This series highlights "one page" at a time from my binder of correspondence and autographs from former players and personnel.
Hillis Layne
Washington Senators (1941,1944–1945)
Served in WWII (1942-1944)
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"My greatest thrill of my 38 year career was hitting a home run in Yankee Stadium in 1945 with 68,000 fans in attendance. I rate the 1941 Yankees the best team I have seen in my 38 year career."
"Tom, I hope this information will be helpful to you. I am 86 yrs. old now but I am grateful that I was able to play the game for the love of the game in lieu of the millions players are receiving to play the great game of baseball."
"Played at Comisky Park in 1941-1944-1945. [Played] over 2,000 pro games. [Played] Pro ball from 1938-1958. 18 Years as Major League scout with NY Mets, Kansas City, Washington, Texas Rangers. Was in baseball 38 years and enjoyed every day I was involved. Played All-Star game in 1947 with Casey Stengel as Mgr. This game in San Francisco in Pacific Coast League involving North + South All-Stars. A great thrill. Best players I played against were (1) DiMaggio - NY Yankees 56 game hit safely. He in my opinion is the best all-around player of all time. (2) Ted Williams the best hitter with .406 average. I was fortunate to have played against these two. Although Hubbell and Gibson were great pitchers, I rate Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians equal or better than either. He was clocked in 1941 in Washington throwing the ball 110-112 miles per hour. He with many others such as Red Ruffing, Lefty Gomez, Hal Newhouser, Schoolboy Rowe, Dizzy Dean were better than pitchers of their era."
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"Tom, Thanks for your nice card and the picture with your son at your side, reminds me of myself and my son in the early days of my baseball career. Good "ole" days. Again, it is a pleasure to do what I can to encourage young people while God spares me the days to do what I can. May God bless you and your family."
Correspondence received January 6 and January 20, 2004.
Not sure of the two dates, I may have written him twice.
Layne passed away on January 12, 2010, at the age of 91.
Must have been pretty darn cool to be able to tell the grandkids that he hit a home run at Yankee Stadium. I looked up that game on Baseball Reference to see who he hit the home run off of (Tiny Bonham). Based on the site, there was a little over 20k in attendance... but I'm sure that it felt like 60k in the moment.
ReplyDeleteI think this is by far my favorite reply that you've shown from a player. I know him mostly from his time in the PCL. He had a couple of tremendous seasons with Seattle in the late 40's, and even spent part of a season with Portland.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love this. Something I wish I had done back in the day.
ReplyDeleteThis was way better then most of the responses you've received, very cool!
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