A's Society's 14th Breakfast Reunion a Huge Success as 476 Faithful A's Fans Pack Williamsons Restaurant in Horsham, PA

It All Begins In January

One of the items on the Society’s Executive Board agenda at their first meeting each January is to begin considerations for the annual October Reunion Breakfast in Horsham, Pa. In years past it was a relatively easy decision given the availability and ages of the former A’s players that could be invited. However, time does march on and the list of probable guests gets shorter and shorter. This January’s meeting will no doubt be one of the toughest in the Society’s short 9 plus years existence. However the board will do its best again although this years event will be really tough to beat (we say that every year.)

Much will be written and said (with photos) of our recent 14th annual event. Many who have attended all of the previous 14 including this writer have expressed the weekend of October 22-23, 2005 was without a doubt the most successful and entertaining than any of the others. That is not to say the previous 13 did not leave a lasting memory for the young at heart that took the time to revisit their youth. It only means that the Society’s Reunion Committee knows exactly what our members want. If you were not with us over that weekend let me walk you through the most exciting 48 hours anyone could expect to enjoy. (Our oldest guest was 97 years young and wanted to reserve his seat for 2006, our youngest was 7.) This years reunion commitee was chaired by Michael Morsch with assistance from, Clara McGonigal, Tony Risi, John Patton, Steve Harlem and Max Silberman. A very special thanks to our regular volunteers Brian Farley, Kaitlyn Finley, Joe Brancato, Harry Adams, Mike Fesnak, Rikki Silberman and this years newcomers Paul Oetinger and Stephen Revucky who did such a masterful job through the entire weekend.

Although the public is informed that the festivities begin at the Horsham Days Inn on mid-day Saturday, the actual workload begins early Friday as the Society’s volunteers head to the Philadelphia Airport to pick up our guests from all parts of the country all day and night long. Three of our busiest volunteers are always the very dependable Fred Coleman, Tom Saboy, and Jack Boyett who can find themselves making numerous trips to the airport that usually takes them to past midnight to conclude. They only rest when they are assured no one is stranded in Philly. .Tom, Fred and Jack are three of our most dependable members who do not have the word “no” in their vocabulary.

At 7am on Saturday the volunteers take on the task of converting a hotel lobby into a mini sports collectors convention with clothing. baseball caps, tee shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters, shirts, uniforms, balls, ,photos, dozens of new sports books and this year a specially designed “tote bag” with the Society logo that was the hit of the day. The players start setting up for the autograph session shortly before noon and for the next 3 hours or so adults from al walks of life lineup to share a few precious moments with those heroes of their youth as well as that of their dad and grandfather “I was there the day you pitched a one hitter against the Tigers” or “my dad said he saw you hit 2 homers in one game one day.” The gleam in their eyes is only overshadowed by the huge smile on their faces. Middle age ladies and gentleman taking a time machine trip to 21st & Lehigh. By about 4pm the Saturday session is over and the guests retire to a hospitality room provided by our host hotel and staff. The Horsham Days Inn is one of if not the most accommodating facilities of this type in existence today anywhere in the world.

It is people like those at the Days Inn, Williamsons Restaurant, Otto’s Restaurant, Bill & Steve Bozman and their children, Ronnie Joyner who drove up from their homes in Maryland to help. Our next door neighbor in Hatboro, Mark Amos, Beverly Smith and Teresa Adams of Bux-Mont Office supply, Vivian Werner our webmaster, the legion of volunteers, Pat Williams, Jean Kubler our pianist who answered a last minute call for her talents, and last but certainly not least, our dedicated guests and their families for giving up so much of their time and enduring the ever present travel hardships just to make this event what they have proven to be. Because of people like those mentioned here and others I might have forgotten, Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics 1901-1954 will not be forgotten, that is, not in our lifetime for sure!!!!!

The Reunion Breakfast – A BIG Hit!

On October 23, 2005, the Philadelphia A’s Historical Society held its 14th Annual Reunion Breakfast at Williamsons Restaurant in Horsham, PA. By any measure, it was a fabulous success. Nearly 500 people attended the breakfast, and the amount of food consumed was only exceeded by the quantity of compliments offered by attendees in praising the event.

David Jordan, President of the A’s Society, opened the program by welcoming everyone and asking Society Vice President and Historian Max Silberman to introduce former Athletics and other players in attendance. Max did not limit his remarks to merely identifying the players. As he does every year, Max enriched his introductory comments with anecdotes and facts about the players that provided insights into their backgrounds and careers—both on and off the field. The value of Max’s contribution in this regard cannot be underestimated. By sharing his research on and personal knowledge of the players, Max allows the audience to appreciate them for all of their attributes and successes, and not just because they once toiled on the baseball diamond for the Philadelphia Athletics and/or some other team.

David Jordan then had the enjoyable task of introducing the descendants of players who were members of the World Champion 1930 Philadelphia Athletics. Regrettably, none of the men who formed that powerhouse are still living, but their descendants are more than willing to participate in A’s Society activities, and share their reminiscences and stories about the heroes who once wore A’s jerseys on the baseball diamond. The turnout of descendants was impressive and included:

The Jimmie Foxx Family: Son Jimmie Foxx Jr.; Grandchildren Jim, Jon and Patti Conlin; Nephew Dell Foxx; and Cousin Joseph Short.

The Jimmy Dykes Family: Daughter Teresa Dykes Finnegan; Granddaughter Karen Gramiak; Grandsons Charles and Sean Finnegan; and Great Grandchildren Ted and Matt Gramiak, and Jimmy, Seamus and Patrick Finnegan.

The Max Bishop Family: Daughter Maxine Bishop Schwarz; Grandson Andrew Schwarz; and Great Grandchildren Ian and Nick Schwarz.

The Eric McNair Family: Son Donald McNair; Grandson Eric McNair; Granddaughter Tavig Huseth; and Son-in-Law Michael Huseth.

Of course, no A’s Society Reunion would be complete without representatives of the Connie Mack family. On hand at the breakfast were: Daughter Ruth Mack Clark; Granddaughter Alice Cunningham; Grandson Connie Cunningham; and Great Grandson Earle McGillicuddy with his wife Cathy.

Although the Reunion Weekend was dedicated to commemorating the 75th anniversary of the 1930 A’s championship team, 2005 also marks the 100th anniversary of the American League pennant winning 1905 Philadelphia Athletics. Rube Oldring Jr., son of the great Philadelphia Athletics outfielder, was in attendance at the Reunion Breakfast. Although Rube Oldring did not join the Athletics until 1906, he made his Major League debut in 1905, playing in eight games for the New York Highlanders (later Yankees). Oldring was a key member of Connie Mack’s First Dynasty team, which won four American League titles and three Worlds Series contests between 1910-14.

Bob Warrington offered a tribute to the 1930 Philadelphia A’s, drawing a contrast between the heights the team was achieving at Shibe Park, and the depths to which the country was descending as the Great Depression took hold of the nation’s economy. Bob reviewed the A’s season, noting that the team started out slow but forged ahead of the pack in early June and never looked back. He described the outstanding performances the club received from the pitching staff, especially Lefty Grove and George Earnshaw, and the powerful hitting feats of its batsmen, Al Simmons and Jimmie Foxx in particular. Bob examined in detail one game of the World Series, which featured the Athletics going against the St. Louis Cardinals. Most baseball historians regard the fifth game as the turning point in the contest, and Bob noted how the great pitching of Earnshaw and Grove, combined with a ninth inning two-run home run by Foxx sealed the victory for the A’s and sent them on their way to the championship.

Pat Williams, senior Vice President of the Orlando Magic basketball team and a devoted A’s fan, talked briefly about attending A’s games in his youth, and recalled vividly how green the grass was at Shibe Park to a young boy looking at it from the stands. He then led the crowd in singing a song he composed along with Ken Hussar, “Connie, Connie’s A’s.” Sung to the tune of the “Ballad of Davy Crockett,” the words provided a heartfelt look back at the men who made the 1930 Philadelphia A’s one of the best teams in baseball history. Singing that inspired song was clearly one of the highpoints of the Breakfast.

Special guest Johnny Logan, who played shortstop for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1950s and early 1960s, then took the microphone to recall his playing days. His animated comments brought the audience to laughter a number of times. Although Logan may not be bringing crowds to their feet any longer with his feats on the baseball diamond, he has not lost any of his ability to entertain an audience with humorous—and at times poignant—remembrances of his days as a Major Leaguer.

The final speaker on the program was Ted Spencer, Curator at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He said he was overwhelmed by what he had seen and heard during his weekend visit and was lavish in his praise of the A’s Society for what it has accomplished in remembering and paying tribute to the Philadelphia Athletics. Ted said that he cannot explain precisely why baseball is the National Pastime. But, he added, the fact that the A’s Society can draw nearly 500 people to a Reunion Breakfast to honor a baseball team that existed for over 50 years leaves him no doubt that baseball is the National Pastime. The A’s Society was delighted that Spencer could attend and hopes he returns in the future.

In addition to the speakers, members of the audience were given an opportunity to ask questions of the players assembled. Former A’s Manager Eddie Joost responded to several of the queries, recalling the circumstances of his trade to the Philadelphia Athletics and subsequent interactions with Connie Mack. He spoke highly of Mack both as a person and a baseball manager. Joost also remembered fondly the 1948 season, when the Athletics were involved in their last pennant chase, and he discussed his and other players’ reactions to the news that the Athletics had been sold after the 1954 season.

The Breakfast was followed by an autograph session with the players. Many attendees took the opportunity to tell A’s Society officers how much they enjoyed the event and are looking forward (already) to next year’s Reunion Weekend. Although tired by the end of the day, those A’s Society officers and members who helped arrange and orchestrate the Reunion Breakfast could take great satisfaction from a job well done.

Click here to read the 1930 Philadelphia Athletics tribute to the 1930 World Champion Philadelphia Athletics that was delivered by Bob Warrington at the 2005 Philadelphia A’s Historical Society’s Reunion Weekend Breakfast.

If Seeing is Believing, Take a Peek

Photos by Carl Goldberg

Standing left to right: Don Hasenmayer, Johnny Logan, Barney Schultz, Ryne Duren ,Randy Gumpert,
Bill Hockenbury, Lou Brissie, Leroy Wheat, Carl Scheib, Joe Astroth, Virgil Trucks, John Addision

Sitting: Sonny Dixon, Allie Clark, Eddie Joost, Mickey Vernon, Spook Jacobs, Irv Hall, Al Brancato & Jack Crimian

Foxx Family Reunion meet at A's Society Reunion Shown here are: Dell Foxx (Jimmie's nephew), son Jim, Foxx Jr, Loretta Walls, Foxx Museum curator in Sudlersville, Md, Foxx grandchildren, Jim, Patti & Jon Conlin who came in from the west coast for this first ever get together.

Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx Sr is shown in this Christmas Day photograph circa 1930's holding his nephew Dell Foxx while his son Jimmie Jr enjoys a holiday treat. Dell & Jimmie Jr. were recently reunited at the Society's October Reunion.

.It was Saturday January 14th , Ann & Randy Gumpert entertained the A's Society at their Douglasville, Pa home to "catch" up on requests for Randy's autograph from his many fans.