Only a Friend Would Know
March 10, 2011 by Sam Miller · Leave a Comment
Learned. The dictionary defines the adjective “learned” as “having much knowledge”; “acquired by experience.” Yep, I’d say 95 years of life qualified Elden Auker. This week, read the righty’s take on baseball’s biggest stars along with proud and humbling moments from his years around the game. “ Sleeper Cars and Flannel Uniforms“ by Elden Auker with Tom Keegan does not hold back.
Read this book because:
1. You won’t find the stories Auker tells about Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Dizzy Dean, Ted Williams, and others anywhere else. Only a friend would know these tales .
Whether or not they can stand it, Red Sox and Yankees players will be forever linked. Always have been, always will be. Naturally fans are eager to hear former Red Sox hurler Auker’s stories of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. Auker delivers in a fashion similar to his submarine pitch, uniquely. Soon after he joined the Red Sox, Auker snuck up on Gehrig just like the Iron Horse had done to him for years. This time the exchange was a poignant one. Gehrig was in the early stages of ALS.
Auker later shares a story that shows The Babe wasn’t as adorable as commonly perceived. Young and crafty Leo Durocher started his career as Ruth’s roommate. That arrangement and Durocher himself nearly didn’t last after The Sultan of Swat caught Durocher stealing from him.
Would you believe that Auker has the real story behind Ted Williams’ complicated relationship with the Boston press or that Dizzy Dean was nothing like his public persona when he settled in with friends? You will after you read what Auker has to say.
2. Between a 10 year-player career and decades of exposure to the game, Auker saw it all. Read about his favorite players and personalities .
Grab a seat in the Tigers clubhouse and listen to Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane convince his mates, men who won 75 games in 1933, that they were well on their way to 101 wins and the pennant the year he arrived from powerhouse Philadelphia. Cochrane wasn’t the only man to surprise Auker. Auker became forever indebted to his boss, Tigers owner Frank Navin, after Navin had the heart to replace his player’s whole wardrobe following a robbery. Jimmie Foxx meant so much to Auker that he named his only son after “Double X.”
3. Making it to the Big Leagues is a big deal, right? Apparently some people thought so and others not so much. You will be amused by the reactions of folks Auker encountered .
Once the son of a postman, always the son of a postman. Newly christened a pennant winner, Auker returned to his native Kansas. He planned to demur. He didn’t need the parade or the to-do his friends were sure to throw him. He was still Elden, after all. Well, he got that part right. When he arrived home, there wasn’t much of a stir. All folks wondered is why they hadn’t seen him helping his dad on the mail route lately.
On the other hand, future president Ronald Reagan never forgot Auker even though Auker forgot him. Auker was Reagan’s first interview when Reagan announced the World Series for the Cubs in 1945. Years later the pair met at a dinner honoring the governor and Nancy Reagan. Reagan still hadn’t forgotten.
You won’t forget the entertaining stories in this book for a long while, either.
Sam Miller is a graduate of the University of Illinois where he worked with various teams in sports information and received the Freedom Forum – NCAA Sports Journalism Scholarship for his achievements. During the 2009 season, Miller served as communications intern for the Angels’ Triple-A affiliate. Prior to that, he worked as a communications intern for USA Basketball and as an associate reporter for MLB.com.
