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My story is baseball.I am Don Blasingame. They called me “Blazer.” I played second base for the St. Louis Cardinals. My friends from Corinth caught the train to come see me play. I also played for San Francisco and won the World Series playing for Cincinnati in 1962. One of the highlights of my career was playing in the 1958 All-Star game with the likes of Stan Musial, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and Ted Williams. When my career ended in the United States, I became interested in Japanese baseball where I was a manager, coach and scout for several years. I never missed the opportunity to play ball.
9 comments:
Just a little historical correction. Blasingame played for Cincinnati in the 1961 World Series and the Reds lost to the Yankees 4 games to 1. The Blazer went 1 for 7 in 3 games.
Correction. He was never a scout for a Japanese baseball team. We lived there for 16 years where he was a player, coach, and a manager. He was a great man, father and husband and I miss him dearly. RIP Dad. I love you. Cindy
Don Blasingame was my favorite player as a kid growing up in St. Louis. Through my admiration for Don Blasingame I met another fan of his and the two of us became best friends throughout our lives. I wrote to Don many years ago and he graciously wrote me back saying "it is always good to hear from a fan." I am sixty-five years old now and I think of him often. I was touched by the love of his daughter in her post. He seemed to be a very lucky man who led a very full life.
When I was in the Little League, I played on Blasingame Field at the YMCA. My grandmother and family lived on the corner right across the street. If you stood at homeplate, you were looking right at there house. I was told my by relatives that we were related to Don and I sure wish I knew how the Criswells and or Greens were connected. I was always listening to the radio when the Cardinals were playing. We lived on Shiloh Road just around the first curve as you head out of town. Cindy, I would love let you know he was very import to me also. I am 67 now, and he is very often on my mind.
Don was my cousin. Cindy, I still have a music box that he and your mother gave me on a visit home from Japan. I still remember the funny stories your mom told about adjusting to living there.
Don Blasingame was my great uncle. i was never lucky enough to have met him in his life, im only 32 now. i did have the pleasure to meet willie mays when i was 10 at a shreveport captains game and he talked with me for 30 minutes about what a good person and baseball player he was.
Don Blasingame was my favorite player. I was lucky enough to find him in Az. I called him and we talked for over an hour. He was surprised at how much I knew about him. For example, he did a shaving commercial where they showed him in freeze action. Saying "Hey Don. (Freeze) Don Blasingame." Anyhow a good guy, I think.
Became one of my favorite players when, in 1962 as a 8 year old, I read on his baseball card that we had the same birthday. That's all it took when you were a kid. I'd check the box scores everyday to see how he did.
I grew up in a small town in western Tennessee, Selmer. My Dad would say it was 90 miles east of Memphis.
I would love to hear from his daughter or any close relatives. My reason and motivation for this request is the following. My Dad, Raymond Mabry grew up in Savannah TN. At one point I was told that my Dad coached an American Legion team and coached Mr. Blasingame on that team. As I recall they may have played in the American Legion World Serias in St. Louis. I don't know the years but I would love to find out more about this connection.
My Dad passed on to me the love of Baseball to my brother and I. I have loved the game my entire life. I'm so greatful blessed. Baseball runs in the blood of many families and generations.I was only a fair player and played into high school where I was blessed to be coached by Jim Wing whom coached me at Palo Verde High School in Tucson Arizona. Coach Wings, (Winger) went on to coach over 20 years at The University of Arizona as the Assistant Heading Coach to Jerry Kendall, former major leader with the Minnesota Twins.
The tutoringredients of Coach Wings prepared me to take my love for the game and pass it on to hundreds of young people for over 20 years.
I must give my eternal thanks to my Dad and Coach Wings for blessing I recievedon't thanks to having the game of baseball in my life. I once saw a wonderful t-shirt with the saying: BASEBALL IS LIFE, so true!
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