This Browns Reunion Likely The Last.

[Bill_McCurdy]

There are only 65 living Browns as of May 18, 2006 and may of the boys are getting way too old to travel. If there's any way you can make it to St. Louis for this year's Brownie Reunion, please make the effort, even if it is short notice. There's still plenty of room at the banquet table and it would be a shame for the Browns who are coming to feel at the banquet that they were once again playing at Sportsman's Park - with no fans on hand. When Pop Flies only arrived two weeks ago, many Browns fans were hearing about the reunion banquet for the first time.

Here's the way the reservations information came to me in Pop Flies. I hope you will read it over and try to meet the rest of us in St. Louis in early June:

Brownie Reunion
Thursday, June 8, 2006!

Back by popular demad - Brownie Reunion 2006! The dinner will be held in the 4th Floor Crystal Room of the Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. Cost of the dinner will be $65, the same as in 2004. Dinner reservations accompanied by a check should be sent to:

Frank Kane, BFC Treasurer
443 Fieldcrest Drive
Webster Groves, MO 63119

Parking for the dinner is available in the club's garage located directly behind the club on Lucas Avenie. The garage can be reached by proceeding north on 4th Street to the rear of the club building.

Former players requiring room reservations should contact:

Erv Fischer
1921 Riverwoods Trail Drive
Florissant, MO 63031
or call 314-831-4843

Out-of-town fans wishing reservations at the (Missouri Athletic) club may contact the club directly at 314-231-7220 and ask for Linda Soncasi. Room rates are $90 for a single and $95 for a double. In making reservations identify yourself as attending the St. Louis Browns Fan Club meeting. The club will accept most major credit cards in payment. A continental breakfast is included in the room rate. Don't miss this one - make your reservations now!

- Pop Flies, Spring 2006, Page 3.

Unofficial Bonus for Banquet Attendees: It's never a sure a thing, but some of the great Cardinal icons often show up as attendees and they are very accessible to fans when they do. We're talking about Stan Musial, Marty Marion, and Red Schoendienst here.

One of our Texas Baseball Hall of Fame board members is coming up with my travel party. That would be Carl Warwick. Remember? Carl contributed three critical pinch hits for the Cardinals in the great 7-game World Series win over the Yankees back in 1964.

I know it's short notice, but please try to meet us in St. Louis on June 8th.

[VIBaseball]

So who is actually going to make it, Bill? I don't believe I'll be in St. Louis, but it's nice to know anyway.

[Bill_McCurdy]

So who is actually going to make it, Bill? I don't believe I'll be in St. Louis, but it's nice to know anyway.

VIBaseball -

These are my guesses for sure bets, based upon previous banquets: Ned Garver, Don Gutteridge, J.W. Porter, Don Lenhardt, Ed Mickelson, Roy Sievers, Babe Martin, Bill Jennings, Bud Thomas, Dick Kryhoski, and Ray Coleman. Can't be sure about the others.

[duke36]

This will be my first St. Louis Browns banquet that I have attended. Naturally, I've got several questions...what should I expect? Is there a program? Basically, what's the banquet like? Very excited about attending!

[Bill_McCurdy]

Duke -

Just got your message because I've been in the hospital for several days until last night. The guarded good news for me is that doctors discovered the cause of a daily temperature problem that I've had for a while with no idea of same. I'm suffering from endocardinitis, an inflammation of the heart lining caused in my case by a strep bacteria that is still working in my bloodstream, but losing a battle with the particular antibiotic cocktail my doctor has prescribed to fight it. For the next month, I will have to stay home and administer my own "iv" injections of this medicine until the bacteria is killed. As a result, I have had to cancel my plans to attend this year's banquet.

All I know is that this year's banquet will be a smaller group than usual, but there will be a dinner program. With Ned Garver attending, the program is always entertaining. Just prepare to be open to whatever happens at what most likely be the last gathering of living Browns. You will have a chance to meet and talk with whomever is on hand.

Sorry I can't be there, but this priority with my health is now overriding all else with me.

Have fun!

[duke36]

Bill,
Thanks for your response. Hope all goes well for you on your road to recovery. I have been a life long Cardinals fan but in recent months have become interested in learning more about the Browns. One of my hobbies is collecting Cardinals autographs and I'm now expanding that to the Browns. I recently purchased a piece of original Browns letterhead that I've had signed by Rollie Stiles, Ned Garver, Don Gutteridge, and Red Hayworth. Sounds like this will be a grand opportunity to add a few more signatures.

I am looking for information on Louis Von Weise, who served as the club's president in 1934 and 1935. He was originally from my hometown of Greenville, Illinois. Von Weise's brother, George, was a long-time merchant here in Greenville. I recently ran across an article from the December 21, 1933 issue of our Greenville Advocate concerning Louis Von Weise being named the Browns president.