The obituary ran this week. Fred Gladding, a wily reliever for the Tigers and Astros, gone at age 78.
The ever-dependable www.sportscollectors.net credited the hurler for a 97 percent response rate, answering more than 200 by-mail requests.
I landed Gladding when he was an Astro. He was willing to add a photo on request.
Never be shy about asking. Fred taught me that.
Check out an impressive video interview from Billy Staples with Gladding, conducted in 2013. See what we’re missing.