When my son was young, between 6-9 years old, the question I asked of old-timers centered around advice for Tommy who was playing little league at the time, and for me as a dad of a little leaguer. I was surprised, and moved, how often these vets gave some genuine advice. Enos Slaughter was almost 81, and a HOFer for 12 years when he graciously responded to my request.
"Tommy, Get your educating first, work hard, listen to your coach, and try [to] learn the right way to play and keep practicing."
That's some great advice right there.
Correspondence received in February 1997.
Enos Slaughter passed away in 2002 at the age of 86.
St. Louis Cardinals (1938–1942, 1946–1953)
New York Yankees (1954–1955)
Kansas City Athletics (1955–1956)
New York Yankees (1956–1959)
Milwaukee Braves (1959)
Career highlights and awards:
10× All-Star (1941, 1942, 1946–1953)
4× World Series champion (1942, 1946, 1956, 1958)
NL RBI leader (1946)
St. Louis Cardinals No. 9 retired
St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame
Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame (1985)
Batting average .300
Hits 2,383
Home runs 169
Runs batted in 1,304
That's awesome. Good advice and very cool to have gotten from such a source.
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteHe scored the winning run in the 1946 World Series. Lost three seasons to the war.
ReplyDeleteGood get.
i saw a ttm return from bill mueller once wherein he answered the question of what does it take to be a big leaguer by stating "you have to fall in love with preparation". not a hall of famer, but good advice nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. Loving these correspondence posts.
ReplyDeleteSo, did Tommy listen to old Enos?
ReplyDeleteHe did. Good boy.
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