Header - Baseball by the Letters

Revisiting the AAGPBL: Testing Girls Leaguer Response Rates

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Here’s news, plus a request:

First, I hope you’ll cheer with me for a new edition of an AAGPBL book by my wife Diana Star Helmer. I get to co-author on this revised edition of the title. 
The 1992 book was entitled Belles of the Ballpark. This updated edition will look at all the things the later movie A League of Their Own did and DID NOT accomplish. Interviews with Casey Candaele and the late Woody English (an AAGPBL coach) will be part of the added package. Best of all, this is the chance to tell the complete story of two women who salvaged the league’s disappearing history in the 1980s.
The book releases this fall from Summer Game Books. 
As I wrote earlier, the AAGPBL veterans were thrilled to autograph Diana’s copy of her book, referencing the specific page she mentioned each one on. While corresponding with the remaining alums this summer, I’ll share what they have to say about TTM autographs. 
Meanwhile, readers, any tips on great girls leaguers who’ve signed for you would be much appreciated.
These women played a Red Cross benefit game at Wrigley Field in 1943 using portable lights. That was the first-ever game at night in the Friendly Confines.The 1988 night game at Wrigley simply became the first Major League game under lights. History with an asterisk. You should have heard the flustered Cubs PR guy on the phone that year when I told him about the press clippings confirming the prior event. “We can neither confirm nor deny…GARGLE GARGLE GULP!”
The AAGPBL history-makers have many untold stories. Diana and I want to share more of their classic tales, allowing these fine ladies to tip their caps one more time. 

Kid Blogger Matt Nadel Bodes Well For Baseball’s Future

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Sincerity.


That’s the secret sauce of success for collectors.

Yes, some envelopes will never get opened. Some players will never listen or look up for a collector.

However, when that moment comes, you better be the real deal. 

If you think getting an autograph might be tough, imagine being the kid who wants more.

Consider 15-year-old Matt Nadel, a young blogger who writes “Baseball With Matt.” He’s scoring interviews with names from baseball’s past and present. Best of all, he’s got a baseball book coming out this fall from Summer Game Books. I’m grateful to include the details he shared.

Q: You’re writing great baseball history features. How many people have you interviewed?

A: I have done over 50 interviews including 10 hall of famers, bud selig, george w bush, hal steinbrenner, billy crystal and many others. My favorite interview is probably the one that I did with jim palmer since it was my first live one.  here’s a link: 

Q: Do you write to the people you interview?

A: I have never written letters to any interviewee by the way.

Q: What’s a good question that works for you, no matter who you’re interviewing? (Some collectors are unsure about what to ask when they write to someone.)

A:  A question I usually ask is what sports did you play/watch as a kid? and who is your favorite hitter and pitcher in MLB history?

Q: Your passion for, and knowledge of, baseball is impressive. Some might say it’s unique from someone so young. Do you tell interviewees about your age before you connect?

A: Yes. they always know that I am 15 and the youngest baseball history pro blogger on MLB.com.

Thanks, Matt!

Jim Walton Mined Gold For Team USA in 2000

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While manager Tommy Lasorda was taking bows for America’s Olympic gold medal in baseball, the 2000 team depended on advance scout Jim Walton for some seasoned opinions on the competition. I asked the former Brewers coach what that felt like. He replied —
“Tom:
Thanks for your interest in baseball and the Brewers.
Advance scouting is always a very interesting area of scouting. You’re not only charged with evaluation of player skills, but also concerned with team strengths and weaknesses. What kind of game do they play? Of course, the overall depth in the team roster and potential match-ups against who’s hot and who’s not, team defense, pick-offs, alignments both offensive and defensive.
A lot of little baseball items — starts, release times, pitchers and catchers. 
The turnaround time of the information is critical in the Olympics — due to fact you see a team in a late evening game and Team USA plays that team the next morning, requires a lot of burning the midnight oil to have information ready and in the coaches hands early the next morning. 
It was a very interesting scouting experience. And great to have had the opportunity to be with a Gold Medal Winner, Team USA!
Thanks for your being a baseball fan.
Jim Walton”

Milwaukee Brewers Coach Jim Walton Remembers Young Robin Yount, Paul Molitor

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Good news: you’re on a card.
Bad news: you have a
shrunken head!

Jim Walton coached first base for the Milwaukee Brewers from 1973-75.

He witnessed the launch of two superstar careers.
Did he see Hall of Fame futures for Paul Molitor and Robin Yount from the beginning? Walton replied:
“They not only were gifted players, but they were dedicated to the game with high character. The stats answer their ability to play the game.”
Coming Thursday: Helping Team USA win a gold medal!

In Search of Yankees Pitcher Jim Beattie

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Comment of the Week award has to go to collector Dan Brunetti. His jewel?

“Sometimes for me, the hunt for the address is almost as exciting as the return.”

Dan is working on assembling an autographed 1979 Topps set.

In the fall of 2013, Jim Beattie closed his Vermont P.O. Box. No one has gotten TTM successes from Beattie, or a current address since, according to www.sportscollectors.net postings.

Dan’s online searching found that Beattie was scouting for the Blue Jays. Dan e-mailed the team, asking if they’d forward a letter. 

Sure!

Baseball scouts travel. Writing c/o a team makes sense. One past theory asserts that som coaches and scouts may still have the idea of autographs as being a work-related job. If you support the guy’s employer (team), he’ll support your hobby. In other words, they feel they’re getting paid during the season to be fan-friendly. 

Of course, current and former baseball personnel may ignore all the mail, packing their piles of correspondence home for the winter.

For the off-season, seek a home address. Harvey Meiselman’s address list remains the gold standard in our hobby.

Team front offices can seem like wastelands. If you get forwarded, it may not be fast.

Different addresses may work at different times. Be creative, and compare notes with other collectors.