[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Tomi, thanks for responding to my challenge and posting the FANTASTIC #1 item in YOUR collection!

Although I'm a pasionate collector of cards of all the players who were on the Washington Senators 1924 WS Championship Team, especially Sam Rice and Walter Johnson, my favorite collectibles pertain to Pete Runnels, who was my favorite Senator when I was a kid for these 2 reasons: (1) My dad preached contact hitting, which Runnels did and which suited me, as I had little power (one LIttle League homer), and (2) When I was 11 or 12, I got to play 2nd base (a position Runnels often played) during an infield demonstration conducted by Runnels at my Little League stadium, and Runnels praised my play. It broke my heart when Runnels was traded to the Red Sox after his poor 1957 season, which resulted from being told to pull the ball more (Runnels was normally a spray hitter to all fields). Ted Williams is credited with straightening Runnels out, and Runnels hit over .300 for each of his 5 years in Boston, winning the AL batting titles in 1960 and 1962. I'm going to "cheat" and show both my favorite Runnels card, a 1953-54 Briggs Hot Dogs 2-card panel, and my favorite Runnels memorabilia item, 1 of the 2 bats he received for being in the 1962 All-Star Game at Chicago, in which Runnels (surprisingly) hit a pinch-hit homer.

Always loved Pete, a classy ballplayer in every respect. Like you, I was very sorry to see him go.