April 2003
Opener Draws Big Crowd
The opening day of “Play Ball,” the new baseball exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul drew a large crowd of baseball fans on Saturday, March 22nd. The exhibit features the collection of area collector Fred Budde as well as some items from the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society. Over the last dozen or so years, Fred has acquired an impressive collection of Twins, Millers and Saints memorabilia, some of which is featured in this exhibit which runs through the end of the World Series in October. Jerseys of Harmon Killebrew, as well as his son’s Kenny (remember the father-son games), Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kirby Puckett, and (yes Ray), Bert Blyleven are on display. Fred also acquired a Joe Hauser bat, a Pedro Ramos glove, numerous signed baseballs, and Millers, Saints, and Twins signs, pennants and flags. Seats from the old Metropolitan Stadium line the turnstile as you enter the exhibit and there is a small batting cage, that always seems to have a kid practicing his batting.
The day was a rather festive occassion with the Twins organist on hand to provide the proper baseball music and members of the St. Croix, Quickstep and Rochester Rooster vintage base ball teams were on hand, in uniform, to provide atomsphere and to promote their upcoming seasons. Kids also could have their picture taken and make their own bobble-head featuring their own profile. I noticed more than one adult making their own bobble-head. One wonders if they rushed home, logged on to E-Bay, and offered their bobble-head for sale.
GAMEDAY FOR SALE
When you go to the Metrodome this year (those of you that go), keep a eye out for the alternative program/scorecard called “GAME DAY.” It will be sold near the dome for one dollar and features up to date rosters, a scorecard, and timely articles on the Twins and Major League Baseball. The rosters are updated for each home series and you won’t have to wade through all that advertising either. Chapter member and Book Club guru Tom Swift is the editor of Game Day this year and chapter member John Bonnes has an article in the first issue. Home subscriptions are $ 30 for the season and are available by sending your interest to gamedayprogram@yahoo.com. Several other teams have had such alternative programs in the past.
Spring Regional is May 10th
This year’s Spring Regional meeting for the Halsey Hall Chapter of SABR will be held on May 10th at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. The meeting will start at 9:00 and run to mid afternoon.
In addition to the usual research presentations, members will have a chance to view the recently opened baseball exhibit and have a behind the scenes tour of the museum collections storage areas, where other baseball items can be viewed. Chapter member Dan Cagley will have charge of this tour. Contact Howard Luloff before April 15th if you would like to attend that night’s Twins game against the Boston Red Sox.
Lunch will be at Cafe Minnesota at the History Center (or you can dash off for something on your own). Prices are around $ 5.00 to $ 8.00 for lunch and parking for the day will run around $ 6.00. If you don’t mind a short walk of a quarter to a half mile, plenty of free parking on Summit Avenue near the Hill House is available. A guest speaker has not been confirmed at this date but possibilities include new Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein or new St. Paul Saints manager George Tsamis. If a guest speaker can not be secured, we do have seven members wishing to give research presentations at this date, so presentations not given in the morning can be given in the afternoon after the business meeting and before the tour. The board decided not to have a silent auction at this meeting. Having a silent auction every few years rather than every meeting was viewed as preferable.
Cup of Coffee is a favorite baseball expression. How many minor leaguers will have a cup of coffee in the majors this year? Odds are that many Detroit Tiger farmhands will get that cup of coffee this year.
Book Club to Meet June 7th
The club met on April 5th and discussed Marvin Miller, Bowie Kuhn and several recent books on labor relations in baseball. Nine members attended, our largest attendance to date. It was decided to read a biography on Walter Johnson entitled “Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train” by Henry W. Thomas, Phenom Press, 1995 for the next meeting. Thomas is Johnson’s grandson. The club will meet on June 7th at an undisclosed location (with Dick Cheney). We all left the meeting without deciding where to meet. (or maybe I just missed it)...Contact Tom Swift or watch the e-list for a location notice.
April 26th in Quad Cities:
Bob Tholkes, Stew Thornley, Rich Arpi, and possibly Cary Smith are going to the Field of Dreams Iowa Chapter meeting in the Quad Cities (Dubuque) on April 26th. An afternoon game is planned as well as the meeting. Contact Bob Tholkes if you would like to go.
Calendar:
April 27 - Quicksteps batting practice at Line Drive, 6500 Zane Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, 1 p.m.
May 3 - Chapter breakfast at Baker’s Square at 66th and Xerxes in Richfield at 9:30
May 4 - Quicksteps batting practice at Line Drive, (see April 27 ) l:00 p.m
May 10 - Spring Regional at Minnesota History Center at 9:00
May 18th - Vintage Baseball Opener -
Quicksteps at Farmington.
Halsey Hall Chapter Board of Directors
President: Fred Buckland
Vice-President: Bob Tholkes
Secretary-Treasurer: Rich Arpi
Other Board Members: Dan Cagley, Cary Smith, Dean Thilgen, and Jim Wyman.
Web-Master: Dean Thilgen
Halsey Hall Chapter web-site:
http://halseyhall.org
Membership information: contact
Rich Arpi at address below.
The Holy Cow
Halsey Hall Chapter - SABR
Rich Arpi, Editor
2445 Londin Lane East, # 410
Maplewood, Minnesota 55119-5593
“You are only young once, but you can be immature forever” - Larry Anderson, traded from Houston to Boston for Jeff Bagwell.....Nice trade Bosox......