Header - Baseball by the Letters

Month: August 2010

Bobby Thomson Bows Out At Age 86

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Slugger Bobby Thomson, the batsman behind “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” in 1951, has left this world. He was 86. Major League Baseball’s first (of many, I hope) tributes can be found here.

In a March 1 blog post, I shared a kind letter from Thomson explaining his nickname, “The Flying Scot.”

He wrote “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World” (complete with date) for all collectors requesting the inscription. No charge for his autograph, nor the extra tagline. For years, he blessed the hobby world with his humility, kindness and generosity.

Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Write your heroes TODAY.

Walt Hriniak Helped Hitters Like Dwight Evans and Frank Thomas. Who Coached The Coach?

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Walt Hriniak’s frustratingly-short career as a backup catcher (1969-70) has no parallel to his years of success as a hitting coach with the Red Sox and White Sox. The difference? He found the perfect coach, someone he’d emulate for years. Once exposed to the wisdom of Charley Lau, Hriniak became a hitting disciple.

Walt worked first as a bullpen coach for the BoSox, serving as a volunteer batting practice pitcher. Promoted to batting coach in 1985, he stayed four seasons before being lured by the White Sox. He served Chicago hitters like Frank Thomas through 1995. To honor his mentor, Hriniak wore the #6 of former ChiSox coach Lau.

Hriniak wrote me:

“Charlie was the best coach I’ve ever been around. He changed the game. I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame. He was a very caring person. He helped so many people. I just was lucky to have been one of them. I loved him. Still do!”

I asked Hriniak, a former Expos minor league manager, how much harder it is to convince a major league veteran to change after years of the same batting stance. He explained:

“Players will listen if you show them a way of getting better. You just have to convince them there is a better way.”

When he signed with Chicago, the media speculated on who baseball’s best-paid coaches were. On the issue of the wide gap in team-to-team coach pay, Hriniak responded:

“In the 1980s and ‘90s, coaches in some organizations didn’t make much money. There are a lot of baseball people who think you can’t teach someone to hit. That sounds strange but it’s true. The great organization believes that you can teach someone to hit. Those are the ones who pay coaches well!”

Hriniak worked with great baseball minds, leaders like Gene Mauch and Tony LaRussa. Nevertheless, he credits just one man for the difference he made:

“I enjoyed my time as a coach. I was able to help a lot of people. That’s because of Charlie Lau.”

Be sure to check out this great 2010 profile of Hriniak. In their Hall of Fame acceptance speeches, says the article, Carl Yastrzemski, Carlton Fisk and Wade Boggs all thanked Hriniak for his hitting wisdom.

To see what inspired Hriniak all these years, look up Lau’s masterpiece, The Art of Hitting .300

‘One Iowan To Another’ Photo Inscribed

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“Tom — One Iowan To Another.”

In the coming week, I’ll share who signed a photo to me with this inscription.

Meanwhile, here’s a challenge for all the autograph collectors out there, those who are unsure about asking questions. In fact,I predict there’s some skeptical hobbyists who are unsure if the signers even read the letters.

Ask for a personalized inscription. Don’t wait for the signer to surprise you. Request something made out to YOU, not the generic “2X All-Star” notation. Spell it out for them Maybe you’re writing to a fellow alum from your college? Have someone wish you a happy 40th birthday. Make a connection.

See if it works. See if your letter gets read and your request followed. In fact, you might get more of a response than you ever imagined. If you hear from that signer, write them back with a thank-you note. Then, ask a question about their career.

Memories by mail. It’s one of the best bargains a baseball fan can find these days.

Catcher Ken Retzer’s Clue to Collectors

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One of the best replies I’ve received this year came from Ken Retzer, the Washington Senators catcher. He looked me up and called later to thank me for my letter. Even though he didn’t get lots of chances in the majors, he has remained a fan. I wrote about his fine letter in my March 25 post.

Retzer photocopied photos and clippings from his personal scrapbook. He added notations and autographed each one.

One frequent question from newer collectors and some blog readers is:

What do I ask them about? I never saw them play!

Remember the old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Go to Google IMAGES. Search for newspaper clippings. Print out an obscure photo. Or, if you have an old yearbook, find an image there. Even a baseball card could work. Where was the photo taken? Who else is in the shot? Which card is their favorite?

Seeing is believing. Let a retiree see what you’re talking about. You may get a story that’s been untold for years.

Be sure to check out this account of corresponding with Mr. Retzer from one of Washington’s greatest fans! Here’s a can’t-miss Senators history website.

Pitcher Moe Savransky Savored the 1954 Reds

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Moe Savransky squeezed a lifetime of memories out of a one-year major league career. Don’t think Savransky pitched “only” for the 1954 Reds. His recollections could rival any all-star. Savransky wrote:

“In 1948, when I signed with Cincinnati, I signed a major league contract and traveled with the Reds until July 5th and then went to a minor league team to end of the 1948 season. I went to spring every year with the Reds and did well in spring training but in those years they didn’t bring us young up so fast. They preferred for us to get more minor league experience. In 1951. I came up to the Reds from Buffalo in the International League ‘triple A’ after our season was over. They called a cup of coffee. I was in the Army in 1953 (Korean war) and returned to Reds in spring training 1954 and had a great record and was notified when we were heading north to Cincy that I made the team by Gabe Paul the GM and Birdie Tebbetts the mgr. Of course, I was elated. In the day the Reds always played a day before any other (as they were the first big league team). Opening day was exciting and I was in the bullpen.



“When I played amateur ball, I played first base and outfield, as I was a good hitter. In ‘A’ Ball in Sally League I hit .325. The hitting champ hit .326. At Buffalo Bisons AAA I hit .278. At the Reds in 1954, I hit .500, 1 for 2. I could’ve been 2-for-2. I hit a shot to left center in front of the scoreboard. The left fielder was playing out of position in left center and caught the ball. My hit I got off Milwaukee pitcher was Gene Conley. A pretty good right-hander. (Incidentally, also played pro basketball, 6-foot-9).

The out that was caught was off a Hall of Fame pitcher, Robin Roberts of the Phillies, recently passed away. If you look it up, I scored more runs than at-bats, because I was fast. Tebbetts used me for a pinch-runner and scored a couple of times.”

Concerning my Sally League days in 1950, I was 15 wins. I had four shutouts in a row: a 4-hit shutout, 2-hit shutout, a NO-HIT shutout on July Fourth and one-hit shutout. My manager, Gee Gee Walker (ex-major league outfielder) wanted the Reds to bring me up. I was 19 years old. Head scout Pat Patterson said no, he’s young. Let him get more experience.

“My most exciting game I came in relief was against the Philadelphia Phillies. Robin Roberts was pitcher for the Phillies in Philly. The pitch he threw was to Bobby Adams (3rd base). Adams hit in the upper in left field. Roberts proceeded to retire the next 27 batters. I came into the game in the fifth inning. We trailed 3-1. I faced nine hitters, got all of them and left the game for a pinch-hitter. The final score was 3 to 1. It was a thrill to be a part of historical game.”

Moe’s recall of the game isn’t exact. The fine fellows at http://www.retrosheet.org/ fill in the gaps with their accounts of the Reds-Phils matchup. What’s important to remember is that baseball still has Moes, the men who relish every inning they were given. Make the most of their experiences, while they’re still here.