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Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

Benjamin Grimm Dec 11 2022 07:51 AM

Phil Mushnick, New York Post wrote: In 1969, Bill Parrinello, 12 years old and from Elmont, N.Y., wrote fan letters to his favorite Mets: Cleon Jones, Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee, Bud Harrelson, Ed Charles and spare outfielder Rod Gaspar, who in that championship season batted .228. The only return he received was an autographed picture of Gaspar, with a note of thanks. In 2005, Parrinello emailed this memory to The Ultimate Mets' Database message board. Last week, Parrinello received an email thanking him for his 2005 salute to Gaspar. It was from Rod Gaspar, now 76 and living in California. For real? Parrinello was dubious. He called the number Gaspar included. After swapping obscure details of the 1969 season, he knew it was the same Met he wrote to 53 years ago. They had a nice chat, Gaspar pleased to be remembered. Pen pals for life.

whippoorwill Dec 11 2022 08:21 AM Re: Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

That's so nice!

metirish Dec 11 2022 09:17 AM Re: Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

That's so great , UMDB bringing people together, very cool

MFS62 Dec 11 2022 10:10 AM Re: Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

I'm fahklempt. A nice story. Good job, Ben. Later

batmagadanleadoff Dec 11 2022 11:47 AM Re: Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

Phil Mushnick, New York Post wrote: In 1969, Bill Parrinello, 12 years old and from Elmont, N.Y., wrote fan letters to his favorite Mets: Cleon Jones, Tom Seaver, Tommie Agee, Bud Harrelson, Ed Charles and spare outfielder Rod Gaspar, who in that championship season batted .228..... In 2005, Parrinello emailed this memory to The Ultimate Mets' Database message board. Gaspar may have batted only .228 in '69 but he did make the cover of Sports Illustrated that season, maximizing his only appearance in the '69 WS. [FIMG=333]https://vault.si.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_172/MTY5MDk4NDkzOTUyMDA5NTA1/43067---cover-thumbnail-image.webp[/FIMG] Neat link to the UMDB in the NY Post.

roger_that Dec 11 2022 04:26 PM Re: Fan, ex-Met become pen pals decades later

We tend to think of him as a fifth outfielder, which he was, but he actually began the year as their regular RFer, starting the Mets' 10 games in right field, and batting .286 in the first seven, giving us (me?) an aggrandized idea of what he could contribute. I don't remember if he got to show off his arm in those early games, but he definitely had the best throwing arm of the team's OFers that year, much stronger than Shamsky and Swoboda who played most of the RF in 1969.