The obituary ran this week. Fred Gladding, a wily reliever for the Tigers and Astros, gone at age 78.
The ever-dependable www.sportscollectors.net credited the hurler for a 97 percent response rate, answering more than 200 by-mail requests.
I landed Gladding when he was an Astro. He was willing to add a photo on request.
Never be shy about asking. Fred taught me that.
Check out an impressive video interview from Billy Staples with Gladding, conducted in 2013. See what we’re missing.
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| Still smiling, more than 40 years later! |
I knew Dooley Womack first from his 1969 Topps card. I knew him as an Astro.
In my letter, I confessed to Womack that I believed he was meant to play for a Texas team, having a cowboy-like name.
One of Womack’s best games in Houston was an eight-strikeout affair on April 24, 1969. Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/, here’s the details!
Even better, Womack supplied some color commentary of those Texas times, writing:
“The eight strikeouts against the Padres: my curveball was working great, [Padres struck out] mostly swinging. Managers do their thing about managing the game.
Also something not known: at Houston, Sunday afternoon game against the Giants. I went in for Denny LeMaster. Runners on, one run in.
I threw a double play, inning over. In the next innings, I threw 3 more double plays. Fred Gladding came in and 3 more double plays, for a total of seven double plays. A record.
Our manager Harry ‘The Hat’ Walker gave gold watches to all the infielders and catcher, with all 7’s on the face; Fred and I got nothing. But we have the memories.
Thanks,
Dooley Womack”
Coming Friday: Meet veteran ballhawk Zack Hample, author of The Baseball.