Bobby Thomson and Willie Mays 2015

 Bobby Thomson and Willie Mays Drawing 

Recently I went to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY with my Father and my two sons. This drawing  and story, were inspired by that trip, and they are both for my Pop.

Cooperstown

As I walked around the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the town of Cooperstown NY., I could see that this place has a magical effect. I watched one young boy as he looked for his heroes, and looked for souvenirs from them. He knew his baseball history, and spoke of players and games he had seen. As he stood before the plaque of Willie Mays, he told the other boys that "Willie had made him a baseball fan." He told them about Willie and "The Catch", and he told them about Bobby Thomson of the New York Giants, and the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in the 1951 National League pennant race against the Brooklyn Dodgers, "The Giants win the pennant, the Giants win the pennant" he said.
Later in one of the memorabilia shops, he found a Mays autographed baseball. Disappointed, he knew it was too much money, and handed it back to the man at the counter. In another shop however, he did find a Thomson signed ball that he would buy. For the first time ever, he possessed a baseball treasure that he had wanted for many years.
That little boy was my Pop, and the other little boys were me and my two sons. He is 76 now, I am 50, and the boys are 16 and 11. For just a couple days though, Cooperstown NY. had turned us all into little boys again. Discovering and loving the amazing game of  baseball together.
 MAGICAL!!!

Justin Tuck, Super Bowl Champion 2012

Justin Tuck Drawing

Justin Tuck Drawing in progress

New York Giants Defensive End: Justin played his college ball at Notre Dame. The Giants chose Justin in the 2005 NFL Draft. He has been a two time Pro Bowler, two time All Pro, and has won two Super Bowls (XLII, XLVI). On Feb.5th, in Super Bowl XLVI against the New England Patriots, Justin scored a first quarter safety on an intentional grounding penalty by quarterback Tom Brady.

Despite being  born in north west New Jersey, I unlike my father and all my in-laws also from north Jersey, had never become a Giants or Jets fan. My family moved to the San Francisco bay area when I was two, and I became a childhood 49ers fan. I am now a die hard Ravens fan, but have also rekindled my interest in the 49ers. This season however, just prior to the playoffs, I watched a bow hunting show featuring Justin hunting in south Texas. Like myself, Justin is quite the bow hunter and avid outdoors man. During the Super Bowl, I saw him wearing an interesting unusual custom face mask. Seemed like enough of a reason to draw him, so here it is.