Episode 037 — Don Miller: 136 ValleyCat Jerseys, the Hall of Fame Classic, & The Importance of Passing Down Your Love of the Game
Don Miller is a Yankees fan who lives in Upstate New York. He has an incredible jersey collection featuring 136 game-used or team issued MLB jerseys from players who played for his local minor league team, the Tri-City ValleyCats. We talk about the yearly tradition he and his son Jacob have of attending the Hall of Fame Classic in Cooperstown, and some of the interactions with ballplayers they’ve experienced there. We also discuss the importance of passing the love of baseball down to the next generation, how his stepfather did that for him, how he’s done that for his son, and how an absolute stranger can play a role in building someone’s love of baseball.
Find Don Online:
Twitter: @DonaldRMiller7
Find Baseball Bucket List Online:
Twitter: @BaseballBucket
Facebook: @BaseballBucketList
Instagram: @Baseball.Bucket.List
Website: baseballbucketlist.com
Images
Just a portion of Don’s collection
A sampling of Don’s 136 jerseys
Hall of Fame Classic Hat & Pins
The hat from the 1st Hall of Fame Classic game at Cooperatown in 2009 and the pins for all the games attended with his son Jacob.
Ben Zobrist Jackie Robinson Day
2011 autographed Jackie Robinson Day game used jersey worn by Ben Zobrist.
Ben Zobrist Jackie Robinson Day
Dallas Keuchel 2014 Civil Rights
Dallas Keuchel game issued 2014 Civil Rights Houston Eagles (Astros). This was the last year MLB did the game commentating the Civil Rights movement.
Dallas Keuchel 2014 Civil Rights
2019 Tony Kemp Astros
2019 team issued Astros jersey for Tony Kemp.
2019 Tony Kemp Astros
JD Martinez’s First All-Star Jersey
2009 game used New York Penn League All Star game jersey worn by and signed by JD Martinez. His first All Star game of his career
JD Martinez’s First All-Star Jersey
Matt Duffy Nippon League
2017 team issued Nippon League jersey for NOT that Matt Duffy. This one played for the TriCity ValleyCats in 2011.
Chatter