When I was a boy, my family often drove by the old Vaughn Street Stadium, home of the Portland Beavers. My mother loved baseball, so occasionally we would attend a Beavers home game, and I listened to them most evenings on the radio. My favorite player was Eddie Basinski, who, as your obituary said, played second base (“Eddie Basinski, the violin-playing second baseman for the Portland Beavers, has died at age 99,” Jan. 10). I remember his wire-framed glasses.
Now skip ahead about 50 years. After my 30-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, my wife and I came back to Salem. For the past 20 years, we’ve bought 10 game passes to watch the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes play Single-A baseball. One night, the special guest at the game was Eddie Basinski. I grabbed my baseball and stood in line with a bunch of kids to get an autograph from my favorite baseball player. When I got to the table where he sat, I handed him my baseball and said, “I’ve been waiting 50 years to get this.” Mr. Basinski stood up and shook my hand, and we both laughed. I told him I used to watch him play at Vaughn Street and listened to the games a lot. I finally had a chance to meet a childhood hero. It was a treasured moment for me, and I hope for him as well. Rest in Peace, Mr. Basinski.
Larry Wood, Salem