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Chicago Cubs ‘Key’ Player? Consider Team Organist Gary Pressy’s 2,000-Game Career

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This CD is out of print, Pressy noted.
He’s had TWO volumes in the past.
Let’s hope he records again!

Gary Pressy might be the Charlie Brown of team organists.

Legend has it that he lobbied the team for eight years before he landed the gig.

In 2010, Cub players asked for pre-recorded song clips instead of Pressy’s organ for “entrance (at-bat) music.” Thankfully, fans rallied to his aid, circulating online petitions.

For 2,000 games, he’s waited to be part of a World Series.

Now, I misspelled his name! I’m sorry.

“Tom:

Thank you for the kind words. The only thing is my name is spelled PRESSY.”

I wanted to know about musical Cubs. He replied:

“I have not spoken to Darwin (Barney) about his piano playing. But I do remember Carmen Fanzone playing the Anthem before a Cubs game in the 1970s.”

Wayne Messmer sang the National Anthem at the only Wrigley Field game I attended. I’ve loved his renditions on the radio, too. Pressy’s thoughts?

“I agree Wayne is the best. He and I are like brothers and grew up 4 blocks from each other. (What a small world.) Patrick Blackwell is an excellent singer and his rendition of God Bless America is great.

It’s sad, but most Anthem singers do not use the organ to accompany them. I wish they would sing it like it’s written, but they don’t.”

Pressy accompanies for Take Me Out to the Ballgame. He saw Harry Caray croon for crowds many times. What’s his favorite Caray memory?

“Harry was a Pied Piper. People in their 80s and people that are 5 years old would follow him down the ramp after the game. He was such a symbol at Wrigley Field. He took a lot of pride in singing the song.”

Pressy forgave me for my spelling, it seems. He closed a kind letter with a hopeful wish:

“Once again, thank you for your interest, and here’s hoping the Cubs will play well into October next year.


Sincerely,
Gary Pressy”

Let’s hope that Pressy is there at the keyboard for each of those dream games!

Don’t forget to see Pressy’s Q&A with the Chicago Tribune this season!

Coming Friday: Learn how Phillies fan Gregg Kersey turned an old ballpark seat into an autograph adventure.

 

 

Famed Pitching Coach Herm Starrette Now Pitching Against Prostate Cancer

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I spotted this on eBay for
“only” $13.49. Seems
the seller believes that
Mr. Starrette is deceased.
Hmmm….

This Herm Starrette update comes courtesy of Juan Rosales at Baseball Interactions. He wrote:

“I just got a response from Mr. Starrette. He’s still battling cancer. He seems like an awesome guy and is very proud of his career. He asked me if I could make him a batch of custom index cards for him to sign for his doctors and nurses. I sent them out a couple of days ago and told him to let me know if he needs more. He’ll be in my thoughts.”


I wrote about Starrette in this earlier feature. Anyone who wants to wish him well can at the address below:
103 Howard Pond Loop
 Statesville, NC 28625-2280

This is NOT a “he’s sick, get him to sign while you can.” Instead, it’s a plea for help.

Get an extra Starrette card. Print an extra custom. Then, use a post-it note. Clearly state, “FOR YOU” on the gift. Please, don’t hint or generalize in the letter that he can keep some if he wants. Make the gift specific. Imagine a caring medical staff, often taken for granted, displaying their Starrette autographs like badges of honor, awards they earned.

As long as he’s able, Starrette is sending notes with his autograph replies, including memories, or thanks for the extra cards. He’s a grateful gentleman who’s never forgotten us fans. Let’s do the same. Remember him as a 1960s Orioles hurler, the pitching coach for the 1980 World Champion Phillies or a chief ally for Red Sox GM Dan Duquette. Just remember Starrette, while there’s still time.

Meanwhile, enjoy this 2010 newspaper feature interview with Starrette.

Coming Thursday: Gary Pressy, a musical tradition for the Chicago Cubs.

New York Yankees Pitcher Roland Sheldon Remembers Roger Maris, 1961 Pressure

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An 11-game winner
who didn’t get in
the World Series? I
wouldn’t smile, either!

Pitcher Roland “Rollie” Sheldon debuted as a footnote to history. His rookie season with the 1961 Yankees featured an impressive 11-5 mark. He would have needed to be a league leader to rival the headlines grabbed by his history-making teammates.

Having the best seat in the house for a record-breaking home run battle between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, Sheldon also witnessed the wrath of reporters unleashed upon Maris.

Sheldon remembered…

“Roger experienced pressure every day. We tried to help him through each and every day by joking with him. Tried to divert the press.”

That year, did the New York media machine put extra pressure on Sheldon in his premiere season?

“They treated me great!”

Sheldon didn’t let the Yankees forget him, even after the team swapped him to the Kansas City Athletics for the 1965 season. I imagined the joy he felt on Aug. 28, 1965, three-hitting his former employers. (Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/ for the juicy details!) Sheldon added:

“Nervous before the game, confident during the game and proud after. I just pitched my game.”

Coming Wednesday: Helping fabled pitching coach Herm Starrette.

Pitcher Johnny “Bear Tracks” Schmitz Dies

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Never a flashy autograph, always a legible one!
My signed letter was a close match to this
card from a half-century prior.

Pitcher Johnny “Bear Tracks” Schmitz has left life’s game at age 90.

I appreciated the obituary from his hometown paper in Wausua, Wisconsin. People there noticed him not just as a former major leaguer. They paid attention to him being a barber shop regular. He remained a part of the community after his baseball days ended.

He had signed 182 out of 190 requests, according to http://www.sportscollectors.net/. Collectors state that he’d send extra cards or photos in his own envelope, with his own postage, to reward the best letter writers.

Schmitz wrote me a great reply, which I shared in this 2010 feature.

If there are any 80-somethings on your hobby radar, take aim now. So many from that generation still have an unimaginable appreciation for today’s fans. Write to them while you can.

Coming Tuesday: Yankees teammate Roland Sheldon remembers Roger Maris.

Collecting Major League Autographs In Japan

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How much do you love collecting autographs by mail?

Nod. Shrug. Grunt.

Ah, but what if it wasn’t so easy? What if the responses came in weeks, not days?

What if getting U.S. postage was a costly chore (or a challenge)?

Kohei’s vast knowledge of MLB
history has inspired me to learn
more of Japanese baseball,
starting with Americans playing there.
Bob Bavasi’s site is a great starting point!

What if you had to write your letters not in your native language?

I’m seeing some raised eyebrows out there.

It’s true. There are collectors who love the sport and the hobby every bit as much as we do. And they prove it by the efforts they go to in collecting major league autographs.

This blog has allowed me to discover such “above and beyond” hobbyists. This summer, I’ve been inspired by collector Kohei Nirengi in Japan. He, too, uses Harvey Meiselman’s incredible baseball address list. However, all the other hobby conveniences I take for granted aren’t as easy for Kohei. Nevertheless, he’s building a collection worth admiring by focusing on possibilities, not limitations.

Thank you, Kohei, for the example you’re setting.

Coming Friday: ‘Graphin’ the SAL…Tales from a Class A autograph collector!