Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: May 2010

Make Autographs Count on Memorial Day

by

Who should I collect?

What do I say in a letter?

Two good questions asked by many a collector. My answers are:

1. Anyone with personal meaning in your own life is a hero. Seek their autograph.

2. Tell the person why they matter. Thank them for what they’ve done.

On this Memorial Day, I’m thinking about my late father, who served in the Air Force just after World War II. My memories of him confirm that I’m doing the right thing. I’m hoping to make contact with baseball’s surviving World War II vets.

There’s more than one book published about baseball’s role in World War II. For a quick start, I’d point everyone to a league-leading historian. For the last 10 years, Gary Bedingfield has been remembering baseball’s wartime contributions. His patriotic website and blog have kept me writing to these men still here with tales to share.

I’ve even sought the great Bill Mauldin stamp out this spring. Ask any vet what “Willie and Joe” cartoons meant to them. You’ll be amazed at their answers.

Thank you to every veteran reading this today. Thanks to all supporters of “Baseball By The Letters.” Upon this 100th post, I’m still delighted to be here.

The Secret Nickname of John “Mitty” Gray

by


The nickname “Mitty” had nothing to do with the defense of pitcher John Gray.

This 1950s hurler explained the history of “Mitty” in a generous reply, writing:

“‘Mitty’ came from the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the show, a sound poc-de-poc-de-poc would come on and Danny Kaye would go into a trance, daydream about himself doing wonderful things. Well, in college, I had a 1940 Ford coupe and I would sit waiting for a frat brother to get into the car. The car would go poc-de-poc-de-poc.

The movie came out in the late 1940s. You would have to see it to make sense to you.

No one in the last 50 to 60 years knows my Mitty story.”

Although it seems that amazon.com doesn’t have the movie on DVD currently “in print, you can find copies of the great story by James Thurber, Secret Lives of Walter Mitty and of James Thurber (Wonderfully Illustrated Short Pieces) (No. 1)

Gray was a “Mitty.” Both were dreamers. Both never gave up. I’m betting both would say their stories had happy endings.

The Secret Nickname of John "Mitty" Gray

by


The nickname “Mitty” had nothing to do with the defense of pitcher John Gray.

This 1950s hurler explained the history of “Mitty” in a generous reply, writing:

“‘Mitty’ came from the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. In the show, a sound poc-de-poc-de-poc would come on and Danny Kaye would go into a trance, daydream about himself doing wonderful things. Well, in college, I had a 1940 Ford coupe and I would sit waiting for a frat brother to get into the car. The car would go poc-de-poc-de-poc.

The movie came out in the late 1940s. You would have to see it to make sense to you.

No one in the last 50 to 60 years knows my Mitty story.”

Although it seems that amazon.com doesn’t have the movie on DVD currently “in print, you can find copies of the great story by James Thurber, Secret Lives of Walter Mitty and of James Thurber (Wonderfully Illustrated Short Pieces) (No. 1)

Gray was a “Mitty.” Both were dreamers. Both never gave up. I’m betting both would say their stories had happy endings.

Pitcher John Gray Savors A Shutout

by


Pitcher John Gray learned that you’re only as good as your co-stars. Pitch for a contender. Look like a contender.

His last win in the majors came with the 1957 Indians. He twirled a three-hit shutout against the Orioles that July 30.

Without whining about four years of inconsistent suport from teammates, Gray pointed out in a kind letter that a pitcher doesn’t win — or lose — on his own. Gray wrote:

“I got a few runs for a change and I kept the ball down. I had a strong defensive infield.”

Tomorrow: Gray reveals his long-lost nickname and its history, a story lost in baseball lore for the last half-century!

Pinch-hitter Jerry Lynch’s Five Coaches

by

Jerry Lynch, active from 1954-66, is missing a statistic. His career numbers were impressive. After his retirement, Lynch’s 18 career pinch-hit homers set a record. He racked up 19 pinch hits in 1960 and again in 1961, topping the National League yearly.

But how can you measure his candor, his insight?

I wanted to know the secret of his pinch-hitting success. What motivated him? Was there one wise coach, a teammate?

Lynch credited five sources of inspiration, all off the field.

He wrote:

“A wife and 4 kids.”