Close to Moline Park, off U.S. 150, just south of Coal Valley and the Quad Cities airport and north of Orion, lies the Grotto Tavern, favorite haunt of those Greens who drink, live, and love country and western music. From the outside, the Grotto looks like any other whiteboard farm house. The structure dates from early in the century. Owner Big Ted Delapore says that, according to the deed, the house was built from a Sears Roebuck catalog kit, though foundation evidence suggets that there was a house, even houses, on the site before that. Ordinary as it is on the outside, inside the Grotto is another story. Delapore has expanded and converted a bomb shelter and wine cellar built by a previous owner ("a Cold War recluse") into a spacious subterrean world with five beers on tap, a modest grill, and a legal capacity of 200 customers and Big Ted himself.
The decor mixes Cold War and classic country memorabilia, so that, for example, an original poster from Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove hangs next to a framed photo of Delapore and country star Cowboy Copas, whom Delapore met when they both lived in Nashville in the 1950s. House favorites on the jukebox include the Louvin Brothers' "Great Atomic Power," Jimmie Osborne's "Voice of Free America," Floyd Tillman's "Cold War Betwen the Hearts," Buck Owens's "Under the Influence of Love," and Hank Snow's "Miller's Cave." The lighting is low, but Delapore says that helps the players maintain their privacy off the field.
"It's a bit dark in here, sure," explains Delapore. "But that just adds to the atmosphere. The customers seem to like it, all of them, not just the ballplayers. And the music, they like the music. [Greens' coach] Kiki Hirota always comes here after his Saturday night show [on WMOL]." The bar sometimes features live local country performers. Delapore says that every Green who "isn't a Christian" has been to the tavern at least once. "All except Fate Norris. I never saw him in here. Don't know what that was about. Now that he's gone, I guess I never will."
In the last couple years, the Greens' crowd has divided into young and old. The older guys come here. The youngsters go to a new place, the Grainery, south of Milan on 67, where the music is more modern rock and the reverly more furious. There is some racial division, as well. The Latin and African American players favor a downtown Rock Island club, the Inner Sinner. Despite their on-field success, then, the Greens are a disparate group. The 6-4-3 double play doesn't demand shared taste, only coordination, timing, and practice.