One of our members has passed away

[Bill Burgess]

My brothers,

It is with sad heart that I come to you with this sad news. I just received word that our member, WJackman, who was an authority on Rick Ferrell, has died yesterday. He was SABR member Dick Thompson.

Here is the email I received.
-----------------------------------------------
Thu, 03 Jan 2008 04:59:55 PM PST
From: "Jon Daly" <jon31768@gmail.com> Add to Address Book Block Sender Allow Sender

To: "Bill Burgess" <william_burgess@usa.net>
Subject: WJackman Allow Subject
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
WJackman was a poster over at Baseball Fever. It is with regret that
I pass on the news that he was baseball researcher Dick Thompson who
passed away yesterday. I don't know who is the main man there, but I
see that you are a moderator there and wanted to pass the sad news on.
---------------
Jon Daly

[RuthMayBond]

Dang, we were just chatting a couple weeks ago
May his family and friends remember the good times they had with him

[Westlake]

Sad, sad news, here's a little info about him..

SABR member Dick Thompson is a registered nurse for the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2004, he received SABR’s highest honor, the Bob Davids Award, which recognized his outstanding research achievements and service to the society. He lives in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

[DiMag4Life]

Wow, that's awful...... I just saw him post four days ago. Sincere condolences to his family, god bless........

[Matty]

Dick used to be Wheezeball on Grandstand Trivia years ago and was always willing to chat and be helpful with his vast knowledge of all things baseball. He wrote about many baseball subjects and had numerous articles in the SABR Journals.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

Very sad news. My prayers, condolences, and thoughts go out to his family.

[baseballPAP]

Can't say I often agreed with the man, but he was always nice enough to answer questions anyway. Rest easy Dick.

[Brian McKenna]

He presented some good stuff here at Fever - thoughtful and well-researched. I was hoping to see some more of his Jackman posts - I know he had an extensive project in the works there. Jackman is really an unknown figure and could use a boost. Someone with the zeal should contact his family and see if they could continue his work.

[lovethegame]

God bless you RIP and dream of tight games

[Captain Cold Nose]

He was a poster I wished would have posted more here. What he knew about his favorite subjects was never short of enlightening.

He will be missed.

[Seattle1]

R.i.p.

[digglahhh]

He was a poster I wished would have posted more here. What he knew about his favorite subjects was never short of enlightening.

He will be missed.

My sentiments exactly.

I actually just looked up the last post I made in a discussion with him because I recalled that I was in disagreement with him, and thought, unfortunately, I may have been a bit harsh. Ironically, I think it was the only even semi-combative exchange (though it really wasn't intended as such) I had ever had with him.

Rest in peace, Dick.

[TonyK]

Dick Thompson from MA would always respond to my research needs if he could. Not everyone took the time and trouble to help a fellow researcher out.

Hopefully his New England minor league research will be passed on to someone who will continue it in his legacy.

[BoSox Rule]

This is just terrible

[Ennui Willie Keeler]

I met him at some regional SABR meetings. I knew that he hung out here, so I passed the word on to Bill. He (Dick) is one of the folks who turned me on to baseball history. In an edition of The National Pastime, he mentioned the curious case of Tacks Latimer which led me towards looking up the rest of the story and writing a minibio on the guy.

[csh19792001]

I hadn't planned on returning here, but I received an email about this specifically from another member, and I wanted to pay homage.

Dick and I were friends for several years after meeting here, and this is quite saddening to me personally. Even though I hadn't requested it, Dick asked for my address and sent me a copy of his biography on the Ferrell Brothers personally. I learned about as much from him about baseball history as I have from anyone I've ever met here.

With all due respect to the handful of other scribes I've been lucky enough to come into contact with here, it's very likely that no regular (or even semi-regular) member here ever dedicated as much time and effort into research and authorship of the game's history during his or her lifetime. This is/was apparent to anyone who discoursed with him for any significant amount of time. Dick was one of the founding members of SABR and knew everyone from Bill James to Bob Davids.

Dick was in the midst of a massive project- writing a biography of the virtually unknown legend Cannonball Will Jackman. There was a 6,000 word article in SABR's last National Pastime, which came out last summer. It would truly have been monumental in the baseball community- as Jackman was every bit as great as Satchel Paige- but without the hype and panache. Of course, Jackman was also devoid of the chance at Major League exposure.

A nice summary post of his on Will Jackman

So sad to see years of work go to waste!!! He was a few years into the book, but still estimated it would take several more years before it would be even close to being finished.

This is our last correspondence, from December 1st.

The last line is particularly melancholy:

Chris,

Did you finish the Ferrell book? Also did you get a chance to see my Jackman piece in the SABR journal. That is where most of my time goes. I hope eventually to write a book on Negro (League) baseball in New England with Jackman the center piece.

I have finished an article on Jake Jones, the 1940s first baseman for next summers SABR journal and I am working on a story about a Lefty Grove almost perfect game with 19 K's which was pitched in Worcester, MA in 1927.

How about yourself. Working on anything interesting? Anything interesting along the work angle? I can retire in about 2 1/2 years and I am very much looking forward to getting into my second life.

Dick

Here's a tribute to him from SABR-L; I'm sure there will be many more forthcoming:

Date:    Thu, 3 Jan 2008 15:43:46 -0800
From:    Mr david nemec 
Subject: Dick Thompson
 
Dick Thompson was the first person I met when I came
to my very first SABR convention in NYC.  I hauled out
one of my most impossible trivia questions after we'd
talked awhile, and of course Dick nailed it.  Every
moment I spent with him will forever be treasured.  I
know that's true of everyone who met him.  He leaves a
hole that will be impossible to fill, but we can do
our best by establishing something of permanent
significance in his honor and memory.  I have some
suggestions and know others will too.  Let's exchange
ideas so that we can get something in place before the
Cleveland convention. 
 
David Nemec

I am sending his wife my personal condolences. I'll send along all of your well-wishes also.

Take care, all.

[Bill Burgess]

Just received this from Jon Daly:
--------------------------
Wed, 09 Jan 2008 11:23:54 AM PST
From: "Jon Daly" <jon31768@gmail.com> Add to Address Book Block Sender Allow Sender

To: "Bill Burgess" <william_burgess@usa.net>
Subject: Fwd: [SABR Southern New England Chapter]: Dick Thompson Allow Subject
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <SABR.Notes@sabr.org>
Date: Jan 8, 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: [SABR Southern New England Chapter]: Dick Thompson
To: jon31768@gmail.com


From: SABR Member Leonard Levin mailto:LenLevin5@hotmail.com {-- Click
here to reply.
------------------------
Hello,

Here is the death notice for Dick Thompson as it ran today in the
Brockton Enterprise. It contains information on calling hours, which
are Thursday.

Len Levin
---------------
Richard J. Thompson
Richard Thompson Dartmouth Richard J. Thompson, 52, of Dartmouth died
unexpectedly Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital. He was
the husband of Barbara L. (Joseph) Thompson; and son of the late Leon
F. and Marjorie (Paulding) Thompson. He was born in Brockton, was
raised in Middleboro, residing in Whitman and Bridgewater for 22 years
and in Dartmouth for 1 1/2 years. Mr. Thompson was a registered nurse
at Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brockton for 32 years. He was a
U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War attaining the rank of E-4. He was
the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. A baseball
historian, researcher and published author, he wrote several articles
on baseball history and authored "The Ferrell Brothers Of Baseball",
which was published in 2005 by McFarland & Co. He was a member of the
Society for American Baseball Research. He was an avid runner and
golfer and was a member of Lebaron Hills Country Club and the Country
Club of New Bedford. Vacationing with his wife, fishing with his
grandson and celebrating July 2nd birthdays, which he shared with his
nephew, were some of the many things he enjoyed. Survivors include his
wife of 23 years, Barbara L. (Joseph) Thompson of Dartmouth; his
stepdaughter, Eve Gates and her husband Jason and their children,
Aidan, Asher and Aislyn, all of Dartmouth; one sister, Jeanne
Cianciola and her husband Michael of Hanover and their children,
Brian, Katharine and Michael; his mother-in-law, Lillian Breen of
Acushnet; and his sister-in-law, Tracy Ruprecht of Middleboro.
Visitation in Aubertine-Lopes Funeral Home, 129 Allen St., New
Bedford, Thursday 2-4 and 6-8. Interment is private.

Published in The Enterprise on 1/8/2008.
------------------------
SABR Notes are being sent to you because you are a member of the
Society for American Baseball Research. All members with an email
address of record receive membership-wide announcements from the
executive director. Members who are affiliated with local chapters or
research committees will receive email from those groups as well. To
modify your email address, committee memberships, or chapter
affiliations, log into the MySABR section of the members-only site:
http://members.sabr.org/members.cfm?a=mys

To contact the sender of this SABR Note email: mailto:LenLevin5@hotmail.com.
---------------
Jon Daly

[cbenson5]

I learned a great deal about baseball history from Mr. Thompson while he was here. Talking with him was always a pleasure. I would like to send my condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace

[Brian McKenna]

Piece at Agate Type about Dick Thompson and some info of his to be posted:

http://agatetype.typepad.com/agate_t...ck-thomps.html

[Bill Burgess]

Just got this in.
-------------------------------------
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:25:19 PM PST
From: "Jeanne Cianciola" <jcianciola@comcast.net> Add to Address Book Block Sender Allow Sender

To: <william_burgess@usa.net>
Subject: Dick Thompson Allow Subject
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Burgess,

I just happened to be googling my brother Dick Thompson and came across your Baseball Fever site.

Over the course of the last few days, during his wake and memory service the following day, I learned so much about my brother. I knew of his interest in Baseball, have a copy of the book he wrote. But Dick was a relatively humble person. I had no idea how highly respected he was in this field. Thank you to all who wrote on this blog.

Jeanne (Thompson) Cianciola

[csh19792001]

A nice tribute:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/art..._hidden_stars/

[Bill Burgess]

Notice:

Just wanted to inform whoever is interested that former member, BaseballHistoryNut has died. His name was Jim.

He died January 5, 2008, at Stanford Hospital. He had had an operation, which was 'successful', but in the aftermath, a blood clot formed and killed him. He was 55 years old.

Just thought some of the others might want to be informed.

Bill

[RuthMayBond]

You can leave the family a message here

http://www.legacy.com/BostonGlobe/De...onId=100883427

[baseballPAP]

Notice:

Just wanted to inform whoever is interested that former member, BaseballHistoryNut has died. His name was Jim.

He died January 5, 2008, at Stanford Hospital. He had had an operation, which was 'successful', but in the aftermath, a blood clot formed and killed him. He was 55 years old.

Just thought some of the others might want to be informed.

Bill

How unfortunate that two members who liked to spar back and forth so much have both passed, and so close together. This site will be forever poorer without their contributions. God Bless Jim and Dick.

[AutographCollector]

Another sad loss for the baseball-fever family.
RIP.