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Baseball Trivia (General)/1935 Boston Braves

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Expert: - 11/19/2008


Question

Autographs 1
In April of 1935, the Boston Braves stopped in Fayetteville, NC and played an exhibition game with the NC State varsity team. My dad went to that game and got 15 autographs. They are spread on three small sheets of paper. Most were of the team members, including Ruth, Maranville Mueller and Hogan. Then there was Harry (Hank) Gowdy , who was a coach. We even have Joe Stock (Milt), who was a minor league manager at the time and must have stopped to see the game...However, there are three that we cannot find any association with. We would love to know who they were and why they were there. 1. looks like CW Philips 2. Jerry Grunwald or something close 3. Ben Niff.Neff... Would appreciate any help. I have searched the web high and low.
Anne B. Marsh


Answer
Anne,

It doesn't look like I'm going to be able to help you out. I spent some time scouring my sources, and none of these names come up as connected with the Braves in 1935. It's possible that since these autographs were obtained during a spring training exhibition circuit, one or more of these guys were trying to land a job and got cut (or never played) by the team before the season started. Or they were temporarily coaches, or like Stock were minor league managers or coaches. Maybe they were front office or newspaper guys. At any rate their connection with the Braves was so tangential as to be invisible from this distance.

Have you tried the Fayetteville newspaper(s) for then? If the box score got printed, perhaps one of your names will show up there. See if the Braves were in town for more than one day when you do this. Not likely, but check. If you're really living right, there may be a write-up of the game that mentions one.

It's a real long shot, but you also might try contacting the Atlanta Braves. Teams sometimes have historical data. Perhaps the team has rosters or programs or something that might be of some value in your search.

I think the names are: C. W. Philips, Jerry Gruenwald, and Ben Neff.

I'm very sorry I cannot be of more help.

Tom
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you so much for your reply. I had not thought of some of your possible suggestions. I will try the Fayetteville papers and I am even trying some surname geneology sites...Thanks again for trying.


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Tom Schott

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I will deal with the major leagues only from 19th century to present. I`m good on baseball history, records, statistics, ballparks. I don't do off-the-field stuff. Please if you already know the answer to the question, please don't ask it. I don't want to play "stump the expert."

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I've written on the subject, and I have substantial library of resources.

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SABR

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Numerous encyclopedia, newspaper, magazine articles. One book, several book chapters.

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Ph.D. in American history.

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Bevy of writing awards.

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