Newest custom: Tragic Orioles player Tom Gastall

AUPT

I've been meaning to complete this tribute card to an Orioles bonus baby who died tragically in 1956.

There are several good articles about his lfe and death on the internet; give it a google.

Dboneesq

Nice card Bob. Never heard of Mr. Gastall, so looked him up. What a sad story. Nice how you captured the Pilot part of his life on the card. Interesting to find out that the NFL LIONS also drafted him out of College.

Piggs

Sad story but a nice tribute card of him. The other Doug

Ironmanfan

Thought I'd share this very rare autographed postcard from Mr. Gastall from my collection (signed in June of 1956)....I purchased this at the old Fort Washington (PA) show probably 20 years ago from Tom Reid (if anyone remembers him).....Since Gastall's untimely death, it has been said that a curse had been placed on the Orioles since they haven't developed a great catcher since then..Hopefully, Matt Weiters can break that...

Enjoy!




IMF

SOM

Whoa!

If Gastall's story isn't bizarre enough, check this out:

Tragically, the quarterback that preceded Gastall at Boston University, Harry Agganis, died suddenly on June 27 at the age of 26. Like Gastall, Agganis became a major league baseball player, batting .261 in 157 games with the Red Sox in 1954-55 before a massive pulmonary embolism (blood clot in layman’s terms) claimed his life.

Thanks Bob! This is what I love so much about the message boards!

AUPT

That's a great postcard. I remember Tom Reid very well; he was one of my favorite dealer/collectors in the East.

divecchia

Bob, another fantastic looking card...

Love your creations...

Donato

Sabrgeek

I remember tom r very well as well. In my pre-Beckett days, he was a primary "mentor" of mine as a dealer and I learned a ton from him before I moved to Dallas.

FYI --- he passed on in 2001 and his funeral was actually the week before 9/11 --- brings back memories of him between Bob's post and the events of last night.

Regards
Rich Klein