Searching for my grandfather's baseball card - SUCCESS!!
 

I wanted to let all who viewed my post that I have been successful in obtaining BOTH Wally Kimmick cards issued in the 1920s. Rhett Yeakley sent me both cards from his collection for FREE! Thank-you again Rhett for your extreme generousity! I've attached a picture of my 88 year old mother (Wally's daughter) holding the cards.

I thought you might be interested in a few of her memories of Wally. He was discovered by Branch Rickey who helped him start his career. My mom was born after Wally's baseball career had ended. As a girl, she recalls neighborhood kids coming to her house, ringing the doorbell, and asking "Can your dad come out to play?". Wally was like a big kid who never grew up. He loved inventing games and playing with the neighborhood kids. He stayed active in baseball by umpiring games and playing in old-timers games well into his later years. In retirement, he ruled the shuffleboard courts at his condo in Ft. Lauderdale. He never lost that competitive edge.

As for my memories, when I was about 8 years old my parents left me with Wally for a week while they went on vacation. He immediately took me to a nearby park for batting practice. After about 3 days of non-stop batting, the seams on the ball began to fray. Wally declared "by week's end, you're going to hit the cover off of this ball!" I eventually did! I left that week with grandpa with a real feeling of accomplishment!

My brothers, sisters and I all have fond memories of the time we spent with Wally. We always wondered if Wally had a baseball card. We now know the answer to this question is 'yes' and we have the proof! We will always treasure these cards (nearly 100 years old!). Thank-you to everyone who assisted me with the search.

Dave

Great story and thanks for following up!!

Dave that's fantastic!

Great post!! Glad you had success thanks to a generous Net54 member

sometimes wish the hobby was more about stories like yours and less about the $. Which sounds weird coming from a dealer/auctioneer.

Wonderful story, and thanks to Rhett for being a class act.

We know Rhett loves his Zeenuts. Wonderful act of kindness.

Absolutely awesome!!!
Great story, thank you for sharing.
...and wonderful gesture, Rhett.

Great to see your mom happy, Wally sounds like the grandpa we all wish we had.

True enough.

A great first post to read today. Awesome story and picture. Thanks for sharing.

+1 So much so that this thread will be stuck to the top for a little while so more folks can enjoy it. We rarely "stick "anything to the top of sections. This is an especially nice story worthy of such status. (Unstuck from the top now but still a top story!!)

ps...the Gwynn thread is worthy too but this one does have pre-war cards in it. :) Both are wonderful baseball stories.

Classy gesture Rhett.

Three cheers for the OP for his graciousness in sharing this happy ending and for Rhett for his altruistic gesture. Thanks guys, it made my day.

No two cards in my collection could possibly mean as much to me as these two cards do for Dave and his mother. Thanks for sharing the story and great photo, and thanks to Rhett for making it possible.

Brian

awesome all around!!!!

+2 - I couldn't agree more, seeing this thread made my day.

It's nice to have a positive thread for a change, thanks for sharing.
Great job Rhett!

Great story with a very nice ending. Hopefully your family can cherish those cards for generations to come.

What an incredibly great outcome to this story. I love this freaking hobby of ours!!

Good stuff!

Great story and what a cool connection to Branch Rickey!


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More than makes up for some of the scammers in the hobby. My hat is off to Mr. Yeakley! You did a very good thing, Sir!

Thanks for sharing
 

I enjoyed reading this. It's great that you were able to get the cards. Good job Mr. Yeakley!

Great story and nice gesture ... the old-timers would be proud