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Big Six · 05-31-2005, 10:22 PM

84 Westland Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. Frank Owens
220 Park Avenue
South Bend, Indiana

September 26, 1928

Dear Frank,

How nice it was to hear from you the other day! I had meant to call you or write to you, but it is amazing how busy I have been since I announced my retirement! I have been interviewed and put on the radio in every city we have visited since my announcement, and while it is flattering, it is also tiring. I haven't been hitting well at all for several weeks now, which only makes me feel more confident in my decision. I thought I would know when it was time for me to step aside, and that time has come.

I will be back in the starting lineup for the Series, and I hope I have a few more good games left in me. I have rested more than I ever have since we clinched the pennant, so I feel pretty good for a forty-one-year old man!

You asked me what I thought about the Pirates. I believe they will be a very tough opponent. They are a very young and talented team; most of the players were not on the team when we played them in the Series back in '19. Maranville, the shortstop, is the only name I recognize from that team, but it has been almost ten years ago, after all.

Maranville had another fine year. It has always surprised me how a man who is only five and a half feet tall can hit with the power he manages to generate. He hit 24 home runs this year and drove in well over a hundred runs. In fact, the Pirates have three men who knocked in that many runs, and two of them are youngsters: Paul Waner and Buck Leonard. Waner plays right field, and is the older of the two at 25, while Leonard, a first baseman, is barely out of his teens.

Paul has a younger brother, Lloyd, who will miss the Series while he recovers from a broken hip. I hope Lloyd will heal completely, although I confess I won't miss him this week. He hit over .340, and gets on base frequently.

I believe we have a better pitching staff than the Pirates do. Brady, Wood, and Nehf are all in fine form right now, and while Lefty Lorenzen has pitched wonderfully--he has 28 victories, I believe--neither Burleigh Grimes or Carmen Hill has been as sharp as usual lately. Of course, the atmosphere of a World Series will likely bring out the best in everyone, and I expect the Pirates to fight us as hard as any team we have ever faced in the Series.

Tomorrow morning we board the express for Pittsburgh, and Sarah and the children will be joining me. We decided that Dad's last World Series was an occasion that merited some time off from school. Even Billy is in the second grade this year, and I am not sure if I am more amazed by that fact or by the realization that Beth is going to be sixteen in less than a month and is in the tenth grade!

I should close this letter now, and try to get some sleep. My best wishes to you and your family, my friend!

Your pal,
Pat

05-31-2005, 10:22 PM	#786
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,145	Fall Classic 84 Westland Avenue Boston, Massachusetts Mr. Frank Owens 220 Park Avenue South Bend, Indiana September 26, 1928 Dear Frank, How nice it was to hear from you the other day! I had meant to call you or write to you, but it is amazing how busy I have been since I announced my retirement! I have been interviewed and put on the radio in every city we have visited since my announcement, and while it is flattering, it is also tiring. I haven't been hitting well at all for several weeks now, which only makes me feel more confident in my decision. I thought I would know when it was time for me to step aside, and that time has come. I will be back in the starting lineup for the Series, and I hope I have a few more good games left in me. I have rested more than I ever have since we clinched the pennant, so I feel pretty good for a forty-one-year old man! You asked me what I thought about the Pirates. I believe they will be a very tough opponent. They are a very young and talented team; most of the players were not on the team when we played them in the Series back in '19. Maranville, the shortstop, is the only name I recognize from that team, but it has been almost ten years ago, after all. Maranville had another fine year. It has always surprised me how a man who is only five and a half feet tall can hit with the power he manages to generate. He hit 24 home runs this year and drove in well over a hundred runs. In fact, the Pirates have three men who knocked in that many runs, and two of them are youngsters: Paul Waner and Buck Leonard. Waner plays right field, and is the older of the two at 25, while Leonard, a first baseman, is barely out of his teens. Paul has a younger brother, Lloyd, who will miss the Series while he recovers from a broken hip. I hope Lloyd will heal completely, although I confess I won't miss him this week. He hit over .340, and gets on base frequently. I believe we have a better pitching staff than the Pirates do. Brady, Wood, and Nehf are all in fine form right now, and while Lefty Lorenzen has pitched wonderfully--he has 28 victories, I believe--neither Burleigh Grimes or Carmen Hill has been as sharp as usual lately. Of course, the atmosphere of a World Series will likely bring out the best in everyone, and I expect the Pirates to fight us as hard as any team we have ever faced in the Series. Tomorrow morning we board the express for Pittsburgh, and Sarah and the children will be joining me. We decided that Dad's last World Series was an occasion that merited some time off from school. Even Billy is in the second grade this year, and I am not sure if I am more amazed by that fact or by the realization that Beth is going to be sixteen in less than a month and is in the tenth grade! I should close this letter now, and try to get some sleep. My best wishes to you and your family, my friend! Your pal, Pat __________________ My dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: 2014 inductee, OOTP Dynasty Hall of Fame Kenilworth: A Town and its Team: fun with a fictional league Last edited by Big Six; 07-06-2006 at 01:29 PM.