Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2011

If Pitcher John Montefusco Was ‘The Count’, Giants Teammate John D’Acquisto Is ‘The King’

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Awesome autograph,
all-star attitude!

 With some players, “Giants” may have been an employer or mere team affiliation.

With pitcher John D’Acquisto, it’s the size of his heart and soul.

You see, any announcer would look at my fan letter to the 1970s fireballer and shout, “Looks like there’s an error on the play. Let’s wait for official scorer.”

My scorebook says: E-ME!

I’m blushing as I write this apology. I’m sorry, Johnny D.

You see, I wrote this fan letter too late at night. It sounded good at the time. Through the power of Major League Forgiveness, I’m grateful that I wound up with an incredible reply from an amazing guy.

“To open this response to you, Tom, you mix me up with John ‘The Count’ Montefusco. My nickname was ‘Johnny D.’ Don’t feel bad about that. There are a lot of people that confuse the two of us.

If you are asking about ‘The Count,’ it is from The Count of Montecristo, [a nickname] dreamed up by Al Michaels and Art Eckman, our-then radio broadcasters.”

For a full look at D’Acquisto’s athletic adventures, enjoy this impressive 2010 interview with writer Peter Schiller at “Baseball Reflections.”

Tomorrow: John D’Acquisto recaps his first home run and talks fastballs!

Boston Pitcher Dick Brodowski, One ‘Lucky’ Teen

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Dick’s sig is the same.
I bet the smile is, too!

What did you do at age 19?

A recent reply from pitcher Dick Brodowski stunned me. Aren’t all Major Leaguers older than us? Could a kid pitch against the New York Yankees…and win?

Dick took me back to June, 30, 1952 (Thanks to the aid of www.retrosheet.org.) —

“High points of that victory turned out to be Billy Goodman colliding with Sam White and Goodman being replaced by Dick Gernert. Gernert and Vern Stephens were the four-run offense that was needed to win.

My key moment was a bases-loaded situation in the seventh inning — one out — Bob Kuzava hitting and 3-1 on Bob. I felt I had to get lucky and throw two fastballs for strikes and struck him out.

Irv Noren then hit a soft fly to center and got out of that jam.

I was 19 at the time and very lucky.”

Brodowski had his moments at bat, too. He homered off Ted Gray (1952) and Don Larsen (1955).

Somehow, his teammates never razzed the pitcher over either surprise blast.

“Not much of a reaction to either HR — I was thrilled — hitting two over the left field wall. Larsen had just hit one off of me!”

Another team, the U.S. Army, chose Brodowski. The career interruption derailed the pitcher’s promising 1952 debut. He recalled:

“I didn’t pitch much in the Army. I was a good hitter in the service and played second base. I loved it. Never realized it would take me two years to get some decent stuff back!

Brodowski closed his letter with some Major League gratitude:

“I was a decent AAA player with some spirts of getting some big leaguers out.

I loved the opportunity and did the best I could!”

Tomorrow: My apology to pitcher John D’Acquisto.

Alex Trebek Helps Me With My Collection

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Why would I seek this sig?
Tune in tomorrow!

“Who should I write to next?”

Suddenly, I imagine Alex Trebek buzzing me out. “I’m sorry. The answer we were looking for was: Who are..”

I’ve taken to asking myself questions (in true JEOPARDY fashion!), trying to group former players into subsets. If all seven names have a common thread, writing the letters will be more fun. There will be unifying elements in all the letters.

Here’s the seven names I contacted in the last week. See if you detect a theme in the bunch:

Chris Bando
Tom Bradley
Ray Herbert
Doug DeCinces
Alan Benes
David Nied
Ken Frailing

Ideas? I’ll reveal the link I found in the collection tomorrow.

Collectors rejoice! Harvey Meiselman Selling Team-Specific Baseball Address Lists!

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How much does a Yankee address cost?

For the first time in three years, address king Harvey Meiselman is giving team collectors a special treat.

For anyone who hasn’t bought the entire Baseball Address List because of their team-specific collection, Harvey is offering a special deal.

Choose your team for only $15 postpaid. Want just one team? That’s all you need to pay for.

For his previous team promotion, Harvey didn’t offer the team address lists until July 4. Back then, he says the Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers and Phillies were the top sellers.

This year gives collections a headstart on their team collecting.

Depending on each team, there’s a different number of addresses. Harvey promises more than 800 Yankee addresses. Imagine. Reaching Bronx Bombers for less than 2 cents per addy!

Here’s the special ordering instructions from Mister M himself:

“For this special I can only accept payments one of two ways: 1) Paypal payments sent to chickenparm2go@ bellsouth.net OR 2) a check or money order mailed to: Harvey Meiselman – 9723 Lemonwood Way – Boynton Beach FL 33437. Please specify the team that you want when you order. No payments for these special lists will be accepted through my website.”

Harvey will offer quarterly address updates to all purchases by e-mail. New addresses, invalid addresses and deaths will be noted.

New to autographs, or want to start a limited collection? This is the way to do it, from one of the hobby’s greatest resources!

Tomorrow: Who’s next on my “to write to” list? I’ll give you my 7 names, and you guess the theme!

Rick Monday Beat Pitcher Doug Rau To Stop 1976 Dodger Stadium Flag Burners

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Don’t mess with Texas. Or Texan Doug Rau.

The Dodgers pitcher might have provided a new twist on the fabled story from April 25, 1976. Outfielder Rick Monday thwarted two protesters (a father and his 11-year-old son!) who wanted to burn the American flag in Dodger Stadium’s center field.

If Monday hadn’t intervened, Rau says he was ready to take action. In this classic note from 2002, Rau explained his perspective of the situation:

“Thomas:

I was in the dugout, far left, near 3rd base, and I simply reacted by instinct. Monday beat me to the draw, and he said little when he gave me the flag.

I think I gave it to a grounds-crew guy (Tom or Scottie), and from there I know nothing.

The team was stunned, and I faintly remember Lasorda saying something to me about those…

Photos courtesy Mark Langill, Los Angeles Dodgers

Doug Rau”

What happened to that flag? Check out this impressive 2010 feature from Arizona reporter Zach Buchanan.

Tomorrow: Address king Harvey Meiselman offers TEAM address lists!