Header - Baseball by the Letters

Autograph University Inspires for 2011

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Are we giving gifts as collectors?

Often, the hobby is about GETTING. Quantity tops quality.

That’s why Matt Ray’s all-star attitude is a gift to us all this Christmas. His new blog is Autograph University.

I confess. He’s a detour for me. I’m not an “in person” guy. Also, I’ve passed on the sigs of other sports or entertainment celebs.

However, I see lots of common ground between us. His About Matt page has a great story about the connection of baseball and autographs he shared with his father. He isn’t beyond asking a question or two when a signer has a moment to chat.

Best of all, Matt has a “Thank You” page. Everyone who’s ever signed in person or posed for a picture with him is getting an additional salute.

Matt isn’t being greedy with his success, either. He’s detailed the HOW of finding the signers, sharing how he discovers events, schedules and locations. With his recent marriage, Matt has discussed how he’s being more selective in his hobby. I stress this all the time. To fully appreciate autographs, decide who NOT to collect. Does anyone have enough time, money or space for one of everything?

Autograph University is fun and informative. I’ll hope to have more to share about this Boston area collector in 2011.

Little ‘Birdie’ Told Orioles of Dan Boone

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His dream never died!

Christmas is the time of miracles. However, miracles are all around us, all the time. Don’t like the “M” word? Okay…try movie moments.

I love the Dan Boone comeback story. (Yes, baseball history insists he’s forever DANNY, no matter how he signs his name these days…)

After the Astros gave Boone a chance in 1982, everyone thought Boone’s days in baseball were over.

Except for Dan Boone. And his wife.

They both understood that the dream remained. She encouraged him to pursue a chance in the newly-formed Senior League in 1989. Orioles scout Birdie Tebbetts, at age 77, marveled at how the lefty had mastered a new pitch: a knuckleball. Against all odds, Boone became a 36-year-old prospect with the 1990 O’s. The dogged left-hander got his second chance in the bigs.

Boone wrote:

“My conversations with Birdie was mainly after the Orioles signed me. He told me how the Orioles thought he was crazy to recommend me to them. So I was happy to do well for Birdie. I know he was proud of me.”

The pitch that transported Boone back to the majors wasn’t that new for him. He added:

“I started to mess around with the knuckleball when I was around 12 years old. My Uncle showed me the grip and I would practice throwing it just playing catch with friends. I never threw it in a minor league game in the early years but experimented with it in big league camp with the Angels and Padres. when I went to the Senior League in Florida is when I developed it into my #1 pitch.

I used it to strike out Johnny Bench in Cincinnati in 1981.

The reason why pitchers don’t use it much is it is a difficult pitch to master. Most managers and pitching coaches don’t like the pitch.”

Kudos to the website 21 Greatest Days for telling the stories of Boone and other minor league miracles so well!

Pitcher Dan Boone Says NO To MLB Draft

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Here’s an early Christmas gift from all of us, courtesy of former pitcher Dan Boone. The Christian hurler includes the verse John 15:13 with all his signatures.

Additionally, Boone begins his letter with another vital insight:

“Dear Tom,


“Thank you for a great letter. Most of the time, people just want my autograph on a baseball card. But I always enjoy it when someone wants to know more about my career.”

The word just jumped out at me. For collectors who think, “Ask questions in a letter? Former players just want to sign autographs.”

Maybe. Maybe not. You never know unless you try.

Boone debuted with the 1981 San Diego Padres. His path to the bigs wasn’t direct. The lefty holds the distinction of being drafted five times. He explained:

“Regarding being drafted five times, I was in college at Cerritos Junior College in 1973 when first drafted by the Angels after my freshman year. The real reason I never signed until after my senior year was I wasn’t ready and I was enjoying college baseball. The Yankees basically drafted me out of a computer and didn’t offer any money to sign. The Padres drafted me behind Bob Shirley and didn’t offer much either. So I was happy to sign with the Angels after my senior year at Cal State Fullerton.”

Tomorrow: Boone tells of the pitch that gave his career a second chance while recalling the elderly scout who believed in him.

Al Spangler Recalls Leo Durocher, 2 HR Day

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Snapped At Shea Stadium (?)
before Spangler’s
Atlanta blasts!

Outfielder Al Spangler sounded like he could have been a contestant on the TV reality show Survivor. As an original Houston Colt .45 (and a leading hitter), I asked him about the elements. The weather was nothing like in Milwaukee, when he debuted with the Braves. I asked him about the humidity and mosquitoes.

“Not being used to those elements, it was difficult to adjust but something we had to do. Also, we knew that in three years, we would be playing indoors when the Astrodome was completed.”

Thanks to http://www.retrosheet.org/, I discovered a rare fit of power for the contact hitter. Spangler spanked the Braves for two homers and four RBI on June 12, 1969. Did the Cub recall his fireworks display?

“Remember the game and also remember that some of my teammates were passed out in the dugout after the second homer.”

Was that one detail that Cub broadcaster Jack Brickhouse may have missed?

Spangler’s tenure with Chicago may be remarkable, in that he could be one of the few team members who doesn’t recall manager Leo Durocher’s explosive personality. Spangler noted:

“I enjoyed my years with Leo. My one regret was that he was near the end of his career and I would have enjoyed seeing him operate in his early years.”

Pitcher Barney Schultz Mixed It Up With Milwaukee Braves Hitters in 1961

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Schultz endured the “Take your
cap off, in case you get traded”
pose request from Topps

Barney Schultz is a man with honor.

I delighted in the http://www.retrosheet.org/ find of his 1961 relief outing against the Braves. He fanned SIX Milwaukee hitters in 2.1 innings. I envisioned a smirking knuckleballer watching hitters pull their hair out after each strikeout. Over and over, he’d throw the same fluttering butterfly pitch, knowing they’d never touch it — even when they knew what was coming.

Maybe not. Schultz answered:

“No, not all knucklers. I used fastball and curve at times.”

The next year, Schultz recorded a then-record ninth straight relief appearances.

History remembers Schultz most for his 1964 heroics with the St. Louis Cardinals. Schultz recalled the team skipper:

“Johnny Keane was a fine man — a good manager and knew how to get the best out of his players. Yes, he did believe in me. I played for Keane about four years. In the triple A Leagues, he used me mainly as a starter, but a lot as a game saver at times.


Yours in sports,
Barney Schultz

P.S. Excuse my writing. I’m recovering from back surgery and mostly in a prone position.”

To learn more about Schultz, check out this fine SABR biography by John Stahl!