Header - Baseball by the Letters

Is Former Manager Frank Lucchesi One Of the Bizarro Supermen?

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Frank Lucchesi answered my letter. Sort of?

Imagine giving a press conference. Questions? The trick is, no answers will match anything asked.
I read my share of DC Comics. This is straight Bizarro Superman stuff.
Lucchesi used the special piece of paper I enclosed for his reply.

Here is what I asked:

1. You started as a playing manager in 1951. Under what conditions might a player-manager get a chance in the majors today?


2. In your years in the Phillies farm system, who are some of your prize pupils, and how did you help them on the field?


3. From the 1970 Phillies helm to leadership of the 1987 Cubs: how did the pressures or demands of big league managing change in those years?

 
His answers?

1. My best hitter was Rich Allen.
2. My best two pitchers, Fergie Jenkins and Steve Carlton
3. Best city I like was Philadelphia.
4. My best infielder was Larry Bowa.


Those were nice. Totally baffling, but nice. If you write to Lucchesi, expect an answer. What kind of an answer? That’s the question!

Seeking More Good Joes (As in Garagiola)

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I’ll never forget my first conversation with Joe Garagiola.

As co-editor of Sports Collectors Digest, I ran a letter to the editor. A 1940s Phillie was suffering from Alzheimer’s. His daughter wrote to say that her dad loved greeting cards, carrying them in his pocket until they disintegrated. Even though her father couldn’t sign autographs, she hoped readers would write to him.

Joe subscribed! He vowed to get the Baseball Assistance Team to help. When Joe started requesting donations to BAT for autographs, his move made sense. I believed he was sincere. He had told me many instances of how BAT served former players in need. His current donation policy for autographs, along with a new cause, is detailed here on this helpful website outlining signatures for charity.

In coming installments, I hope to get more feedback from current and former players who support charity through autographing. Questions I’ll be asking:

1. What is the charity?
2. Why do they support this cause?
3. How much have they raised through autograph signing?

I don’t want to be a cynical grump, but I have harbored small doubts about the vague “I give it to charity” comments. WHAT charity? While I feel good about helping a good cause, I don’t like feeling that the signer will never see my letter. Instances in which retirees send thank-you notes for donations show me these men are active supporters of the charities, giving me an extra insight into their personality.

Readers: what questions do you have about the charities that autograph signers support with your donations?

Johnny”Double No-Hitter” Vander Meer Despised Deadbeat Collectors

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Don’t assume why some former players who sign for pay have a “cash only” policy..
(Yes, I count a donation as a payment.)

I met former pitcher Johnny Vander Meer at a 1980s sports collectors show. At that time, he wanted a donation to the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT).

He growled to Luke Appling about the hassles of dealing with personal checks. I could see that he felt that collectors bounced checks on purpose, trying to cheat “Double No-Hit” out of a signature and BAT out of a donation.

“Cash is easier!” he proclaimed.

Sure, the temptation of a retiree to “forget” to tell the IRS about all the fivers that come in the mail weekly is a possibility. I won’t assume that all autograph signers have tax fraud on their minds. Avoiding problems with the bank could be another motivation.

Readers: how do you feel about sending cash in the mail for an autograph?

Johnny"Double No-Hitter" Vander Meer Despised Deadbeat Collectors

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Don’t assume why some former players who sign for pay have a “cash only” policy..
(Yes, I count a donation as a payment.)

I met former pitcher Johnny Vander Meer at a 1980s sports collectors show. At that time, he wanted a donation to the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT).

He growled to Luke Appling about the hassles of dealing with personal checks. I could see that he felt that collectors bounced checks on purpose, trying to cheat “Double No-Hit” out of a signature and BAT out of a donation.

“Cash is easier!” he proclaimed.

Sure, the temptation of a retiree to “forget” to tell the IRS about all the fivers that come in the mail weekly is a possibility. I won’t assume that all autograph signers have tax fraud on their minds. Avoiding problems with the bank could be another motivation.

Readers: how do you feel about sending cash in the mail for an autograph?

Chuck Essegian Proves Good Letters Matter

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I may call former Dodger Chuck Essegian my hobby “professor.”

Months ago, I wrote to him with my three questions relating specifically to HIS career. Each question was answered in “Password” fashion (remember that cool TV game show?), done in less than one sentence.

However, he sent me a passing grade! Yes, Prof. Essegian proved I’m on the right track:

“Tom —

May you stay warm and young.

Chuck Essegian”


I had concluded my letter with:

“Thank you for your time. My ‘career’ ended in Little League, but those baseball memories keep me warm in the winter and young year-round.”


I DO NOT write to former players saying, “I’m a blogger who’ll publish your words. Want to be famous again? Send me your best quote!” I am sharing what one ordinary fan and collector can do with a heart-felt letter. No, you won’t connect every time. However, a batting average counts only successes. Focus on your hits, not your misses, for a great hobby career.

Readers: do you have examples of inscriptions or personalizations proving the autograph signer connected with your letter? Please, share!