Bert Blyleven Signed 1982 Donruss Baseball Card #111 Indians Hall of Famer HOF Autograph

 Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven signed this card for me in black pen in 1985 when the Twins were visiting Boston. At this time, I liked the vintage look of pen on a card, big mistake.

Mike Davis Signed 1985 Fleer #422 Baseball Card Athletics Autograph with a great story

 My coolest memory of Fenway Park came on July 24, 1985. My friend and I were outside Fenway Park collecting autographs. Oakland Athletics outfielders Dwayne Murphy and Mike Davis arrived via taxi. They signed our autographs. We then asked Davis who was having a great year if he was going to hit his 17th homerun that night. He responded with 'I am going to hit number 17 and 18 Off the Can (Dennis Oil Can Boyd,).' We were thrilled with his response and pressed him for more information. He retreated and only promised one homerun. Lo and behold, he hit number 17 off Boyd in the 9th inning. What a memory.

I recall my sons' first games on September 26, 2007 and July 4, 2011 like they were yesterday. Fenway Park is all about memories.

Rick Manning Signed 1984 Topps Baseball Card #128 Brewers Outfielder Autograph

 Born in Niagara Falls, Manning was a solid outfielder for the Indians and Brewers. Manning signed this card for me in 1985 outside Fenway Park when the Brewers were playing the Red Sox.

Ron Kittle Signed 1984 Drakes Big Hitters #17 Baseball Card (1983 White Sox Rookie of the Year)

 Indiana native Ron Kittle was a huge slugger in the American League in the 1980's - he won Rookie of the Year in 1983 for the White Sox. He signed this card for through the mail with black sharpie in 2012.

Kittle is a great guy and does a ton of work for Indiana sports charities. Kittle even wrote a book about his days in the White Sox 1983 season, a fun read with some good anecdotes. 

Pete Ladd Brewers Pitcher 1984 Topps Baseball Card Autograph

 Pete Ladd was born in Portland, Maine. The soft spoken reliever signed this card for me in 1985 in Boston. Although his card states that he is 6'3", he seemed larger than life for this 14 year old.

President Roosevelt's Green Letter to Landis to Proceed with Baseball During WWII

My dear Judge:

Thank you for yours of January fourteenth. As you will, of course, realize the final decision about the baseball season must rest with you and the Baseball club owners - so what I am going to say is solely a personal and not an official point of view.

I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before.

And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before.

Baseball provides a recreation which does not last over two hours or two hours and a half, and which can be got for very little cost. And, incidentally, I hope that night games can be extended because it gives an opportunity to the day shift to see a game occasionally.

As to the players themselves, I know you agree with me that the individual players who are active military or naval age should go, without question, into the services. Even if the actual quality to the teams is lowered by the greater use of older players, this will not dampen the popularity of the sport. Of course, if an individual has some particular aptitude in a trade or profession, he ought to serve the Government. That, however, is a matter which I know you can handle with complete justice.

Here is another way of looking at it - if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of the fellow citizens - and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.

With every best wish,

Very sincerely yours,

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hon. Kenesaw M. Landis
333 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois

Ken Schrom 1984 Fleer #572 Signed Twins Pitcher Autograph

 

Ken Schrom 1984 Fleer #572 Signed Twins Autograph Schrom lead the Twins with a 3.71 era in 1983 as a starting pitcher Schrom signed this card for me in 1985 in front of the Sheraton Boston Hotel before boarding the team bus.

Pat Neshek Signed 2002 Elizabethton Twins #41 Autographed Baseball Card MiLB

 Neshek is one of the nicest signers in baseball.

His autograph might be one the best in baseball.

 I obtained this autograph through the mail. (TTM) in 2013 sig. is in blue sharpie. It was part of a trade with Neshek for Traci Bingham autographed trading card.

Art Howe 1984 Fleer Houston Astros Autographed Baseball Card

 owe is most well known as being played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Howe was quite different in reality to fans. He signed this card for me in 1986 while a coach for the Rangers. The back of this card shows that Howe was a former computer programmer who enjoyed reading, basketball, handball and golf. Howe was born in Pittsburgh.

Glenn Hoffman Signed 1985 Topps Baseball Card #633 Red Sox Autograph

Glenn was a promising infielder for the Red Sox until 1984 when Glenn became injured. Glenn graduated from Savannah High School in Anaheim, CA and won three letters as a basketball player. Glenn signed this card for me outside Fenway Park in 1985.

Angels Manager John McNamara Autograph 1985 Topps Baseball Card

 Few have a signature like John Hancock, but John McNamara comes close. McNamara signed this in blue pen card for me outside Fenway Park while managing the Red Sox. He was soft spoke, but always took the time to sign autographs at the player's parking lot.

Joe Orsulak Signed 1986 Topps #102 Pirates Signed

New Jersey native Joe Orsulak was a solid outfielder in the 80's. He signed this card for me through the mail (ttm) in 1986. Orsulak has a sweet signature and it shows well in black on this card.

Dennis Boyd Autograph 1984 Fleer #393

 Dennis Boyd was always a treat for Red Sox fans. He was always accommodating to autograph seekers and spent extra time conversing with fans. He signed this card for me outside Fenway Park in 1985.

Tom Brookens 1981 Donruss Tigers Autograph Baseball Card

 Brookens was always accomodating with autograph seekers. The 1984 World Series Champion signed this card for me at the Sheraton Boston Hotel when the Tigers were in Boston.

Tao in the Yankee Stadium Bleachers BY JOHN UPDIKE

Tao in the Yankee Stadium Bleachers

BY JOHN UPDIKE

Distance brings proportion. From here

the populated tiers

as much as players seem part of the show:

a constructed stage beast, three folds of Dante’s rose,

or a Chinese military hat

cunningly chased with bodies.

“Falling from his chariot, a drunk man is unhurt

because his soul is intact. Not knowing his fall,

he is unastonished, he is invulnerable.”

So, too, the “pure man”—“pure”

in the sense of undisturbed water.

“It is not necessary to seek out

a wasteland, swamp, or thicket.”

The opposing pitcher’s pertinent hesitations,

the sky, this meadow, Mantle’s thick baked neck,

the old men who in the changing rosters see

a personal mutability,

green slats, wet stone are all to me

as when an emperor commands

a performance with a gesture of his eyes.

“No king on his throne has the joy of the dead,”

the skull told Chuang-tzu.

The thought of death is peppermint to you

when games begin with patriotic song

and a democratic sun beats broadly down.

The Inner Journey seems unjudgeably long

when small boys purchase cups of ice

and, distant as a paradise,

experts, passionate and deft,

hold motionless while Berra flies to left.

Mike Easler Autograph 1983 Donruss Baseball Card Pirates Outfielder

 The Hitman signed this card for me in 1985 at Fenway Park while playing for the Red Sox. Mike was always so friendly to fans and autograph hounds. I have also had success TTM with Easler as  well.

This review is from: Take Time for Paradise: Americans and Their Games (Hardcover)

 

This book was released shortly after Giamatti's sudden death. The book is a rare gem of beautiful prose that we so rarely see in our world full of sound bites. Giamatti's insight is reflective, insightful and backed with references. The reader can revisit the book often and encourages dynamic discussion among fans and readers. The book leaves the reader looking for more wisdom from the author. Giamatti provides a wealth of discussion in such a short body of work.

Jeff Reed 1985 Donruss Rated Rookie Autograph Twins Catcher

Jeff Reed played in the majors for 17 years. He appears on the illustrious Rated Rookie set in 1985. Jeff signed this card in 1986 for me when the Twins were in Boston. The Twins at that time were always so accommodating to autograph hounds.

Danny "Bull" Tartabull Autograph 1987 Topps #476 Mariners

 Tartabull signed this card for me in 1987 TTM. at that time we was still adding 'Bull' ot his signature. Too bad, he is now on the most wanted list as a dead beat dad. He always seemed the gentleman and was quite amusing on his Seinfeld cameos.

Ray Fosse Autograph 1979 Topps Brewers Catcher

Unfortunately for Fosse, he is most well known for his collision with Pete Rose in the all star game. Fosse signed this card for me in 1985 in blue sharpie outside Fenway Park.

George Wright 1986 Topps Rangers Autograph

Wright had an amazing year in 1983 for the Rangers. Unfortunately, he never replicated that season. Wright signed this card for me in 1986 through the mail (TTM). He had a sweet signature. Too bad he did not use a sharpie.

Ted Lepcio 1961 Topps Phllies Autograph

Ted is an autograph collector's friend. He signs through the mail (TTM) and in person. always accomodating and a nice signature.

Vern Ruhle Autographed 1984 Fleer Astros Pitcher

Ruhle was always a gentleman. He signed this card for me in 1985 while pitching for the Indians. We were at Fenway Park.

Ken Schrom 1984 Twins Leaders Autograph Topps Card

Ken Schrom signed this autograph for me in Boston in 1985 at the Sheraton Hotel. Schrom was always very kind to take his time with the fans. Many of the Twins of that era were great with autograph seekers.

Mike Mason Autographed 1986 Topps Texas Rangers

Mike Mason 1986 Topps Signed Rangers  Autograph #189

personally obtained by me in 1986 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. signed in blue sharpie. 

Mike Mason earned his first MLB win on 9-18-82

Mike was born in Faribault, Minnesota November 21st, 1958.