Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: January 2011

Were Santa Claus & Tony Oliva Teammates?

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Why am I such a raving fanboy about http://www.sportscollectors.net/?

One of many reasons is being able to get good news fast. SCN is my “go to” source for hobby updates.

We all groan over retired players wanting to be paid for autographs by mail. Other collectors sending valuable cards might add a payment, even cash, if concerned about not getting a valuable card back.

Enter collector Dave Patton, who’s working on collecting an entire 1965 Topps set. He enclosed a $10 bill in hopes of guaranteeing a return from Oliva.

The card came back autographed. With one huge surprise:

Dave shared a pic of his money memorabilia with SCN subscribers.

I contacted Dave, asking for an update about what he wanted to do with the tenspot. Buy a book of stamps? Say it ain’t so, Joe! No worries, Dave replied:

“I am still amazed myself. Just to get the card back would have been exciting, but the $10 return is really special. All of the responses that I have received are on the SCN post. After some thought, I am going to try to get all of the living members of the Twins 65 World Series team to sign it. I remember that series well as it was well played by both teams, going seven games and I am working on a 65 autographed set. Hopefully Harmon Killebrew will recover from his recent cancer diagnosis and I can get him to sign.”

I thank Dave for letting us know that autograph collecting isn’t all gloom and doom. I wish him luck with his autographed currency. While the autograph might bring $10 at the bank, the memory is priceless.

Were Santa Claus & Tony Oliva Teammates?

by

Why am I such a raving fanboy about http://www.sportscollectors.net/?

One of many reasons is being able to get good news fast. SCN is my “go to” source for hobby updates.

We all groan over retired players wanting to be paid for autographs by mail. Other collectors sending valuable cards might add a payment, even cash, if concerned about not getting a valuable card back.

Enter collector Dave Patton, who’s working on collecting an entire 1965 Topps set. He enclosed a $10 bill in hopes of guaranteeing a return from Oliva.

The card came back autographed. With one huge surprise:

Dave shared a pic of his money memorabilia with SCN subscribers.

I contacted Dave, asking for an update about what he wanted to do with the tenspot. Buy a book of stamps? Say it ain’t so, Joe! No worries, Dave replied:

“I am still amazed myself. Just to get the card back would have been exciting, but the $10 return is really special. All of the responses that I have received are on the SCN post. After some thought, I am going to try to get all of the living members of the Twins 65 World Series team to sign it. I remember that series well as it was well played by both teams, going seven games and I am working on a 65 autographed set. Hopefully Harmon Killebrew will recover from his recent cancer diagnosis and I can get him to sign.”

I thank Dave for letting us know that autograph collecting isn’t all gloom and doom. I wish him luck with his autographed currency. While the autograph might bring $10 at the bank, the memory is priceless.

Free Tools For Autograph Collectors?

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Here come the Valentine’s Day cards!

Huh?

The news should be music to an autograph collector’s ears. Pay attention to the store selling (and restocking!) greeting cards. I won’t name the good people at the nearby drugstore, because they might get scolded by management or the card distributors.

My wife and I saw a stack of empty envelopes on the counter. The checker smiled.

“Help yourself. Take all you want.”

Big, red envelopes. Greeting card sized envelopes! I assume these were headed for a recycling bin.

Yes, envelopes aren’t expensive. The point is finding an expressive envelope. If a retiree is sorting mail, your odd-sized letter will need to go in a festive pile of its own.

Plus, using unwanted greeting card envelopes is cheaper than sending chocolates!

Tomorrow: Tony Oliva’s Christmas gift to a collector!

Dick Bosman Tells of 1974 No-Hitter Rewards

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Same Signature,
Same intensity!

Dick Bosman spent most of his career toiling for struggling teams.

Nevertheless, he gave the Senators many thrills, including a pair of one-hitters in 1969-70. History didn’t find the hurler until 1974. (Thanks, www.retrosheet.org.) His July 19 gem against the mighty Oakland Athletics wasn’t forgotten. The Cleveland hurler was acquired by the A’s that next season.

When did Bosman’s mind switch from “good game” to “possibly making history?” How did the Indians honor his accomplishment? He replied:

“Fifth inning.

$1,500 raise and engraved pocket watch.”

Beginning in Washington, Bosman had the opportunity to pitch for manager Ted Williams. What did he learn from Williams that influenced him as a player, and later, as a coach?

“The mental game of pitching.”

Williams witnessed Bosman’s transformation, including a league-leading 2.19 ERA in 1969. How did he feel about winning an ERA crown?

“It was my first good year. It gave me a lot of confidence.”

Tomorrow: Dick Bosman sums up nearly five decades in pro ball.

Pitcher Dick Bosman: ‘I Had A Ball!’

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Bosman: “It gave me a
lot of confidence.”

Some players and coaches have mere careers.

The lucky ones have LIVES in baseball. Dick Bosman may head this list. He wrote:

“I achieved more than I thought I could, had a great time, learned volumes about life, myself, and of course, how to pitch in the big leagues.

I’m proud and humbled to have played with and against some of the best ever to have played the game.

There’s not much I would do differently. I had a ball!

I still enjoy the game. I’m the pitching coordinator for Tampa Bay.

Thanks for your interest,

Dick Bosman”