Father,
I followed your instructions and read your letter yesterday.
I'm so glad I got to spend the last four months with you. When you came out to Boston, I had no idea you were going to stay. It was one of the most pleasant surprises to have you all stay for the rest of the season.
And moving back home to Iowa after the season was very nice. Being with you and Mom, Jack and Dot was something I missed tremendously. It had been a whole year since I was home.
I must admit, I don't know exactly what to write in this letter. After all, you are dead. But I have a feeling you will be able to read this. If not now, maybe some day.
I appreciate everything you have done for me, father. That includes telling me not to play baseball. As mad as it made me, I now realize, just as you did with your father, that you were just trying to look out for me. I rather know that you care about me and not get what I want than to have you not care at all.
I'm delivering this letter to your graveyard as soon as the funeral gets underway. It seems like a strange coincidence, that my nickname became Graveyard and now I'm delivering a letter to you at your grave. I don't know what to make of it, but it is a bit strange.
Father, I love you so much and will never, ever forget you.
I'm not good at this either, and to be honest I don't know what else to say. But I am sure that someday, I will see you again. And then, I will have many, many more stories for you.
Goodbye, Father.
Love,
Your Son.
Clay "Graveyard" Cherry
Monday, May 18, 2009
August 3, 1916
Son,
I am writing this while in the crowd, watching you pitch. Thank you for these excellent seats. I sure hope you followed the instructions on the outside of the envelope.
Seeing you in that white uniform and blue hat with the Boston "B" is almost too much for me to handle right now. And seeing you standing on the rubber at the beautiful American Grounds...it makes me incredibly proud.
Clay, I may seem strange that I am writing you this letter while watching you pitch just 100 feet away, and that I asked you not to open this until I am no longer on this Earth. The reason I did this is because I simply do not know when the last letter I write you will be written. I want this letter to be the last letter you read from me.
When I met your mother, back when I was 22, I had dreams of being the greatest father in the world. You know how strict your grandfather was. There were times when I hated him when I was young. When your mother and I had you three kids, I promised myself that I would never be like him.
And of course, I turned into him. But I began to understand why he was the way he was. He wanted what he thought was best for me. And I wanted what was best for you kids. But I now realize that only you know what is best for you.
I never told you this while you were growing up, and it's something I should have reminded you of every day. I promise you that a day did not go by without me thinking this. You, Jack, and Dot are the greatest thing that have ever happened to me.
I realize that I'm not very good at letter-writing, especially something as deep as I wish this would be.
I just want you to know that I am proud of you. When you read this letter, I will no longer be here in physical form, but I will always be with you, and someday, I will see you again.
Love,
Your Father
P.S. Nice pitching out there, Graveyard.
I am writing this while in the crowd, watching you pitch. Thank you for these excellent seats. I sure hope you followed the instructions on the outside of the envelope.
Seeing you in that white uniform and blue hat with the Boston "B" is almost too much for me to handle right now. And seeing you standing on the rubber at the beautiful American Grounds...it makes me incredibly proud.
Clay, I may seem strange that I am writing you this letter while watching you pitch just 100 feet away, and that I asked you not to open this until I am no longer on this Earth. The reason I did this is because I simply do not know when the last letter I write you will be written. I want this letter to be the last letter you read from me.
When I met your mother, back when I was 22, I had dreams of being the greatest father in the world. You know how strict your grandfather was. There were times when I hated him when I was young. When your mother and I had you three kids, I promised myself that I would never be like him.
And of course, I turned into him. But I began to understand why he was the way he was. He wanted what he thought was best for me. And I wanted what was best for you kids. But I now realize that only you know what is best for you.
I never told you this while you were growing up, and it's something I should have reminded you of every day. I promise you that a day did not go by without me thinking this. You, Jack, and Dot are the greatest thing that have ever happened to me.
I realize that I'm not very good at letter-writing, especially something as deep as I wish this would be.
I just want you to know that I am proud of you. When you read this letter, I will no longer be here in physical form, but I will always be with you, and someday, I will see you again.
Love,
Your Father
P.S. Nice pitching out there, Graveyard.
July 27, 1916
Son,
I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of you. I'm so glad that you decided to do this with your life. I am still living with regret, thinking about the way I treated you. It seems like so long ago, but it was just a few short months ago. Again, I am truly sorry.
I also apologize for taking so long to write. To be honest, this disease is moving faster than the doctor had anticipated and I am starting to feel very weak. It has been difficult for me to write for an extended amount of time, and you will probably notice my poor handwriting because of it.
The entire family is coming to see you play. We leave tomorrow morning. I love you so much, Clay. We all do. We are all so proud of you. I'll telegram you when we arrive.
Love,
Your Father
I cannot begin to describe how proud I am of you. I'm so glad that you decided to do this with your life. I am still living with regret, thinking about the way I treated you. It seems like so long ago, but it was just a few short months ago. Again, I am truly sorry.
I also apologize for taking so long to write. To be honest, this disease is moving faster than the doctor had anticipated and I am starting to feel very weak. It has been difficult for me to write for an extended amount of time, and you will probably notice my poor handwriting because of it.
The entire family is coming to see you play. We leave tomorrow morning. I love you so much, Clay. We all do. We are all so proud of you. I'll telegram you when we arrive.
Love,
Your Father
July 21, 1916
Father,
Pack your bags. I'm getting called up to the big league team.
I haven't received a letter from you. Please write me back. I want you to be here for my first game. As of now, August 4 will be my first game but it could be the 3rd or 5th as well depending on a few things.
Love,
Your Son
Pack your bags. I'm getting called up to the big league team.
I haven't received a letter from you. Please write me back. I want you to be here for my first game. As of now, August 4 will be my first game but it could be the 3rd or 5th as well depending on a few things.
Love,
Your Son
June 30, 1916
Father,
I'm sorry that I haven't written in so long. i have been very busy. My pitching coach, Martin Pearson, told me that since the big league club has been floundering and in last place, I could be called up as early as the end of this year. I always hoped, but I thought that next season would be more likely.
Coach Pearson and I have been working hard on developing a new pitch, the curve ball. He told me that it was developed by a pitcher named Candy Cummings back in the 1860's. It's a very hard pitch to control, but I'm getting better at it.
Since I last wrote you, I've posted a 6-7 record. Not great, but like I told you, our team isn't very good.
I wish you could meet a good friend I made. He's also a pitcher. Nails Kemper is his name. He's from upstate New York. Last year, he played for the St. Paul Saints but was traded here for a really excellent catcher, Spider Snider. Well, six other guys came along here with him as well. Maybe when I come home to visit in the offseason he can come along with me.
I'd love to keep writing, but I have to go to bed. We leave for Philadelphia early tomorrow morning.
Love,
Your Son
I'm sorry that I haven't written in so long. i have been very busy. My pitching coach, Martin Pearson, told me that since the big league club has been floundering and in last place, I could be called up as early as the end of this year. I always hoped, but I thought that next season would be more likely.
Coach Pearson and I have been working hard on developing a new pitch, the curve ball. He told me that it was developed by a pitcher named Candy Cummings back in the 1860's. It's a very hard pitch to control, but I'm getting better at it.
Since I last wrote you, I've posted a 6-7 record. Not great, but like I told you, our team isn't very good.
I wish you could meet a good friend I made. He's also a pitcher. Nails Kemper is his name. He's from upstate New York. Last year, he played for the St. Paul Saints but was traded here for a really excellent catcher, Spider Snider. Well, six other guys came along here with him as well. Maybe when I come home to visit in the offseason he can come along with me.
I'd love to keep writing, but I have to go to bed. We leave for Philadelphia early tomorrow morning.
Love,
Your Son
Sunday, May 17, 2009
May 28, 1916
Father,
I received your letter a few days ago, but haven't been sure of what to write.
For today, I'll just tell you how I've been doing on the road and on the field.
On the 18th, we played in Washington. What an incredible city. It was great to see our nations capitol. A couple of the other players, who I will tell you about later, went on a tour and saw the White House and the Washington Monument.
We also saw the construction of the Lincoln Memorial. I believe that construction began in 1914 and will be completed in 1922.
Our game against the Class A Statesmen went very well. We on 2-0. I pitched the whole game, gave up just 4 hits and struck out 9. Coach Winston, my manager here, said that if I keep that up, I would be on the big league club in no time.
After that game, we headed back to Boston for a home stand.
I pitched on the 23rd against the Class A Terrapins from Baltimore. We won again. I gave up 9 hits and 4 runs but struck out 9 again.
And yesterday, I pitched against the Class A Blues from Indiana. They just moved there from St. Paul, Minnesota. I let up 11 hits but just one run and struck out 10. We won again. That's three in a row, and brings my record to 4-8. My 2.52 ERA is very good, though.
My next game will be on the 31st in Boston, and then we head to Chicago to play the Class A Orphans, and we stay there for a bit to play the Whales farm team.
It may be another two weeks before I can write you. Tell mother and Jack and Dot that I say hello and that I love them.
Love,
Your Son
I received your letter a few days ago, but haven't been sure of what to write.
For today, I'll just tell you how I've been doing on the road and on the field.
On the 18th, we played in Washington. What an incredible city. It was great to see our nations capitol. A couple of the other players, who I will tell you about later, went on a tour and saw the White House and the Washington Monument.
We also saw the construction of the Lincoln Memorial. I believe that construction began in 1914 and will be completed in 1922.
Our game against the Class A Statesmen went very well. We on 2-0. I pitched the whole game, gave up just 4 hits and struck out 9. Coach Winston, my manager here, said that if I keep that up, I would be on the big league club in no time.
After that game, we headed back to Boston for a home stand.
I pitched on the 23rd against the Class A Terrapins from Baltimore. We won again. I gave up 9 hits and 4 runs but struck out 9 again.
And yesterday, I pitched against the Class A Blues from Indiana. They just moved there from St. Paul, Minnesota. I let up 11 hits but just one run and struck out 10. We won again. That's three in a row, and brings my record to 4-8. My 2.52 ERA is very good, though.
My next game will be on the 31st in Boston, and then we head to Chicago to play the Class A Orphans, and we stay there for a bit to play the Whales farm team.
It may be another two weeks before I can write you. Tell mother and Jack and Dot that I say hello and that I love them.
Love,
Your Son
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