Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2010

Herb Plews, Diplomatic Senator

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Herb Plews last played in the majors in 1959. However, even at age 81, no one will sneak a pitch past him.

I sent the retired infielder a couple of questions. I printed out a piece of stationery reading, “Herb Plews, Major League Infielder, 1956-59.”

Herb chose to use the back of my letter for a reply. He did supply me with a major league effort filled with humility, humor and insight.

“Had to laugh at the heading for the stationery. using that might indicate a bloating between the ears,” he began.

Anyone thinking Plews faked his way through four seasons in the bigs should think again. SABR member Bill Nowlin, a Boston Red Sox expert, wrote an impressive, well-researched biography on the Montana native who logged a brief stay with the 1959 BoSox.

Boston acquired Plews just weeks before the arrival of “Pumpsie” Green, the man who helped the last team take down baseball’s color barrier. At my time of writing, I didn’t know the whole story. Plews wrote:

“I wasn’t with Boston when Pumpsie arrived. Bill Jurges, who was a coach with the Senators when I was there, became manager, replacing Mike Huggins. Jurges and I never did see eye to eye, so when he arrived, it was my time to take a hike. That ended my major league days.”

Plews chose not to spell out the 1959 specifics: his demotion to the minors cleared the roster spot needed for Green’s arrival.

From the fantastic archives of www.retrosheet.org, I found that Plews tallied FIVE four-hit games during his career. He reflected on one:

“One of those games was against the Yankees with Turley pitching. They were all doubles. Trying to stretch the last one, I was thrown out at third! Jurges threw a hissy!”

Plews could have joined the roster of retirees bitter at their bad breaks in baseball. He was saddled with the struggling Senators, then failed to get a real chance with the contending Red Sox. Instead, he reflected:

“Looking back, I would have been better off staying with the Senators. Billy Consolo (included in the trade from Boston) got in a couple extra years with the Senators. I missed my pension by a couple months.

“However, Tom, I felt lucky to have played when I did. I saw some of the best players ever. Looking forward to another exciting season of baseball. Continue your loyalty for our grand ol’ game.

My best regards always,

Herb Plews

P.S. (noting my return address) That little school from Iowa (UNI) sure spoiled my bracket!

Happy Easter, Dave Heaverlo!

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In my mind, I see his shining dome every year before the holiday.

Dave Heaverlo tipped his cap for an April installment of Saturday Game of the Week.

One of the first players I remembered who shaved his head for
fashion sake, Heaverlo spotted the TV camera. His grin grew
as he uncapped his head:

HAPPY EASTER

The magic-markered message glistened on his naked noggin.

In the early 1990s, I lived in Washington state. At the Puyallup
Flea Market, Heaverlo was a free autograph guest.

All I had was an index card. I got a “Best Wishes” inscription.

“Do you remember being on TV, having ‘Happy Easter’ written
on your head, under your cap?” I asked.

He smiled politely. “Someone else asked me. I think I remember
something like that,” was his vague reply.

At the time, I knew nothing of the raucous reliever’s reputation
during his seven-year career. Even though he began his career in
the bigs with hair, Heaverlo found infamy early in Oakland.

All I know is that I peeked at his still-hairless head that day. I saw no message. Not even a “Rent This Space.”

So, in the spirit of Dave Heaverlo, I tip my cap to all you.

Happy Easter!

Rich Hanson, TTM Vet: part 2 of 2

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Yesterday, Rich Hanson noted his beginnings as an autograph collector. Today, he has some advice:

Q: Do you think you have more luck with minor leaguers than retired big leaguers?

A: I’ve had a lot of good minor league responses. I still have the note that Jason Isringhausen wrote back along with the cards he signed; a real kind note telling me how much my letter moved him. Many times, a player will include a minor league team issue card or a short note at the minor league level. I regret that’s becoming rarer and rarer though. Between dealers selling autographs on EBay and TriStar hosting prospects at shows and charging major league prices; even at the college level a player may not sign now. I struck out with both Stephen Strasburg at San Diego State and Bryce Harper at Southern Nevada. The hobby has become a business for many people.

Q: Do you have hobby advice to share?

A: For through-the-mail collectors, do your homework and be creative. A player is more apt to sign if you send him something unique and/or homemade like an 8-by-10 collage or homemade card. He knows he’s not as likely to see it on Ebay.

Hand-write your letters. I firmly believe you get a better response. Don’t send anything out you are afraid to lose. Odds are that’s the item you won’t get back.

TTM is fun, but it doesn’t match getting signatures in person. Minor league baseball is affordable and fun. Support your local minor league team.

Every autographer, whether TTM or in-person, should have Baseball America’s Baseball Directory in their possession. Next to your pen and address book, it will be your most valuable resource.

Last of all, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this hobby as much without the following: the players, coaches and managers who are kind enough to take the time to accommodate our requests. My wife Nancy, who helps me immensely and never (ahem, rarely) grumbles. She’s wise enough to realize that there are worse places for a guy to want to hang out than in a ballpark. Mike Kirkman and Dale Roberson, both of whom taught me a lot of fine points of the hobby. The Burlington Bees staff. They usually give me a heads-up when a roving instructor shows up. Rick and Jennifer Ryan and the graphers in Des Moines, who always are helpful and make me feel welcome at Sec Taylor Stadium, and Angie, Chuck and Joyce, who are just as helpful in Clinton. The OACC autograph ring that I belong to is very supportive and knowledgeable as well. So many more, Ian in Cedar Rapids, Dave Malamut and Tom from Kane County. You get the idea.”

The idea is simple but powerful. Share this hobby with anyone you can. Work together. Build your team. When your hobby teammates come through, thank them in word and deed. Thanks for the insights, Rich!

(That’s Mr. Hanson, complete with “Otis Campbell’s” T-shirt, on the bottom row at a Burlington Bees minor league game. His baseball buddies have dubbed themselves “The Family Section.”)

Rich Hanson, TTM Wizardry Since 1988

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There’s no teacher like a veteran through-the-mail collector. I asked Rich Hanson a few questions, hoping his TTM adventures would help save some stamps and frustration for other hobbyists.

Q: How long have you been collecting by mail?

A: I’ve been collecting through the mail since 1988, when my 7-year-old son Dylan suggested while watching the All-Star game that we send some of our duplicate cards to players to try to get them autographed. The first player we ever got back was Steve “Psycho” Lyons.

Q: While you don’t ask questions with every autograph request, you’ve occasionally struck gold by asking. Tell about Gene Baker and players with Civil War-era relatives.

A: I really thought Gene Baker’s answer (he hadn’t appeared at a card show because no one had asked) was sad. He was an integral part of black baseball history; along with Ernie Banks being one of the first two blacks to play for the Cubs. Yet he was so overshadowed by Banks that he was forgotten by local card show promoters who’d bring Cubs in from Chicago, rather than give Baker, a Quad Cities native, the chance to share his history.

Adam Rankin Johnson confirmed his relationship to CSA General “Stovepipe” Johnson, and Jim Lytle confirmed that he was distantly related to the Union General William Haines Lytle, an accomplished poet as well as a warrior, who died during the Battle of Chickamauga.

Q: Sometimes you’ve taken pictures of players, later offering them a copy by mail while asking them to sign a duplicate for you. Or, you’re created a double-sided laminated 8-by-10 featuring articles about that player. Have you gotten special replies from the extra effort you’ve shown?

A: I had some interesting correspondence with agent Scott Boras, when I sent him his 1977 St. Petersburg card to get signed. He didn’t realize that he was on a baseball card. I ended up with a signed business card and letter as well from him. I was able to find another card from that set of him and was able to provide him with a card as well.

When Alex Rodriguez played his first professional ballgame, it was in the Quad Cities. One of the Quad City papers ran a picture of him jumping up to avoid someone sliding into second base. With both arms outstretched and being up in the air, it looked like he was flying. I laminated the photo and asked him to sign it when he came to Burlington. He was so impressed with it, he asked if he could take it into the dugout and show his teammates. When he came out, he signed the picture, a cover of Baseball America and three cards for me. Beautiful signatures.

Often, I’ll have players ask if they can have the newspaper photo that I’ve laminated and mounted on construction paper. I’ll grit my teeth sometimes in disappointment, but I always give it to them if they ask.

Tomorrow, learn more about Hanson’s minor league successes. Best of all, he shares some of his top hobby tips from “The Family Section.”

Felix Jose, Autograph Detective!

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I’ve said it before. I’ll say it again.

I love the notes!

I used to focus on autographs. Now, I look for the personal interaction between fan and player.

That’s why I was delighted and amazed to see the recent discussion on www.sportscollectors.net, the MVP of autograph websites.

More than 1,200 collectors tuned in to, “Getting Caught Writing to a Player Twice.” A brave collector, who we’ll call “Jeff,” confessed to a time of sending more than 1,000 requests per year. In a record-keeping slip-up, he wrote to Oakland’s Felix Jose a second time.

The outfielder sent him a scolding in writing. I think “Jeff” has enjoyed his hobby summons more than any Jose-signed cards. F.J., by the way, included a phoenetic message that translates to: “No more autographs.”

Even if the signers don’t let on, they are reading our letters!

What’s been the funniest autograph reply you’ve ever received?