Quote:
Originally Posted by Natswin2019
+1 on that. I would really like to know the story behind that statement
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My Dad and his cronies used to put on a "Wild Game Feed" to raise funds for their childrens charity back in the day. They bought a decrepit camp in the woods and built it up so "crippled" kids could participate in life and not feel ostracized. Now I realize that term is verboten nowadays (my politically correct spellcheck doesn't even recognize the term) but that's what it was.
So every November when hunting season started in Montana we'd have a few pops before sunrise and bag some deer for that years game feed. A story for a later time.
They'd press all the local chefs to cook all this stuff up so it was palatable and get everybody drunk then have an auction. They'd auction off guns, vacations, sports memorabilia, cars, anything that was fun and had a story. They'd bring in a cattle auctioneer to set the pace and have a financial dick swinging contest with the well off marks they invited. It was a thing of beauty to observe as a young man. The kids ultimately benefited but I've never seen a more fun way to raise money for a good cause.
When the dust settled after one raucous game feed we retired to the bar where the event was held and I found myself sitting next to Mr Larsen who had been a special guest that evening. Everybody in that generation knew what he had done in game 5 of the 56 series so it was pretty neat to have him there. Me being a young baseball fan of probably 17 or 18 at the time also knew the significance of that day. I was a bit intimidated when he introduced himself and offered to buy me a drink. I accepted. Then another, then another. Now I'd been drinking my buddies under the table since age 15 so this was nothing new. Except this guy had been at it much longer than me, a true major leaguer of alcohol consumption. I'd like to think I asked him about that magical day in October of 56 but I know I didn't, instead I wandered off out the side exit and passed out in the alley. I would say I wore the Ofer collar that evening of drinking with Don Larsen.
I smile every time I see that 56 Topps card.