Today someone was talking Red Sox baseball, I believe it is "Spring Training Fever" time. Weather is gorgeous and yes, it is a day off for me. But the conversation jogged my memory of a former Red Sox player, one who I admired for his convictions. This past December, a long-time Fred's News patron, quietly and peacefully passed away. Walt Dropo, a quiet unassuming, but very much a large mass of a man, headed for his "Field of Dreams." Walt played for the Boston Red Sox in the early 1950's and won the prestigious title, Rookie of the Year. Although Walt lived in Moosup, Connecticut, he travelled through the little village of Baltic on his way to Pautipaug Country Club. Walt was also an avid golfer. His quiet nature was very much reflected in conversations with the man. He never actually told you about himself, others always did: "Hey, see that guy over there, that's Walt Dropo!" "You know that guy sitting over there every Sunday, that's Walt Dropo, he played for the Red Sox and was Rookie of the Year!" Walt was very uncomfortable with this, although if a young person approached him seeking an autograph, he'd break into a wide smile and oblige. This was a habit his brother George, disliked immensely. George thought Walt should charge for the autograph, Walt declined saying, "I did it for the kid!"
Both Walt and brother George were big University of Connecticut fans, both knew our youngest was attending UCONN and in the running for Homecoming King in his senior year. Had those two been allowed to vote or perhaps sway the vote...they would have. Both equally excited, when Mark won the title. We laughed as they told everyone that entered the restaurant, the results....but this WAS Walt. He never talked much of family, except about George, he did however, love a good argument...always thumbs up for the Red Sox and a very disgusting look if conversations turned to the Red Sox number one enemy, the New York Yankees. Walt often looked at the sports memorabilia that hung on the walls of Fred's News, although he mentioned in passing, he knew many of the pictured players well, he rarely talked of his baseball days, preferring to keep conversations in the present. A tough character to figure out, one never knew if his quiet nature was a message, "leave me alone" or was he basically a shy person. Brother George's sudden and premature death only sent Walt into what appeared to be a deeper, darker sense of loneliness, we saw him less frequently, then not at all. Such a sense of sadness, when we heard of his passing, wherever you are now Walt...."PLAY BALL!
Both Walt and brother George were big University of Connecticut fans, both knew our youngest was attending UCONN and in the running for Homecoming King in his senior year. Had those two been allowed to vote or perhaps sway the vote...they would have. Both equally excited, when Mark won the title. We laughed as they told everyone that entered the restaurant, the results....but this WAS Walt. He never talked much of family, except about George, he did however, love a good argument...always thumbs up for the Red Sox and a very disgusting look if conversations turned to the Red Sox number one enemy, the New York Yankees. Walt often looked at the sports memorabilia that hung on the walls of Fred's News, although he mentioned in passing, he knew many of the pictured players well, he rarely talked of his baseball days, preferring to keep conversations in the present. A tough character to figure out, one never knew if his quiet nature was a message, "leave me alone" or was he basically a shy person. Brother George's sudden and premature death only sent Walt into what appeared to be a deeper, darker sense of loneliness, we saw him less frequently, then not at all. Such a sense of sadness, when we heard of his passing, wherever you are now Walt...."PLAY BALL!
I love the way you find ways to link several memories into such a great story! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, sometimes it takes an awful lot of prodding to get the memories to surface or even have some sense of order in my mind, but if I sit, relax and think one thought at a time, it usually falls into place. xoxoxoxo
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