Special Crash Davis Bobble Head Package
Saturday July 28, 2007 was designated Crash Davis Bobble Head night
at the Asheville Tourist Baseball Teams McCormick Field game against
the Savannah Sand Gnats. The first 500 fans received only the Crash
Davis bobble head shown in the photo on the right. As sponsors of
this event the Philadelphia A's Society has a limited number of
these unique Crash Davis Bobble heads as part of this historic event
in Asheville,N.C. With your purchase of the Davis Bobble Head you
will also receive an unused July 28th full game day ticket, the
56 page Asheville Tourist Guide Game Day scorecard and as an added
attraction, a specially designed Crash Davis 5 " x 8 "
glossy hard stock caricature by world renowned sports artist Ronnie
Joyner. Each lot sure to become a collectors item because of their
scarcity. Only $19.95 plus s&h.
A's Society to Sponsor Crash Davis Bobble Head night in Asheville,
NC
By Mike Morsch
Sharon Jennings didn’t inherit her famous father’s
arm.
“My sister Diana (Moore) is more athletic than me,”
said Jennings, daughter of the late Lawrence “Crash”
Davis, one of the most popular players and members of the Philadelphia
Athletics Historical Society. “Dad used to go out and pitch
to her. I didn’t get the athletic gene. I’m more of
an observer.”
Fortunately, there are probably enough strong arms in the family
who will be available to throw out the first pitch on Saturday,
July 28, when the Asheville Tourists host “Crash Davis Bobblehead
Night.”
At least 12 members of Davis’ family are scheduled at this
point to be on hand that evening for the pregame ceremony honoring
Davis. The Asheville Tourists, a Class A affiliate of the Colorado
Rockies who compete in the South Atlantic League, will take on the
Savannah Sandgnats. The first 500 fans will receive the Crash Davis
bobblehead, sponsored by the A’s Society.
Family members attending include Sharon, husband Jim, daughter
Shelby and son Davis Jennings (named of course after his grandfather)
and his wife Jerillyn; Davis’ daughter Diana Moore, husband
Pat and daughter Allison of Colorado; and two of Davis’ brothers,
Hudson “Hut” Davis and wife Eunice and Bobby Davis and
wife Mary.
 The
Asheville club is honoring famous players who played on that field
during a seasonlong bobblehead promotional effort. Asheville was
among the stops Crash Davis made on his way to the Athletics from
1940-42.
“When I saw the prototype of the bobblehead, it was kind
of emotional,” said Jennings in a telephone interview from
her home in High Point, N.C. “I don’t know how the final
product will look, but the picture looked a lot like him at that
time in his life.”
Davis, who died in 2001 at the age of 82, went on to be a legend
of sorts in the Carolina League — after his stint with the
Connie Mack’s A’s — playing for the Durham Bulls,
Raleigh Capitols and Reidsville Luckies from 1948-1952.
But he is remembered by many as the model of sorts for the minor
league character named Crash Davis played by Kevin Costner in the
classic baseball movie “Bull Durham.” Davis was a consultant
for the film.
A’s fan unable to get a Crash Davis bobblehead July 28 in
Asheville aren’t out of luck. The Society will have a limited
number of the bobbleheads available for purchase through the girt
shop. Check the Web site for details or call the shop at 215-323-9901.
Davis attended two A’s Society reunions before his death,
the last one in March 1998, where he gave a 25-minute talk that
was well received by the 350 in attendance.
“Even now, my sister and I have had a hard time watching
videos of Dad,” said Jennings. “He was very outgoing
and strong-willed. We thought he would live to be 100.
“But
he always loved going up there to see all his friends at the A’s
Society events,” she said.
Editors Note: Four members of
the A's Society will be making the trip to Asheville to participate
with the Crash Davis family in pre game festivities. Mike Morsch,
Harry Adams and Tony & Tom Risi will represent the Society.
Additionally, A's Society and well known sports artist Ronnie Joyner
is designing a special Crash Davis caricature to be given to the
first 500 fans at the game.The Society will have a limited number
of the bobble heads and caricatures available after the July 28,
2007 event, watch this site for details.
This Ronnie Joyner Crash Davis caricature free with each purchase of
the Davis Bobble Head.
Click
here to view all of Joyners caricatures currently available from
this site.
Crash Davis Links:
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