Letter from Nanci Foxx Canaday to John Bennett, 1996 September 27

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Letter from Nanci Foxx Canaday to John Bennett

Date1996 September 27

DescriptionA letter dated September 27, 1996 from Nanci Foxx Canaday to John Bennett, handwritten and seven-pages long. Canaday details her memories of Jimmie Foxx. She talks about him both as a player and as a father figure. Nanci speculates on the number of home runs that her father would have had if he had played under the same rules as Babe Ruth. She also mentions the year he coached the Fort Wayne Daisies.

Object numberBL-1999-06260-02

Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer Foxx, Nanci, 1942-

Subject Foxx, Jimmie

Subject Foxx, Nanci, 1942-

Subject Fort Wayne Daisies (Baseball team)

Attributes

Classificationsmanuscripts (documents)

Collection NumberBA MSS 044 Correspondence collection

Dimensions8.5 x 11 in.

Copyrighthttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

TrannscriptionDear John -Thank you for the induction card + figurine. They are really nice. I'm looking forward to Prof. Daniel's book. He said he would send Me one as soon as it's available. I just hope it's a good + accurate book. There's so many false stories that go around. Dad always taught us that people will misquote you (especially the news media.) But not to let it get us down, we know the truth + can't worry what others think. A statement out of the article by Joseph Meier was so wrong. Dad never lived with Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam lived with us off + on for so many years. Mom + Dad had just moved into a new apt. a few days before she died. Her death was such a shock to us all. She chocked on a piece of Pork + no one there knew how to help her. Mom + Dad were so close, he was absolutely lost without her. He moved in with my Brother John + his wife. I wasn't much help - I'd never known death of a loved one before + went to my first funeral. In my eyes he was the greatest player of all. He could play all positions + do it well. He loved the game + lived for it. He never got the credit or fame due him, but he never complained either. Check the records - there was a wire screen at Shibe Park in 1932 - It was located on brackets off the fence + the balls hit the screen + fell back on the field. So he only got what he could make on them. When they took the screen down to put up the permanent fence Dad learned the screen was actually located out of the Park + he was entitled to a Home Run each time. Add 3 to 58 = 61. Another screen was up in Sportman's Park in St. Louis. Dad hit that thing 12 times. Sports Writer's of that era say each one of those would have been home runs, without the screen. The screen wasn't erected until after Ruth hit his 60. Also in Yankee Stadium, when Ruth set his record, a call that bounced over the fence was considered a Home Run. By the time Dad got around to hitting 58, it was ruled a double. Dad hit 4 such doubles which bounced over the fence, which would have been Home Runs 5 yrs. earlier. Total - 74 HR if Dad was playing under identical conditions as Ruth was. But - Dad would say that was a million dollars out the window. He didn't think much of it then + now well - he'd say "that's water over the dam." In my Book - He's the greatest. Dad loved people. He was a gentle loving person + so very generous. The old cliche -"He'd give the shirt off his back: - well I remember the time some one liked his baseball cap. So, off the head it came + he gave it to him. That's the kind of giving Dad I had. He always had time for you even if you didn't know the first thing about Baseball, he'd find all sorts of things to talk about. When my husband (Jim) + I started dating back in the 50's - He had nothing about the game + never heard of Jimmie Foxx. He felt a little awkward around a famous person - But Dad made everyone feel comfortable. He was a humble, caring person, so down to Earth. I never saw him act snobbish. His fans + aquaintances were very important to him. Right up until his death, he enjoyed receiving mail + signing autographs. He worked at various jobs after Baseball, but missed the game so much. I remember when he drove a coal truck for 1.00 @ hour. He always provided for his family. But oh, how he missed playing ball. He'd watch games on TV, read about them, discuss them + all the time wishing he could still play. He said he was born to soon, he could have made as much money playing ball in a couple of years now, as compared to his whole career. They didn't pay much then, but he loved the game. Dad was a few years to early to qualify for a Big League Pension. He finally started receiving a small amount + his S.S. disability. Just enough to get by on. Daddy was very human (with all the human weaknesses we all have.) The glamour, publicity, + life style of his ball playing days (20 yrs) left him awfully empty. He drank + loved to reminisce about the good old days, his ball playing buddies, friends + etc. He missed it all so much. From a farm boy (teenager) to the Big time - so many changes to adjust to + then back to real life. Dad liked to eat + he was a real good cook. Real farm style cooking. Whenever he'd get to Maryland, he'd bring home fresh Ham (his favorite) + boy could he cook it. Cantaloupe w) van. ice cream or Peach ice cream was his favorite treats. He'd grab 1/2 gallon of ice cream + a spoon - All gone. Dad lost the money he make in Baseball, mainly through bad investments + picking up tabs for everyone. As I said before - he was generous + if he had it - he'd buy for all. He taught us you can't cry over spilled milk, so go forward - you can't go back + do it over. I had a good childhood with loving parents. We lived in a disciplined home + knew how to mind. My brother Jimmie + I burried [buried] Daddy's strap in the backyard in Miami. I was about 14 yrs old + decided I was to old for a spanking. Jimmie was 4 yrs. younger + agreed with me. Ha! I never told Dad where his strap was until I was about 22 yrs old. He said he kinda knew we got sick of it. It's probably still out there behind the house on 47th st. The year he coached the Fort Wayne Daisies was terrific. We stayed in a Big house on the Lake in Indiana. I remember the Best corn on the cob in the world grew around there. I was Bat girl for the team + got to travel with them. The whole family really enjoyed that year. We moved a lot during my early years. Then settled back down in Miami - that's where Mom + Dad wanted to live one month earlier. My husband took me out of town + we did some traveling for about 6 wks. Dad + Uncle Sam spent lots of time together (being both retired). they took the trip to Maryland to visit + reminisce. I have Dad's check book to show he didn't live off Uncle Sam. Dad paid all the bills. I hardly know where to start writing memories down. There are so many of them. Dad was just a great person + great Dad. He loved to joke around, tease us + he was very playful. Here's a start - let me know what you think or what else you want to know - take care, Nanci P.S. Haven't heard anything on the wine bottles yet! (Transcription created by virtual volunteers during the 2020 pandemic).

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