E-MAIL LETTER (BIO) FROM JERRY:
Hi Brothers: Briggs Stadium--My aunt and uncle lived at the corner of Harrison and Spruce, just a few blocks from the stadium. My Dad or my cousin would take me to most of the games as a kid. There were always tickets floating around, don't remember ever having to wait in line for a ticket. A lot of the time we would go into some entrance which was for the grounds keepers. My Dad knew them all. i had a bat from Virgil Truicks which was as big as me. Seeing him at the game was unbelievable. My cousin was eight years older than me. He was one of the kids who dusted the seats in the old days. We always sat in sect. 16 or 17, along 3rd base line. When I was about 10 or 11, my friends and I would ride the streetcar downtown from the east side then run all the way up MichiganAve, for it was full of guys laying on the sideewalks sleeping it off on skidrow, or staggering around--seemed like they were all headed for us. Finally make it to my aunt's house and my cousen would take us to the game with his buddies. My cousin tried out for the NY Giants, but got homesick and came home--his name was Jim Gulliver--he was a great ball player. His son, Glenn Gulliver, played 3rd base for the Tigers and Orels. My son, Beau and i went to the game last thursday night which I thought would be my last, had a great time. I was fortunate to be asked to the final game. Sitting in the outfield and looking over to the old sections we used to sit in sure brought back all those memories as well as the tears--your life does play a rerun doesn't it. At any rate, we parked the car next to my aunt and uncles old house which in now a parking lot but the house is still there. Across the street is Nancy Wiskey bar, and in front of it before the game was Kirt Gibson being intervied, which really made the whole day a great one. I retired in 1993 as a counselor at East Detroit High School, was there for 30 years. Wife, Elaine and I have been married for 31 years. Son Beau is 28 and son, Jay is 24. Marc O was my best man. Hope he has changed his underwear, as well as Andy Marko since giving someone a light. I volunteer on lightships. Lightships are like floating lightshouses. There are only 15 left in the country, they are all historical ships now. Got back last week from being on a trip on Lightship 613, Nantucket. She is 130 foot and 600 tons. Her station was SE of Nantucket about 50 miles. She was retired in 1983. I was on the ship for 11 days. We went from Wareham, MA to New Bedford and return. Each trip only took 4 1/2 hours. There were 15 as crewmen on the way there. We did a lot of work on the ship before the trip. The Capt. and I stayed on the ship during the HurricaneFloyyd, wind got up to 60 knots, not bad. Our return trip was delayed for 5 days because of the storm. She has seen 100 knot winds and 100 foot seas. We only had 6 foot seas. New Bedford had a hurrican wall and gate they close for the big ones. We had 6 crewmen for the return trip. My job was Helmsman and lookout, some great jobs. Looking forward to seeing all of you guys, it has been to long. Check out my website at www.MaritimeMan.com -ZAX Jerry Radloff