Baltimore

"Unk" LeFaivre (died 1977) was a numbers racketeer from Baltimore who ran enormous games in East and North Baltimore and in Eastern Baltimore County. He lived the good life. He owned race horses, many race horses, a very expensive hobby, and owned a restaurant in Baltimore.

After Gus Funk died, George "Puddin" Barry a former Baltimore policeman and strong arm artist, in the rackets division took over at least half of his rackets.

The Gamblers favorite hangout spot was Sabatino’s, opened in 1955 in Baltimore Little Italy section.

Sabatino’s famed Bookmaker Salad was invented, said one of the owners when. “Our maître de Al Isella invented it and named it after his friends, who were regular lunch customers, but had been coming in less frequently because they were getting older and didn’t want a big meal anymore. Al went into the kitchen and put seasoned shrimp, salami, provolone cheese, a hardboiled egg, and some olives, red onions, and tomatoes on one of the house salads and named it The Bookmaker’s. He told my uncle, ‘They’ll love that.’”

He also recalled that although he had been arrested gambling more than 50 times, which did not prevent him from serving as a 26th Ward precinct captain. It was like that. If you wanted a job, the guys from the neighborhood recall, you went and saw Anunciata “Nancy” D’Alesandro—not Nancy Pelosi, but her mother, the wife of the mayor. She’d ask if you were registered to vote, and once confirmed, assist you in finding work.