[Archive]

Posted By: Jodi Birkholm

When I met with him, he spoke his mind, yet really had no bad words to say in regards to his contemporaries. Like many players of yesterday, he seemed to hold resentment against current MLB salaries (can you blame him?). I always make it a habit to ask players about the eccentric, lesser-known and long-deceased players they knew. For me, it always made more sense to delve into these areas, as everyone always asks about the Mantles, Ruths, etc. I figure that better stories are to be had if you ask questions the player has rarely (or never) answered. That's what appeals to me, anyway, and such a "plan of attack" usually gets the player in a better mood, making for a more energetic and mutually-enjoyable visit. The funny thing was, with Garver, it seemed as though he had all my questions answered in advance, despite the fact I was asking about obscure players like Clint Courtney. He was more than happy to discuss anything, but I'm amazed that anyone would have questioned him at length about his former battery mate. The stories and answers seemed pre-packaged. Then again, perhaps he is THAT gifted of an orator; I'm certainly not used to that rapid-fire of a verbal delivery. Always more often than not, my method of questioning makes the old-timers pause for an extended period so that they may transport themselves back to a specific time or incident.