We've Got Mail!!! SportsHollywood Correspondence

The AAAA Hollywood Stars

Click on Jayne to read about the Stars.

Gentlemen: (??? - Ed.)
Your article on the Hollywood Stars is great, however there is an inaccurate statement. CBS Televisions City was NOT built on the Gilmore Field site, it was built on the Gilmore Stadium site, and both Gilmore Field and CBS co-existed for some time. Thought you might want to know……………someone who was there…………

Robert Kraft

Dear Robert: We were told that the studio has expanded and taken over part of the Gilmore Field land. The home plate plaque sits outside one of the soundstages. Next to two large craters where Jane Mansfield fell forward while running to the pitcher's mound. But we'll verify, Mr. Smartypants.

Dear Sirs:

I'd like permission to reprint in our April issue excerpts from your fabulous Hollywood Stars history at SportsHollywood, and to obtain high-res versions of an image or two. The article will also have reminscences of Gilmore from members of the class of '63 at Beverly Hills High.

In the same issue we will have an interview with Fred Claire.

Many thanks,

Laurence Vittes, Editor
Southern California Senior Life

Dear Laurence: Sure! We'll send you the contact info for the A.F. Gilmore Co. -- they own all the old photos from Gilmore Field. By the way, some writer you are -- you can't even spell "Lawrence."

Did anyone there at SportsHollywood come across a source for Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels replica merchandise while researching for their pieces on the website?
-Michelle Williams

Dear Michelle: You can get caps and jerseys here. Jeff bought a bunch of stuff on E-Bay, loaned it to some documentary filmmakers, and never got it back. So don't ask him. He's bitter.

Dear SportsHollywood:

I have a baseball that was signed by the Hollywood Stars, some of the players I can read on it I think the year was about 1952 to 1954, not sure. I'm looking to find the roster for the team & can't find it. Also looking to find out if it might be worth anything. Maybe you could get some more information on the team for me.

Thank You, Guy Webb

Dear Guy: this page features a couple of rosters from 1953. Other than that you'd have to track down some old game programs on E-Bay.

Wrigley Field, Los Angeles

A buddy and I were talking about the baseball show, Home Run Derby, the other day. Since he was from the Southern California area, I asked him where Wrigley Field was located. He wasn't aware that there was such a park in the L.A. area, and he found your historical recap of it.
I have read it, and will bookmark it to read again. It has brought back memories of the show that I couldn't wait to watch, such was the draw that baseball in the golden days, had on me and my friends growing up in NJ.
Thanks for the great write-up. I appreciate it more than I can express in this message.

Regards,
Greg

Steve Dalkowski

Dalkowski in 1959

I just read your article about Steve Dalkowski. Really love it. What twinked my interest was an article in the Boston Globe mentioning ball players with historic potential who never made it.

I went to New Britain Senior High School. Steve was two years ahead of me. I do recall the headlines in the (then) New Britain Herald about the 18 strikeouts, 18 walk game. As I recall he also played football (in those years NBHS was state champs).

The only legend I doubt is about his IQ. Steve was no rocket scientist, but an IQ of 60? I doubt that very much. Too bad such a bad ending for such a talented guy.

r h price

Thanks for the article on Steve Dalkowski. It was an interesting article for me. I had the good (?) fortune to bat against Dalkowski when I played for the 1959 Eau Claire Braves in the Northern League. He mostly struck me out, but I did get a blooper double off him once. It was amazing watching his pitches from second base. You could see the ball rise several inches from the mound to the catcher’s mitt. It really is a shame that he hurt his arm. He was absolutely phenomenal.
--Douglas Tyson (Ty) Clayton

Then you'll also be interested in the letter posted by Robert Fabbricatore, entitled "I Faced Steve Dalkowski." You both are a lot braver than we would have been!

I enjoyed reading this brief bio of Dalkowski. I have always been intrigued by his velocity? where did it come from? He wasn't that big, compared to today's pitchers. Many trainers tell me that the trunk and rotation and leg power contribute to velocity. Yet Steve never seemed to train like today's athletes and was always drinkiing and never really "in shape." I heard one tale where he was in street clothes, and threw the ball from 400 feet in centerfield OVER THE BACKSTOP!! Unbelievable! Bull Durham was a good baseball movie, but I think a true movie about Dalkowski, documentary, would be even better. The secret of his arm strength!! With all the multi-million $$$$ contracts today, that would be quite a secret to know!
--Bill O' ( an old former minor-leaguer from years ago)

'Let's Do Lunch' Column

Read your Let's Do Lunch column. You are probably expecting a letter that has someone cussing you out and stuff but I dont do that! I just want to tell you no matter how much you bad talkTexas and the Cowboys, the more I like the both of them! I love Texas...that's my favorite state and I love the Cowboys and its a free country and so I can! You just don't like the Cowboys because they beat one of your sissy football teams awhile back or maybe even last week...and so I have three words for you Get over it! I dont live in Texas so you cant say thats another cocky Texan!
Isaiah O.

Dear Isaiah, You suck. Spoken like someone with a true inferiority complex. OU clobbered Texas. The Cowboys got beat (pick any week you like). And I don't see the Texas Rangers or the Houston Astros playing in the World Series right now. Thank you for your kind words. Mr. Lunch

Los Angeles Angels

I read your wonderful history of L.A.'s Wrigley Field and the L.A. Angels of the PCL. It is an excellent, thoroughly-researched article.
I just wanted to make one correction to your terminology. On two occasions you used the word "pro" when referring to the Majors. Once was in reference to Bill Sarni, the Angels' teenaged backup catcher during the war years: "Eleven years later, he finally made it to the pros and played for the Cardinals." A second time was in reference to the 1961 season when the American League Angels played at Wrigley: "The pro batters loved those Wrigley power alleys: 248 home runs were hit there, more than in any other ballpark in Major League history during a single season -- an average of more than three a game."
I'm sure this was just a slip, as you no doubt realize that minor league ball is pro ball as well, and that it is not accurate to use the word "pro(s)" when referring to the Majors in contradistinction to the minors.
Anyway, once again, thanks for a tremendous article.
Sincerely,
Ferdinand Cesarano

Dear Ferdinand, I'm surprised Jeff even spelled "baseball" right! PS: Check out "Home Run Derby" on ESPN Classic to see the real field!

Greetings: When I was a young boy my father would often take us kids to see the "Los Angeles Angels" at Wrigley Field, on 42nd Street and Avalon. Those were the days!!! I have never forgotten the years spent cheering for Steve Bilko, Chuck Connors, Ted Kluwzewski, Dick Stuart (Hollywood Stars), etc. . My question is: where can a person find any memorabilia from the old PCL Angels? I would be very appreciative of any info that you might be able to provide me with. Thank You very much.
tony

There's stuff on E-Bay all the time! It's expensive, though -- be prepared... If you're really motivated, there's a plaque where home plate used to be. You can rip that out of the sidewalk if the cops aren't around.

Poor Sports

I just read your article written 8/25/00, I'm really on top of it huh? Anyway my name is Denna Vernon Martin and I am Doug DeCinces cousin and we grew up together spending holidays and school vacations together and I want to add something to your article. Doug truly is a very fine gentleman and cares very much for people. When I was a nurse in Santa Barbara I would watch the games on T.V. with my patients and Doug was always willing to give me autographed balls, cards and other things for my patients. Speaking of Reggie Jackson, well I have two major league balls signed by all the players on the Angels and Orioles teams and guess whos name is missing on my Angel's ball? Good ol Reggie that everybody will soon forget because he is a stuck up ass just like the guy said....thanks for the article even though I just found it after 2 years+.
--Dennavernon

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