Ralph "The Old Grouch" LinWeber
 

Posted By: <b>Parpar</b><p>This is a bit off the topic, but I want to ask you mavens anyway.<br /><br />I've been trying to locate Ralph LinWeber's birth and death dates (XX/XX/1908—XX/XX/1997? is what I currently have). I recall that LinWeber's obituary appeared in the SABR newsletter, but I've misplaced my copy. (And yes, that's how he spelled his name—"LinWeber" instead of "Linweber.") <br /><br />LinWeber was an authority on Toledo baseball history, especially the Toledo Mudhens. An alumnus of Ohio School for the Deaf, he chronicled the careers of every early deaf player he could find (not just those from OSD). Most played in the minor and industrial leagues, but a few broke into the majors, although only William E. "Dummy" Hoy and Luther H. "Dummy" Taylor had staying power.<br /><br />There will be (I hope!) a chapter on these obscure but interesting players in the Hoy biography. There's one in draft form, but the manuscript is overlong, alas, and needs more trimming. I also have a paucity of photos. I've seen one or two posted online, but haven't been able to connect with the owners of the originals.<br /><br />Getting back to LinWeber, who was nicknamed "The Old Grouch" for his curmudgeonly demeanor, he had what was said to be the most comprehensive baseball library excluding (or including) Cooperstown. He boasted that he had a complete or near-complete collection of Reach Guides. Does anyone know of the disposition of his collection? I suspect that it was auctioned or sold off in lots, as an estate sale, as I know someone who purchased a few letters written by "Dummy" Hoy to LinWeber, so they must have been part of his collection. The most likely scenario is that his collection was broken up, auctioned off in lots, and further dispersed, the components re-entering the market or bought up by collectors.<br /><br /> Incidentally, his "Baseball Research Bureau" was evidently open to the public . . . although that's scant comfort to know now.<br />

Ralph LinWeber
 

Suggest checking in with the Ohio School for the Deaf and the city of Toledo. He has no living heirs, he kicked his wife out of the house when she went blind. When Ralph passed on, the city of Toledo flocked into his house and "ranksacked" his home with so many historical materials and were sold off to collectors (I am one of them) many letters were "clipped" out and sold as the signatures. (That is a inexcusable thing to to any historical items! Observed that many of the Hoy letters that Hoy wrote to Ralph were cut out his name and sold on ebay and other auction events.
Its been reported that he (Ralph) had books all over his house and even on the stairs.
He was the one who corrected all the "hearies" historican stating that Jackie Robinson was the "first" black into the Majors. Ralph was correct that Jackie is the third black. All the baseball historican realized the error of their ways and stated that Ralph is right but they all went on ignored him excessively. The hearies "claim the credit but not given to Ralph - thats why you all say hes grouchy. I had met him and whoa he was grouchy - his way or the highway. in sense I "blame" the hearies that didn't give Ralph the credit when due!