I met the white Frank Thomas yesterday

[Chris-Counts]

That's a great story!

[mintacular]

Glad you liked it...What made it best is to learn that Frank Thomas is a card collector too, not just a ballplayer who was there to sign, etc...

[Wite3]

Big fan of Frank...here is a similar story from nearly 15 years ago. As many of you know, I am a member of OBC, an online trading club (and arguably the first online vintage trading club). Another member of OBC and I attended a small mall show in Fallbrook, CA. One of the signing guests was Frank Thomas. After meeting and talking with him a bit, he asked if I wanted to have him sign anything. I told him I did not have anything for him to sign. I explained to him that I do not do that but I prefer to shake hands. I explained that he shook hands with Hank Aaron, who shook with Mantle, who shook with Dimaggio, who shook with Ruth, etc. It was like touching history for me (I know it sounds weird but that is how I was brought up). BTW, Frank had one of the biggest hands I have ever seen. After the show we were hanging around the food court and he walked up to us and started chatting. He invited the two of us to coffee while his wife shopped in the mall. We sat down and for the next hour he told us stories of his playing days including the four HRs in a row, All-Star games, and favorite current players (if I recall he liked Chipper Jones and Cal Ripken). He told us the story of the fire and his wife throwing some of them away and we exchanged addresses. Frank became an honorary member of OBC and we helped rebuild much of his collection over the years. There was a short Sports Illustrated article that came out around that time that mentioned his collection, fire, and help with rebuilding. He always included a nice thank you note with whatever was sent to him. He was one of the nicest major leaguers I had ever met. He is a class guy all the way.

Joshua

[ALR-bishop]

Two great stories. He had 11 Topps cards...1956 to 1965
56-153
57-140
58-409
59-175 & 490
60-95
61-382
62-7
63-495
64-345
65-123

[mintacular]

Well, I guess my Frank Thomas story isn't over yet...I was sure I wouldn't here back from him since I scribbled my address down on a tiny scrap of paper. But I did, and with lightening-fast speed!

I received a hand-written letter in the mail thanking me for paying $5 he charges for an auto--which he donates to a cancer organization in the area. He also gave me the address of a dealer named David Shore from Oregon (anyone know him?) who could help me fill my '52 set...

(BTW--I think I'm going to send him a couple more cards for my PC to get signed, and would be glad to send yours along with them for the $5 he charges for the charity, please pm if interested...)

Well, here's the additional card he sent me. He also wrote "The Original One" under his signature in my letter which I thought was neat.

[Jim VB]

Here's my favorite Frank Thomas story.


During the 1962 season, he played for the NY Mets. This was their inaugural season and they were the worst team in MLB history. Several times, early in the season, their centerfielder, Richie Ashburn, and their shortstop, Elio Chacon, collided while chasing pop-ups. After one particularly bad collision, Ashburn talks to a coach. He was told that Chacon spoke no English and did not understand when Ashburn yelled "I've got it!"

Ashburn, being a team leader, calls a players meeting the next day. They hash it out and decide that he will yell "Yo la tengo!" in the future.


The next game, there's another short pop. Ashburn comes charging in yelling "Yo la tengo!" Out of the corner of his eye he's watching Chacon, who immediately slams on the brakes and veers off. Ashburn then proceeds to get flattened by leftfielder Frank Thomas, and the ball drops.

Frank had skipped the team meeting, and spoke no Spanish.

As Thomas is helping Ashburn up he says to him, "What the hell is a yellow tango?"

[mintacular]

Funny story JimVB, thanks

[Rickyy]

Originally Posted by Jim VB

Here's my favorite Frank Thomas story.


During the 1962 season, he played for the NY Mets. This was their inaugural season and they were the worst team in MLB history. Several times, early in the season, their centerfielder, Richie Ashburn, and their shortstop, Elio Chacon, collided while chasing pop-ups. After one particularly bad collision, Ashburn talks to a coach. He was told that Chacon spoke no English and did not understand when Ashburn yelled "I've got it!"

Ashburn, being a team leader, calls a players meeting the next day. They hash it out and decide that he will yell "Yo la tengo!" in the future.


The next game, there's another short pop. Ashburn comes charging in yelling "Yo la tango!" Out of the corner of his eye he's watching Chacon, who immediately slams on the brakes and veers off. Ashburn then proceeds to get flattened by leftfielder Frank Thomas, and the ball drops.

Frank had skipped the team meeting, and spoke no Spanish.

As Thomas is helping Ashburn up he says to him, "What the hell is a yellow tango?"

That's a great story!

[pclpads]

[QUOTE=mintacular;804877]Well, I guess my Frank Thomas story isn't over yet...I was sure I wouldn't here back from him since I scribbled my address down on a tiny scrap of paper. But I did, and with lightening-fast speed!

I received a hand-written letter in the mail thanking me for paying $5 he charges for an auto--which he donates to a cancer organization in the area. He also gave me the address of a dealer named David Shore from Oregon (anyone know him?) who could help me fill my '52 set...

Pat - Dave Shore had a card shop in San Diego - "Baseball Cards Plus" - for several years. Sold it about ten years ago and moved to Bend, OR. Once up there he used to regularly run ads in SCD, where he'd sell you cards on approval: i.e., if you don't like it, send it back and don't pay. Quite an archaic concept today. He's a really good guy.