Header - Baseball by the Letters

Year: 2011

Twin Benji Sampson Signed For His Mom!

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Autograph baseballs
with a Sharpie? Eeek!

One of my 1990s collecting highlights came at the last minute.

I decided to go to a card show in Des Moines. I saw that Benji Sampson, then a Twins pitching hopeful, would be signing for free.

Yikes! I had no cards of him. Would any dealer sell at a decent price, or would they overhype and ransom his “rookie” cards?

Weeks before, I saw a nice feature about him in the Des Moines Register. I kept the paper. I grabbed it out the door.

In the autograph line, I presented the paper and my self-addressed, stamped envelope.

“This (paper) is for your Mom. I’m sure she’s proud of you, and didn’t have enough copies for all the relatives. If you — or she — has one of those great Twins team-issued photos of you that you could send me, I’d really appreciate it. Just use my envelope.”

He nodded and smiled, putting my “gift” aside.

Less than a week later, there was my SASE filled with a signed Sampson photo. Never underestimate the power of a mother!

Tomorrow: hear from Joel Thingvall, a Twins autograph-collecting superstar!

Red Bob Borkowski Shows All-Star Effort

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Despite everything, his
autograph still sparkles!

Thank you, Bob Borkowski.

He played from 1950-55. But he’s still in the game, doing his best for fans. And it’s not getting any easier.
His reply came printed in all caps:

“Tom

I’m sorry I can’t answer your ??? because I don’t see too well!!

All I can say is was nice playing in the majors.”

He signed his name on two lines, “Bob” on top, to make sure the signature didn’t get jumbled.

“HOPE YOU CAN READ THIS!!”

The former Cub and Red will get my thank-you postcard. The envelope didn’t get a “Refused.” My request didn’t wind up in his trash can. The letter didn’t come back blank.

He’s still doing his best for us. For fans who never bought a ticket to one of his games. For people who never cheered his 14 career homers (2 each off Preacher Roe and Carl Erskine).

I’m cheering now, Bob.

Tomorrow: Remembering a mother helped snag a Minnesota Twin autograph!

Newest Hall of Famer Pat Gillick Predicts Next General Manager Headed to Cooperstown

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Ebay is swimming
with Gillick sigs
like this one ($35?).
Surprisingly,
he’s still signing
all TTM requests!

Pat Gillick, baseball’s newest Hall of Famer, is the makings for a made-for-TV movie.

Being general manager for the 2008 World Series champion Phillies? That’s just whipped cream on his sundae! Gillick’s involvement in pro ball extends some 50 years and several organizations.

Before becoming a front office executive, Gillick toiled as a scout. He added:

“Actually scouted for Astros and Yankees. Cesar Cedeno was a great talent that should have enjoyed a longer M.L. career.”

Gillick followed the path of his father, Larry Gillick. Dad’s first job was as minor league pitcher. The younger Gillick, whose minor league career pitching in the Orioles farm system lasted five seasons before injuries, remembered:

“Father was a good ‘AA’ pitcher. PCL was ‘AA in the 1930s. Hard worker my father, and served with the Mariners in World War II. Mother was an actress.”

In July, Gillick gets to address the baseball world in his acceptance speech. What executives would he like to welcome to the Hall in the future?

“John Schuerholz certainly deserving. Many young GM’s have great talent and are “prospects” for the HOF in the future.

Regards,
Pat Gillick
HOF 2011″

How many people bothered to write to Gillick for an autograph before his new HOF status? Scouts and other off-field heroes are worthy autographs. Once Cooperstown agrees, collecting their signatures gets much tougher.

Marlins Voice Dave Van Horne Reveals Origin of His Signature Homer Call: “Up, Up and Away!”

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In my eyes, Dave Van Horne is a Hall of Famer.

Ford Frick Award winner Van Horne is being honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. No, he is not an inductee. He will not have a plaque. However, I still think he has a Hall of Fame voice. I’ll never condemn a broadcaster who signs “HOF” with his award-winning year after.

For someone thinking that a Frick winner is common, consider this: the award began in 1978. Only one man has been honored each year. I think this puts Van Horne in select company.

Van Horne has been a baseball broadcast tradition since 1969. He sent me a reply I’ll treasure. I consider it a preview of the acceptance speech he’ll be making in Cooperstown later this year.

I asked the man who called the first Montreal Expos game in 1969 about his first place of employment, Jarry Park:

“A very unique ballpark, built in the corner of a huge municipal park facility, just north of the downtown area, north of Mount Royal. It really didn’t compare to other ballparks of that time (1969) but I guess, in a way, it was not unlike Colt .45 Stadium.”

Van Horne solved one mystery, in part.

“‘Up, Up and Away’ began in the 1970 season. ‘Stole’ the line from the 5th Dimension hit song. I don’t remember the first time I used it, but it probably would have been after a home run by Bob Bailey, Mack Jones, Coco Laboy or Rusty Staub. I’m just guessing here.”

Everyone ALWAYS asks baseball insiders to name an all-time all-star team. I wanted Van Horne to tell me the “go to” players who helped him take care of his business. In short, an all-time INTERVIEW team!

“Best interview subjects over the years. There was so many. Staub, Bobby Wine, Gary Sutherland, Ty Cline, Ron Fairly, Ron Hunt, Gene Mauch, Cal McLish and many other Expos. Making the short list of non-Expos: Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Phil Niekro, Jerry Reuss, Steve Garvey, Willie McCovey, Tommy Lasorda, Danny Murtaugh, Felipe Alou, Buck Rodgers and many, many others to numerous to mention here.”

Could you tell someone why you’re a baseball fan? Let this award-winning Marlins ambassador go first. Sense the gratitude and awe in Van Horne’s heart-felt assessment of the sport:

“I’ve always loved the game. I’ve enjoyed being in the company of so many wonderful people, on and off the field. Every day, every game, a new adventure. No one knows what’ll happen one pitch to the next. Strong, fast, gifted athletes playing a game that requires the mastery of so many skills; who could ask for anything more than to be able to watch them play the game, every day, every season, for a 43-year career (and counting).”

To borrow from another hit song, in Van Horne style, I second that emotion.

Tomorrow: Pat Gillick, baseball’s newest Hall of Famer, shares his roots.

Marlins Voice Dave Van Horne Reveals Origin of His Signature Homer Call: "Up, Up and Away!"

by

In my eyes, Dave Van Horne is a Hall of Famer.

Ford Frick Award winner Van Horne is being honored by the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. No, he is not an inductee. He will not have a plaque. However, I still think he has a Hall of Fame voice. I’ll never condemn a broadcaster who signs “HOF” with his award-winning year after.

For someone thinking that a Frick winner is common, consider this: the award began in 1978. Only one man has been honored each year. I think this puts Van Horne in select company.

Van Horne has been a baseball broadcast tradition since 1969. He sent me a reply I’ll treasure. I consider it a preview of the acceptance speech he’ll be making in Cooperstown later this year.

I asked the man who called the first Montreal Expos game in 1969 about his first place of employment, Jarry Park:

“A very unique ballpark, built in the corner of a huge municipal park facility, just north of the downtown area, north of Mount Royal. It really didn’t compare to other ballparks of that time (1969) but I guess, in a way, it was not unlike Colt .45 Stadium.”

Van Horne solved one mystery, in part.

“‘Up, Up and Away’ began in the 1970 season. ‘Stole’ the line from the 5th Dimension hit song. I don’t remember the first time I used it, but it probably would have been after a home run by Bob Bailey, Mack Jones, Coco Laboy or Rusty Staub. I’m just guessing here.”

Everyone ALWAYS asks baseball insiders to name an all-time all-star team. I wanted Van Horne to tell me the “go to” players who helped him take care of his business. In short, an all-time INTERVIEW team!

“Best interview subjects over the years. There was so many. Staub, Bobby Wine, Gary Sutherland, Ty Cline, Ron Fairly, Ron Hunt, Gene Mauch, Cal McLish and many other Expos. Making the short list of non-Expos: Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, Willie Stargell, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Phil Niekro, Jerry Reuss, Steve Garvey, Willie McCovey, Tommy Lasorda, Danny Murtaugh, Felipe Alou, Buck Rodgers and many, many others to numerous to mention here.”

Could you tell someone why you’re a baseball fan? Let this award-winning Marlins ambassador go first. Sense the gratitude and awe in Van Horne’s heart-felt assessment of the sport:

“I’ve always loved the game. I’ve enjoyed being in the company of so many wonderful people, on and off the field. Every day, every game, a new adventure. No one knows what’ll happen one pitch to the next. Strong, fast, gifted athletes playing a game that requires the mastery of so many skills; who could ask for anything more than to be able to watch them play the game, every day, every season, for a 43-year career (and counting).”

To borrow from another hit song, in Van Horne style, I second that emotion.

Tomorrow: Pat Gillick, baseball’s newest Hall of Famer, shares his roots.