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Sunday, July 27, 2008

PB Post: Fan has visited graves of 205 Baseball Hall of Famers

More fun than a staredown with Zandor Vorkov...it’s a neat look at SABR dude, Stew Thornley.

Thornley used to collect autographs, but that hobby took a turn for the worse when he was a sophomore at the University of Minnesota in 1978. He approached New York Yankees catcher Thurman Munson after a game and asked him to sign a paddle from Delta Upsilon, a fraternity to which Munson belonged while a student at Kent State.

Munson apparently wasn’t in the mood to sign, the two exchanged words and, Thornley said, “He had me by the neck in a chokehold. (Yankees teammate) Fran Healy had to break it up.’’

“Neither one of us was on our best behavior,” Thornley said. “Something I’d rather forget.”

Thornley doesn’t hold a grudge. Munson, who isn’t in the Hall of Fame, died in a plane crash in 1979.

“I’ve been to his grave several times,” he said. “It’s very nice.”

Repoz Posted: July 27, 2008 at 05:59 AM | 20 comment(s)
Related News: General, History, Hall of Fame, Memorabilia, Negro Leagues, Obituaries, Baseball Geeks

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1. jwb Posted: July 27, 2008 at 10:58 AM (#2876436)

I don't think he has anything on Frank Russo.

2. There's a chill wind blowing in Misirlou's soul Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:21 AM (#2876462)

Thornley used to collect autographs, but that hobby took a turn for the worse when he was a sophomore at the University of Minnesota in 1978.

Boy I hear ya. I used to collect player's used hand towels until I got a Manny Ramirez

3. ghost of perros Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:26 AM (#2876469)

How many has he robbed?

4. Slapinions Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:28 AM (#2876472)

Boy I hear ya. I used to collect player's used hand towels until I got a Manny Ramirez

LOL. Nice!

5. Eraser-X is dominating this site! Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:30 AM (#2876474)

Whenever his bladder's full, he heads to Munson's grave?

6. Leroy Kincaid Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:36 AM (#2876481)

Stew Thornley? Sounds made up.

7. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:40 AM (#2876488)

The guy is a "drinking water educator for the Minnesota Department of Health."

8. Moscow Hiding In The Shadows Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:42 AM (#2876491)

LIFE magazine once did a feature on a guy who had himself photographed while standing on his head in front of what was then all 48 State Capitol buildings. I wonder if Thornley's any relation.

9. saltfarmer Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:52 AM (#2876502)

The guy is a "drinking water educator for the Minnesota Department of Health."

He's also a respected baseball historian and author, official scorer for the Twins, and a good guy.

10. Golfing Great Mitch Cumstein Posted: July 27, 2008 at 11:58 AM (#2876507)

I have nothing against the guy, just wondering what is a "drinking water educator."

11. bob gaj Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:16 PM (#2876524)

i had an english prof in college who dedicated one class to showing us the tombstones of famous authors. his son(s?) were photographed by each of them, and needless to say, were quite unimpressed with having their picture taken in that setting.

i went to the college in hoboken...he was undeniably the worst college person i had, and graded papers based on if you echoed his thoughts in class. when i went 'original', i got poor grades; when i regurgitated his stuff back to him, i got A's.

12. Racer X Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:21 PM (#2876527)

205? There must not be many living Hall of Famers.

13. Baseballing powerhouse Crispix Attacks Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:38 PM (#2876544)

Behold!

14. Arnold Rothstein Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:38 PM (#2876545)

just wondering what is a "drinking water educator."

Your lips go on the rim closest to you.

15. Moscow Hiding In The Shadows Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:42 PM (#2876553)

i had an english prof in college who dedicated one class to showing us the tombstones of famous authors. his son(s?) were photographed by each of them, and needless to say, were quite unimpressed with having their picture taken in that setting.

I do have to admit that I like the small collection of photos that a friend of mine has, posing in front of the graves of Lenin, Mao, and Ho Chi Minh. He's hoping to add Castro before too long.

16. Leroy Kincaid Posted: July 27, 2008 at 12:44 PM (#2876555)

official scorer for the Twins

That should be a mark against him. Those people are evil. "Mauer hits a routine grounder to short - Renteria fields it and tosses it 12 rows deep in the seats behind the firstbase dugout. It's scored a hit."

17. DL from MN Posted: July 28, 2008 at 09:37 AM (#2877602)

I thought it would be more friendly to Stew around here. Stew has been pretty good at making sure important ballplayers have a marked grave (I believe Bill Dahlen is still unmarked) and has done some good research on ballplayer dates of death and final resting places.

It's an unusual hobby but isn't every hobby?

18. Shooty: Now rated AAA by Moody's! Posted: July 28, 2008 at 09:47 AM (#2877615)

i went to the college in hoboken...he was undeniably the worst college person i had, and graded papers based on if you echoed his thoughts in class. when i went 'original', i got poor grades; when i regurgitated his stuff back to him, i got A's.

Clearly, he was an ineffective teacher.

Just funning Bob!

19. Hack Wilson Posted: July 28, 2008 at 09:50 AM (#2877619)

I would like to visit the grave of Mark Grace.

20. The Politics of Torre: How the HOF Really Works Posted: July 28, 2008 at 09:57 AM (#2877630)

I thought it would be more friendly to Stew around here. Stew has been pretty good at making sure important ballplayers have a marked grave (I believe Bill Dahlen is still unmarked) and has done some good research on ballplayer dates of death and final resting places.

It's an unusual hobby but isn't every hobby?

This crowd is more into stats than history.

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