Friendly's was founded in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression, by brothers Prestley and Curtis Blake in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Blake brothers opened a small ice cream shop named "Friendly", selling double-dip cones for 5 cents each.
FRIENDLY’S –
A 5 cent Ice Cream Cone and a Smile
The year was 1935. The place was Springfield, Massachusetts. The Great Depression had weakened the nation and good, secure jobs were few and far between.
Undaunted by the dismal economy and inspired by a vote of confidence loan from their parents, two spunky brothers – 20 year-old Prestley Blake and 18 year-old Curtis Blake – opened a modest neighborhood ice cream shoppe. The young entrepreneurs named their business "Friendly" with the intention of providing warm, caring, neighborly service to all who visited their new enterprise. The only menu item was a double dip ice cream cone, which cost 5 cents.
Remember When
July 24, 1983: The Pine Tar Incident | George Brett's potentially game-winning home run is ruled an out due to an illegal bat
GEORGE BRETT - ‘THE INFAMOUS PINE TAR GAME’
On July 24, 1983, in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees led the Royals 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth inning. Down to their last out, George Brett came to bat with one runner on base. He belted a two-run home run off of Rich Gossage, giving the Royals a 5-4 lead. Yankee Manager Billy Martin charged the field demanding that Home Plate Umpire Tim McClelland inspect Brett’s bat for too much pine tar. McClelland measured the bat across the width of home plate and ruled that Brett had pine tar too far up on the bat in violation of Rule 1.10(b). As a result, McClelland called Brett out for using an illegal bat, resulting in the final out of the game and a Yankees victory. The Royals protested the game and later American League President Lee MacPhail reversed the ruling on the field, ordering that the home run should count and that the game should be resumed with two outs in the ninth and the Royals leading 5-4. On August 18, 1983, the final four outs of the game were played in Yankee Stadium, with the Royals holding on for a very unusual 5-4 win.