Thunes, Ed Moose started the annual Penny Pitch in North Beach to benefit St. Anthony’s. It has so far run for 33 years.

While Hal Thunes thought the idea up as a social event to strengthen ties with other Washington Square establishments, Ed turned it into a charitable event. He expanded the entry list to include not only bars, but also athletic teams, like the Giants, A’s and Warriors, and invited the civic leaders, sports figures, and other stars who frequented the Washbag to compete and to bid on auction items, all proceeds to go to St. Anthony’s.

The first Penny Pitch, on Washington’s Birthday of 1977, drew huge crowds to watch a lively competition, eventually won by now retired police inspector Chris Sullivan. In the intervening years, the event has moved to Memorial Day and transferred across the street from the WSBG to Ed’s new restaurant, Moose’s, later Joey & Eddy’s, and back again. Over 33 years, it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for St. Anthony’s to help our poor and homeless neighbors.

Moose, a former sportswriter, was also founder of the Lapin Sauvages softball team. He suffered only one loss in 15 years of playing around the world. Just a few months ago, he put up much of his old Washbag memorabilia on Ebay, again to benefit St. Anthony’s.

We at St. Anthony’s are so grateful for all Ed and Mary Etta Moose have done for our work over three decades.