Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2011

Birthday For A Baseball Blogger

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“Clear the dining room table?
Why? For cake? For me?!?”

Old age creeps up on me.

Today, 10/20, is the birthday of Mickey Mantle and one “Baseball By The Letters” blogger.

In my delight over the Lon Simmons letter (and anticipation of cake…) I leaked the first part of Lon’s revealing comments.

I wanted to interrupt this newscast for a suggestion:

Print out this column and leave it for any potential gift givers:

MEMO: GIFT IDEAS FOR A COLLECTOR

1. Postage stamps
2. Membership to www.sportscollectors.net
3. The Harvey Meiselman Baseball Address List, available at www.sportsaddresslists.com

Good luck, hint droppers!

Truly coming Friday: Lon Simmons Remembers Russ Hodges

Giants, A’s Broadcaster Lon Simmons Downplays Hall Of Fame Status As Ford Frick Winner

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Thankfully, the ghost
of Frick hasn’t put
an asterisk by
Simmons’ name!

Any Bay Area baseball fans will recall his calls. He’s the voice that beckoned Giants and Athletics followers. He’s Lon Simmons.

In an amazing reply of blunt humility, the acclaimed broadcaster questioned his 2004 Frick Award honor from the Baseball Hall of Fame. He wrote:

“I did not and do not feel I deserved to be inducted into Cooperstown. But it was the first year fans were allowed a vote in the process. Bay Area fans cast enough votes for me to join the final ten and it didn’t take a great number of votes from the committee to give me the honor.”


Simmons did accept the award. He recalled the ceremony:

“I was overwhelmed by the fact that there were fifty Hall of Famers at the ceremony, most of whom I was privileged to speak about and with in my time with the Giants and A’s. Also a good friend from my years with the A’s — Dennis Eckersley — was inducted in the same ceremony.”


Didn’t make it to Cooperstown that year? Relive the glory courtesy of the Bay Area Radio Museum, offering a replay of Simmons’ acceptance speech!

Coming Friday: Simmons salutes Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges!

(Red)bird Watching: (Re)writing Todd Worrell + Nine St. Louis Cardinals From My Past

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Unlike Worrell, Tyson
signed by mail for
me (in the 1970s). I
loved Mike’s looping
sig and his
Gashouse Gang faces!

After the Cardinals overcame the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, my thoughts turned to Todd Worrell. When he took St. Louis by storm in 1985, I wrote him. And wrote and wrote and…

He’s signed for many, according to http://www.sportscollectors.net/. However, in recent years, he’s been a man on the move. Some collectors have collected nothing but RTS returns, unable to find a current address.

I think I’ve located him. If St. Louis can have a storybook season, why not me? One more try!

I wondered if other former Cardinals will be by their TVs, too, hoping that their former employer gleans October glory once again. I wanted to devote my current crop of envelopes to St. Lou alums.

My other letters this week are headed to:

Cliff Chambers
John Fulgham
Jim Lindeman
Larry Miggins
Al Olmstead
Ted Power
Stan Royer
John Tamargo
Mike Tyson

Coming Thursday: Surprising words from Giants and Athletics broadcaster Lon Simmons.

Twins Pitcher Jim Strickland Missed Two Seasons In The Military, But He’s Not Complaining

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Strickland debuted in 1971.
Why couldn’t Topps show
him in a REAL ballpark for
its 1973 set?

Pitcher Jim Strickland hasn’t been on the mound for more than 35 years. There’s still time to cheer for him.

This man of faith threw baseballs. He’s not throwing blame today. Strickland put his career on hold for military service. He’d be entitled to some bafflement, if not bitterness. His march to the majors became a march for Uncle Sam in 1967-68. I began with the “what if…” question. Strickland replied:

“The time off had an unknown effect. The experiences might have extended my career.”

Someone who sees what they gained, instead of what they may have lost? That’s worth a standing ovation.

I remember adding that Twins Rookie Stars card to my 1972 Topps set, seeing him with Rick Dempsey and Vic Albury. How did the card make him feel?

“All rookies got $5 to sign with Topps (1964). I don’t remember how I reacted (to the first card), because I never collected cards as a kid.”

There’s no doubt to how Strickland reacted on May, 19, 1971. That’s when he relieved Jim Perry at Anaheim Stadium, getting his first win as a Twin. The win wasn’t in Minnesota, but it did seem like pitching at home. Strickland added:

“My first game was very special. Being from southern California, I was able to pitch in front of family and friends. The most tense moment was the first batter (ground ball to short).”

How did Strickland fare versus the Angels? Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/, you can see for yourself!

I thanked Strickland for his military service. He thanked me for being ME.

“Tom, Thank You for being such a fan. Thank you for the questions. God bless you.

Jim

Proverbs 3:5-6“

Coming Wednesday: Tom’s latest ’10 Most Wanted’ contacts, St. Louis style

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

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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.