 1954
A'S HONORED AT BREAKFAST REUNION
by David M. Jordan
Our Thirteenth Breakfast Reunion was a huge success! With a record
number of ballplayers present and a record crowd to enjoy dining
with them, we heard nothing but kudos afterward for the superb job
our Reunion Committee, led by John Patton, Clara McGonigal, and
Tony Risi, did with our gala October 16-17 weekend.
The informal session Saturday afternoon at the Days Inn in Horsham
was much fun for everyone, players, hosts, and autograph seekers
alike. The opportunity to chat informally with old-time stars like
Eddie Joost, Art Ditmar, Morrie Martin, and Joe DeMaestri is a priceless
one - but one that comes with the territory for your Athletics Historical
Society.
The breakfast at Williamson's on Sunday morning drew 467 diners,
the last few squeezed in by Ernie Montella's ingenuity and a bit
of flexibility on the part of the restaurant. Max Silberman did
his usual fine job of introducing the players, although the absence
of Ozzie Van Brabant, Bob Savage, Virgil Trucks, Tom Giordano, Barney
Schultz and (a last-minute hospitalization) Lou Limmer was very
much regretted. The players Max introduced, in addition to those
mentioned above, included the three oldest A's present, in terms
of when they played for Mister Mack, Randy Gumpert (1936-38), Al
Brancato (1939-45), and Les McCrabb (1939-50), as well as two World
War II A's, Irv Hall and Carl Scheib. Our other guests were, from
the 1954 A's, slugger Gus Zernial, Bill Renna, Leroy Wheat, the
great lefthander Bobby Shantz, his catcher Joe Astroth, Sonny Dixon,
John Gray, and our old friend Spook Jacobs, earlier A's players
Allie Clark, Bill Hockenbury, and lefty Lou Brissie, and several
non-Athletics, Mickey Vernon, Art Mahaffey, Doug Clemens, Don Hasenmayer,
Howie Bedell, Brant Alyea, and the star righthander from the 1950
Phillies Whiz Kids, Bob Miller.
Long-time Philadelphia sports voice Bill Campbell reminisced about
old days at Shibe Park, as did Gus Zernial, Eddie Joost, and former
76ers G.M., now v.p of the Orlando Magic, Pat Williams. We were
particularly happy to see Gus, who was kept away last year by illness.
A special presentation for his outstanding service to the Society
was made to John Addison, and presentation to the Society were made
by Mike Fesnak and famous artist Dick Perez (his magnificent painting
of Connie Mack in action in the dugout), by Frederick Day (a framer,
blown-up box score of the last A's game in Shibe Park), and Gail
Hebert (an astonishing collection of baseball memorabilia and artifacts
described more fully elsewhere).
Gail Sacharczuk, of Majestic, Inc., makers of baseball
uniforms, had two 1954 A's jerseys made up, one with DeMaestri's
name and number and one with Ditmar's, which were presented to those
two gentlemen to their obvious delight. David Vincent, proprietor
of the Tattarsall Home Run Log for the Society for American Baseball
Research (SABR), turned over to the Society for the players present
their individual home run logs from their playing careers.
Finally, an auction of baseball memorabilia took place while the
ballplayers repaired to the autograph rooms for more mingling with
the baseball fans on hand. It was a warm ending to a couple of wonderful
days for lovers of the Philadelphia Athletics and oldtime baseball.
The Hebert
Collection
Collection of 13 baseballs, 3 blank,
10 with autographs of many stars
Philadelphia Athletics, NY Yankees,
Indians, White Sox, and others, also
A's yearbooks, Yankee sketchbooks
circa 1950's. An unbelievable view of
baseball from a much better era. |
Jim Wilson's 1949 A's home uniform
#28, the game worn hats of Harry Byrd, Sam Chapman & Billy
Hitchcock are now a part of the Society's growing archives
collection. All of these items were donated
to the Society's Museum by Maurice & Gail Hebert of Litchfield,
ME. .Gail originally from the Philly area was a huge fan of
the Athletics of the late 1940's early 1950's.
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2004 Reunion Coverage
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