Header - Baseball by the Letters

Pitcher Bud Byerly Teaches Me A Lesson!

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Topps can thank Bill Rigney for the smile
on Bud’s face!

I first wrote about Bud Byerly July 13. I don’t know if the former pitcher ever coached. However, he re-taught me an important lesson with his response.

I included a blank page for Byerly’s response to my questions. The page was folded into thirds.

The top third was filled with writing. However, there was no signature. That’s nothing new. I’ve suspected that a few former players feel that I’d be hawking their responses for top dollar if an autograph was included. Somehow, I stopped reading at the fold.

At any rate, I prepared to put the unfolded full page flat into a file folder. There, Byerly included one extra answer.

“Bill Rigney helped me get a second chance.”

Rigney managed the Giants in 1959-60. I asked Byerly how he extended his career, battling back from repeated minor league stints.

Be prepared for surprises. In my envelope from Bob Sykes, I thought I had just his autograph on my returned letter.

Nope. On a piece of card stock 1 inch tall by 5-3/4 wide, he had typed out the words to the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This mini-bonus seemed wedged in the bottom crease of the envelope.

Byerly sent me more than one sentence, in a sense. Pages front to back, top to bottom. Envelopes shaken. Thanks to “Coach” Byerly, I’m double- and triple-checking everything. I don’t want to miss a word from baseball’s past.

Coming Friday: Meet Juan Rosales, the creator of the blog Baseball Interactions.

Jimmie Foxx, John ‘Double X’ Bennett Show Value of Baseball Family Autographs

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An overlooked HOFer.
A great article
appeared on
http://www.factoidz.com/.

Every signature has a story.

Sadly, these histories have devolved into:

1. How and where I got it.
2. What I paid.
3. What it’s worth today.

The lack of a good #3 answer stops some collectors from exploring a great sector of the hobby: baseball family members.

Collector/historian John Bennett is a veteran school teacher. Additionally, he’s a superstar presence with the screen name “Double X” on the http://www.sportscollectors.net/ forum. The milestone moment when he reached his 15,000th autograph by mail is preserved as one of the forum “sticky” posts.
Was that old news? Well, John had racked up more than a 1,000 signatures before joining the SCN community!

If someone has an autograph history question on the forum, “Double X” buzzes in like a JEOPARDY champion. John chose his nickname to honor Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx, after striking up a correspondence with Foxx’s daughter.

Where did the idea first arrive for John to write to famous family members of baseball legends. He says:

“Hi Tom- originally with the ttm sends, I was trying not so much to get autographs as to do research. As part of a project I had several of my students write to the surviving relatives of Hall of Famers to ask them about their famous fathers.

The students received memorable replies from Nanci Foxx, John Hooper, Walter Johnson’s daughter Carolyn Thomas, and a shorter reply from Dick Sisler, whom I learned later was gravely ill at the time and who died a couple of years later. The Foxx, Hooper, and Johnson replies were so good that they were put in their respective files at the Hall of Fame for the use of future researchers.

I have written to the children of some Hall of Famers first to have them sign HOF postcards and later to sign FDC when the baseball stamps came out about a dozen years ago. I’ll have to go to the binder to check, but in addition to the above I know I had replies from Josh Gibson Jr and Eddie Collins Jr.

While working on the Podres book I found Johnny’s wife Joanie to be extremely helpful, and I also got a surprise call from Joan Hodges when she heard we were working on the book.”

I was grateful that John pointed out the knowledge of Mrs. Podres and Mrs. Gil Hodges. Baseball spouses have heard all the stories. They kept the scrapbooks and knew which reporters told true tales. More team alumni associations are popping up yearly. I’d hope they’d forward mail, as does the Hall of Fame.

Also, it’s a chance to applaud the biography John and his family collaborated on with Podres. It’s a great tale from an overlooked Dodgers gladiator. John floated the hint that he’s considering releasing the title on kindle. Petition the author here!

For more from the daughter of Hall of Famer Foxx, enjoy this 2006 article from Gordon Edes comparing “Big Papi” to “The Beast.” Read closely, and you’ll see one talented collector/researcher quoted.

Coming Thursday: Pitcher Bud Byerly teaches me a lesson.

Manager Gene Mauch, Pitcher Johnny Podres Fondly Recalled By Hurler Dennis Bennett

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Love this 1964 Topps. The more
you stare at it, the longer
Bennett’s arm’s grow. They
don’t call it “the stretch”
for nothing!

Pitcher Dennis Bennett sent me two pages of memories. Yesterday, I shared his regret. Today, here’s the happy highlights.

Bennett slugged four homers in his career…not bad for any pitcher. His favorite came on Sept. 28, 1963 at Dodger Stadium. The dinger was one of three hits by the hurler. (Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/ for the coverage.) Bennett’s top memory?

“Off of Johnny Podres of the Dodgers. He was a friend of mine. He bought the beer all night.”

In his previous entry, Bennett referred to the off-season car wreck which slammed the door on his progress. What were the happiest memories from winter ball?

“Winning the pennant in Ponce in 1969. All the nice people and friends I made there. Married one. But met her in Boston.”

Arguably, Bennett’s best year might have been his 12-win campaign with the 1964 Phillies. Did he fault skipper Gene Mauch’s leadership in failing to claim the pennant?

“Gene was a great manager and deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. He was a great baseball man.”

Todd Newville did an all-star job profiling Bennett for his website, Baseball Todd’s Dugout.

Coming Wednesday: Considering the autographs of baseball relatives with “Double X,” one of the hobby’s top hobbyists.

Pitcher Dennis Bennett Ponders The Past

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Bennett maintains that trademark
autograph, showcased by a
reverse slant much like
Willie Stargell’s.

Pitcher Dennis Bennett never got a do-over.

He was a key hurler for the 1964 Phillies, winning 12 games for the team who seemed destined for a pennant until the last weeks of the season.

He summed up his career with great emotion, writing:

“Just being in the Big Leagues was my biggest thrill. Seeing and playing with the greatest players in the world.


My career was cut short by a car wreck. But I made the most out of a bad deal. With today’s technology, I would probably still be pitching.


I was one of the young and coming star(s) of the year.


It’s hard to say where I might have ended my career without getting hurt. They said I had the makings of a superstar. Oh, well. At least I got to play the game I loved for 17 years.


It could of been.


Dennis Bennett”

Read more about Bennett’s roller-coaster career ride in the fine SABR biography written by Mark Amour.

Coming Tuesday: In part 2, Bennett shares fond memories of Johnny Podres and Gene Mauch.

Help Cub Bob Will Preserve Baseball History

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Honest lefty Will. He knew of
other players switching
sides to fool Topps photographers!

Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Bob Will isn’t leaving the bat on his shoulder. He’s getting his swings.

I wrote about Will back in February. I’m grateful to Kyle Smego of The Autograph Addict for telling me what a friend Will has been to collectors and children’s cancer charities.

When the phone rang Wednesday night, I heard from Will the Gamer. Conventional thinking says that Will is trailing late in the game. I say otherwise.

Will has a plan that kicks cancer’s ass. The Cubs veteran is intent on leaving a legacy. He’s completing his life story. This biography/memoir is something any Cubs fan would treasure. Will is preserving team history, not just his own life story. He endured the College of Coaches. Will has memories of newcomers Ken Hubbs, Lou Brock, Ron Santo and Billy Williams. (He remained friends with the man who took over his outfield job, by the way!) If it happened from 1957-63, this talented storyteller knows about it.

Will plans on sharing his personal collection of photos in the book, too. I’m thinking many of these are unpublished, maybe never been seen by any fans.

Bob asked, “We’d like to know how many would like such a book, and how much they might pay.” The Wills are looking at a self-publishing effort.

Let the Will family know your thoughts, please. Cheer them on. Would you buy a book when it’s completed? How much would you pay for such a collectible? Your indication of interest will help them prepare a book budget and decide on the size of the print run. Share your contact info, and you could be among the first to own these untold stories.

Write to them at bobwill28book@gmail.com

Meanwhile, enjoy this fine article by Jason Learman about Will’s career.

Coming Monday: Pitcher Dennis Bennett ponders his potential.