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Friday, January 13, 2023

Hot Stove: Author Bradsher Hayes

Made a new friend yesterday as well – 71 year old Bradsher Hayes. Grew up in Brookhaven. Attended Westminster and UNC. Recently wrote two books about the Braves: “150 Years of the Braves” and 150 Years of Braves Trivia”. He also wrote “King of the Southern Diamond” about his grandfather, who set dozens of records pitching for Trinity College in Durham, which soon was renamed as Duke University.

I picked up Mr. Hayes in Sandy Springs, then Eddie in Peachtree Corners, for a rush hour commute north of Cumming to Hot Stove. Gave us a chance to discuss writing. He encouraged me to join a writing club, where a goup of writers critique each other’s work. Bradsher recently finished a fictional account of his relationship with his sister, who was suffering from Alzheimers.

We took Holcomb Bridge west to 400, following my phone’s GPS instructions. We were talking, and I wasn’t paying much attention to the GPS. Traffic on 400 was unusually busy. I looked at my phone. It was telling me to get off 400. I snaked across 3 lanes of traffic to exit Haynes Bridge. Then North Point Parkway past the church up to Windward, and back onto 400.

Hayes sold real estate in Buckhead. Lives in Sandy Springs. In high school he tripled off Ray Guy, but lost to him in football. When Bradsher was nine after church one Sunday he and a buddy took three buses to Ponce de Leon Park to see a Crackers doubleheader.

Bradsher once saw Bob Hope at the Jim Hearn Golf Center. The comedian didn’t laugh at Bradsher’s joke, but autographed a new driver. Hayes played with the driver, ruining its value. Bradsher’s father gave him a baseball autographed by Ty Cobb. Hayes saw Namath beat Lothridge at Grant Field. Hayes once broke up a no hitter pitched by young Guerry Baldwin (East Cobb baseball). Baldwin hated Bradsher ever since). As a kid in NYC Hayes raced up the steps of the Empire State Building. Years ago Hayes sat down with Furman Bisher at the OK Café and talked baseball. Bisher told Bradsher to write a book. Took him decades, but he finally did.

Eight in attendance at Hot Stove. We discussed the top moments in baseball history, including Jackie’s debut, Kirk Gibson’s WS HR, Hank’s 714th (Bradsher was there, and met George Plimpton), Bobby Thompson’s HR, and when Sid Slid. Bream says he wasn’t a great player, but was in the right place in the right time. Also Maz, who made the HOF for one moment. 

More Hot Stove: is Ozzie Albies like Joe Morgan? We remembered the scene in Moneyball when A’s coach Ron Washington had to teach Scott Hattiburg to play first base. Should Scott Rolen be in the HOF? Andruw would had he retired after his first eleven seasons. Todd Helton is receiving his share of the vote. Billy Wagner was great, except one postseason. Jeff Kent had a stretch of 92 games with 32 errors.

Jerry Cauley shared a photo of his trip to Milwaukee for a Brewers game, sitting next to the Bob Uecker “great seats!” statue.

Mad Dog Russo interviewed umpire Sam Holbrook, and asked about his terrible infield fly rule call. Bradsher was there. The umps went to Joe Torre in the stands, who upheld the call. Eddie brought two old records “Nockahoma Murphy” and a Pete Rose autograph on photo record. In high school Bradsher went to see Maravich play up at Clemson. 

Spring training was discussed. Too corporate and expensive. Real fans like Jerry Cauley want to go to the back fields to watch the minor leaguers play all afternoon, then attend college games at night.  One spring Johnny went with Walter Banks to a Magic game, and scored courtside seats thanks to Bank’s connections. Now berm tickets cost $70.00. Walter worked for the Braves for 56 years, plus the Crackers and Tech. After dropping off Eddie and Bradher, Didn’t make it home until 10:45, but it was a fun evening.

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