My White Whale would be this cigar box. Not only does it feature one of the great Chicago Cubs pitchers of all time, they were made in Terre Haute, Indiana where I was born and raised. To add to this story, when I was very young, an elderly couple lived across the street from my family. The man would always sit on his front porch and watch us play baseball in the yard. One day he called me over and told me he used to work at a gas station in Terre Haute that was owned by Three Finger Brown. I didn't know who that was at the time, but of course later learned all about him. I also was able to acquire photos of the service station.
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Baseball's appeal isn't complicated or confusing. It's about the beauty of the game; it's about heroes and family and friends; it's about being part of something larger than yourself, about tradition---receiving it and passing it; and it's about holding on to a bit of your childhood.
Tom Stanton from The Road to Cooperstown
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