Frank Thomas (The Original One)

[grainsley]

For those that may not know, Mr. Thomas (The Original) had a huge BB collection that went up in flames in a house fire many many years ago. OBC has had a hand in helping him rebuild his collection, at least part of the way, and he is an honorary member of OBC.... www.oldbaseball.com Always sends a nice note, seems like a great guy. He mentioned to me in his note that he would have an interest in doing autos at shows........not sure if that ever happened.

Grant

[Marchillo]

Originally Posted by grainsley

He mentioned to me in his note that he would have an interest in doing autos at shows........not sure if that ever happened.

Grant

Grant - I saw him a couple years in a row sitting out at the tables in front of the Paterno Bros. store (now closed I guess) signing autographs. I didn't have anything for him to sign so never got his autograph there.

I guess he is 89 years old now. Wow - good for him! Based on his letter I think I'll pick up a few more items and send him some more money that he can donate.

[skil55voy]

Great thread. I need his 1963 Post Cereal Card to complete my set.

[58pinson]

Ed Randall recently had Ed Kranepool on his "Talking Baseball" program, which airs on Sunday mornings for two hours here in the New York City area on WFAN. They spoke at some length about Frank Thomas. I had not known that when Kranepool came up he was roomed with Thomas, who was many years his senior in age, as Kranepool was literally a kid. Both he and Randall had nothing but superlatives for Thomas as a ballplayer, and more importantly as a person. They still talk to each other regularly, and Kranepool was very touched that with all the things someone approaching 90 has to deal with, Thomas was most concerned with how Eddie was doing. I have great memories of Frank Thomas whacking home runs into the left field stands at the old Polo Grounds in those early Met years.