O/T Twins celebration of the 1924 World Series

[Hankphenom]

I had a magical day Sunday in Minneapolis:

From the Twins website:
You'll need to enlarge to full screen and engage the sound at lower left. First some history, then the live part kicks in about halfway through. The Twins really did this right, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/twin...ge_video-share

I got to hang with one of my childhood heroes, JIm Kaat, for several hours yesterday, and a nicer man you will never meet. Jim, who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame recently (284 wins, 16 Gold Gloves, 25 years in the major leagues—what took them so long?), was a member of my beloved 1960 Washington Senators who moved to Minnesota the following year. I still have PTSD from that experience as a 14 year-old, but a lot of healing took place yesterday.

[jingram058]

Hank, sir, with that you truly are a phenom! I'm thrilled for you that you got to do that! Just one of many reasons I love the 1962 Topps set so much is that, when you put the set together by teams in the order they finished 1962, you find the 2nd place team in the American League that year was the Twins, of which Jim Kaat was a big, big part. I also like that the Twins hold their spring training right here in Fort Myers. I could walk to Hammond Stadium from my house, in fact I have done it. We can hear the PA announcer from our house, and set up lounge chairs outside our house in the front yard on occasion and watch the fireworks displays!

[ValKehl]

Thanks and well done, Hank! I'm sure it was quite an honor for you to get introduced to the fans in attendance and to get to throw the first pitch, which wasn't exactly a WaJo speedball, but hey, it made it to the catcher!

The MN Twins did a really nice celebration to honor the 1924 Senators WS Championship. Hopefully, the Washingto Nationals celebration of this historic event, scheduled to take place September 13th-15th, will be as nice or even grander. Maybe you'll get asked to throw another first pitch, this time without having to travel all the way to MN.

[kcohen]

Hey Hank. I haven’t been able to upload the video but I’m sure the whole thing was wonderful. Not to cast undue negativity, but I will always despise Calvin Griffith for the scars inflicted on this 9-year old kid.

I’ll add that I met Jim Kaat some years ago in Philadelphia, I think. He couldn’t have been nicer.

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Hank, sir, with that you truly are a phenom! I'm thrilled for you that you got to do that! Just one of many reasons I love the 1962 Topps set so much is that, when you put the set together by teams in the order they finished 1962, you find the 2nd place team in the American League that year was the Twins, of which Jim Kaat was a big, big part. I also like that the Twins hold their spring training right here in Fort Myers. I could walk to Hammond Stadium from my house, in fact I have done it. We can hear the PA announcer from our house, and set up lounge chairs outside our house in the front yard on occasion and watch the fireworks displays!

Do they still have those two older guys serving their 'famous' beer shake along the first base concourse (along with a well-worn comedy bit?) Hammond was a fun place.

Hank...congrats on what looks like a really great experience.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Hey Hank. I haven’t been able to upload the video but I’m sure the whole thing was wonderful. Not to cast undue negativity, but I will always despise Calvin Griffith for the scars inflicted on this 9-year old kid.
I’ll add that I met Jim Kaat some years ago in Philadelphia, I think. He couldn’t have been nicer.

Here's one you should be able to see, Ken:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVFMVkuzhYc

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Hey Hank. I haven’t been able to upload the video but I’m sure the whole thing was wonderful. Not to cast undue negativity, but I will always despise Calvin Griffith for the scars inflicted on this 9-year old kid.
I’ll add that I met Jim Kaat some years ago in Philadelphia, I think. He couldn’t have been nicer.

You shouldn't have to upload anything. That link should take you directly to the Twins website and their archived daily video recaps. They did a very nice five or six minutes film and photo history of the 1924 World Series, then another five minutes of the pre-game ceremonies. I hope you can get to see them. And I was 14 when first team left, then my ballpark, and I turned my back on baseball for many years. But there was a lot of healing that took place yesterday.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

You shouldn't have to upload anything. That link should take you directly to the Twins website and their archived daily video recaps. They did a very nice five or six minutes film and photo history of the 1924 World Series, then another five minutes of the pre-game ceremonies. I hope you can get to see them. And I was 14 when first team left, then my ballpark, and I turned my back on baseball for many years. But there was a lot of healing that took place yesterday.

I take it back, now the link doesn't seem to work, maybe they pull them after a day or so. That would really suck.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Hey Hank. I haven’t been able to upload the video but I’m sure the whole thing was wonderful. Not to cast undue negativity, but I will always despise Calvin Griffith for the scars inflicted on this 9-year old kid.
I’ll add that I met Jim Kaat some years ago in Philadelphia, I think. He couldn’t have been nicer.

The link on the memorabilia side seems to be working fine, while the one on the card side is kaput. God, I hate this tech stuff, why doesn't the shit just work!

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by commishbob

Do they still have those two older guys serving their 'famous' beer shake along the first base concourse (along with a well-worn comedy bit?) Hammond was a fun place.

Hank...congrats on what looks like a really great experience.

Yes sir, they are still there, but not every game. I haven't tried one, but a friend of mine did and said it was pretty good! What they do have at every game is Killebrew's (yes, the Harmon Killebrew family) root beer in screw top cans. That stuff is crazy good!

[Baseballcrazy62]

Hank: Thanks for posting the video! It looked like a magical day for all involved.

Congratulations!

[commishbob]

Originally Posted by jingram058

Yes sir, they are still there, but not every game. I haven't tried one, but a friend of mine did and said it was pretty good! What they do have at every game is Killebrew's (yes, the Harmon Killebrew family) root beer in screw top cans. That stuff is crazy good!

Well, then I need to get back there.

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

The link on the memorabilia side seems to be working fine, while the one on the card side is kaput. God, I hate this tech stuff, why doesn't the shit just work!

Well Hank, thanks for directing me to the memorabilia side. Great watch and obviously a priceless memory and experience for you. I didn’t know that Calvin Griffith was the batboy. Makes sense. I can’t help but think that if he was still the team’s owner, he would have made you pay your own way up to Minneapolis.

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Well Hank, thanks for directing me to the memorabilia side. Great watch and obviously a priceless memory and experience for you. I didn’t know that Calvin Griffith was the batboy. Makes sense. I can’t help but think that if he was still the team’s owner, he would have made you pay your own way up to Minneapolis.

Good one, Ken!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Well Hank, thanks for directing me to the memorabilia side. Great watch and obviously a priceless memory and experience for you. I didn’t know that Calvin Griffith was the batboy. Makes sense. I can’t help but think that if he was still the team’s owner, he would have made you pay your own way up to Minneapolis.

That would have made it a non-starter! I had to think whether I really wanted to help them claim the history they stole along with my team, but I'm glad I went. They were all "Minnesota Nice," as you see on signs everywhere, and I did feel some healing for my 65 year PTSD from when they took off from D.C.

[Leon]

Late to the party, but that is just great, Hank. Thanks for posting the video. Congratulations!! Well done, sir!
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