Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2010

Recalling Shag Crawford, Umpire, WWII Vet

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Henry Charles “Shag” Crawford was kind enough to reply to a letter I sent him years ago. Although he passed away in 2007 at age 90, I can’t forget the important lesson his words imparted:

Great umpires love the game.

Crawford wrote me:

“Mickey Cochrane and Al Lopez were great receivers with excellent arms. The two gentlemen I mention were playing when I was a young lad attending ball games in Philadelphia. They impressed me the most. I did not see anyone to surpass them during my baseball life.

Del Crandall impressed me the most. He was an excellent caller of pitches and was an excellent field leader.

I must say catchers in the big leagues, on the whole, are not much for gabbing behind the plate. Occasionally, a joke or two may transpire between a catcher and the hitter. Usually, the hitter would be the initiator.”

Crawford’s fearless work behind the plate makes more sense when you learn of his World War II service. Maybe, his middle initial of “C” stood for “courage.”

Cub Phil Cavarretta strikes out…

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Me!

To celebrate the two-month anniversary of Baseball By The letters, I thought I’d log another first.

On April 15, I wrote to Phil Cavarretta, sending a letter with three questions:

1. What are you proudest of from your 1945 MVP season — and why?

2. What do you remember about family and friends getting to see you, a Chicago resident, play in Wrigley Field for the first time?

3. What was the hardest part about being a player-manager?

In the past, I find that a retiree might solo on one of three questions. The other two might get a “?” or slash-mark. That’s fine. Asking three times triples my chances.

My letter came back in the SASE. No autograph. No comments. Nothing.

Searching the signing history in the mail feature on the ever-so-valuable www.sportscollectors.net yielded a valuable clue. In 2004, another collector received his questionnaire returned blank.

(NOTE: I do not send a fill-in-the-blank worksheet filled with questions. I think using the term “questionnaire” in a fan letter is a red flag, making me scarier than a census worker.)

Nonetheless, I took solace in knowing that I wasn’t the first inquisitive fan to get shunned by P.C.

At most recent check from the superb autograph website, collectors are batting 88 percent with Mister C. There are 282 successful replies for signatures, the last one coming April 10. Even into his 90s, Cavarretta is still signing.

Will a fan ever get anything more than his name, or the “1945 MVP” notation he’ll add on request?

On March 29, 1954, then player-manager Cavarretta was asked by Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley what the team’s chances were that year. The skipper informed his boss, completely and honestly. The result? Someone was fired in spring training for his “defeatist attitude.”

Perhaps, Cavarretta has been dodging questions ever since.

What’s been the best “extra” you’ve received in a by-mail reply lately?

New baseball stamps coming!

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I just saw this great pair of stamps coming in June.

I know, FOREVER stamps seem easiest, protecting against the inevitable postal increases. Adding a penny stamp (or more!) to each envelope is a huge annoyance.

However, I’m a believer that retired players pay attention.

In fact, I’ll be grabbing a quantity of the cowboy stamps, too. I’d say that nearly all baseball alums age 70 and above are likely to smile when seeing Roy Rogers or Gene Autry again. (Maybe the younger retirees played for Autry?!?)

I could send out more letters each week. Unfortunately, my increased quantity would make my quality suffer. I try to make every contact count.

I want each baseball name I contact to know I’m a person. I am not a robotic autograph collector mass-mailing the multitudes. A thoughtful effort heightens my chances for a personalized response.

How do you stand out in a former player’s mailbox?

Slugging Billy Pierce, White Sox star lefty

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Pitcher Billy Pierce did his job, on the mound and at the plate.

The seven-time All-Star lefty registered 211 career victories from 1945-64. He raised a few eyebrows at bat, too. In 1959, Pierce ended just one homer short of hitting for the cycle!

“About the game in Cleveland, the guys couldn’t believe it,” Pierce wrote.

For a pitcher with 24 two-hit games and four three-hit performances as a HITTER, Pierce didn’t gush about the idea of a designated hitter taking his turn.

“To me, the D.H. would have taken a lot of fun out of the game; also a lot of strategy.”

Pierce has an array of amazing statistics to ogle. I checked out his league leads in wins, strikeouts and complete games, but chose to ask about a 1955 ERA crown, an A.L.-best 1.97.

“Back in the 1950s, when pitching nine innings was the norm, an ERA (in my opinion) was the best way of judging a pitcher. As you might guess, my ERA in 1955 was one of my proudest accomplishments.”

Before writing Mr. Pierce, I found a stellar profile of the White Sox workhorse on Baseball Almanac.

Pierce roomed with Nelson Fox for 11 seasons. When Pierce’s friend died of cancer in 1975, Pierce dedicated himself to Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities.

“Nellie Fox gave 100 percent at bat and on the field at all times. Also, he was a great team player on and off the field.”

Statues of Fox and Pierce live at U.S. Cellular Field, awaiting fans attending Chicago White Sox games. Pierce’s statue may be bronze, but his heart is gold.

J.W. Porter Remembers Tiger Stadium

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J.W. Porter appreciated every game. Active from 1952-59, he converted to catching to prolong his career. In the 1950s, he played six different positions while collecting some keen baseball insights.

He wrote…

“Tiger Stadium was the perfect stadium. Fair to both pitcher and hitter. What made it perfect, however, was that it was perfect for the fan. Not a bad seat in the place and you felt you could reach out and touch the players.”

In 1958, one of Porter’s Cleveland teammates was a young Roger Maris.

“Roger was a great teammate on and off the field. He had a fine rookie year and should never have been traded. It was surprising to everyone what he did in 1961. I guess it was a case of a player finding the perfect park for his particular swing.

“He would probably hit 90 homers in new Yankee Stadium.”

Although Porter uncorked just eight homers in his major league career, two blasts seemed sweetest.

“One of my homers was an extra-inning pinch-hit off Billy O’Dell. That was my only walk-off homer. The one I’ll remember the most, however, was against Don Larsen, the first game he pitched the next year following his perfect game.”

Porter is one of the dwindling group of St. Louis Browns survivors. Most of all, he seems one of baseball’s most grateful alums.

“Thanks for asking,” he signed.

My pleasure, J.W.