I, like many, was saddened to read of the passing of Carlton Willey, a man whose success in the game of baseball, given his background, is legendary here in Maine. It was, perhaps, more of a personal interest than some when I read of his passing, remembering when I first met Carlton, almost 60 years ago.
Carlton and I were two players chosen to represent the Bangor Daily News in an All-Star game at Garland Street Field against — as I recall — a Portland Press Herald All-Star team co-sponsored by the Boston Braves. An official of the Braves had stated that one participating player in the game would be chosen to go to spring training with them the following spring.
About 20 minutes prior to the game, I was told to go out to the bullpen and warm up the pitcher. It was here that I met Carlton Willey for the first time. After introducing ourselves, I asked him if the universal call signs — one finger for a fastball, two fingers for a curve and three fingers for a changeup — would be OK with him. Almost apologetically, Carlton looked at me and replied, “I only have a fastball.”
The rest is history in the respect that Carlton dominated the game with his only pitch — a fastball. He was the player selected to attend the Braves’ spring training camp and went on to have a very fine Major League career.
A few years back, I read where Carlton was going to be at an event in Hermon and I decided to go, and given the opportunity, say hello to him. The opportunity did come and Carlton honored me by saying he had never forgotten that game when we were battery mates and how embarrassed he was to tell me he only had one pitch for me to call. Understandably, I am proud to have been a remembrance in this legend’s memory bank.
M.D. Wilson
Bangor
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