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Jim Campanis

The Born into Baseball Book Tour in Full Swing!

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born into baseballI enjoyed reporting on the all-star accomplishment of player-turned author Jim Campanis Jr., sharing all the reasons his Born into Baseball (Summer Game Books) memoir is a winner. 

Seeing how he’s hit the road with dad Jim Campanis Sr. (whose major league career stretched from 1966-74), I wanted to ask Jim the game plan for his book tour. Following his appearances at minor league games in Walla Walla, Everett and Bellingham, here’s his reply:

Q: What’s your schedule on the road?

A:” I’m having fun and selling books. The schedule is locked through mid-July. Jakes Pizza in Saratoga CA @5p on 7/8 and the San Jose Elks Lodge @10a on 7/9. More tentative dates are ready to confirm but I need to be sure I have enough books!!!”

Q: Snooty bookstores sometimes add to their author signing ads with “the celeb author will only be signing copies of his latest book (so don’t you dare bring anything else to get autographed).” That’s the intent, at least.

If someone comes to buy a book, are you willing to sign cards, photos and etc. for them, too?

A: “Of course!  My dad and I enjoy interacting with the people we meet and sharing our story. It’s been a blast and we’ve signed many items besides books.”

Q: No cost to talk baseball with you and your dad?

A: “As I mentioned–my dad and I enjoy interacting with people and many decide to buy the book after hearing a story or two. To our surprise, many moms and grandmas are buying the book due to some of the inspirational stories. That’s been quite a cool thing knowing I can help inspire young people to love baseball a little bit more.” 

To learn more about the Campanis and Campanis 2016 Book Tour, find Jim on Facebook or visit the official book page.

Jim Campanis Jr.’s Born Into Baseball will delight fans and collectors

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born into baseballJim Campanis Jr. is real. He’s not a wise-cracking TV commentator. He’s not the graduate student showing off with endless thesis-filling sentences.

Instead, he’s a grateful, honest (and big-time funny) baseball storyteller.

Fans and collectors alike will be amazed at Jim’s new book, Born into Baseball: Laughter and Heartbreak at the Edge of the Show (Summer Game Books).

He’s part of a three-generation baseball family. Dad Jim Sr. played for the Dodgers, Royals and Pirates from 1966-73. Grandpa Al spent a career with the Dodgers, progressing from player to scouting director to general manager, until a 1987 controversy led to his departure.

Yes, Jim discusses everyone and everything, including his view of the infamous ABC Nightline interview that falsely painted Al Campanis as a racist. No one considered, Jim adds, that his grandpa roomed with Jackie Robinson in the 1940s. Al Campanis signed Latin stars, from Roberto Clemente to Pedro Guerrero. “His only prejudice was against lousy baseball players…of all races!” Jim writes.

Grandpa Al gave grandson Jim his first taste of fame at age nine. Al’s instructional book for kids, Play Ball with Roger the Dodger, featured illustrations by Syd Hoff, known most for Danny and the Dinosaur. Hoff’s artwork was based on many photos of nine-year-old Jim modeling proper baseball techniques.

Several surprises in Born Into Baseball may stun collectors. Jim tells about how asking for autographs in the clubhouse was taboo, but the player’s son broke the rule to get a baseball signed by Hank Aaron. Jim tells why the ball did not survive his childhood in mint condition.

Jim rocks the tale of how a Pirates jersey he sold to a dealer (for $150) happened to be one worn by new Hall of Famer Willie Stargell. The relic, collected by dad during his Pittsburgh affiliation, financed Jim’s high school prom evening. Jim thought he found just another old jersey of dad’s. One unhappy dad, by the way!

Jim reveals his run-ins with baseball card companies. Upper Deck is his least favorite. He tells all.

The second half of the book is stuffed full of baseball secrets. Such as? Jim was tutored on framing pitches and stealing strikes from none other than Bob Boone.

The toils of being a pro player are included in the book. While Jim Sr. moved 43 times in his career, his son counts “only” 25 new addresses. The worst stadiums, the drunkest fans. Jim gives peeks at his discoveries that would be worthy of a Bull Durham sequel.

Yes, Jim’s parallels to the movie are many, even getting married on the field in 1991.

The book ends with two poignant chapters. In a baseball equivalent to Brian’s Song, Jim remembers his best friend at USC, teammate and roommate Dave “Lats” Latter.

A fine finale to Born Into Baseball comes from Jim describing his “bitter period.” After his minor league career was over, he couldn’t bear even watching a game on TV. The “why them? Why not me?” factor was overwhelming as he mourned the death of a dream: wanting to be a major leaguer. Jim concludes with how he was redeemed. Not as a baseball player, but as a baseball fan.

The book is an all-star tour through a three-generation baseball family. Seattle may not have called Jim up. However, baseball bookshelves everywhere will promote him. Jim Campanis Jr. is a major league author.

What might be the best part about Born Into Baseball? Find the book’s Facebook page, or check out the website. Jim is adding autographed “bookmarkers” with each copy sold through his website. Order from his website and get (while supplies last) autographed photos of dad’s three Topps cards (1968, 1970 and 1974 Topps), a signed game photo of Jim catching future major leaguer Jeff Darwin, and a facsimile autographed photo of a 1943 Brooklyn Dodger player.

His name? Al Campanis.

Player-author Jim Campanis Jr. goes deep!

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campanis bookThe hobby knows Jim Campanis Jr. is one of baseball’s best through-the-mail signers. 

He’s one of baseball’s greatest living storytellers, too. Scan the blog archives and you’ll find proof.

Let me be one of the first to cheer his recent Facebook announcement:

Those stories will be a new summer title from Summer Game Books.

Joe Garagiola. Bob Uecker. Now Jim Campanis. Meet another catcher who can spin classic diamond yarns.

If you’ve ever gotten an autograph from Jim, be sure to make room on your shelves for this new book. Who knows? He might have an autograph anecdote or two tucked in the pages.

 

Former catcher Jim Campanis loves cards and autographs, too!

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CampanisHere’s some baseball hope for fans who think they won’t last until spring training.

Autographing all-star Jim Campanis Jr. will have his baseball memoir published in 2016 by Summer Game Books. 

The (second) catcher known as “Campy” is a born storyteller. Being the son of Jim Campanis and the grandson of former Dodgers general manager Al Campanis gives him many unique perspectives on the game.

I asked him about how cards and autographs have changed since his dad played. Jim replied:

“I have fond memories of my dad’s cards.  The 60’s and 70’s were a time when every kid was mass collecting…but my dad had cards, so that was EXTRA cool.

One year he agreed to a deal with Topps and instead of money chose a full set of Black & Decker power tools that I used for years!

When players from my dad’s generation would arrive at the ballpark, there would be stacks of fan mail in their lockers and dozens upon dozens of balls to be signed.  It took a while to sign them all and everyday a new batch of balls and fanmail would be back to sign.

When I started playing…those 60’s and 70’s era kids were now adults who learned how to make money with their hobby and card collecting hit its “Golden Era.”

By the time my first card hit in ’88, card shows were all the rage.  My dad NEVER did a card show as a player.  But I did like 4 in my first season and a bunch more by the early 90’s. 

Now with ebay and Craigslist I see cards I have signed go for about $2 a card.  That’s down from earlier years due to an overwhelmed market where there are literally millions of cards for sale and not enough buyers.

Today…many current players and former star players demand payment for autographs.  I suppose if hundreds of people wanted my autograph a day, it would be reasonable to ask for a fee.  But for me and my dad…we do it for free. 

I still think having the cards is a cool thing and I enjoy sharing the fun with the collectors.”

Make room on your bookshelves for 2016. This is one autograph, and author, worth collecting!

 

Can’t get your minor league cards autographed? It may not be why you think, reveals former catcher Jim Campanis

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I found this at www.tradingcarddb.com. Before you assume no cards exist of someone, stop here!
I found this at the amazing  www.tradingcarddb.com. Before you assume no cards exist of someone, stop here!

Ask. Always ask.

Legends have lingered for years about which major leaguers may not autograph certain cards. They don’t like being linked to that organization, or remain peeved they got traded.

I’ve never heard of a collector failing to get a minor league card autographed by a retiree. However, I assumed any possible rejection might be because of the disappointment of not making it to the majors that year.

Or not.

When someone posted a retrospective of cards of Jim Campanis on Facebook, the former Team USA member (with five major manufacturer appearances) commented that minor league sets did not necessarily pay appearance fees.

Oops. Shades of 1976 SSPC! 

How does he feel about a card that may have brought him NOTHING during his playing career, especially when someone asks to get it signed? He replied:

“It’s not the card collector’s fault the card companies are run by opportunistic a-holes who have found a loophole in the MLB player contracts. Collecting cards is often a shared love between fathers and sons. How could I be a jerk and say no to that even though many of my signed cards end up for sale online?

It feels like its my responsibility to keep signing them.”

We need guys like “Campy” on all-star teams. I’d vote for him. Thank you, Jim!