9-11-13 Minnie Minoso

September 11, 1976 - Minnie Minoso comes to bat for the White Sox after a twelve-year hiatus. He goes hitless in his three at bats against Frank Tanana, but his appearance makes him one of a handful of Major League players to play in four decades. His at bat in 1980 will match him with Nick Altrock as a five-decade player.

• So this has been hit or miss with me – maybe if I try to discipline myself to writing a daily blog entry I can get more in the swing of it.  I’m not a good writer but for some reason I want to leave thoughts somewhere for….my kids?  My grandkids?  I don’t know….and maybe it doesn’t matter.  Maybe it’s just for me.

• To today is the 11^th of September and everyone is commemorating the attacks in 2001.  I think it goes a little overboard but … we’re baby-boomers and it’s all about “us” right?  Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941 and there’s barely a mention of it anymore. Perhaps “9-11” will be that way someday. 

• I barely remember Minnie Minoso.  I do recall it being a big deal that he played in 5 different decades.  But since he was out of baseball for 12 years – and since the Sox were owned by the publicity seeking Bill Veeck, I think that this is more of a stunt than an actual achievement. 

He who hesitates….

Recently, two items on eBay have slipped right through my fingers.  I hesitated and they were gone before I could make up my mind to make a purchase.   

The first item was an autographed (with a reliable COA) copy of a book titled “Lucky to be a Yankee” by Joe DiMaggio.  In decent shape, this was the hardcover, 1946 publication from A.S. Barnes.  The book was later released by A.S. Barnes in paperback, and again later by Grosset and Dunlap; once with a dust jacket (Big League Library Series) and later with a color board. (Also BLL Series) 

 

The book’s original asking price of $225.00 had been reduced to a “Buy It Now” price of $165.00.  For my collection, that’s quite a bit of money for one book.  I watched and waited … and … waited and watched….until one day it was gone - sold.  I could kick myself because books in the same condition are carrying asking process of $500 to $1,500.  I realize that asking price is different than selling price – but these amounts aren’t even in the same zip code – let alone neighborhood.

A few weeks later, I saw another copy of the same book up for bid without the certificate of authenticity for the autograph.  But I know DiMaggio autographed a ton of these books, so it should be no trouble to get it authenticated at a collectibles show.  I bid $75.00 – and figured I would keep an eye on it.  I got sidetracked (okay, my son graduated from college) and it sold for $76.00.  I am hopeful another reasonably priced copy will come on the market. 

The second item is also from A.S. Barnes – and was a part of their “Barnes All Star Library Series” that was sold at checkout lanes in grocery and department stores in the early 1950’s. 

There are eight books in the series:

·         Joe DiMaggio
·         Yogi Berra
·         Ted Williams
·         Stan Musial
·         Bob Lemon
·         Ewell Blackwell
·         Andy Pafko
·         Ralph Kiner

As of today, I have six of the eight books.  I am missing the Andy Pafko and Yogi Berra books. 

For the six that I own, I have seen prices all over the map ranging from about $15.00 up to $85.00.  While I would normally add the caveat “depending on condition,” it doesn’t seem to apply as heavily to these books.  I have recently seen average condition Joe DiMaggio books in the $50 range.  I bought mine (also average condition) for about $10.00.  While I paid $25 for the Stan Musial book, I have seen it as high as $85.00.  Currently there is an Andy Pafko book on eBay with an asking price of around $65.  For the most part, I prefer to wait and be patient.  Eventually someone will list one of the books I need at a decent price and I will move quickly to buy it or bid aggressively. 

I had my eye on a Yogi Berra book about a month ago - on eBay.  The asking price was $125.00 which I thought was ridiculous.  So I began to do a little research and discovered that the Berra and Pafko books are the hardest to find due to printing scarcity.  Yogi’s probably carries a premium because, well, it’s Yogi.  I found another copy of the Berra book on Amazon and it was listed at $199.00 – in fact it’s still for sale today.  The listing on eBay did not have a picture accompanying it – so I sent a message asking about quality.  The response was it was in average condition with a few scuff marks on the cover.  That made me hesitant – scuff marks, no picture, $125.00….it was all too much for me to process.  I simply could not get comfortable.  Within about a week – someone did get comfortable.  And now I am thinking I should have just gone for it. 

I suppose that my story is not unique to collectors – most people that collect things have stories about “the one that got away.”  Because 1) these situations occurred coincidentally, and 2) I realize now that I will probably pay more to complete my book series collection, it stings a little.  In a twisted, masochistic way this is what makes collecting so much fun.   

Update January 19, 2014

I have completed the AS Barnes collection.  I was very lucky to find the Yogi Berra book on an eBay auction and got it for $35 (rather than the $125 I expected.) I also learned that the Pafko book is the most difficult to find.  I got it for $50.  I don't consider the Pafko book a bargain, but the Berra book was a steal.

The first four issued were Musial, Kiner, DiMaggio, and Williams.  They are available and can be had for a reasonable price.  I have (2) Musial, (2) Kiner, (2) DiMaggio, and (3) Williams books.  The second series is the most difficult with Pafko and Berra the most difficult to get at a decent price.  I only have one each of the second series that also includes Lemon and Blackwell.

Here they are....

I was a catcher.

I became a catcher while in little league under somewhat stressful circumstances. Our town had Official Little League Baseball set up with A, AA, AAA, and “Majors” for children 12 and under.  At age 11, I missed the tryouts and did not get to move up to the “Majors.”  I was playing very well in AAA that year.  At the end of April, a Majors team coach called with an invitation to move up. Before my first game I was sitting alone on the bench, a little nervous and not sure what to do. The coach walked up to me, leaned on the bench with his hands placed on either side of my head and, with cigarette smoke trailing dragon-like from his nostrils, asked, “You ever catch before?”

“No” I squeaked out. I had been a pitcher and a third baseman.

He rose with his cigarette in one hand and a protective cup in the other hand and said, “Well, you’re catching tonight. Run over to the woods and stick this in your pants.”

He tossed a protective cup to me. I have brothers who are seven and eleven years older than me and they had participated in sports at various levels. So I knew what a cup was and I knew a holder (jock strap) was supposed to come with it. But the coach wasn't offering me a jock strap. Flustered and wanting to comply, I ran over to the woods and shoved it in my pants.  I adjusted it until it fit in my underwear.

I was a catcher.

My short baseball career had its ups and downs. I had a great deal of success as a little leaguer and pony leaguer - - and then a lot of fun playing high school ball.  In the spring of 1974 at Madison (New Jersey) High School, I made the varsity squad.  Several games into the year we played a conference rival, Summit High School. They had a future Major League Baseball star on their team named Willie Wilson. Wilson had a long career in professional baseball which included a batting title and a couple of stolen base titles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Wilson_(baseball)

In study hall on the afternoon of the game, our starting pitcher Norman Dow and I discussed pitch selection and strategized about minimizing the havoc Wilson would cause.  Wilson, a switch hitter, would be batting right handed against Norman, a southpaw. We decided to start Wilson off with a curve ball.  

I remember warming up for the game. A passel of scouts followed Wilson around all year.  It’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one hoping they would notice someone besides Wilson.  As the Summit team took the field for warm-ups, all eyes were on Wilson - who was also a catcher.  As he threw the ball to second base, it cut a straight line starting at his hand and ending at the bag. The reality of how good he was began to sink in, and we realized the scouts had no reason to look anywhere else.  By game time a light drizzle had started.  It was a home game – so we took the field first.  Norman retired the first two batters. Then Willie Wilson stepped up to the plate, dug in, and then stepped back to take the signals from the third base coach.  As he stepped back into the batter’s box, he looked down at me and said, “This ain’t no weather to play baseball in!”

I looked up at him, earnest and wide-eyed. All I could think to say was, “No, it’s not.”

I smiled at Wilson and turned my attention to Norman.  I called for the curve ball we had agreed upon in study hall just a few hours earlier.  Norman’s delivery was as smooth; he was even-paced with a fluid motion that is called Sneaky Fast.  He had a slow wind up that exploded as he pressed off the rubber.  In an instant the curve ball was arching toward home plate.

I had seen a fair amount of long balls hit over the years.  From behind the plate, a catcher instinctively knows, at the moment the ball is hit, where it’s going and how far it’s going.  In most cases a catcher will point in the air and start to yell to his outfielders, “Back!” or “Come in!”  

There was nothing to say this time; I just stood and watched.

In straight away centerfield a sign reading “350 FT” hung on the fence. In my estimation when the ball cleared the centerfield fence, it was still rising.  Wilson was watching too.  I wondered at that moment if this man-child ever surprised himself.  By far, it was the hardest-hit ball I had ever seen – and it went further than any ball I’d ever seen hit.  I briefly noticed Norman on the mound with his glove over his mouth just gaping at the distance the ball was traveling.  Our centerfielder, a red-headed speedster named Dave Bell, barely had time to turn, and gave faint chase to the ball.  It was over and done that fast.

As Wilson circled the bases and stepped on home plate I walked out to the mound to comfort Norman. What can you say in response to a ball hit that hard and that far?  Norman would be facing Wilson at least two more times in the game and needed to know that I had not lost confidence in him. I noticed the other infield players smiling in awe, amazed at what they had witnessed. When I got to the mound, Norman just made a moaning sound.  I told him not to worry - it was just one run. 

Norman would redeem himself.  We were down 1-0 in the top of the 3rd and Wilson came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. Norman had a full count on Wilson and then threw one of his Sneaky Fast fastballs on the outside corner to catch Wilson looking, a “backwards K.” We went on to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game.  I was happy for Norman.  I’d like to think the confidence I displayed in the first inning helped a little in the third. But that’s not what I remember about that day. What I remember most is Wilson’s towering home run, a ball hit with a ferocity I would never see again.

Wilson made it to the “Bigs” a couple of years later and I followed his baseball career with interest and enthusiasm.  I went off to college and became an accountant. 

I hope Willie is as happy as I am. 

I remembered this game over the years a little more dramatically.  I thought we struck out Wilson in the 7th inning, but I checked some other clippings that Mom saved and I see it was earlier in the game.  Takes nothing away from what Norman accomplished - he took out Wilson with a great pitch in a crucial moment.  

Volleyball

Today is September 11, 2012.

After a day of "never forgetting" I am left to my own thoughts.  I remember huddling around a radio at work to listen to the news broadcasts.  It was surreal.  I retreated to my office and the horrific pictures on the internet.  My boss, a British man of about 65 at the time was a little put out at our reaction.  When I asked him why he was not more concerned, he explained that as a child in London he had endured endless German bombings during World War II.  His words concerning the terrorist attack were, "We'll get over it and move on. I've been through this before."  Who ever said the British aren't tough?

Beyond that, what sticks out most in my mind is that my daughter had a volleyball game that day.  As a junior, she had made the varsity as the Setter for the team.  I was very excited and proud of her - and despite the day's tragic activity, they played the game that night.  I can't recall if the girls won or lost the game.  I think most of the parents attending were wondering more about terrorists than the game. I don't recall talking much about the attacks afterward, trying to stay focused on our daughter and son -and keep things as normal as possible.

My daughter is on the left

In high school I played a little hockey.  My parents became big fans of our escapades.  We started out as a club team in my junior year and the school sponsored a varsity team when I was a senior.  We played 12 games that year and wound up 10-1-1.  We were by no means a great team, but we were pretty good and had a great deal of fun.  Nothing like 4:30 AM bus rides to practice.  In addition to our team, my folks became big fans of hockey in general - with a particular love of the NY Rangers (This was in North Jersey.) As the years went by and I was no longer skating, my parents remained fans of the game.  As a surly stay-at-home college student, I resisted their efforts to draw me into their new found fanaticism.

Eventually I graduated, got married, and had a child of my own - a daughter born in 1985.  She turned out to be a pretty good volleyball player - not great, but pretty good.  And her teams were pretty good too.  She played on the school team in the fall and did some club volleyball in the off season.  We drove countless miles to watch her play during those years.  She graduated in 2003 and took off for college - never to play competitively again.

Just last weekend, as I took a few minutes to relax with the TV remote, I was passing through the ESPN stations and found a college volleyball game between Florida State and Auburn.  I stopped and watched the rest of the game - could barely look away.  That's happened countless times since my daughter got me hooked on volleyball.  I can't explain it - I've got no continuing interest in the sport.  But I am certain that it is directly related to my "little girl" playing volleyball.

And the older I get - the more I am able to understand my parent's fascination with hockey.  It brought them more joy than just the game that happened to be on TV at the time.  It also took them back to their own memories of watching their child play the game.    

Anyway, every September 11th I think of volleyball.

Graded World Series Cards

In June 2012 I completed my GRADED set of Topps World Series cards.  It took me two years and one month to complete.  My goal was to collect every Topps World Series and Playoff card issued by Topps from 1960 (the first year they were issued by Topps) through 1981, which loosely marks the end of the Post War Era for baseball cards.  While I had collected dozens of ungraded World Series cards over the years, I decided in June 2010 to assemble a graded set.

My primary source would be eBay which provides a ready market for purchasing cards either through auction or straight purchase.  I also regularly attend baseball card shows in North Carolina that are held in Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro and Hickory.  As it turns out, I did not find any graded cards for my collection at these shows. First of all, I didn’t see very many graded World Series cards.  And when I did see them, they were usually something I already had. 

It was, for me, a no brainer to go with cards graded by Professional Sports Authenticators.  (www.psacard.com)  While there is nothing particularly wrong with the other grading services, PSA has been the market maker and over time has proven to be the gold standard for graded product.  You pay a premium for PSA grading, but I believe in the long run, it is a better decision. Of course, everyone has a reason for choosing a favorite grading service and here is a general guide published by eBay: http://reviews.ebay.com/Rating-Sports-Card-Grading-Services?ugid=10000000002580894

After deciding on PSA, the next decision point to consider was cost.  The price curve for cards is steep when you get to a grade of PSA 9 or 10.  This applies to common cards as well as star cards.  I have seen unheard of players from the 1950’s and 60’s have their cards sell for over $100 if they are a PSA 9 or 10.  In contrast, the curve for grades PSA 1 to 8 is relatively linear.  So, I decided that on the high end I would go no further than a PSA 8 unless there was an unusual bargain.  On the lower end I struggled.  I saw a number of cards that were graded PSA 4 that looked acceptable.  But I needed to set a standard and decided I would go no lower than a PSA 5. 

With that decided, I began my journey.  The first card I found was a PSA 8, 1978 Topps #413.  It is a card with Reggie Jackson commemorating his phenomenal three home run performance for the New York Yankees the 1977 World Series. This was the year that Reggie became known as “Mr. October” due to his ability to rise to the occasion when the pressure was most intense.  I remember where I was, and the joy I had as that third ball sailed into the bleachers.  I was 20 years old in the fall of 1977 and found myself in the local tavern (O’Brian’s – for those of you from Madison, NJ) with a few friends.  It was a raucous crowd at the bar, and I don’t know if I’ve ever had so much fun watching a baseball game.  

I think the year I remember most would be the 1968 World Series between the Cardinals and the Tigers.  These games were portrayed in the 1969 Topps set.  Topps teamed up with The Sporting News to give a newspaper headline feel to the card.  I had just turned eleven years old and was in my prime baseball card collecting years, little league years, and general “fascination with baseball” years.  Mantle had retired (one year earlier) and his last card was in the ’69 set.  But more than anything I remember my 6^th grade teacher, Mrs. Thatcher. I was held after school one day with a couple of friends for talking in class.  I was actually asking someone about the score of the game…..

Why my mother saved this "detention essay" from 6th grade, I will never know.  She passed away last year, three months before my dad died.  I didn't know she had it until a few years ago when she gave me a bunch of old stuff - reports cards and such.  It was stuck in my 6th grade report card, as if it were an explanation of my less than stellar academic performance that year.  I didn't like the 6th grade, or my teacher very much.  I felt like I was letting my parents down; that was when Dad was the president of the Board of Education.  But I just couldn't get interested - and seemed to be constantly distracted by....well, by just about anything. But I enjoyed baseball - it kept me focused on something positive.  Here's what the cards look like:

Note that Game 2 depicts Willie Horton's home run referred to in my essay.....

Collecting these cards pretty much ran through the years of my youth.  From 1960 to 1981, I went from 3 years old to 24 years old.  As the cards arrived in the mail, day by day, week by week I could think back to 1966 and 4th grade....or 1971 and the 9th grade.  All the way through college graduation and my first job as an accountant.  I remembered old friends, odd situations, girlfriends, and playing ball myself.  Sitting at a friends house after school watching the 1973 series between the Mets and the A's, I can recall the dark walls of the den, the way the autumn sun spilled through the windows, and the cackle of five boys as we yelled at the players on TV.  Without provocation, we'd start wrestling around - or perhaps start making fun of each other's girlfriend, or lack thereof.  Who can explain what is running through the mind of 16 and 17 year old boys? Nevertheless, there was always baseball to bring us together.  

Here is a sampling of the cards from the 60's and 70's.  It was a blast collecting them all: 

Buying cards...

Those of you who grew up in Madison NJ, around Seven Oaks Circle, will remember a store we used to call “Jerry’s.”  I have no idea where the name came from – because there was no Jerry at Jerry’s. It was run by two brothers. Anyway, it was a little store with a house above it that sold basic foodstuffs and liquor.  More importantly to kids, they sold candy, ice cream, and bubble gum cards.  This is where most of my card buying occurred. 

In the late 1960’s card packs sold for 5 cents each. Most summer days, I could pester my mother enough to get a quarter so I could get some cards. I think it was a relief for her to get me out of the way for a couple of hours on a hot summer day.  Twenty five cents; five packs; twenty five cards.

They had soda machines outside the store (I can remember as far back as 10 cents a bottle) and had the soda crates stacked up next to the machines.  We would make our purchases – and then sit on the soda crates in front of the store, open our card packs, and begin boasting and trading. I am not sure the brothers appreciated our hanging out in front of their store for hours, but they never really bothered us much about leaving.  I suppose as long as our parents were feeding us nickels, dimes and quarters, they were happy to let us spend it at their store.  There were very few summer days from 1965 to 1969 that I did not spend at least some time at Jerry’s.

My father was not very interested in my card collecting.  He was a busy man in those days.  In addition to working, he was on the town’s board of education, and he taught an Advanced Management class at the local university.  My brothers were much older than I was (eleven and seven years) so they weren’t too interested either.  And I am not sure that any of my friends had a lasting interest in their cards. Card collecting was, and still is, a relatively solitary hobby.  I think it feeds my need for orderliness and completeness.  I wound up being an accountant and view my work as an outgrowth of my collecting.

In 2011 both my parents died.  First Mom passed in February; then Dad in June.  They were 90, in failing health, and (depending on your beliefs) may be in a far better place now.  They outlived many of their contemporaries, but a fair number of people still showed up.  As we gathered and chatted about old times with friends and family, my oldest brother came to me and said; “Follow me.”  We approached a man who appeared to be around 70 or so.  He looked vaguely familiar and still had some sandy blond hair among the gray.  My brother asked, “Do you remember this guy?” My blank expression answered him.  He said, “This is the guy that owned Jerry’s back when we were kids!”

I was astonished.  Why was one of the brothers at Dad’s funeral?  Apparently he was in Dad’s class at the university and remembered him fondly.  Dad provided some mentoring and guidance as the brothers sold “Jerry’s”, kept the liquor license, and opened up a liquor store – on their way to earning a great deal of money.  He wanted to pay his respects and was appreciative of Dad’s time and advice.  He instantly became recognizable to me and I almost hugged him right there.  I said; “If you only knew how much time I spent at your store – how many baseball cards I bought – how those memories linger with me!  I still have my cards!”  We chatted for a few minutes and I thanked him for coming. 

You just never know, do you?  

Books……..

Around 1991-ish I was in an antique store in Huntington Beach, CA.  The sports card (especially baseball) craze was at its peak.  It was winter, about 5:00 pm on a Saturday, getting dark, and a little chilly.  As it was close to closing time, there were precious few minutes to rummage through the treasures….but I came across four books published by Grosset and Dunlap:

·         The Magnificent Yankees by Tom Meany, 1952

·         Lucky to be a Yankee by Joe DiMaggio, 1947

·         Babe Ruth by Tom Meany, 1947

·         Yogi Berra by Joe Trimble, 1954

I think I paid $20 - for the four books - no dust jackets.  Little did I know that it would lead to my becoming a collector of adolescent sports literature - non fiction and fiction (e.g.: the Chip Hilton series) These books I named above were part of a Grosset and Dunlap series named “The Big League Baseball Library” which includes several other titles.  This morphed into another series called “The Grosset Sports Library” which went into the 60’s and 70’s and covered hockey, football, basketball, and golf - in addition to baseball.  I say morphed because Grosset reissued many of the titles from TBLBL in the GSL. 

In addition to the four books above, the other titles in the Big League Baseball Library include:

·         Baseball Complete by Russ Hodges, 1952

·         Baseball’s Greatest Players by Tom Meany, 1953

·         Milwaukee’s Miracle Braves, by Tom Meany, 1954

·         The Artful Dodgers, by Tom Meany, 1954

·         The American League, by Ed Fitzgerald, 1955

·         The National League, by Ed Fitzgerald, 1955

·         Baseball’s Hall of Fame, by Ken Smith, 1952

·         My Greatest Day in Baseball, by John P. Charmichael (and others), 1945

·         Roy Campanella by Dick Young, 1952

·         Baseball for Everyone by Joe DiMaggio, 1948

·         Inside Baseball by Arthur Daley, 1950

·         The Jackie Robinson Story by Arthur Mann, 1950

·         Bob Feller’s Strikeout Story by Bob Feller, 1947

·         Pitching to Win by Bob Feller, 1948

This seems to be all of the titles in the Big League Baseball Library.  I can only tell from the books listed on the dust jackets.  (These all had dust jackets, although I have found a few, like My Greatest Day in Baseball, with a picture/hardcover.)  As I said, Grosset transitioned these into a new series called the Grosset Sports Library.  They reissued the following books:

·         The Jackie Robinson Story

·         Baseball Complete

·         Babe Ruth

·         Baseball’s Hall of Fame

·         Inside Baseball

In addition, the following titles were issued for the Grosset Sports Library:

·         Run to Daylight by Vince Lombardi, 1963

·         Pro Quarterback, My Own Story by Johnny Unitas and Ed Fitzgerald, 1965

·         The Making of a Pro Quarterback by Ed Richter, 1963

·         Gordie Howe by Stan Fischler, 1967

·         Arnold Palmer by the editors of Gold Digest Magazine, 1967

·         The Amazing Mets by Jerry Mitchell, 1964

·         Inside Pro Football by Hal Higdon, 1968

·         Wilt Chamberlain by George Sullivan, 1966

·         Willie Mays by Arnold Hano, 1966

·         Sports Shorts by Mac Davis, 1959

·         Sandy Koufax by Jerry Mitchell, 1966

·         Comeback Quarterback – by Earl Morrall and George Sullivan, 1969

All of the Grosset Sports Library books are hardcover with a picture cover - no dust jackets. 

There are many more sports book sets that go back to the early 1900’s when sports, football and baseball in particular, became a bigger part of American life.  Those four “Yankee” books that I found in California started a whole different branch of collecting for me - so in addition to baseball cards from the 60’s and 70’s…I am now collecting sports books.  What a day that proved to be.