Cardinal Tom Lawless Had ‘A Blast’

The only difference between
this 1989 facsimile and my
autograph was Tom’s “T.”
His current sig almost
looks like “Pom.”

Tom Lawless gave me quite an answer.

He didn’t respond to any of my questions. Of course, I wanted to know about his bat-flipping homer celebration in the 1987 World Series.

Instead, I got a joyful summation of his seesaw career. After signing my letter and adding his #12, Lawless printed:

“Playing ML Baseball is a Blast!”

Did you miss Lawless sparkling for St. Louis in the 1987 Fall Classic? Here’s an epic description of the game, written by acclaimed journalist Thomas Boswell.

Coming Thursday: A review of Shawn Green’s “The Way of Baseball.”

Writing To MY Minnesota Twins

As seen on http://www.twinscards.com/!
From the epic collection of
Joel ‘Rosterman’ Thingvall.
The team-issued photos
showed PERFECT facsimile
signatures.

Once upon a time, the Minnesota Twins owned Iowa. My part, at least.

I grew up in Central Iowa. In third grade, my Little League thoughts turned to fantasy.
In other words, “People get PAID to play baseball. They do it six months a year or more!”

I started paying attention. The 1969 Topps set called to me.

That’s when I started noticing the popular kids in school. A souvenir cap. A jacket.
A real YEARBOOK! From Minnesota.

They had dads who listened to all the games. I believed that the Twins were on
WHO Radio, the state’s most powerful station. For many families, the thrill of the 1965 World Series hadn’t faded.

The bow on the package for Iowa parents?

This was a friendly team. From a friendly place. Iowans had relatives in Minnesota.
Those Cardinals and Cubs? Two cities. Scary. Dangerous. The Twins were an easy (safe) drive.

I remember that coach Vern Morgan and shortstop Danny Thompson were booked for a father-son banquet at the local Lutheran church. I got on the phone. I didn’t promise the minister that I’d switch denominations. However, I pointed out that I’d tell all the other kids the new church I visited. We got in.

I got my first of many Twins 4-by-5 black and white team-issued photos. Morgan even fibbed in church, telling some kids that the blue facsimile signature was an autograph! Morgan acted as emcee for the evening, coaxing answers out of the humble infielder.

My allegiance to the Lutherans and the Twins didn’t last. I was corrupted by Cubs, Cardinals and Royals radio and TV broadcasts. My patient parents got us to St. Louis and Kansas City.

Nonetheless, I haven’t forgotten my “first” team. Win, Twins!

From broadcasts and box scores, these are the Twins I remember. These are the 10 I mailed letters to in the past week:

Dave Boswell
Steve Brye
Ray Corbin
Tom Hall
Hal Haydel
Steve Luebber
Rick Renick
Tom Tischinski
Dick Woodson
Bill Zepp

Stay tuned!

Coming Wednesday: Tom Lawless looks back.

Cub Bob Will Has Left The Field

(Courtesy of http://www.sportscarddatabase.com/)

The 1963 Topps set marks Bob’s
last card, not his last appearance.

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Bob Will (1957-63) died Thursday at age 80.

I had the honor of speaking with Bob more than once. I wrote about Bob back in February. Bob wrote multi-page letters to collectors. He spoke of his illness. He told of his plans to write about his career, envisioning a book.

But…he’s…

This isn’t football or basketball. There’s no time clock here.

Currently, the score is:

Cancer 1, Bob Will 0.

The game isn’t over. Bob left behind a completed manuscript. I’ve seen the chapter describing highlights from his 1961 season. He tells tales I’ve never read anywhere. Tipped pitches. Stolen signals. Cubs fans, prepare yourselves. This man was an all-star storyteller.

Bob didn’t live to see a finished book. However, he retained that famed Cub optimism. This book has to happen. He knew it would. I’ve encountered a whole team of kind, talented supporters, people who’ve offered their wisdom and enthusiasm. The roster who wants this book to become a reality keeps growing.

You can join the team, too. Your voice of support will be heard at bobwill28book@gmail.com.

The Will family is in mourning. There won’t be any immediate responses about publication. Nevertheless, Bob’s legacy will be preserved. No “if.” It’s just a question of “when.” For now, just remember the title Bob selected:

#28 On Your Scorecard, #1 In My Heart

He said, “That’s you, the fans. I’ve always felt that way.”

I believe in Bob Will and Nancy Will, his best friend and best teammate of a wife. I believe in baseball.

Ballhawk Author Zack Hample Shares Secrets

Zack Hample snags more than baseballs. He caught up
with baseball commissioner Bud Selig (left) at an
after-party in Arizona’s Chase Field following
the 2011 All-Star Game.

(Photo Courtesy of Zack Hample)

I love the new book The Baseball by Zack Hample. Actually, it’s two great books in one. First, Hample creates a great history of the baseball, even reviewing TV episodes of shows like I Love Lucy or Sesame Street that include foul balls!

Then, for all you collectors, Hample shares all his secrets in how he’s amassed more than 5,000 baseballs. His book is a textbook for frustrated fans who’ve never snagged a souvenir. These aren’t just dogpile prizes of homers or foul balls in the author’s collection, however. Hample has perfected the psychology of baseball. If you’re on the field, this guy knows how to win you over. You will give this ballhawk a baseball.

Hample’s optimism and love of the game are beyond compare. His thoughtful game plan should inspire any fan or collector. I’m grateful that he put down his glove to answer some questions.

Q: All those baseballs. How many autographs?

A: I have 1,076 autographs on ticket stubs plus several hundred more on baseballs, cards, and photos. Most of the balls that I’ve gotten signed were NOT balls that I snagged at major league games. I’ve never really wanted to get those signed. Even at a young age, I felt that the balls should stay in their original condition and not be written on. I’ve broken my own rule by labeling some of my baseballs, but I write small and very neatly, so you almost can’t see my scribbles if you look fast.

Q: Did you ever write to players?

A: In the early to mid-1990s, I probably sent 50 to 100 letters to players, asking for autographs. The only thing I ever sent was ticket stubs. That’s just been my thing. I don’t write to players any more, however. I just don’t have time, and anyway, I think it’s more fun and rewarding to get autographs in person.

Q: You talk with players all the time. Do they talk autographs with you?

A: I’ve never discussed fan mail with a player, but it seems like most guys would rather not have to sign or deal with fans at all. That’s really a shame considering that without the fans, these guys would be nobodies. I’ve been to lots of games where just one or two players will sign before the game starts. That number should be more like 10 or 20, in my opinion, but that’ll never happen — not at the major league level.

Q: How do you dazzle a player at the ballpark when seeking signatures?

When I’m getting autographs, I don’t try to show off my knowledge at all. In recent years, I’ve enjoyed making small talk with the players while they’re signing, but lots of guys don’t even want to do that. The funniest exchange I had during an in-person encounter was with Frank Thomas. It was 2008. He was playing for the A’s. We were on the left field side at Camden Yards, and when it appeared that he might take off before I got him, I said, “Frank, if I don’t get your autograph, I’m gonna cry.” His response was simple: “Please don’t.” But that’s all it took to crack the ice, and he reached for my ticket soon after. Thomas was one of my all-time favorite players when I was growing up, and this was the first time I’d ever been close enough to talk to him, so I truly would’ve been bummed had I not gotten him.

Q: Through your national TV appearances through the years, you aren’t a mere fan any more. How do you feel about signing autographs at games?

A:  I love being asked to sign stuff. More than anything, I see it as a compliment, not to mention a good excuse to talk to the person who’s asking. After having been on the asking end of autographs for so many years, it’s nice to be able to be on the giving end, and to make people happy in the process. The only time I won’t sign is if I’m inside a major league stadium and there’s a chance for me to catch a baseball at that moment — but if the person asking me to sign is willing to wait a few minutes, I’ll always find time. I don’t think I’ve ever turned down an autograph request, and no matter how famous I might possibly get, I don’t think I ever will.

Q: How are you about fan mail?

A: I’ve actually done a lousy job in the last couple weeks, but that’s not because I don’t care. It’s just because I’ve been *so* busy attending games and trying to keep up with writing the entries that I simply haven’t had time to spend an additional 10 or 20 or 30 minutes answering comments. But I still read all the comments, and I hope to catch up on answering them…someday. In terms of where to send stuff to me, the best place to receive mail is at my family’s book store. The website is http://www.argosybooks.com/, and the address is right there on the home page. Just throw a “c/o Zack Hample” in there, and it’ll get to me. I’d also ask that people be patient in waiting for a response. It shouldn’t ever take me months to respond, but depending on my work/travel schedule, it could take a few weeks. If people want their items personalized, they should include a note with as many details and requests as possible. I mean, I’ll sign books differently for a five-year-old than I would for a 55-year-old, you know? So it’s good to know something about the recipient.

Q: You deserve to be on a baseball card. Has that happened yet?

A: Thanks! But yes, I have been on a baseball card. In fact, I’ve been on two, and they’re very rare. My dad made the first one for me in March 1982 when I was four and a half years old, and when I went to baseball camp in 1988, I received 100 of these. I’ve probably given away a dozen of them over the years, but only to relatives, best friends, and girlfriends. It would take some serious work for some random person out there to end up with one, but hey, anything’s possible.

Q: Your blog “Snagging Baseballs” is amazing, as is your http://www.zackhample.com/ website. Will you have time to write more baseball books in the future?

A: I have no clue. I’m officially taking a break this year from any serious writing. Beyond that, I haven’t made any plans, but if I had to guess, I’d say I’ll end up writing more books in the not-terribly-distant future.

Q: Any words of inspiration for autograph collectors?

A: You have to be dedicated if you want to amass a spectacular collection, not just with autographs, but with anything.

Pitcher Dooley Womack Helps Set Houston Team Mark; OTHER Teammates Rewarded

Still smiling, more
than 40 years later!

I knew Dooley Womack first from his 1969 Topps card. I knew him as an Astro.

In my letter, I confessed to Womack that I believed he was meant to play for a Texas team, having a cowboy-like name.

One of Womack’s best games in Houston was an eight-strikeout affair on April 24, 1969. Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/, here’s the details!

Even better, Womack supplied some color commentary of those Texas times, writing:

“The eight strikeouts against the Padres: my curveball was working great, [Padres struck out] mostly swinging. Managers do their thing about managing the game.


Also something not known: at Houston, Sunday afternoon game against the Giants. I went in for Denny LeMaster. Runners on, one run in.


I threw a double play, inning over. In the next innings, I threw 3 more double plays. Fred Gladding came in and 3 more double plays, for a total of seven double plays. A record.


Our manager Harry ‘The Hat’ Walker gave gold watches to all the infielders and catcher, with all 7’s on the face; Fred and I got nothing. But we have the memories.


Thanks,
Dooley Womack”

Coming Friday: Meet veteran ballhawk Zack Hample, author of The Baseball.