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Former Philly & KC A's catcher Joe Astroth adds his name to the KC bat.     Pitcher Bobby Shantz adds his name to KC A's Commemorative Bat.

SEPTMBER 23rd A's SOCIETY TRIBUTE TO THE KANSAS CITY A'S

Book Signing & Autograph Session

The A’s Doubleheader Weekend continues on September 23rd from 12 noon to 3pm when the Society sponsors a book signing and autograph session at the Days Inn in Horsham, PA. The Days in is located on Easton Road (Rt. 611) just 6/10ths of a mile north of the Willow Grove exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Gus Zernial has chronicled his baseball career in a new book written with Bill Bozman & Ronnie Joyner called, “Ozark Ike: Memories of Fence Buster Gus Zernial.” A prodigious slugger for the Athletics in the early 1950s, Zernial’s book is sure to be a best seller as he recounts for readers his years on the baseball diamond that created a most interesting baseball career. September 23rd will be the first opportunity to purchase Zernial’s book, and Gus will be there to autograph every copy that is purchased.

Other former Athletics players who have penned their baseball memoirs also will be on hand signing copies of their books. Athletics pitcher Virgil Trucks will be autographing his book, “Throwing Heat – The Life and Times of Virgil “Fire” Trucks.” Ned Garver will be present signing his book, “Touching all the Bases.”

The Athletics franchise continued after the team left Philadelphia, of course, and a history of the club’s Kansas City years is contained in Jeffrey Katz’s new book, “The Kansas City A’s and the Wrong Half of the Yankees.” Katz details that sorry period when the Yankees controlled two American League organizations—their own and the Athletics. Katz will attend the book signing event to autograph copies that are purchased by attendees. If you want to know why the Athletics’ relocation to Kansas City was bad for baseball—and not just for Philadelphia—Katz’s book will give you the answer.

Books can be pre-ordered through the A’s Society website or by contacting the A’s Society Gift Shoppe. Books also will be available for purchase at the Days Inn on September 23rd. For those who cannot attend the book signing, the A’s Society will have the authors sign extra copies of their books that can be bought directly from the Society through its website or Gift Shoppe after September 23rd.

In addition to the book signing, several former Athletics players are expected to be on hand at the Days Inn on September 23rd to sign autographs. Details regarding who will be present and prices for autographs—including discounts for super tickets—will be posted later on the A’s Society website. The A’s Society also will have available bats, balls, photos, etc that attendees can purchase to have the players sign.

For more specific details on this special event you can e-mail the Society at yorkroad6@aol.com or via phone Monday through Saturday 10am-3pm at 1-800-318-0483 or write to:

Philadelphia A's Historical Society
6 North York Road

Hatboro, PA19040

Advance orders accepted.

See you at the A’s Doubleheader action on September 22-23, 2007. Don’t miss it!

Editors Note: While on their way to Oakland, Connie Mack's Athletics made a brief 13 year stop in Kansas City 1955-1967, and although the Athletic teams of that period never realized a winning season ( 829 wins v 1224 losses) never finishing better than 5th place they too had their own loyal fans and will always be a part of the Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletic's family. The Athletics (Philly or Oakland ) enjoyed 64 post season wins captured 15 American League pennants resulting in 9 World Series Championships. As Casey would say, "you could look it up."