A Great Opportunity....

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by jgmp123

Hey guys,

He responded today with a simple note containing directions to an IHOP in Anderson, Indiana and his phone number to call this week to setup a time.

James - do me a favor and ask Carl if he knows of Jim Carter that played football at Purdue in the mid-1930's and was long-time football coach at Anderson High.

Last summer, around this time, I interviewed Mr. Carter for a book I have been writing on the University of Dayton basketball history. Mr. Carter was the Dayton head coach in the late 30's and most of the 1940's. Last November, Coach Carter turned 100 years old. I stayed in touch with him every couple of weeks until he sadly passed away a couple of months ago.

If you're interested in reading, here's a story I wrote on him right before his 100th birthday... Former UD coach set to celebrate milestone birthday

Have fun with your breakfast. I talk from experience, these are the type of "meetings" you'll never forget.

[jgmp123]

Matt,

I am super excited and will make sure to mention it to Carl.

[mschwade]

Originally Posted by jgmp123

Matt,

I am super excited and will make sure to mention it to Carl.

The funny thing is, until about two months before his 100th birthday, Coach Carter would drive himself every Monday to IHOP to meet some of his old friends for breakfast. I have to imagine it's the same IHOP, but I don't know for sure.

[bigtrain]

I had the opportunity to speak to Mr. Erskine at a small card show about 15 years ago. Spent about 20 minutes speaking to him. No line for Carl but folks were lined up to get Tommy Heinrich's auto. Couldn't have been nicer.

[jgmp123]

Some quick notes from my meeting today with Mr. Erskine....

• Koufax was plucked directly from the sandlot and was given a $20k bonus to sign and in that time it was a lot of money to give someone not established. Anything $20k or more owners required those players to be added to active roster and no farm systems for them. So Koufax put directly on the roster with no formal training/pitching background. There were many times that Koufax felt guilty because he didn’t fit in and felt that he was taking a roster spot from someone more deserving. Carl told me that in 1959, Koufax told him on more than one occasion that he was going to retire and buy into a Los Angeles radio station, but felt like he owed one more season to the Dodgers because of the money they invested in him.

• Frank kellert had the best view of Jackie stealing home in Game 1 and after game said he thought Jackie was out…Later on in the locker room, Jackie had to be restrained from trying to choke Kellert.


• The Brow: Charlie DiGiovanni’s boss was a snake of a man and really gave the Brow a hard time if something didn’t get finished. For instance, several dozen items had to be signed daily by the team (it was just part of the job) and the Brow was a pretty smart kid. He realized early that he needed to check that all the baseballs, yearbooks, etc. were signed by all members of the team. If a signature was missing, then he had to add it. It was never out of malice, but rather to make sure that he didn’t catch fire for the job not being complete.

• Favorite piece of advice he ever received: During his rookie season, Hugh Casey walked up to him and said; “Welcome to the big leagues. There are guys in this league that will hit .330 .340 every season off pitchers in the league and they will hit .330 .340 off of you too. Don’t focus on those guys, but rather the guys hitting ahead of them.” He said that is why he was so successful when he pitched. Focus on the guys ahead and get them out, then give up the double to the big hitter and leave him on base.


• Toughest lineup he had to face: St. Louis Cardinals – Stan Musial followed by Red Schoendienst followed by Enos Slaughter. Said he always pitched well against Stan, but the other guys sometimes gave him fits. He said, “I never liked facing 3 Hall of Famers in one inning”…

• Carl still can’t believe the things that Jackie had to go threw to play baseball. Remembered a time when the KKK showed up at the team hotel and threatened to kill Jackie if he played the next day….

And did I mention the guy bought my pancakes!! He refused to let me pay. He also asked for my address so he could send me a couple things(what? I have no idea).

A class act.

[Tuna82]

Awesome...Thanks alot for sharing.

[Scott Garner]

Wow, that's awesome! Great stories!

[mschwade]

Great post James!! The best piece of advice was solid and makes a lot of sense. It's great to hear views of Jackie from someone that was a first-hand witness.

Did you remember to ask him about Jim Carter?

Glad you got to experience this!

Matt

[Jay Wolt]

James, thanks for recounting your visit w/ Mr. Erskine
Seems like a great guy!

[drc]

Another story from my Mississippi-born friend is he and his twin broth were in the small Mississippi town that Dizzy Dean lived in. The inquired how they could find Dean, and the resident said "He's easy to find. He drives a gold Cadillac." The brother eventually saw the gold Cadillac park outside a fried chicken place and waited for Dizzy to come out. Dizzy signed a piece of notebook paper for them on the hood of his Cadillac.

My friend has photos of many his autograph seeking excursions, including one inside the Hugh Hefner mansion, so his stories are often verified.