A’S BIG WEEKEND
by Max Silberman
A full weekend of baseball and fun hosted by Dr. Steve Harlem began on Friday, October 24 at the Delaware Valley Veterans Home in Northeast Philadelphia. Lou Brissie, pitching star of the late 1940s and war hero visited the residents as is his custom and delighted the audience with baseball stories and presented them with Hartland Statues of Brissie, a gift to the Veterans from the Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society.
Saturday, October 25 was a rainy and stormy day but that did not stop hundreds of fans from attending an autograph session at the Day’s Inn with Bob Friend, Bobby Shantz, Joe Astroth, Spook Jacobs, Lou Brissie, Don Hasenmayer, Sally Ferguson and Joanne McComb In addition to the guests, free hot dogs, popcorn and crackerjacks added to the festive baseball atmosphere.
On Sunday, October 26 a short autograph session was followed by a sit down dinner starting at 4 o’clock which gave everyone time to watch the Phillies in the World Series. Rabbi Shmuel Jablon delivered the opening address. Other speakers included Bill Hockenbury who introduced his pal Lou Brissie. Lou spoke to the fans as did Bob Friend. The players in attendance were happy to participate in a question and answer session. A great weekend was enhanced by the Phillies success making baseball fans in the area very happy.
Dr. Harlem worked long and hard to make this a memorable weekend but without the work of our volunteers who hosted autograph signers, sold merchandise, transported a large amount of items from the museum to the Day’s Inn, Williamson’s and back to the museum and even cooked hot dogs and bagged popcorn, the event could never have taken place.
The Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society will continue to provide the opportunity for fans and players to get together at future events in 2009 still in the planning stages.
Behind the scenes at all our events is our Vice President for Player Relations, John Addison who labors all year long to maintain contacts with all the A’s family.
