Category: Story Ball Collection

Today I received a really cool story ball from Al Clark.  I happened to be reading about Al Clark and saw he umpired the game Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played and thought I would try sending him a baseball.  He replied in a total of five days (priority mail shipping each way)!  He wrote about what it was like in Baltimore that week and that it was the only time in twenty three years as an umpire that he applauded a player’s accomplishment.  It is really neat!  Thanks Al!

Today’s mail brought just one package.  It was a return from a baseball I mailed nearly three years ago.  It was worth the wait!

In game four of the 2004 ALCS against the Yankees, the Red Sox were down to their final out and were down three games to none in the best of seven series. Kevin Millar walked to lead off the bottom of the 9th and Dave Roberts pinch ran for him.  Roberts stole second base and ended up scoring the tying run and the Red Sox went on their improbable run to win the World Series.

Dave Roberts signed my baseball and wrote what he remembered about the steal on it.  It is a pretty neat story ball for the collection.

Back in late April, 2013 I sent a baseball to Roe Skidmore asking him to write about his one at bat in the Major Leagues and his 1.000 batting average.  Today I received a really nice note from him apologizing for the long delay in getting it returned to me and that it got put in a corner of his office behind a file cabinet and he just found it.  His note was awesome as was the baseball.  I really appreciate former players like Mr Skidmore who genuinly cares about people who send requests to them.  Thanks Mr Skidmore!