Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: October 2011

Message From Beyond (Brooklyn, Actually!) Inspires Author’s Letter-Writing Fervor

by
Sequel idea: Clarence The Angel comes back
to earth to help George Bailey with his autograph
collection. Movie title?
It’s A Wonderful Hobby Life

I may own the most inspiring “Return to Sender” envelope of all time.

In fact, I feel more like an American Idol winner than someone who sent a wrongly-addressed letter.

I tried searching an address for Sal Durante, the 19-year-old fan who caught historic homer #61 from Roger Maris in 1961.

The same-named person I found lived in Brooklyn.

Naturally, the recipient of the envelope was entitled to open what I sent. In my SASE, I received my two-page letter and the outer envelope. On it was a handwritten message:

You’ve got
the wrong
‘Sal Durante’
Last I heard, the
right guy lived
in Staten Island, NY!

Good luck!

This wasn’t two wasted stamps at all. Instead, because regular inner voices Obi Wan Kenobi, Jiminy Cricket and angel Clarence Oddbody seemed busy, I heard from an uplifting voice in Brooklyn.

This stranger read my letter, then decided to cheer me on. He believes enough in my hobby to want me to succeed.

Sure enough, another search engine confirmed that a “Sal Durante” of the correct age lives in Staten Island.

I got the original letter re-sent to the proper guy.

However, I’m going to drop a postcard of thanks to the other Mr. Durante. I’m keeping that envelope to remind me of one lesson:

People are good.

Coming Tuesday: Pitcher Jim Strickland looks back.

Phillies Ballpark Seats Create One Awesome Autograph Road Trip for Gregg Kersey

by

The world’s biggest self-addressed, stamped envelope won’t help collector Gregg Kersey.

Photos. Cards. Even a padded envelope for a baseball? No problem.

How about return mail for a pair of seats from Veterans Stadium?

I’m imagining a TV reality show. Gregg tracks down former Phillies, trekking with his seats, then explaining how to autograph ballpark furniture. The co-stars are in place. Gregg credits his dad and girlfriend Brina in helping snag signers for the seats.

This creative collector has found that he needs to find other ways to reach former Phils. When he found one part-timer from the past, Gregg got an impressive surprise. As he tells it:

“I had recently written to former 80’s Phillie, Met, Yankee and Oriole Keith Hughes.  while definitely not a household name, I was looking to get some cards signed and wrote him a letter.  I also wrote in that letter I have been trying to get my seat from Vet Stadium signed by former Phillies and hoped to meet him one day to sign it.

He lives about 45 minutes from me and about a week passed and my cards came back with a letter that said he would be glad to sign the seat for me and gave me his phone number etc, so we set up to meet today.
Honestly I must say it was a great experience for me. He was very nice and we talked in the parking lot where we met up for about a half hour just about baseball and life after baseball and families.  I realize
he was never a star player, but he did live the dream for a few years that most guys would trade everything they have for just one day of it. 

It’s nice to know that these guys are still out there and care enough for the fans who appreciate them to take the time to acknowledge them as well.”

Likewise, it’s nice to know that there’s collectors like Gregg out there. He’s collecting HIS WAY, making the hobby his own. In the process, he’s collecting memories you’ll never find in a price guide.

Autographs on seat 10 include —
Larry Bowa (Phils SS & manager)
Darren Daulton (Phils Catcher 80/90’s)
Ruly Carpenter(Phils President 80 W.S. Team)
Dickie Noles (Phils Pitcher 80 W.S. Team)
Dan Baker (Phils P.A. announcer since 1972)
Greg Luzinski (Phils OF)
Art Mahaffey (Phila Pitcher)
Tommy Green (Phils Pitcher)
Bobby Shantz (Phils Pitcher)
Larry Christensen (Phills Pitcher 80 W.S. Team)
Gary Matthews Sr (Phills OF & Current Announcer)
Curt Simmons (Phils Pitcher)
Terry Harmon (Phils Infielder 70’s)
Ruben Amaro Jr (Phils OF 90’s & Current GM)
Bill White (Phils 1B & Commisioner)

Seat 11 autographs include —
Keith Hughes
Bill Conlin (Phils Beat Writer in the 70’s just inducted into BB HOF)
Dave Montgomery (Phils President)
Juan Samuel (Phils 2B/Current Coach)
Eric Valent (Phils in the early 2000’s)
Merrill Reese (Eagles anouncer for last approx 35 years)
Bobby Wine (Phils Player/Coach)
Joe Kerrigan (Phils coach 2002-03)
Larry Shenk (Phils VP last approx 35 years)
Ricky Jordan (Phils 1B 90’s)
Harry Gamble (Eagles GM 80’s)
Harold Carmichael (Eagles WR 70’s)
Mike Rogodzinski (Phils OF 70s)

Coming Monday: The nicest “wrong address” return I’ve ever gotten.

Chicago Cubs ‘Key’ Player? Consider Team Organist Gary Pressy’s 2,000-Game Career

by
This CD is out of print, Pressy noted.
He’s had TWO volumes in the past.
Let’s hope he records again!

Gary Pressy might be the Charlie Brown of team organists.

Legend has it that he lobbied the team for eight years before he landed the gig.

In 2010, Cub players asked for pre-recorded song clips instead of Pressy’s organ for “entrance (at-bat) music.” Thankfully, fans rallied to his aid, circulating online petitions.

For 2,000 games, he’s waited to be part of a World Series.

Now, I misspelled his name! I’m sorry.

“Tom:

Thank you for the kind words. The only thing is my name is spelled PRESSY.”

I wanted to know about musical Cubs. He replied:

“I have not spoken to Darwin (Barney) about his piano playing. But I do remember Carmen Fanzone playing the Anthem before a Cubs game in the 1970s.”

Wayne Messmer sang the National Anthem at the only Wrigley Field game I attended. I’ve loved his renditions on the radio, too. Pressy’s thoughts?

“I agree Wayne is the best. He and I are like brothers and grew up 4 blocks from each other. (What a small world.) Patrick Blackwell is an excellent singer and his rendition of God Bless America is great.

It’s sad, but most Anthem singers do not use the organ to accompany them. I wish they would sing it like it’s written, but they don’t.”

Pressy accompanies for Take Me Out to the Ballgame. He saw Harry Caray croon for crowds many times. What’s his favorite Caray memory?

“Harry was a Pied Piper. People in their 80s and people that are 5 years old would follow him down the ramp after the game. He was such a symbol at Wrigley Field. He took a lot of pride in singing the song.”

Pressy forgave me for my spelling, it seems. He closed a kind letter with a hopeful wish:

“Once again, thank you for your interest, and here’s hoping the Cubs will play well into October next year.


Sincerely,
Gary Pressy”

Let’s hope that Pressy is there at the keyboard for each of those dream games!

Don’t forget to see Pressy’s Q&A with the Chicago Tribune this season!

Coming Friday: Learn how Phillies fan Gregg Kersey turned an old ballpark seat into an autograph adventure.

 

 

Famed Pitching Coach Herm Starrette Now Pitching Against Prostate Cancer

by
I spotted this on eBay for
“only” $13.49. Seems
the seller believes that
Mr. Starrette is deceased.
Hmmm….

This Herm Starrette update comes courtesy of Juan Rosales at Baseball Interactions. He wrote:

“I just got a response from Mr. Starrette. He’s still battling cancer. He seems like an awesome guy and is very proud of his career. He asked me if I could make him a batch of custom index cards for him to sign for his doctors and nurses. I sent them out a couple of days ago and told him to let me know if he needs more. He’ll be in my thoughts.”


I wrote about Starrette in this earlier feature. Anyone who wants to wish him well can at the address below:
103 Howard Pond Loop
 Statesville, NC 28625-2280

This is NOT a “he’s sick, get him to sign while you can.” Instead, it’s a plea for help.

Get an extra Starrette card. Print an extra custom. Then, use a post-it note. Clearly state, “FOR YOU” on the gift. Please, don’t hint or generalize in the letter that he can keep some if he wants. Make the gift specific. Imagine a caring medical staff, often taken for granted, displaying their Starrette autographs like badges of honor, awards they earned.

As long as he’s able, Starrette is sending notes with his autograph replies, including memories, or thanks for the extra cards. He’s a grateful gentleman who’s never forgotten us fans. Let’s do the same. Remember him as a 1960s Orioles hurler, the pitching coach for the 1980 World Champion Phillies or a chief ally for Red Sox GM Dan Duquette. Just remember Starrette, while there’s still time.

Meanwhile, enjoy this 2010 newspaper feature interview with Starrette.

Coming Thursday: Gary Pressy, a musical tradition for the Chicago Cubs.

New York Yankees Pitcher Roland Sheldon Remembers Roger Maris, 1961 Pressure

by
An 11-game winner
who didn’t get in
the World Series? I
wouldn’t smile, either!

Pitcher Roland “Rollie” Sheldon debuted as a footnote to history. His rookie season with the 1961 Yankees featured an impressive 11-5 mark. He would have needed to be a league leader to rival the headlines grabbed by his history-making teammates.

Having the best seat in the house for a record-breaking home run battle between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Sheldon also witnessed the wrath of reporters unleashed upon Maris.

Sheldon remembered…

“Roger experienced pressure every day. We tried to help him through each and every day by joking with him. Tried to divert the press.”

That year, did the New York media machine put extra pressure on Sheldon in his premiere season?

“They treated me great!”

Sheldon didn’t let the Yankees forget him, even after the team swapped him to the Kansas City Athletics for the 1965 season. I imagined the joy he felt on Aug. 28, 1965, three-hitting his former employers. (Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/ for the juicy details!) Sheldon added:

“Nervous before the game, confident during the game and proud after. I just pitched my game.”

Coming Wednesday: Helping fabled pitching coach Herm Starrette.