RIP, Dick Groat

I’ve had a love of baseball since a very young age. I grew up watching the game and playing it. I collected baseball cards as a kid. I played Strat-O-Matic. Baseball was life — even as a five-year-old.

My dad taught me the game. My grandfathers helped me along the way, too. Even as a kid, I loved the history of it. As a youngster, my dad would take me to baseball cards shows and the only cards I was interested in were cards from the 50s and 60s. I still love baseball history — probably even more since I’ve had the priveledge of working in a Minor League Baseball front office since 2004.

I graduated from Penn State University in December of 2003. I still had a love of baseball and the desire to work in a front office someday. With a communications degree and a major in journalism, I was thrilled to take on a game day internship with the Altoona Curve for the 2004 season. With a background in photography, I happily accepted an unpaid photography internship as my first shot working at a baseball stadium. I loved it.

I had the chance to photograph everything at an Altoona Curve game. The players, the fans, the in-game contests — and even the celebrity guests.

On July 28, 2004, I had the chance to meet Dick Groat. Of course, even at just 23 years old, I knew all about it. I was so thrilled to meet him. Talk to him. Sit with him in the dugout. He couldn’t have been nicer.

Most recently, I’ve been taking time to write letters to former players. I’ve done this since my dad passed in 2021. It has been a fun exercise to let them know that they played a part in my love of baseball — and looking at their cards reminds me of the times with my dad.

I wrote Dick recently and told him about meeting him in Altoona. I sent him two baseball cards I had of him — he signed them and sent them back to me. Of course, I’ll cherish them. I’ll look at them and remember meeting him in 2004. I’ll look at them and think of the time my dad and I played Strat-O-Matic and talked baseball.

Sadly, Mr. Groat passed away on April 27. He was 92 years old. RIP to a true legend of the game. A National League MVP, a World Series Champion, an 8-Time All-Star and a National League Batting Champion.