OT.... Grave Site of Lefty Grove (and Other Major League Ball Players)

[leftygrove10]

Originally Posted by sayhey24

Brad,

Great thread and a great looking family!

Do you have any closeups of the Lefty plaque?

Greg

Thanks! And Yes, I have close-ups of the plaque. I took these pictures a few years ago....

[Zach Wheat]

Not my pics, but off of www.findagrave as previously mentioned (of which I am a contributor) of Zach Wheat in Forest Hill Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. Grandfathers going back 4 generations were brothers; his half of the family went to southern IL and my half went to northern IL.

Z Wheat

[brickyardkennedy]

Some may find this interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ4GB9OeS28

[John V]

I'm headed to NE Georgia on business today. I have Royston programmed on my GPS.

[whitehse]

As odd as going to gravesites of people that one has never met seems to me, there is something strangely interesting about it.

I think it would be kinda cool to have members of these boards check out various burial sites and show pictures of famous or infamous people who are buried near their homes. I know, near me I have various members of the Bailey's of the Barnum and Bailey circus burried in a little, out of the way cemetary.

I also live not too far from Watertown, Wisconsin which is the birthplace of Fred Merkle. While he is not buried there, the town has erected a small monument to him. There is also a town where my inlaws are from in Northern Illinois where former Cubs pitcher, Carl Lundgren is buried. I would be willing to go out and take some pictures of these and other sites.

As I said this is a bit weird yet interesting to me and I know my wife will look at me like I am crazy when I tell her what I am going to do but hey, it is something to do on a Saturday......right? LOL

[bobw]

My father is buried near Lou Gehrig in Kensico Cemetary in Valhalla, NY.
We visit Lou's grave when we visit my Dad's. People are always leaving baseballs and Yankee caps behind.

I think most cemeteries have a map of where all the famous people are buried.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by whitehse

As odd as going to gravesites of people that one has never met seems to me, there is something strangely interesting about it.

As I said this is a bit weird yet interesting to me and I know my wife will look at me like I am crazy when I tell her what I am going to do but hey, it is something to do on a Saturday......right? LOL

Andrew - I guess I see this a tad differently, I think its very respectful and can also be a way to teach the younger generation values, history and possibly some perspective.
I wanted to see JFK in Arlington very much even though he was killed prior to my birth. I viewed this as respect for the man, his family and the stamp he left on our nation. You can make an argument that these ball players are somewhat similar. This forum shows huge amounts of respect for the older ball players. One day I would love to see the site of L Gehrig and J Robinson. These ball players have also left a stamp on our nation to certain degrees. I wish I had some pics to share.

[batsballsbases]

Here is Babe Ruths. He is resting at Gates Of Heaven Cemetery Hawthorne N.Y. I was there a long time ago.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

Andrew - I guess I see this a tad differently, I think its very respectful and can also be a way to teach the younger generation values, history and possibly some perspective.
I wanted to see JFK in Arlington very much even though he was killed prior to my birth. I viewed this as respect for the man, his family and the stamp he left on our nation. You can make an argument that these ball players are somewhat similar. This forum shows huge amounts of respect for the older ball players. One day I would love to see the site of L Gehrig and J Robinson. These ball players have also left a stamp on our nation to certain degrees. I wish I had some pics to share.

You know Steven, I think you may be right. Visiting their gravesites and showing these players from eras that have passed is a way to keep their memory alive. While I think there would still be a bit of "uncomfortableness" when visiting a grave site for me, I guess I have to keep it in perspective in that I am paying homage and respect to these men and will insure that at least for one day....they were not forgotten.

[iwantitiwinit]

Funny and true story for you. I went to school at Bucknell in Lewisburg. The cemetery where Christy is buried is located on route 15 (i think its 15) between the school and where all the seniors lived. One Saturday night in 1983 a "friend" of mine knocks on the door at 3 am (way too much to drink). She tried cutting across one of the dirt roads that led through the cemetary to route 15 in her car and drove into a partially dug grave. We get 4-5 friends and tried to lift/push the car out. 30 minutes later we're sitting in the Lewisburg police station with a lot of "splaining" to do.

[Jay Wolt]

After the recent Baltimore National I visited Gettysburg and was treated to a terrific battlefield tour by Jay Wolt. The next day I shot up to Lewisburg specifically to visit Christy Mathewson's grave. I even considered heading to NE Penna to see Joe Wood's resting place as well but had an early flight the next day and couldn't bring it off.

As I reminded David before & since, on our trip into Gettysburg we ate at Eddie Plank's restaurant. (Not his joint specifically as he died in 1926)
He was buried across the street in Evergreen Cemetery past the soldiers grave sites. A mere 100 yards or so from where we ate.

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

As I reminded David before & since, on our trip into Gettysburg we ate at Eddie Plank's restaurant. (Not his joint specifically as he died in 1926)
He was buried across the street in Evergreen Cemetery past the soldiers grave sites. A mere 100 yards or so from where we ate.

Next visit for sure, Jay. Am already jonesing for a hot dog at Ernie's.
Alexander Cartwright is buried in Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu. Twenty years living there and I never took a minute to visit his gravesite. Next time, and am always jonesing for local kine grinds.

[varsitycollectibles]

So this thread sparked a little project for me yesterday to find the grave site of Charlie Neal who is buried where I live in Longview, Texas.

If you'd like to read the story, you can find it at www.varsitycollectibles.com

Here is a picture of Charlie's headstone.

[abroome]

Got to briefly visit Kensico Cemetery during a trip to the East Coast National in White Plains.
I have been to other cemeteries to visit graves but I have never seen one with a tourist map and recorded tour. Kensico has color maps printed and famous graves are tagged with a metal sign. They even have a pre-recorded cellphone guide!
I was able to visit Gehrig's grave and the grave of New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno. I understand Ruth is buried not far away from Kensico. Maybe next time.
There were baseballs and gloves left on Gehrig's grave but the most disturbing thing left behind was a Starting Lineup figure of Gehrig! Those damn plastic things haunt everyone!

Andy

gehrig.jpg

[orator1]

This photo of James O'Rourke's headstone was taken on September 1st 2005, which marked the 155th anniversary of his birth (born 9-1-1850). O'Rourke is buried in St. Michael's Cemetery in Stratford, CT. (Section 2 Lot 10). Pictured is my daughter Kelly, who is a great-great-great granddaughter of the Orator. O'Rourke played 7 years for Boston from 1873-1878, and 1880, hence the Boston cap.

The headstone can be located by turning from Stratford Ave (where the "A" is pictured on the map) onto St. Augustine Ave (which is the vertical road through the middle of the cemetery). The O'Rourke headstone can be see on the left side of St. Augustine Ave soon after you turn in, and is close to the road. If you continue driving to the next intersection which is St. James Ave. (also within the cemetery) you've gone too far. The address of St. Michael's Cemetery is 2205 Stratford Ave, Stratford CT.