Makes A Guy Feel Awfully Good
Sometimes I wish e-mail would go the way of the telegram. But then every once in a while I open the inbox and hear from some kind soul in another corner of the country I never would have connected with otherwise. Here’s a slice of a comment from one such person:
I just finished reading “Chief Bender’s Burden” and have spent half an hour trying to figure a way to thank you for an effort which gave me, personally, a great deal of information about my great-uncle and some of his family. I am the granddaughter of Fred Bender, the brother of Charles Bender and was given a personalized autographed copy of your creation. Not only am I grateful for the information but also for a really good read!! I’m not a fan of baseball but … Even though I understood very little of the technicalities of the game of baseball, I was, thanks to your skills as a storyteller, caught up in the descriptions of the series games. Thank you for all your efforts.
-Susan Bender Scott
By the way, Ms. Bender Scott, you figured right. I can’t think of a better thank you than this one.
This post was added on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 by Tom Swift at 01:16 and is filed under Albert, Swift Boat.
"Chief Bender's Burden" has won the 2009 Seymour Medal, which recognizes the best work of baseball history during the preceding calendar year. Thanks awards committee, Dorothy Seymour Mills, the Society for American Baseball Research, and readers!
Eileen Cushing (Mar.17 09 at 22:13)
I’m the one who asked you to sign a book for my cousin, Susan. I’m not an avid baseball fan myself, but I am a history fan. It’s so satisfying to witness that sense of connectedness with those that make our history come alive. Thanks for doing that for Susan.