Dave, Duke and the 1985 Montreal Expos

I was 10 years old during the 1985 major league baseball season. That was the first year that I started following baseball.

Fortunately, the Expos played well and the team was in the pennant race most of the year with the Cardinals and Mets. The games were broadcast on AM 600 radio with Dave Van Horne and Duke Snyder.

At mid-season, I decided to record from the radio the final out of each (winning) game. I was a kid, but I sensed this might one day be important. Man, I was a smart kid!

Twenty-years later, in 2005, the Expos were replaced by the Washington Nationals. All that remains are our memories. And, now, a few radio recordings.

>> Here were the game-by-game results from the 1985 season.

Letters from the Presidents

What happens when you send the same letter to the living ex-Presidents? Don’t answer. I can’t actually hear you.

President Ronald Reagan

After Ronald Reagan died in June 2004, I read that he used to answer a lot of his mail personally and was known to write long letters to people who wrote to him.

This gave me an idea. What would happen if I wrote an identical (fawning) letter to the living ex-presidents. Would they reply? Would it be a form letter? A signature stamp?

On June 14, 2004, I sent letters to presidents Ford, Carter, Bush and Clinton. The letters praised each leader for his wisdom and I thanked each for everything he had done in public life.

President Jimmy Carter

On July 30, 2004, I got a letter in the mail from the Carter Center in Atlanta. Well, actually, I got back my own letter with some writing at the top. The handwriting appears to be that of Jimmy Carter.  It also appears to be written with a pen. Heck, he even wrote my name!

Letter from President Jimmy Carter

President Bill Clinton

On July 30, 2004, I got a letter from former President Bill Clinton. This letter came only days after the Carter note, so I suspect that Carter must have put the heat on Clinton.

This one looks like a standard “thanks-for-the-positive-comments” letter. And it doesn’t look like former President Clinton signed it himself. But it’s better than nothing.

Letter from President Bill Clinton