Baseball in Fort Wayne

Archive for the ‘Books’ Category

Phil Meyer was kind enough to review my book on Amazon. Thanks Phil. Here’s an excerpt:

Baseball in Fort Wayne is an impressive collection of baseball photos and stories. Baseball fans, especially those local to Fort Wayne, will be amazed to see baseball evolve from its late 19th century beginnings to the current game. Unlike the typical “statistical” baseball book, this book . . .

Click here to read the rest!

Isabel Alvarez kindly sent me some information about the Dottie Collins Honorary Golf Outing the other day. The outing will take place on Friday, August 15th at Brookwood Golf Course and proceeds from the event go to the benefit of the Alzheimer’s Association and is being presented by Regency Place of Fort Wayne and Meadowvale Health and Rehab.

The event brochure and registration form is available here.

Dottie Wiltse Collins

Dottie was born on September 23, 1923 and became a star softball player in the late 30’s. With the men off fighting WWII, Chicago Cubs owner Phillip Wrigley developed the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) to ensure that baseball would continue in the states. Dottie joined the league and became a 20 game winner as a right-handed pitcher in 4 out the 6 seasons she played.

She was marked as one of the league’s premier pitchers with a .608 winning percentage and lifetime 1.83 ERA. Dottie played for Minneapolis for one season and then came to Fort Wayne to play the remainder of her career for the Fort Wayne Daisies.

Dottie also accomplished a lot off the mound as well. Her husband, Harvey, taught her how to golf. She was the Fort Wayne City Champ in 1971 and was runner – up five other times. She helped organize youth golf and bowling leagues at the Elks Country Club. In 1988, she helped organize a reunion in Cooperstown that led to the movie “A League of Their Own”.

In 1999, Dottie was inducted into the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA) Hall of Fame. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about 5 years ago. Dottie was quoted in the book, Dottie Wiltse Collins: Strikeout Queen of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as saying her favorite memory of the league was:

“the people we met, including the fans, and the lifelong friendships that were created.”

Alzheimer’s Association

Our Mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Allen County
Amanda DeLong
260.241.6188 phone; 260.486.5866 fax

Wells County
Kali Giggy
260.224.1447 phone; 260.824.4689 fax

UPDATE: Blake Sebring has a nice piece on the outing in the August 8th News-Sentinel.

A little over a year ago, I was a newly published author who was going to my first professional book signing at Barnes & Noble (in Jefferson Pointe). I had my ideas about what to expect, and everything pretty much went that way until the unexpected happened.

About half way through, a friendly-faced woman who was wearing an AAGPBL  sweatshirt emerged from beyond a series of bookshelves at the store much the same way Shoeless Joe Jackson (ably played by Ray Liotta) emerges from the corn husks in Field of Dreams. One of Isabel Alvarez’s former GE co-workers had informed me earlier in the day that she might be coming, so I was pretty certain who the woman was.

She was very soft spoken but we quickly struck up a conversation and she stayed for pretty much the remainder of the signing as we talked about baseball, Fort Wayne, her times with the Daisies and more. She also kindly signed next to her picture for folks who purchased the book.

It was a great experience indeed. Since that time, I have had the great fortune to talk with Isabel more and have found that first impression to be accurate. And, her passion for baseball and the AAGPBL in particular is apparent within just a few moments of meeting her and you can’t help but be reminded of this fact every time you see her.

This past spring, Isabel was honored by the Northeast Indiana Baseball Assocation (NEIBA) with the Bob Parker Memorial Award. Not only was she deserving, but she was truly humbled by an honor she never expected to receive. No offense to the other honorees, inductees, the emcee or keynote speaker Tony Richards, but her acceptance of the award was among the most memorable moments of that night in my mind.

It brought a smile to my face to see her handing out autographed baseball cards to those in attendance – because they were going faster than she cold hand them out. And, even though I had her autograph in my own book already, I had to get a card too.

Today, she sent me a link to an article in the News-Sentinel about a book that is being written about her life and baseball career. It was with much joy for her that I read the article as it detailed more.

But however much Alvarez’s past and present contributions to baseball are commemorated, she credits the game itself for the majority of opportunities she’s had in her life” exactly the point author Kathy Williams plans to touch upon in a book chronicling Alvarez’s life.

Right now, the book is tentatively titled “Life After the League: From La Tilla del Cerro to All-American. It likely will recount Alvarez’s family life in Cuba to her days as a professional baseball player in America and life after the league. The book is scheduled for publication by the end of the year.

It’s definitely one I am looking forward to reading.  Congrats again Isabel!

I wanted to send out word that I will be part of a DeKalb County Author’s Book Singing on Saturday, May 17th. It takes place at MJ’s Bookmark on South Main Street in Auburn from 1-4PM. Hope to see you there. But don’t come for just me. There will be many other local authors there and I know I am pretty excited to meet with them and hear about their books and publishing experiences.

This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to peruse Scott Bushnell’s Historic Photos of Fort Wayne (Turner Publishing). I know this is a bit of a break from the heavy Spring Training related news that has been appearing here, but I thought readers of Baseball in Fort Wayne (both the blog and the book) would find interest in Bushnell’s compilation.

The photos in the book date back to the early-to-mid 1800′s and span the culture and society of Fort Wayne in areas of commerce, industry, leisure, religion and of course, sports. You’ll find many wonderful photographs of buildings, railroad scenes, waterways, churches and sporting events like the Fort Wayne Komets, Zollner Pistons and some of the many baseball leagues that have called the Summit City home.

By my count, there are 6 different baseball related photographs; which include Red Braden, Everett Scott as a member of the Lady Wayne Chocolates, Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane, The Fort Wayne Daisies, and a fascinating photo of a flooded League Park. There’s even a great aerial shot of the Memorial Coliseum that was taken soon after initial completion. It’s amusing to see the building surrounded by acres of farmland rather than the commercial districts we are all so used to seeing now. If you look, you can also see Municipal Beach Park that later became Carrington Field before being razed for Memorial Stadium.

If you have any tie to Fort Wayne or appreciation for historic photos, you’ll be well served to pick up a copy of this book. Bushnell has done a wonderful job of collecting and synthesizing hundreds of years of history into this tome.

[tags]books, Fort Wayne Indiana, Scott Bushnell, Turner Publishing[/tags]

If you happen to be in the Auburn, Indiana area on Sunday (12/16), stop by MJ’s Bookmark between 1-4PM for a DeKalb County Authors Open House! Sixteen local authors are slated to be present for book signings, discussions and more!

Of course, I will be there signing copies of Baseball in Fort Wayne – so if you don’t have one already or are looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the baseball fan on your list . . . Hope to see you there!

Mj’s Bookmark Inc. ~ 414 S. Main St. ~ Auburn, Indiana ~ 260-925-2330

[tags]book signings, DeKalb Count Authors, MJ’s Bookmark, writers, Baseball in Fort Wayne[/tags]

• When:
  March 31, 2007 1:00 PM
• Where:
  4320 Coldwater Road
  Fort Wayne, IN 46805
• Phone:
  260.471.5598
• More Info & Map: Click Here

Former Daisies pitcher, Isabel Alveraz showed up at my last signing. What a surprise to meet her!

I spoke with Mary Jane Smith. She owns and operates MJ’s Bookmark in Auburn, Indiana and is currently carrying Baseball in Fort Wayne. She has very graciously invited me for a book signing next month. here are the details:

When:
April 7, 2007 – 2-4PM
Where:
MJ’s Bookmark, Inc.
414 S. Main St.
Auburn, IN 46706
Phone:
260-925-2330
Map: Click Here

In my effort to keep you all up-to-date, I am posting my March signings.
Continue to watch this blog as more events are added.

• When:
  March 24, 2007 – 02:00 PM
• Where:
  Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center
  4140 W. Jefferson Blvd. Bldg. J
  Ft. Wayne, IN 46804
• Phone:
  260-432-3343
• More Info & Map: Click Here

• When:
  March 31, 2007 1:00 PM
• Where:
  4320 Coldwater Road
  Fort Wayne, IN 46805
• Phone:
  260.471.5598
• More Info & Map: Click Here

Hope to see you at one (or both) of these events. There are also a couple events being planned for April if you cannot make the March events. Stay tuned.

About a year ago, I was just getting started on a proposal for a book about the history of baseball in Fort Wayne. And now – after a summer filled with phone calls, emails and countless of on-line and off-line research – the date of availability is almost here.

It is my sincere hope that the Baseball in Fort Wayne will be recognized as much more than a book or a sport. Baseball in Fort Wayne is a passion that has continually been a favorite pastime in the area that touches base in three different centuries. I also hopeful that my broad stroke look at the game in area can serve as a catalyst for continued (or perhaps renewed) interest, research and support of the various baseball and softball leagues and organizations in the city and northeast Indiana. The history of baseball in Fort Wayne is one that should be celebrated. Whether you are a fan, player, coach or historian; it’s a legacy we can (and should) all share together.

Visit any book retailer or click the image above to order now.

www.baseballinfortwayne.com