111: Shannon Patterson | The Wayback with Ryan Sickler – Baltimore Junkyard Series #111 — Full Episode

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Wayback with Ryan Sickler

Episode: Shannon Patterson | Baltimore Junkyard Series #111
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Ryan Sickler
Guest: Shannon Patterson

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Overview

This nostalgia-forward episode of The Wayback with Ryan Sickler delves into the rowdy memories, formative friendships, and wild stories from Ryan’s and Shannon Patterson's Baltimore childhood—centered around the family junkyard, neighborhood soccer, and all the misadventures that come with growing up in working-class Maryland. Shannon Patterson, a lifelong friend and owner of Auto Recycling of Baltimore, shares the mic as they trade riotous, heartfelt stories about their families, growing up in the 70s and 80s, youth sports, and the unforgettable cast of characters from their junkyard days.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Family Backgrounds and Baltimore Roots

• Multi-Generational Marylanders:

  • Shannon’s family has deep Maryland roots, with grandparents settled in areas like Eldersburg, Owings Mills, and Sykesville. He shares, "My grandparents were German immigrants. Their parents were the German immigrants. My grandparents were born here..." (03:31).
  • Both Shannon's parents grew up locally, with Shannon's mom even ordering muscle cars as a young woman—a rare trait for the era.

• Parental Influence and Childhood Memories:

  • Ryan gives heartfelt props to Shannon’s parents, especially noting, “Your mom was, no doubt, my mom. That lady was my mom, so to speak. And your dad was certainly a stepdad. Your dad took us to see George Carlin...” (01:39).
  • A memorable early event: their dads taking them to a George Carlin show, where a man fainted and was carted off, but Carlin “did all the hits for you. Real quick, real quick.” (02:44)

Neighborhoods, Houses, and Elementary School Days

• Moving Out of the City:

  • Shannon shares his family’s move from a Rolling Road apartment to Eldersburg in 1979, searching for safety and stability amid high interest rates and crime (07:04).

• Early School Years:

  • The duo reminisce about Freedom Elementary, the balloon ascension, and notorious school figures like Mr. Vigilotti, remembered for keeping a gun in his desk and “pissing with no hands” (10:22).

• The Infamous Non-Lookalike Twins:

  • Ryan and his brother were known as “the twins that didn’t look anything alike” due to their mom dressing them identically despite radically different appearances—a running joke among classmates (08:04).

Childhood Mischief and Life Lessons

• Kite Sabotage:
  • Ryan tells the tale of sabotaging a classmate's kite at a school contest:

    “...I loosened that knot, I tapped that sticker back on there... and all of a sudden I see it go and just gently start floating away... I sabotaged that kite! Freedom Elementary, bro.” (09:00)

Youth Soccer: Lifelong Friendships and Coach Bill Hoffman

• Forming Bonds on the Field:

  • Soccer was the glue of Ryan and Shannon’s friend group. They recount starting on "clicky" Freedom Optimist teams and finding belonging when Coach Bill Hoffman, himself a castaway, formed the outsider team South Carroll (12:08).

• Innovative Coaching:

  • Hoffman’s approach—cribbing moves from German soccer and implementing the “triangle offense” akin to Phil Jackson—made their team dominant:

    “[He] taught us the Phil Jackson triangle. Someone always had to run to the open corner... always have two options. Right triangle all the way down the field.” (14:24)

• Team Dynamics:

  • The South Carroll team, initially mid-tier, soon “crushed” their rivals, even attracting cut players from other teams.
  • Shannon: “You could play a team and get beat and he would tell you what a great game that is... or you could beat a team and he would tell you how bad you played.” (14:54)

Introduction to Junkyard Life and Unforgettable Characters

• Junkyard Apprenticeship:

  • Starting at just 12, Ryan, Shannon, and their crew worked in the junkyard—pulling parts, organizing shelves, and getting into trouble.
  • “We all have a yard car. And a yard car is just anything that runs. And your dad and you... eventually you had every part in your head.” (25:13)

• Disaster and Danger:

  • The dangers of the job were ever-present, such as the time Ryan’s brother wrecked the delivery truck as a kid (17:05), or the harrowing story of a gas tank explosion due to reckless welding:

    “You have a gas fire, compressor on fire, the tank is with a set of torches in the back... It looked like the grandest Roman candle you’ve ever seen.” (21:05)
    “It lifted me up and pushed me back... that’s the first time I ever even considered what it must like to be a war.” (21:30)

• Wildlife and Occasional Gunplay:

  • An encounter with a rabid raccoon led to one of the more bizarre moments—a customer stepping up to shoot the raccoon, which briefly rises zombie-like after the first shot (18:28).

• Miscellaneous Mayhem:

  • From cleaning after fire-department-worthy accidents, to antics involving releasing feral junkyard cats into the wild, to encountering sketchy after-hours “pharmaceutical reps” living on premises, every day at the junkyard was a new adventure.

Sketchy Social Dynamics and Laugh-Out-Loud Stories

• Rough Company:

  • Tales of colorful junkyard workers include “Turbo Lips”—“that guy talked faster than an auctioneer”—and various not-so-brilliant older employees (32:43, 32:47).

• Drug Use and Other Shenanigans:

  • Casual references to wild adult behaviors:

    “I would see John Williams come in slow and mopey... then kick that door open and woohoo... that’s what cocaine does!” (24:26)
    “You said he would shoot a syringe of Jack Daniels in his neck.” (24:44)

House Parties, Friendship, and Family Support

• Infamous Ragers and Parental Wisdom:

  • Reminiscences about legendary house parties at Brian Henline’s after soccer games, and subsequent parental interventions (30:36).

• Loss and Community Consolation:

  • After Ryan’s father died, the Henline family gently assured them they were not to blame for any misdeeds:

    “We just want you to know that in no way, shape or form are you or your brother responsible for anything our idiot son did...” (31:51)

Sports Fights and Rough-and-Tumble Recreation

• Soccer Fights and Field Brawls:

  • The group’s intensity got them kicked out of every indoor soccer arena, leading to “February outdoor soccer in Dundalk... just a massive free-for-all.” (27:03)
  • On-the-field scuffles frequently spilled over, including one brawl that ended with parents fighting and cops arriving:

    “I gave my bag to my dad... and we did. We walked right into a trap... just getting the back of my head beat.” (28:47)

• Pickup Games and DIY Leagues:

  • Descriptions of pickup soccer and lacrosse games in Ryan's basement, with makeshift goals and plenty of checking—“It was violent.” (33:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Junkyard Apprenticeship:

  • “Imagine right now, we’re walking in a junk ‘n’ some 8th grader is driving you around the junkyard... we’re tiny little kids. 13 years, no license.” (25:40)

• On Outgrowing Fear:

  • “You used to get so scared you couldn’t spend the night. Mr. Roy had to come over and get you.” (33:04)
  • Shannon, sheepishly: “Dude, I was not a big night spender. Like, I was... I hated scary.” (33:17)

• On Parental Support:

  • “We just want you to know that in no way, shape or form are you or your brother responsible for anything our idiot son did. We don’t want you to carry that burden. We don’t think you’re responsible for this.” (31:51)

• On the Joy of Friendship and Nostalgia:

  • Ryan, closing:

    “Thank you for doing this and again, thank you for letting us use your junkyard. I love you.” (37:12)
    Shannon: “I love you.” (37:16)

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Important Timestamps

• [01:39] – Introduction of Shannon Patterson, stories of Ryan and Shannon’s parents
• [03:31] – Family background and Maryland roots
• [07:24] – Move to Eldersburg, Freedom Elementary beginnings
• [10:22] – Mr. Vigilotti and unique elementary school memories
• [12:01] – Coach Bill Hoffman and the founding of South Carroll soccer
• [17:05] – Earliest junkyard jobs and wrecking the delivery truck
• [18:28] – The rabid raccoon incident and customer heroics
• [21:05] – The explosive gas tank accident
• [25:13] – “Yard cars” and knowing the junkyard by heart
• [27:03] – Soccer fight history: ejections, arrests, rink bans
• [30:36] – House party aftermath and parental wisdom
• [33:04] – Admitting to childhood fears and sleepless sleepovers
• [33:44] – Basement soccer, “violent” pickup games
• [37:12] – Emotional closing remarks and gratitude

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Tone

Warm, irreverent, filled with Baltimore-isms, and heavy on laughter and crosstalk. The episode swings from sentimental tribute to deadpan sarcasm, all built on a foundation of lifelong camaraderie and shared history.

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Summary

The episode feels like a rowdy, hilarious, and sometimes moving reunion. Listeners are treated to a barrage of colorful tales—of unruly soccer games, madcap junkyard adventures, fights and parties, family quirks, and the steadfast friendships that anchor it all. It’s an affectionate time capsule of blue-collar youth in Baltimore, with enough mayhem to be memorable and enough heart to highlight what really matters: found family, loyalty, and the joy of “making it out” with your oldest friends still by your side.

Transcript

[A]

Kansas City. I'm headed back your way. Valentine's weekend. That's right, Valentine's weekend. I'll be there. February 13th and the 14th. Connecticut, come see me at Comics Roadhouse March 13th and 14th. Get your tickets [e-mail].

[B]

Hey, baby, we gonna be here all day.

[A]

We're gonna be here all day, baby. I like that kind of party. What's up, guys? Ryan Sickler here. I'm back home in Baltimore. Very excited to be here to do something that I've been wanting to do for a long time. You guys been asking for years to have my brothers on, old friends, family, and I'm finally able to make it happen. Make sure you're subscribed. You're going to get episodes for a while. We got a bunch of them coming your way. Can't wait for you guys to see this. Welcome back to the Way Back, everybody. Ryan Sickler here, back with another episode of the Way Back, the Baltimore Junkyard series. Very excited to bring this episode to you. This man, also a brother to me, going all the way back to seventh grade for me, sixth grade for him. Also the man making all this possible here, the owner and proprietor of Auto Recycling of Baltimore, L L C, ladies and gentlemen, Shannon Patterson. Welcome to the Way Back.

[B]

Thank you, Ryan.

[A]

I enunciated Baltimore for you and your llc. I love that you say no Baltimore. It's Baltimore. Thank you for doing this. Thank you also for real for putting us all up. It's been two days of record breaking heat and you've opened up your business to us. So thank you very much for letting us do this. I've talked extensively about you and my brothers on my podcast over the years. So before I get into you real quick, I just want to give your dad and your mom props. So your mom was no doubt. My mother, I've always said, was a combo of my grandmom and your mom. That lady was my mom, so to speak. And your dad was certainly a stepdad. Your dad took us to see George Carlin right over here at Pier 6 High School. I have to take my 15th birthday. I still have the ticket stuff.

[B]

It's probably close to this hot.

[A]

It was. Well, remember the guy passed out?

[B]

Yeah. And yet George Carlin had to go through 7 rush through his 7, 730 words.

[A]

And the guys laying there bringing them down in a damn metal stretchers lowering.

[B]

Shout out to bcfd.

[A]

Shout out to George Carlin too, because he went through that. He did all the hits for you. Real quick, real quick. They're lower. Just dag those dudes out and stretch.

[B]

The fire department shows up and turnout gear and stuff.

[A]

And it's, you know, you heard boom. And the lights up there and the legs are out over the sky. That was crazy. Your father owned the junkyard, and that's where this whole junkyard enters my life and stuff, so. And you've continued the business, obviously. My brother as well. Auto recycling. So before we get into that, let's talk about your parents. Are both your parents Maryland people and Born and raised here and all that stuff?

[B]

Well, where my mother. When she was born, her parents lived over the Eldersburg people know right where the ramp that gets. Get on 70 west from 32 is. Yeah. They lived on a farm in a farmhouse there when she was really young. And then after that they moved to Owings Mills. She had three brothers. She was the only girl. My grandparents were German immigrants. They're there. Their parents were the German immigrants. My grandparents were born here on my dad, also Maryland.

[A]

Your grandparents?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you're three generation Maryland?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

And my dad, his. We don't know too much about his father. He ran off when he was like 16 in the early 1900s to fight World War II.

[A]

Oh, okay.

[B]

And as you know, dad's alluded to over the years, they didn't have the best. His home life was not the best, you know, when he was a young man.

[A]

And.

[B]

We'Ve done some. My uncle's done some genealogy. There's some English in the family. Irish man.

[A]

I ain't putting any DNA on. Listen, here you go. I don't want to meet any relatives. I didn't know. We didn't have or any of that.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right. What about mom then? So Mom's born to you say your grandparents are talking about family? Yeah. Mertz.

[B]

Yep, Mertz.

[A]

And where? Reisterstown?

[B]

No, they. Well, they were out Sykesville and then moved to.

[A]

What's the racers Townhouse. I knew they weren't there forever.

[B]

That was my. That was Owings Mills. That was my grandparents.

[A]

That's what I'm talking about.

[B]

Yeah, I was. Owings Mills.

[A]

Yeah, I'm talking about your mom's parents. Yeah, I was.

[B]

Owings Mills.

[A]

Oh, Owings Mills. Back where they got the under armor training center now.

[B]

Well, yeah. Butts up to where the football team and all that is.

[A]

So how do your mom and dad meet?

[B]

Well, she was in cars because I think her first car was like a 65 Mustang. But then by 68, she had gone to the Chevy dealer in Eric's Mills and ordered a brand new 396 four speed Chevelle Supersport. And I think she took it there for oil change and they did something and the motor ended up blowing up. So she. She paid him the extra money and got a 427 put in it.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

And that was before she even met my father.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is that the influence of older brothers and too though?

[B]

No, because none of them. I mean they all did like infrastructure work. Like they work for the electric company.

[A]

So where's she getting her love for that speed?

[B]

You know, maybe it was just a thing.

[A]

San and Roy were destined to collapse.

[B]

Well, fly apart too, like a. I.

[A]

Didn'T say it was a pretty accident.

[B]

Like a crankshaft coming apart.

[A]

So. All right, so they meet where? Just in.

[B]

Where the guy's name was Sam Spock and I. I'm pretty sure that's where they met. But I, you know, it was so tough growing up. Sometimes didn't get the details. I should know this. I mean.

[A]

And then how old are they when you're born?

[B]

35, 34 for my dad and late 20s for my mom, something.

[A]

And you're born where? What's your first house?

[B]

My first baby baby house. First house was an apartment down on Rolling Road at the like Liberty Road. I can't even think of its name. But it was up above, you know, like Windsor Mill. We live in an apartment. I remember, you know, like with some of these other stories.

[A]

She.

[B]

There was cop. Baltimore county cops running around with their guns drawn, you know. Well, not all the time, but the first. It happened a couple times and she's like, we, we're getting out of here. But like, you remember what it was like in like 79 and 80. It was very high. Higher interest rates than there are now. And you know, you. It was hard for people.

[A]

And then where do you go after that?

[B]

We moved in 79 to Eldersburg.

[A]

In the house we all. Yep. 70s, huh?

[B]

Well, late 70.

[A]

Like still 79.

[B]

We were out of Rolling Road apartment when it was time for me to go to kindergarten at Freedom elementary. Where we haven't talked about Freedom Elementary.

[A]

That's right.

[B]

But I'm in fourth grade or third grade, you guys. Fourth, fifth grade year ahead of me.

[A]

Do you know you don't know us there though?

[B]

I do. I'm getting ready to tell you so.

[A]

Is that right?

[B]

Yeah. You want to know why? You were famous?

[A]

No.

[B]

Yeah, you were famous for the twins that didn't look like each other, but. Hold on.

[A]

But our mentally ill mother Dressed us alike. We show pictures all the time. Who in the takes two different looking people and dresses them identically just because they were born at the same time? That's the dumbest you could do. Why are you putting us in matching sweaters? We're two totally different people. I think she would have done it. If I was a girl and he was a boy, she still would have done it. Like people think twins, but. Yeah, but the whole thing is they look alike, so you dress them alike. These two don't look anything alike.

[B]

And you were famous for not looking alike.

[A]

You knew about us in elementary school. I'm pretty certain, man, I don't remember that. Well, you were a year younger.

[B]

I'm going back. You know what year would that been? It had been like 83, 84.

[A]

I'd be 10, 11. Yeah. And 83, 84. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Free mom at your store still standing?

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Got a whole bunch of trailers out there. Neighborhood's growing.

[A]

Do you remember the balloon ascension?

[B]

Yeah, I remember the balloon.

[A]

Do you remember that?

[B]

There.

[A]

So I got a story for you. And you both don't know this. There was this girl, she was always like a goody goody and always sucking up. Yes, of course, it's elementary school. Just a kid, but she's sucking up to the teacher. And we had that. We had a kite flying contest. Yeah. And I had this black gala. It was called a gala kite. And it was black with the eyes, you know what the. I'm talking about the irises, the yellow eyes.

[B]

And almost.

[A]

Almost like a bat under it. But.

[B]

Yeah. Or stingray.

[A]

Yeah, stingray. But this is straight hefty bag, you know? I mean, it's not like these kites now. And. And she's in the room like, I'm gonna win the. And she left. Dude, I, I still to this day, I can't believe I did. This is an honest to God true story. It's like fifth grade. I go over and the kite just had a little knot on it and a sticker over the thing to hold it down. So I took her sticker off, I loosened that knot, I tapped that sticker back on there. And we get out back and we're up there, we're flying these kites, and, man, hers is up there. And I'm like, God damn it. And all of a sudden I see it go and just gently start floating away. And I said, oh, here come the string. Sabotage that I took first. I want to cut you sabotage the. Out of that kite. Freedom. Elementary, bro. Freedom. Do you remember Mr. Vigilotti.

[B]

Absolutely. Had a gun in his desk.

[A]

Thank you. Had a gun. And he pulled that desk open, showed you that gun. You can't do that now. But he also used to piss. Like you'd go in the bathroom and he'd pee. He walk in. He was this guy. He was. No hands. Why are you doing that? Elementary school. And I remember just being little and thinking, this guy's got a gun. He pisses with no hands. He's probably six foot six. I grew up. He's like five foot four. That little. We could throw it.

[B]

Yeah. He was not a big, big dude.

[A]

So then what ends up happening. And I love this story for all of us too, is, you know, we're. We're trying out for freedom. We're all soccer players at the time. We're trying out for freedom optimist. And freedom optimist at the time was very clicky.

[B]

Yeah. Well, who'd you do under 10 with. With freedom. Right. Who was your team?

[A]

Arco were. You know, Carfind was arco. We were their arch nemesis. We were strawbridge hauling. Remember?

[B]

He was. He was in my shop class.

[A]

Yeah. His dad's had a. Not construction truck company. Dump truck. Yep. Running all running back by Sykesville Little league and back there. And he. He sponsored us and we lost the car fine and penalty kicks and. And I mean still hold it. But this is like little League.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Play for Sal there. So I always love their sauce. It was just slightly sweeter than everybody. So we play strawbridge hauling. He's Arco. And then after that, we're trying out for freedom and they're cutting us. And we're like, we're better than these kids. And then comes a man who changed all of our lives.

[B]

That's correct.

[A]

Bill Hoffman.

[B]

And he could be subject of a long term one.

[A]

Mr. Bill Hoffman.

[B]

Former.

[A]

Studied the German soccer players. And this dude, also his son had been cut from freedom. And so he said it and we create. He created a whole new team called South Carol.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Gave it a. Not a north. There was already a north. So he's like, we're gonna go South Carol. So we're South Carol soccer. And now we enter the league. And I tell people this all the time. It wasn't enough for him to just beat freedom like they were. They were a stepping stone on the way to Deer park and North Carol. That.

[B]

Yeah, that and there's other places you.

[A]

Were betting these kids, but you were mid tier. So he put a team together that just. They were nothing. We crushed Them every time we played them, we beat their ass.

[B]

Yeah, he had all he was and.

[A]

Even freedom kids started coming over to our program.

[B]

I was one of those kids because I guess say I played till 10 years old and I think because I had already told Mr. Lawson, Mike Lawson's dad, Rich, who was the coach of the Travel, that I would play that following year. That I. My father made me stay and play for freedom and couldn't move over when I had been asked. But eventually it did. I remember we were playing maybe Deer Park. We show up, roll out of the car and this guy named Ryan Sickler from midfield pops one up and it goes over Carl Streaker's head into the goal.

[A]

Not one. I did two that night. Two. I thought, you see, it's funny how we all. There's a night. It's funny how we remember them all different. I. I definitely did it at like. I want to say I thought it was TJ or FS somewhere out there, but I put two and when it was windy and I kicked, it went up like this and it went right over his head.

[B]

Just, just.

[A]

He was just, he was out of position.

[B]

He was a little.

[A]

Blame it on Carl. So yeah, so we meet once South Carol becomes a thing. And this dude studied German soccer like nobody's business was and taught us the Phil Jackson triangle. Do you understand that? That is the Phil Jackson triangle offense that I don't pay attention. He would have you being like right now, you got my brother off camera here. Sam here, you, me. And this would be a vacant spot. Someone always had to run to the open corner.

[B]

The weave.

[A]

No, not the weave. You just busted to the corners and it was. And you're really just three people making a square. And if I have the ball, somebody.

[B]

Better be here or here the warm up drill.

[A]

If you had the ball, somebody better yet to always have two options. Right triangle all the way down the field. This guy's teaching us strong side, weak side switching field. Not just mob ball where you're towing it and oh, he hated that. It was really a skilled game when he came along and, and we excelled at it. What was really amazing, the championships.

[B]

What was really amazing. And a lot of tournaments. What was amazing about him is you could play a team and get beat and he would tell you what a great game that is and you really progressed. Or you could beat a team and he would tell you how bad you played.

[A]

Yeah, I mean, you remember he'd stay on a silent. He'd take it long sleeve. He rolled up and down Anxiety.

[B]

Remember, he'd grab you, be grabbing by the arm and he'd walk you up.

[A]

And down the side. Roll my sleeve up and down. I'm like, get the. Come on, man. Bill Hoffman, dude.

[B]

And he was all. He had something to do with the Flyers or the basketball team up there, didn't he?

[A]

I don't know. But the man was 100 on point about soccer. He taught us how to play the game properly. And then also that core of guys went on to play together at high school, which, you know, we were ranked in the state and high school counties, conference champions, like all of that. Because starting with Bullholfman and then keeping that nucleus together, going and winning the championships, like, you know, just going past freedom and beating Deer Park. So we. I know, meaning you. And I'm saying earlier, before we started recording, Derek started going over to your place first and hanging out over there and stuff. And then when I finally came over, like, one of the things I really remember is. And I hadn't. I was a WWF fan, but I hadn't. I didn't know about NWA or WC was even. It was a WCW.

[B]

Really. It was like Georgia, Georgia Championship.

[A]

You were really into the white trap. We were into the white trash. You were in the white. White trash wrestling leagues and saw the Freebirds and the Vaughn, but the Road warriors is. And Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes or. Who made me be like, okay, we got to start paying. But then they all eventually come over.

[B]

Yeah, they're all in the nine or, you know, 90s.

[A]

So what do you remember? You know, we grew up also working in your dad's junkyard. We first start like we're 12 years old. I remember just cleaning up, you know, cleaning out holes. Scrap, scrap. And pulling all the, you know, organizing the shelves and everything. Yeah, all of it.

[B]

Radiators, alternator.

[A]

Tell. Tell the story about my brother wrecking the delivery truck.

[B]

We go up there and none of us had any idea how to drive.

[A]

I mean, what are we, like 14? We're like maybe 13 and 12. Wow.

[B]

But was that after John Baker was helping us and we had to.

[A]

I don't.

[B]

Yeah, I think, I think the thing. Well, anyway, it was like a 77 dotson pickup truck with a 5 that.

[A]

Was also being used for delivery.

[B]

It was dad's. It was dad's delivery truck. And it had been red. It was more.

[A]

It definitely.

[B]

It was multi colored.

[A]

It was still running. It had very.

[B]

Some of the very first aftermarket Chinese sheet metal in the country probably was on this truck. And I tried to drive it, get it to go. I was unsuccessful. I think Ryan tried to drive.

[A]

Unsuccessful.

[B]

Your success was.

[A]

No, I was very unsuccessful. Yeah, just, you know that bucket. It. Bucket. I couldn't find that friction point. Couldn't find that. Let go. And then Derek gets in.

[B]

Derek got in it.

[A]

Derek got it going.

[B]

Got it going.

[A]

Derek got cocky right into the front of another car. He looked back and smiled at us. And then it did like a ditch.

[B]

Pothole.

[A]

And then that steering wheel, like it looked. Turned right in. We were like, oh, you gotta go tell Mr. Roy you just wrecked a work truck. Not even supposed to be driving.

[B]

Right. Tell him I wrecked a lot of.

[A]

Do you remember the time that we had the rabid raccoon? Okay, you might not. Oh, this is one of my favorite stories from Up Mount Air. Yeah. So one time, I'm pretty sure it was Bill Regal who was with me at this time. Because your dad had a lot of guys.

[B]

Yeah, soccer guys.

[A]

He employed George Will, Jim Grized dad, Bill Regal.

[B]

I think Wilk just came up to get stuff.

[A]

Oh, did he? Okay, so one day Regal did work. Bill Regal and I are, you know, it's the 80s, we've talked about it already. We're burning some seats and we hear this growling. And I'm like, what the fuck is that? And I said, we don't have junkyard dogs. We got a million fucking cats around here. And we turn around here where my brother is, there's this fucking raccoon. It's like hopping on all fours, bouncing up and down. It's got one solid blue eye and one solid white eye. And I'm like, what the. It's barking. So we start throwing rocks at it. It's not leaving. We're like, this thing definitely rabid or whatever. So I drive Regal down to the hill and we get you. You come up, you see it, you're like, all right, we drive to. You drive to your grandparents house.

[B]

Oh yeah, I do remember this.

[A]

You go get. But here's the thing. You go get the gun. When you come back, a customer was already there and armed, armed, armed. And he came up and he said, can I shoot it? We were like, go ahead and shoot that and that. I swear to God, he shot that raccoon right in the head. And it went down and then it went like. Freddy Krueger popped back up. He's like, and then we threw that raccoon in the fire where we were burning the seats. And I'm telling you, if there's ever a apocalypse, we could it smelled just like chicken, like, I'm going raccoon. I'm going raccoon all day.

[B]

Well, they say down south, hey, it's doable.

[A]

It's doable. Tell me stories you remember. Because everybody. See, you don't remember that one. Tell me some. You remember when you talked about going.

[B]

To grandma and Pops to get the gun and get a shotgun? I do that part. For some reason that stuck. Stuck with me. I mean, it was just mainly the people that worked there.

[A]

All right, two things that just popped in my head. The fire where the car blew up because somebody was welding the gas tank.

[B]

No, they were cut. That happened the day after Christmas, like 1986 or 7.

[A]

And this scar right here on my arm is from being burned from that.

[B]

That. So back then, the guys had, like, pickup trucks, and we'd put an air compressor in it and bolt, you know, cut holes in the bed. So this brainstorm, he took the torch to cut the holes in the bed and cut into the gas tank.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

So you have a gas fire, compressor on fire. The tank is with a set of torches in the back of the car, acetylene torches. And it burned from the torch tip all the way back to hose, all the way to the regulator. And it was coming out. It looked like the grandest Roman candle you've ever seen.

[A]

Something, man, I was a good 30, 40 yards from it. More than that. It. No, I was down at the office. How far you think the office was? That was my 50 yards, 100 yards fine. And it lifted me up and pushed me back into it. And then I. Then. That's the first time I ever even considered what it must like to be. To be a war.

[B]

I did find the ox many years later, and it was twisted open, like somebody grabbed it with two big hands and just opened it up. It was the craziest thing I've ever.

[A]

Dad made us just. And then. Then the rest of the day was go clean the farm. Remember, it blew over in that guy's farm field. We had to go clean the parts out of there.

[B]

Fire department.

[A]

Yeah. They couldn't come up in the tight lane. And, like, it's just going to have to go.

[B]

Just got to let it burn, fellas. Steer clear of it.

[A]

They got to the bottom. They're like, wait. Coming up.

[B]

Go ahead. We ain't helping out.

[A]

Who lived on the junkyard property in a trailer?

[B]

Well, originally it was. It was Grady who drove for dad. His wife lived in the trailer. Yeah. Lynn moved in.

[A]

The guy had horse, the baby horse that Was Leonard. Yeah. Didn't he live in there?

[B]

Leonard lived down here in the city.

[A]

Oh, did he?

[B]

That added. There's another story, because the guys that were living in there, maybe before Grady, they were. They were in the pharmaceutical representative business.

[A]

Yeah. No. Who's living. Who's living in a trailer in a junkyard going legit?

[B]

Well, some. My uncle one time told me, he said, I knew something was going on. I went in there and they had all these stacks of cash and it was piled up in each denomination. I said, oh, I guess. But we came in one Saturday morning to go to work in the Frederick County Sheriff's Department. Was there locking everybody up.

[A]

Were they?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Who was it that attempted to take a box of the feral cats and release them into a farm? Do you remember?

[B]

Oh, Junior.

[A]

Junior, Junior, Junior Riley, this dude. If I were. Well, the person I remember took like a box. He tried to put a. We had so many feral cats. He's like, I'm gonna take a. A handful of them in this little box. I'll take them, let them out in this farm field. I remember putting the cats in the box first, then stabbing holes. We're kids, we're like, that's. You should definitely be stabbing the holes first. Like, that's also a. A time where as a child I realized. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. They him all up and stuff and he said he pulled over and opened the doors and just let him roam wherever the. He said he never even made it to that farm. He just said this. They're just on the road, just loose. He's pulling over there, tearing his ass up back there. Oh, junkyard's also. I was gonna say it's a place as a kid where I realized, like, not all these older ones are smart. You know what I mean? Okay, I see there was.

[B]

There was definitely some people there that were not mental giants.

[A]

I would see John Williams come in slow and mopey like Eeyore, then disappear into that miniature all foreign trailer and then kick that door open and woohoo. I was like, oh, that's what cocaine does. Ye.

[B]

Peruvian marching powder.

[A]

Nah, you saw it. Shoot. I remember just in case they can't hear you say, he would shoot a syringe of Jack Daniels in his neck.

[B]

I remember that. Greg got it lived down across the railroad tracks talking about that.

[A]

Here's what I'm gonna say. You're a kid, and I guarantee you it wasn't Jack Daniels he was shooting in his neck, you know what I'm saying?

[B]

At that point, things I don't. You know, you had to come to the city. But, like, who. Who was the guy? Remember Frank? You gotta remember Frank.

[A]

Well, here's something I. I want to say real quick. Like, we're like. I think about this all the time. We're like 8th and 9th grade kids. We all have a yard car. And a yard car is just anything that can.

[B]

That runs.

[A]

And your dad and you. Eventually you had every part in your head be like, ryan, go to the third aisle down on the right. About halfway, there's a blue Chevette. Get that mirror. Ryan, go Here, get that. All right.

[B]

My father used to golf balls around the yard just to keep his memory fresh.

[A]

Really? Yeah, all in his head. I mean, imagine right now, we're walking in a junk and some 8th grader is driving you around the junkyard. Yeah, I was thinking about that all the time. Like, we're tiny little kids. 13 years, no license. Just like, hold on, I gotta ride the high side. Hold on.

[B]

Yeah, because you want to come out of the bad aisle and pretend. Feel like you're gonna flip over.

[A]

I almost did. One time. I had a guy in the front and I had a Pathfinder, no doors, at a guy in the front and his fat buddy in the back. He wanted. He insisted on sitting in the back. And we're about to come out that the one. The bad aisle, go left, and the tires get like this. And I said, get off the back. And that fat dude jumped off. We said, poop right on down, no problem.

[B]

Very, very basic. You had the bad. All the good aisle, the back aisle, the rear aisle. Foreign law.

[A]

Yeah. Miniature, all that.

[B]

Miniature.

[A]

So let's shift gears, no pun intended, to. Let's go to some soccer fight stories.

[B]

Oh, there's a lot of them.

[A]

There's so many of them. I. I know we all didn't, but we'll get into some in the group too. For sure. Not everybody played, but we got into one before we even started the game. Remember them Jamaicans at my pavilion? Yeah. Before we played them, we were the fight dude. Bill Regal got arrest. That's the night I learned that spitting on someone was aggravated.

[B]

I didn't know that either, people.

[A]

Right, left. I'm like, how is it? I played goal after that, 30 years ago, he went. They locked him up. The referee report, he spit on the ref. And I don't remember why. I mean, we were just. They attacked us. We were just fighting. I mean, I say it like it's normal, but it was at that point for we fought so much, we were kicked out of every indoor arena in Maryland. And we ended up playing February outdoor soccer, a Dundalk. Post 38.

[B]

Post 38.

[A]

You were in that league, you would also been kicked out everywhere else. And that was just a aggressive, massive free.

[B]

For all the wind rolling in off the harbor. Chris Walton smoking three cigarettes at half the power.

[A]

Power. Pounding these heaters at halftime. Running. He could run like a.

[B]

He could run.

[A]

He could have think about what he could have done without those cigarettes. Yeah. So real quick back to what you said. Yeah. Bill Regal gets arrested on the field that night for aggravated assault. After the game, we gotta go get him. And that's when I'm like, oh, my God, it's aggravated assault. So pairing Parkway. Do you remember the pairing Parkway?

[B]

I remember, Yeah. I remember, like.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

I think I was, like, off in this, like, area between the two fields or something and kicking the ball. The next thing I know, like, three dudes from over there, like, you know, whack me in the back of the head. And next thing you know, I'm on the floor. And nothing really became of it until a couple weeks later when maybe we played those guys. And then we're going to the car and then.

[A]

Yeah. So there was a meeting. There was a bit of. They. We weren't even playing those dudes who were with you. I think we might have made warm day. Or they. Maybe they were older. And then we were like, okay, thank you for telling us. We actually play them in a couple weeks.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And they knew we played them. And it was aggressive from the. The get go.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And we beat the out of them, which didn't make them any happier. And after the game, this guy says, let's go. Let's go outside. And I. I'll never forget. I gave my bag to my dad. I said, he's like, what are you doing? I said, I'm gonna go outside. And this guy up, he said, be careful. And we did. We walked right into a trap. We walked outside. I start fighting this guy. I'm this dude up. And the next thing I know, like, in hindsight now, I hear doors close, and I'm just getting the back of my head beat the open. You're right here in the Lincoln Continental Sound. Right here in the Lincoln Continental Right here. While I'm on the ground getting pummeled. Right here in the Lincoln. Right here in the Lincoln Continental. Bam. Bam. I get up. I remember, I look up and it's free for all. I mean, the Wilk, George Wilkes. Parents are there trying to separate. Dad's in there trying to separate. I remember dad put. Taking his keys, putting his keys and had one sticking out this way. And he was just swatting. Yeah, it got crazy. It was. It was scary.

[B]

And then we got out of there and pulled over on the side of parents got my.

[A]

My lacrosse stick out of the back because I'm just swinging at any. Any at this. Then we all get out of. And as we leave, the police are coming. They've called the police. It is a melee in the parking lot. We all get the. Out of there.

[B]

I don't think we ever went back here.

[A]

Well, Brian Henline. We had Brian Henline with us. And I only know that because we took him to his house that night. When we got there, we went in and his parents. I still have the scar on the back of my head. His parents, like, your fucking head's bleeding. You got to get something on here. And they. They took care of me that night. And then we went home and I was like, jesus Christ. He had some Rangers in his house, huh? Brian Henline had some.

[B]

That was the first. That first rager at his house was after a soccer game at Cockiesville. Yeah.

[A]

Well, the. The party at Brian Henlein's, I remember, was. It was right before dad died, too. Do you remember that? Yeah, I do. I remember being in the plane for that party.

[B]

I remember being in the. Being him. He came to pick us up. He.

[A]

No, no, no, no. I remember Troy pissing in. So that party was not.

[B]

That was not the first party.

[A]

That was a couple parties party. We. Or he got Jimmy Regal because we cleaned too. Well. We wiped all the glasses and stuff. Mr. Henlein came home and said, these glasses were all dusty. I thought they marked their bottles too or something. And. And they did that, too. So he. He's like, I know you had a party. He had an older sister, Tony, online. So it's a mixture of like, that's who gave us all the answers to Ms. Eckard's history class. Tony Henley. So I remember we're at home, and dad gets a phone call, and he tells us like, hey, I'm disappointed in you guys. They're saying that that party. We're like, how in the. Is a party of Brian Headlines. Our fault. So after dad dies, I don't know if you'll remember this, Derek. The headlines invite us over to dinner.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And we have dinner, and they're. They're waiting to say something. They don't say anything. And Then, like my fat ass, Henlein and Derek go down to play video games. They offer dessert. I sat at the table and stayed for dessert. And Mr. Henlein and Mrs. Henlein said, you know, we're very sorry about your father's passing, and we just want you to know that in no way, shape or form are you or your brother responsible for anything our idiot son did. We don't want you to carry that burden. We don't think you're responsible for this. We know you're not. Do not. I was over there, like, thank you. Thank you so much. Tell my dad thank you so much. Let me have their. Let me have their peace. It was after he died. It was too late.

[B]

Frank was the guy that kicked the. Who had you. You were the one that coined. He's like. He got nine kids. He could have a baseball team. You remember that guy? He was from, like, Boston or something. Had a thick. Had a thick Boston type on our team. No, at the junkyard.

[A]

No, I remember Turbo Lips. He was my favorite.

[B]

He's still alive.

[A]

Is he really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Richard, that guy talked faster than an auctioneer in regular life.

[B]

He still does.

[A]

I would be squinting the list. Like, what?

[B]

He's. He's a garage. He's a garage door guy.

[A]

All right, tell me. Oh, we talked. Lamb and I talked about this. About how you got used to get so scared you couldn't spend the night. Mr. Roy have to come over and get you.

[B]

Dude, I was not a big night spender. Like, I was.

[A]

You were terrified.

[B]

Yeah, I hated scary. I still do. There was times at your house, though, it was kind of packed, you know, like. Yeah, yeah, Second Avenue. Like, you would have, like, shield shilling over and like, it'd be me, Derek and Lamb. I mean, you know, it's a lot of kids, a lot of young testosterone flow. But once we got to a certain age, we were going to the beach and all.

[A]

And do you remember the indoor soccer games in the basement?

[B]

Oh, God, yeah. We took all the boxes and we had the. That was when they first came out with them little practice lacrosse sticks.

[A]

Yeah, that's right.

[B]

We had the balls.

[A]

You could whip that little SDX thick.

[B]

Yeah, we used to give them out before the game, and then we would do some of the orange and black ones from the Blast games. The ones the team would punt into the crowd. We would. And we would have serious chat. We were checking and. Okay, it was violent.

[A]

Derek, you got that mic over there. So remember we used to go to. We used to go to the Baltimore Blast Games. Well, the Baltimore Blast are still a thing. Okay.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

I just.

[B]

They're in the house in there now. And.

[A]

And. And they're. They're in a league that plays in San Diego, so Grindstaff and I are taking our daughters next year to go see the Blast play some San Diego team, but I can't remember. It was when he was a part of the Chicago sting, and I want to say his name was Drago.

[B]

Yeah, Drago Dumbo.

[A]

The bald guy that would throw his bandana out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

He came to play for the Blast. I'll never forget. I don't remember what story you're. He scored and he threw that bandana, and it was a guy right in front of you holding it like this, and you were holding it like this, but you only had, like, one finger on that guy. You were doing everything you could to get that Drago. And man, that guy won, though. I got a couple balls from some of those games. Do you remember? Here's one, too. We sat right. We went to an Oriole game one time. We sat right on the left field foul pole, and a ball comes right to Derek, and Derek put his hand up, that ball says smack. And he. He said, huh. Like that. You remember that one? And it dropped the guy. Right. He basically just stopped trying hand 100 mile an hour. You could hear it coming down the foul pole. That. Yeah. I did get a ball, though, from Pete Lecoq, Kansas City.

[B]

Roy.

[A]

Thank you. I say all the time. I. I remember. Do you remember dad telling the guy's name was Harvey Keane? I think I dove under a seat for that. You got Pete lacock? Yep. He fouled a ball and Derek got that one. And I might have got an al bum re. 1. Maybe.

[B]

Was that it or was that at Memorial Stadium?

[A]

Yeah, Old Memorial Stadium. Yeah. Up and Ryan.

[B]

We could go.

[A]

Give me. I know.

[B]

Forever.

[A]

Give me a story you remember about our grandmother. Let's hear. Let's end on that. This is the.

[B]

This. Some of your comedic chops may come from your grandmother.

[A]

No doubt.

[B]

We are at somewhere in Little Italy for Christmas Eve. And somehow I'm certain it was if your dad died, but you guys were probably busy doing stuff, so Roy and Sandy wanted to take care of you.

[A]

Oh, is that right? We weren't there.

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I don't know you. We've had so much time together, you know, but anyway. And Carrie comes and you. We're having dinner, and somehow she gets on the story about taking a. And the. Was all the way up the wall. She, you know, she. You knew, she was comfortable with. Around my parents and me, you know.

[A]

The story of dinner.

[B]

I'm pretty sure that's what that. That is. But she was. She was just super, super kind. And where was.

[A]

I think we were all there.

[B]

We were.

[A]

When she told the story. Yeah, I went back to the Mimos and got. Me and Sarah went there one night and I got some Diet Cokes. Like, you know, figure you get one, they don't charge you. They charged me for all seven. I had, like $80 in diet. Dude. Thank you for doing this. And again, thank you for letting us use your junkyard. I love you.

[B]

I love you.

[A]

Mean all recycling Baltimore.

[B]

My pleasure. I mean, you know, to see you grow and prosper. Your career and your family business and what your endeavor is, is very happy. Makes me very happy.

[A]

Thank you, man. And you as well. Congrats to you as always. Ryan Sickler here. We've got plenty more of these episodes for you. Stay tuned. We'll talk to y' all next week. I hope you enjoyed the Way Back the Baltimore Junkyard series. Trying something different. Why not? We've got the ability to go do it. Why sit here and do the same thing all the time? So I hope you guys are enjoying it, and if you are, throw a comment in there, let me know, and we'll keep on doing it. Ram.