Posted By:
Stephen MitchellSince Ted Z. started this thread and Ted W. has been mentioned a few times, I'll continue with the theme.
It was 1982 (I think) or '83. Ted Williams was appearing at a Connecticut show. (I think it was his first formal show signing.) There were 50 or so tables in the room with hardly a customer at any of them but a long line snaking around the room waiting for Ted's autograph.
The show was a two day event and we were doing just awful in terms of sales. But the second day was the best and made the show a real winner for us. Before the show opened to the public Ted came in and walked the room, shaking hands and posing for pictures. Longtime Maine collector Bob Thing had his camera handy and Ted willingly posed for a picture with me. As a kid from Maine and, of course, longtime Red Sox fan, it was a highlight!
As an aside, one of the vistors to see Ted was Duke Snider who drove up from New York where he was calling ballgames for the Expos (I think).
And, to top things off, Bob Wood brought his dad, Smoky Joe down to see Ted.
In the end, sales were rather poor but it was one unforgettable show!
Steve Mitchell