Show me your "Greatest Thrill" letters!

[Scott Garner]

I just purchased two of these Bill Hongach "Greatest Thrill" letters from Kevin Keating today. FYI, he has several hundred of these, many with awesome content.

I couldn't pass up this letter from relief pitcher Brad Lidge that recounted pitching in the first 6-pitcher no-hitter against the Yankees at historic Yankee Stadium in 2003 as a rookie a few months earlier. His letter is awesome! Take a look...

How about sharing some of your favorites?

[bender07]

Saw those. That's some great content there.

[39special]

I'm not sure if this would be a greatest thrills letter or not.
I sent a TTM awhile back to Stan Williams.He pitched for the Dodgers,Twins,and some other teams in the '60's and early '70's.He
hit 5 career home runs,and I asked him which was his favorite.

[Scott Garner]

Steve,
Thanks for your post. That letter is flat out awesome- what a response!!
Congrats on that.

[39special]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Steve,
Thanks for your post. That letter is flat out awesome- what a response!!
Congrats on that.

Thanks Scott.Its the best response I have ever gotten back.

[Bosox Blair]

Here's mine - from the great Zack Wheat:

[Runscott]

I only have this one:

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I only have this one:

His greatest thrill makes sense to me. That's how he got his name, right?

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

His greatest thrill makes sense to me. That's how he got his name, right?

Must've had a prescient mama

[Runscott]

Don't be talkin bout Home Run's mamma - he'll hit you....over the fence.

I paid too much for a nice Baker-signed postcard once, then sold it for too little. So when this one came along, I really couldn't resist paying too much again. Does that make sense?

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Don't be talkin bout Home Run's mamma - he'll hit you....over the fence.

I paid too much for a nice Baker-signed postcard once, then sold it for too little. So when this one came along, I really couldn't resist paying too much again. Does that make sense?

Only if you'll sell it to me for too little.

[Runscott]

Here is one of the index cards that Baker returned along with the letter. I've had some 'Frank Baker' and 'J Franklin Baker' items, but not a 'Home Run'.

[Den*nis O*Brien]

Billy recounts his thrills.

[joshleland]

In the current lelands.com auction there is a Gil Hodges greatest thrill letter which mentions his four home run game. It's a bargain currently at $225. Auction closes july 25th. Here is the link:


http://www.lelands.com/Auction/Aucti...sing-4-HR-Game

[Runscott]

I would have expected him to mention the '69 Mets. Wonder how close a thrill it was to the 4 HR's?

[Scott Garner]

Scott,
I love that Frank "Home Run" Baker 3 x 5.

Here is one more Bill Hongach Greatest Thrill response letter that he got back from "Red" Murff. Red's claim to fame was not so much related to his own ML experience which was very limited. Instead he only scouted and coached two HOF'ers of special note. Please take the time to read his cool response....

BTW, I had a chance to meet and talk to Red Murff twice. The first time was in April, 1999 at the Ryan Center pre-grand opening. The second time was at the 1999 HOF Induction ceremony in Cooperstown. Red Murff was a terrific guy to talk to. What a nice guy! RIP Red

[Runscott]

Me too, scott
So do you know how many letters Mr. Hongbach procured, and did he end up publishing them?

Sent from my SM-G730V using Tapatalk

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Me too, scott
So do you know how many letters Mr. Hongbach procured, and did he end up publishing them?

Sent from my SM-G730V using Tapatalk

He supposedly procured over 1000 letters in 2-3 years. Wow, what an undertaking!

I did a quick Google check and his 2013 book is entitled: In Their Own Write: Volume 1: Over 1000 Major Leaguers Tell Their Greatest Thrill And Most Memorable Moment In Baseball

By the way, just curious how many of you folks have read Seth Swirsky's great book Baseball Letters or any of his others (Every Pitcher Tells a Story, etc.)?
I always thought these books made terrific reading... Great stuff!