Connie Mack Urged Him To Give Up Baseball

Imagine its your dream to play professional baseball. You've finally gotten your foot in the door and you're being paid $50 a week to pitch batting practice to the Philadelphia Athletics, to players such as Al Simmons, Jimmy Foxx, Jimmy Dykes and Lefty Grove. Then Mr. Mack, the venerable baseball legend calls you in and says:

"Sit down, Mr. Seward. I don't believe that you're going to make it in baseball."

Would you believe in yourself enough to stand up to Mr. Mack? Frank Seward did. He responded that he really didn't feel that he'd been given a fair chance and that he'd go anywhere to play the game that he loved. That was the answer that the great Connie Mack had been looking for.

He had been plumbing the desire of young Seward to work to achieve his dream. Mr. Mack then offered him a chance to play ball with the Newport News in the Virginia League. His train was to leave that night. He went home to tell his parents. Connie Mack had written that Frank showed good potential and should be signed for $100 a month. Seward negotiated his salary up to $125, and played till the league folded, which left him as a free agent.

The next season Frank Seward signed with the Washington Senators and went to play with Springfield's minor league team in Massachusetts. In 1943 Frank was bought by the New York Giants and got to play in the Polo grounds. Dizzy Dean was the team’s announcer and Frank had upped his salary to $2500 a year plus $10 a day meal money. The next season he was optioned to AAA San Francisco, then recalled to the majors again. The next two years he played with the San Francisco Seals, playing alongside Vince DiMaggio in the outfield. The next two years that he spent in professional ball he spent with the Hollywood Stars.

It was a lot of fun, but at the beginning of the 50’s Seward hung up his spikes and went to work for the Sun Oil Company. Later he went to work for National Homes. He went on to found the Regional Housing council in Elmira, New York. He retired in 1986. Mr. Seward has a lot of great baseball memories to look back upon, and his address is....

Frank Seward/117 Larchmont Road/Elmira. NY 14905

The New Smalling Address Book Is Out!

We're talking lots of mail successes here. Dave Baldwin, Ricky Adams, Rufus Crawford, Red hardy, Steven J Kline, Mel McGaha, Dick Mills, Ed Popowski, Rick Reichardt, Rob Sperring, Carl Taylor, and George Theodore have all been recent successes.

Two #1 Draft Picks

I got to meet the Florida Marlins’ Adrian Gonzalez, who plays with the Kane County Cougars this season. Batting well over .400 he sure doesn't look like he's destined to stay long in the MWL. He's got a lot of talent. Re: autographs, he DOES sign, but grudgingly. One or 2 items a person and NO duplicates. Sorry friends. I can't help you out on this one much. Nancy and I each got 2 items signed in 2 games. Not too bad, but I'd hoped for better. I tried to engage him in conversation too, but he seems wary of fans, maybe a bit burnt-out on the demands of being the premier pick in the 2000 draft already.

David Krynzel, the Brewers #1 pick was with Beloit. He signed six items for me and was very personable, a real likeable kid. He looks like a multi-tool player with speed, hitting, and defense. Power might be lacking now, but he's young and no doubt will improve.

That's about it for now. Keep having fun with the hobby. I sure try to. Till next time... 

~ Rich Hanson