Frank Thomas (The Original One)
 

In my TTM adventures I came across a review of Frank Thomas who played for the pirates in the 50’s-60’s. He signs cards for $5 each and donates it to a charity he is passionate about. Anyways I decided to grab a beat up card and send it to him with $5 and this is what he sent back.

What a fantastic return for a guy that is truly giving back what he can. I’d recommend sending him a card to sign. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...585b612f6e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...6de96a0179.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0675f1f0b8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...88fb027805.jpg


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Hey, can you transcribe this cool letter so we can easily read it? That would be great.

I’ll try to do it tomorrow when I have more time. I can’t read every word but here is the gist of the letter.

Thanks me for my donation to the charity
Describes the charity
Writes about other items he has available -IE 8x10’s of all the teams he played for.
Tells the story of being involved in the first back to back to back to back HR quad in history.

From google “Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Joe Adcock, and Frank Thomas hit four consecutive homers in an inning off Reds' pitchers Jim Maloney (2) and Marshall Bridges (2), making the Braves the first major league team to accomplish the feat. The seventh inning big fly barrage, another blast by Mathews, and one by Warren Spahn aren't enough, when Cincinnati still manages to win the Crosley Field contest, 10-8.”

Then he talks about more 8x10’s available. Maybe related to this event.

Thanks me again etc.

That would be fine, where do I send the money?

Just make sure to include $5 per card and a SASE.

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I just included $5 and the 54 Bowman. He signed the card, added the inscription I requested, included his own signed card, and the letter. Cool guy.

He will also sign his magazine covers. He is on at least one Sports Illistrated Magazine cover July 28, 1958. It has a nice white background and looks great when he signs it. I had him personalize one to my son and it looks awesome. I have him a few extra bucks and glad I did it. He is a great guy!!

Frank Thomas
 

For those that may not know, Mr. Thomas (The Original) had a huge BB collection that went up in flames in a house fire many many years ago. OBC has had a hand in helping him rebuild his collection, at least part of the way, and he is an honorary member of OBC.... www.oldbaseball.com Always sends a nice note, seems like a great guy. He mentioned to me in his note that he would have an interest in doing autos at shows........not sure if that ever happened.

Grant

Grant - I saw him a couple years in a row sitting out at the tables in front of the Paterno Bros. store (now closed I guess) signing autographs. I didn't have anything for him to sign so never got his autograph there.

I guess he is 89 years old now. Wow - good for him! Based on his letter I think I'll pick up a few more items and send him some more money that he can donate.

Frank Thomas
 

Great thread. I need his 1963 Post Cereal Card to complete my set.

Ed Randall recently had Ed Kranepool on his "Talking Baseball" program, which airs on Sunday mornings for two hours here in the New York City area on WFAN. They spoke at some length about Frank Thomas. I had not known that when Kranepool came up he was roomed with Thomas, who was many years his senior in age, as Kranepool was literally a kid. Both he and Randall had nothing but superlatives for Thomas as a ballplayer, and more importantly as a person. They still talk to each other regularly, and Kranepool was very touched that with all the things someone approaching 90 has to deal with, Thomas was most concerned with how Eddie was doing. I have great memories of Frank Thomas whacking home runs into the left field stands at the old Polo Grounds in those early Met years.

Thank you
 

Thank you for your original post. I just gott a very nice letter from him about my childhood hero, Richie Ashburn. Just great. Thanks again.

Today I grab the mail and this came. I only sent him 1 TTM with 1 card. What a cool guy. I’m gonna send him some more TTM and donation to support his cause.

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