Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2010

Bob Locker Salutes Oakland Boss Charlie Finley

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That awesome mustache wasn’t the only reason I was cheering for Bob Locker with the A’s and the Cubs. I wanted a fellow Iowa native to sparkle in the bigs. When he replied, he included a photo noting that we were fellow Iowans.

I asked about his career-high 77 appearances for the 1967 White Sox. Did he ever calculate how many pitches he threw that year, including all the time he spent in the bullpen? Locker replied:

“Those were different times. I remember warming up in the second inning…again in the middle, and still going in in the seventh to close out the game. The mental aspect was the most difficult.”

What about 25.1 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968? News to Locker!

“I am astounded…I had such a streak…the media obviously didn’t (know) either.”

I asked about how Locker concluded his career with Oakland and the Cubs. This meant he was working for two fabled owners, Charlie O. Finley and Chicago’s Philip “P.K.” Wrigley. Locker wrote:

“Charlie Finley was an amazing guy. One of the great examples of free enterprise and ingenuity. Thanks to Charlie, I have two [World Series] rings and great memories.


“Never met Mr. Wrigley, but he was a benevolent owner. I actually made $53,000 but think I earned my keep in ’73. But thanks to Marvin [Miller, player’s union president] I make more than that…for the rest of my life.”

I name-dropped in the letter. Being a fellow Iowa State alum, I mentioned that I had met Locker’s college coach “Cap” Timm once. Then, I pointed out that I lived less than an hour from his old White Sox and Pilots batterymate, Jerry McNertney (who was a college teammate).

Timm’s name was circled.

“The reason I had a major league career. Great man!”

Gratitude remains central in Locker’s success. Look up “Thanks, Marvin,” an impressive website designed to get Marvin Miller elected to the Hall of Fame. Look at the player testimonials. When Cooperstown calls, Miller can say, “Thanks, Bob!” The Iowa native is pitching like the old days. Let’s hope baseball pays attention.

Bobby Thomson Bows Out At Age 86

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Slugger Bobby Thomson, the batsman behind “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in 1951, has left this world. He was 86. Major League Baseball’s first (of many, I hope) tributes can be found here.

In a March 1 blog post, I shared a kind letter from Thomson explaining his nickname, “The Flying Scot.”

He wrote “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” (complete with date) for all collectors requesting the inscription. No charge for his autograph, nor the extra tagline. For years, he blessed the hobby world with his humility, kindness and generosity.

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Write your heroes TODAY.

Walt Hriniak Helped Hitters Like Dwight Evans and Frank Thomas. Who Coached The Coach?

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Walt Hriniak’s frustratingly-short career as a backup catcher (1969-70) has no parallel to his years of success as a hitting coach with the Red Sox and White Sox. The difference? He found the perfect coach, someone he’d emulate for years. Once exposed to the wisdom of Charley Lau, Hriniak became a hitting disciple.

Walt worked first as a bullpen coach for the BoSox, serving as a volunteer batting practice pitcher. Promoted to batting coach in 1985, he stayed four seasons before being lured by the White Sox. He served Chicago hitters like Frank Thomas through 1995. To honor his mentor, Hriniak wore the #6 of former ChiSox coach Lau.

Hriniak wrote me:

“Charlie was the best coach I’ve ever been around. He changed the game. I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was a very caring person. He helped so many people. I just was lucky to have been one of them. I loved him. Still do!”

I asked Hriniak, a former Expos minor league manager, how much harder it is to convince a major league veteran to change after years of the same batting stance. He explained:

“Players will listen if you show them a way of getting better. You just have to convince them there is a better way.”

When he signed with Chicago, the media speculated on who baseball’s best-paid coaches were. On the issue of the wide gap in team-to-team coach pay, Hriniak responded:

“In the 1980s and ‘90s, coaches in some organizations didn’t make much money. There are a lot of baseball people who think you can’t teach someone to hit. That sounds strange but it’s true. The great organization believes that you can teach someone to hit. Those are the ones who pay coaches well!”

Hriniak worked with great baseball minds, leaders like Gene Mauch and Tony LaRussa. Nevertheless, he credits just one man for the difference he made:

“I enjoyed my time as a coach. I was able to help a lot of people. That’s because of Charlie Lau.”

Be sure to check out this great 2010 profile of Hriniak. In their Hall of Fame acceptance speeches, says the article, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk and Wade Boggs all thanked Hriniak for his hitting wisdom.

To see what inspired Hriniak all these years, look up Lau’s masterpiece, The Art of Hitting .300

‘One Iowan To Another’ Photo Inscribed

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“Tom — One Iowan To Another.”

In the coming week, I’ll share who signed a photo to me with this inscription.

Meanwhile, here’s a challenge for all the autograph collectors out there, those who are unsure about asking questions. In fact,I predict there’s some skeptical hobbyists who are unsure if the signers even read the letters.

Ask for a personalized inscription. Don’t wait for the signer to surprise you. Request something made out to YOU, not the generic “2X All-Star” notation. Spell it out for them Maybe you’re writing to a fellow alum from your college? Have someone wish you a happy 40th birthday. Make a connection.

See if it works. See if your letter gets read and your request followed. In fact, you might get more of a response than you ever imagined. If you hear from that signer, write them back with a thank-you note. Then, ask a question about their career.

Memories by mail. It’s one of the best bargains a baseball fan can find these days.

Catcher Ken Retzer’s Clue to Collectors

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One of the best replies I’ve received this year came from Ken Retzer, the Washington Senators catcher. He looked me up and called later to thank me for my letter. Even though he didn’t get lots of chances in the majors, he has remained a fan. I wrote about his fine letter in my March 25 post.

Retzer photocopied photos and clippings from his personal scrapbook. He added notations and autographed each one.

One frequent question from newer collectors and some blog readers is:

What do I ask them about? I never saw them play!

Remember the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Go to Google IMAGES. Search for newspaper clippings. Print out an obscure photo. Or, if you have an old yearbook, find an image there. Even a baseball card could work. Where was the photo taken? Who else is in the shot? Which card is their favorite?

Seeing is believing. Let a retiree see what you’re talking about. You may get a story that’s been untold for years.

Be sure to check out this account of corresponding with Mr. Retzer from one of Washington’s greatest fans! Here’s a can’t-miss Senators history website.