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Boston Braves

Brave Jack Dittmer Recalls ‘Humble’ Hank Aaron

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Dittmer’s Pen Still Flashes
That Dazzling “D” Today!

Fellow Iowan Jack Dittmer sent me a fascinating reply to my letter.

Dittmer is an Iowa sports legend, earning nine letters in three sports at the University of Iowa. Did he ever imagine himself as a Green Bay Packer, not a Milwaukee Brave? He confessed:

“Football has always been my favorite sport but I only weighed about 160 lbs in college – not big enough.”

Dittmer’s rookie season came as a BOSTON Brave. He debuted with a franchise in flux. Worse still, all the
fellow Iowans, all the U of I rooters, faced a cross-county trip to see their Hawkeye. I was sure that the move to Milwaukee offered fringe benefits. He added:

“The last year for the Boston Braves team was not a good one. I was called up in June and did not do very well.

The first year in Milwaukee was great! In August of 1953, the Iowa fans planned a big “Jack Dittmer Day” in Milwaukee and hundreds came to the game and honored me and my wife with their presence and gifts.”

A year later, Dittmer witnessed the arrival of a future home run king. He remembered:

“Rookie Hank Aaron did not come to Milwaukee until my second year (1954) and was sensational. He and his wife were great people, very humble, but did not socialize with many because, as I recall, she did not stay all summer in Milwaukee.

I have signed autographs with hank (after baseball) and participated in Hank Aaron fundraising golf tournaments in Milwaukee. He is a great guy.”

So are you, Jack Dittmer!

See the state-wide salute Dittmer received in 2005 upon entering the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame.

Additionally, I was stunned by the collection of Dittmer-related artifacts at this aptly-named website.

Tomorrow: Two important questions I’ll be asking former players I write to this season.

Braves Hurler Norm Roy Recalls 1951 Bowman

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Pitcher Norm Roy is an eyewitness to the waning days of the Boston Braves.

Although he worked 19 games for the 1950 club, Roy didn’t seem shocked when the Braves migrated to Milwaukee in 1953.I hoped that he could have had friends and family see him perform, being one of the closest things to a hometown hero that year’s Braves might have. He wrote:

“I was born in Newton, but lived in Waltham, Mass. In those days, the stands were never filled. Because of attendance, the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953.”


Try to look up Roy, and you’ll see the names “Jumbo” or “Normie” attached to his career credentials.

“The manager of the Milwaukee Brewers (then AAA) Nick Cullop gave me the nickname because my feet were size 12-1/3 EEE. My mother called me ‘Normie’ when I was a child.”


(Only after Roy’s reply did I learn that manager Cullop was known as ‘Tomato Face’ when he was a player. Obviously, he believed in physical nicknames!)

Lastly, I had to know about appearing in the 1951 Bowman set. He replied:

“The picture for the card was taken at spring training in Bradenton, Florida. You were offered $100 or a ladies watch.


Being a 20 year old kid, I really didn’t grasp the situation.


Sincerely,
Norm Roy”