I Am The AMA - 2012/12

JS: How did you get involved with
model aviation?
EA: I remember asking for a dime
model when I was probably in the
fourth grade and trying to put it
together. When I was in the sixth
grade, one of my classmates bought
a rubber-powered model to school.
I was hooked. I went home and told
my mom that I needed $3 to buy
the airplane from him.
I had several engines in the earlier
days including Arden, Cyclone,
Bantam, many Madewells, and
dozens of others during the next
10 years or so. I progressed into RC,
even making my own escapement.
I didn’t have much early success
fl ying; success was measured by a
crash landing close enough to locate.
I visited Walter Good in Washington,
D.C., while I was with a major
league club. He took me into his
model room in the basement and I
viewed his Rudder Bug among other
models.
JS: How has model aviation impacted
your life and/or career?
EA: Since my dad is in the Baseball
Hall of Fame, one could guess that
baseball is in my blood. My dad was,
and still is, my idol and I am pleased
that he never pushed me. My
wife never knew I wanted to play
baseball until I left for Cleveland
and a tryout.
I continued to build models
throughout my baseball life. I lost a
new DeBolt Live Wire Champion
on an initial fl ight in Tucson,
Arizona. I had spent hours preparing
it with a Babcock single channel
with escapements on the rudder and
engine, and checkerboard wings. I
was one proud owner of that plane.
My wife, kids, and one of my
teammates went with me after
practice to entertain a maiden
fl ight. As I prepared for takeoff I
inadvertently hit the on/off switch.
I released the airplane, realizing too
late that the switch was off. The
perfectly trimmed model had a
full tank of fuel. We followed that
airplane for perhaps an hour until
it slowly disappeared toward the
Mexican border.
JS: What disciplines of modeling do
you currently participate in?
EA: I have a room full of models,
including several electrics, but I
haven’t fl own for the past couple
of years. Most of my modeling is
fussing and building. I still have
visions of building a near-quarter-
[scale] size warbird.
JS: What are your other hobbies?
EA: Right now my hobby is
watching any game on TV. I am,
and will continue to be, a fan of
my Oregon Ducks. Pat and I try to
attend at least one game each year in
Eugene. I love to play bridge.
JS: Who (or what) has in uenced
you most?
EA: My dad was my infl uence.
My parents were married over 61
years before dad passed away in
1983 after attending the 50th year
celebration of the initial All-Star
game in Chicago. When I fi rst
started my baseball career, I got my
fi rst glimpse of how much a fan
favorite my dad was. People from
every walk of life went out of their
way to enhance my belief in my dad.
He was a friend to anyone who met
him.
JS: Could you share a memorable
moment during your baseball career?
EA: I don’t have many bragging
rights; my career was mostly as a
utility player. I opened the season
twice with the Cubs at third base.
I became a successful pinch hitter
with the Cubs. I hit 21 home runs as
an original Angel in 1961 in a little
over 300 at bats.
I think as you mature, nature takes
hold and diffi cult tasks become a
little easier. When you attempt to
do too much, failure is a sure byproduct.