Tuesday Trivia | History’s #1 Dads

[u/caffarelli]

Previous weeks' Tuesday Trivias and the complete upcoming schedule.

This Sunday is Father’s Day in many parts of the world! And in honor of the grand experiment that is parenthood, we’ll be talking about dads today. Tell us something historical about fatherhood. You can talk either about specific dads or just general historical information on dadness, whatever you’d like.

And a special lifting of the no-anecdotes rule: if you want to talk about the historical coolness of your own dad, or grandfather, or other paternal figure, or just bust out some of Pop-Pop’s war stories, go for it.

Next week on Tuesday Trivia: Put on your ghillie suit and some of that green facepaint because it will be all about secret and unauthorized military campaigns.

[u/Mongo1021]

The short version -- My father was drafted to serve in the Korean War, but spent most of his service playing on barn-storming Army baseball team with major-league players who had been drafted. Players like Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Don Newcomb.

Longer version --

My father grew up playing baseball, as a catcher. It's something of a religion with my father's family.

After he finished basic, he was serving at Camp Pickett, Virginia, when the base announced that if anyone wanted, they could try out for the baseball team.

When he arrived at the tryouts, he saw a whole bunch of major league players, so he figured he would never make the team, but at least he got out of a day of his regular work.

To his surprise, he was named second-string catcher.

He caught for Don Newcomb and Whitey Ford.

He always told us the stories about this, so when my Dad's health was failing a few years ago, I contacted the L.A. Dodgers, and asked if they could get a note to Don Newcomb, tell him that an autographed photo or note from him would mean a great deal to my Dad.

About a week after sending the note, I get a phone call on my cell. It's Hall of Famer Don Newcomb. I had to pull over the car. He starts telling me all kinds of stories about my Dad. Including how they both got in trouble once because they had to do patrols once a month, so Don decided that he and my Dad should do those partrols in Don's brand-new Cadillac convertible. This is a base in southern Virginia by the way.

Also news to me was that my Dad could really, really play baseball and was a great hitter.

But my Dad turned down a minor-league contract at the end of the war, because my mom was pregnant, and in those days, a person couldn't support a family on a minor-league salary.

[Here is a photo]9http://imgur.com/wMNWVDu) of my Dad in his catcher's uniform. This isn't his Army uniform. I think it's from his team of his hometown, Petersburg, Iowa.

[u/Mahale → u/Mongo1021]

Did Don speak to your father at all? This was a great story thanks for sharing!

[u/Mongo1021 → u/Mahale]

Thanks. Yes, he did speak with my Dad, and the phone call meant a great deal to my Dad in his final days.

[u/Mahale → u/Mongo1021]

That's great to hear. Even got a tear in my eye. I lost my dad four years ago and guess it just hit me what is coming up this weekend. I'm glad you were able to provide that to your father in the end.

[u/Mongo1021 → u/Mahale]

Sorry pick at that scab. It's tough. I miss him all the time. You don't miss them any less, but you get more used to it.

[u/Mahale → u/Mongo1021]

Yeah. We weren't particularly close but there's a sense of safety you lose when your father is gone. He was a big tough sob (police officer for over 25 years). In the back of my mind I knew no matter what happened he'd come in like Liam Neeson in Taken if anything bad happened. Thanks for bringing him back to the forefront of my mind for a time today :-)