Harry Danning, 1930s Baseball Star

"And then a guy named Danning stepped in as a pinch hitter and parked Weiland's first pitch in the stands with Mel Ott on base."

"I had so many people patting me on the back that I though I had just done 10 rounds with Joe Lewis," says Valparaiso's Harry Danning of his home-run/RBI in the 1937 World Series. "And I lost my hat."

That was 60 years ago, but Danning, now age 86, fondly remembers his career as a New York Giants catcher.

His first year in the majors was 1933, a good year for the Giants, who won the World Series. Danning didn't get to play. "I was on the bench," he lamented, "but I was ready to play."

The opportunity came in the 1936 and 1937 World Series, when he got 3 hits.

Most of Danning's 890 games were day games. "They started at 3:15," Danning recalled, noting that stock traders often came to the games immediately after the day's trading concluded.

Although Danning enjoyed the fun of the game, the element of competition was also involved.

"They were tough competitors," remarks Danning of his opponents. "If your brother was the pitcher, you'd knock him down in the game and afterward go out to have a sandwich."

The Depression also affected players. "We were all trying to hold a job," he said. "What would we do if we were sent home?"

Now, of course, baseball's somewhat different. For example, Danning see more raw talent in today's players. "If the league were cut to the 16 teams we had, today's players would be far superior to us."

Training regiments have also changed. Danning's workouts involved jumping rope, running, and shadow-boxing.

"We didn't lift weights," he recalled, "because you would become muscle-bound. Today, it's nothing but (lifting).

"And we only had two coaches, so we had to do a lot on our own."

Travel was by train only, and road trips lasted 14 to 16 days. Playing conditions have also improved drastically. Danning played his summer games in a wool uniform. Moreover, "there were no hard plastic helmets," said Danning. "You had a soft hat and a hard head."

"We and Mother Earth became very well acquainted," he recalled.

Accessories, such as shoes, socks, and clothing, were not provided by management.

Danning, a Jew, also had to endure many anti-Semetic comments from the crowd. "I kept my mouth shut and went out and played," he remarked.

Endorsements were also scarce because television wasn't prominent. Says Danning of his endorsement career: "I got paid $100 to endorse Wheaties once."

Danning says his best year was 1940 when he had 91 RBIs and was named All American and to Babe Ruth's All-Star Team.

By 1942, however, a knee injury sidelined "The Horse," and he received an "invitation to join the army" (i.e. a draft letter) from President Roosevelt.

Danning was issued a silver lifetime pass by baseball, but he says he doesn't attend games because travel is difficult.

Throughout his life, however, Danning has tried to follow a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, only two of the 25 players from the 1937 team survive, Danning said.

"We didn't smoke or drink. We never did anything to jeopardize our career," Danning said.

"I only chewed (tobacco) twice in my life, and both times I got sick."

Danning's remaining connections to baseball are the piles of hand-written fan mail he receives, usually a couple each day from across the United States.

Most request autographs of pictures and cards. "It's because I'm alive," Danning contends. "They're after the old timers. We're worth money because there's so few of us left.

Danning fulfills all requests provided they are convenient and honest, then turns the letters over to his granddaughter, 1997 VHS graduate Cynthia Voller, who archives the letters.

Danning is also connected to baseball by the plaques and trophies he proudly displays at his home. One thing he doesn't have is his uniform. "I left before I had a chance to steal anything," Danning lamented before a smile crossed his face.

Danning's cards include:

• Play Ball--1939: 18, 1940, 93: 1941, 7
• Double Play--1941: 25, 91
• Several re-prints of some of these sets have been made.

(Source: The Sport Americana Baseball Card Alphabetical Checklist)