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I loved Curt Motton when I was a kid. When I first started following the Orioles, he had just been called up to replace FRobby after the Al Weis incident in 1967.

I liked his style even though he hit Mendoza that year.

I'm really sorry to hear about his passing.

Fond memories of Chuck and Bill on my AM radio announcing that Cuz was in the on deck circle to pinch hit. I didn't know that Salmon and Lopez had passed. My second O's game as a kid was watching Lopez beat the Tigers when I was a Cub Scout....good memories!! Hey Brothaa...it's nice that you were raised in the area and an O's fan so you can relate with your readers. Thats one of the reasons why you and your blog are so popular...you are one of us, and not an import. Have a great weekend!!

Sorry to hear this news. I remember him as a kid. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, former teammates, and friends.

sheets said:
Revisiting the Cubs payroll ranking

SHEETS.....looking at the Cubs payroll #'s, they seem to be the same every year, basically......It appears that Andy was given x number of dollars to spend and no more....no suprise, all teams are given a budget, even the yanks......The point is, if Andy only has so much money to spend what is he supposed to do when we call for that big free agent purchase ? ...It would seem that the owner is the one who we should be targeting our pleas toward.......Just because Peter A has given Andy free control over most if not all moves,.... does it really matter without a reasonable budget to work with ??? ......If a poll was taken as to if the O's are over or under spenders, for the amount of money they make, what do you think the results would be ? ...... My vote would be that they could spend more than they currently are, but again, isn't this really an issue with Peter A ? ... Does Peter A have any responsibilty to Baltimore or Maryland to put a competitive team on the field, or is it just about the bottom line, with little reguard for the fans ?

Sad. Curt was part of the "deep depth" of the franchise years before Earl Weaver coined the phrase. And I still recall fondly his role in the '69 playoffs. RIP.

My dad was a huge fan of the guy. RIP Cuz

No truer words were spoken.Curt was a class act.I had the opportunity to talk with him on a couple of occasions over the last couple of years and he would set and talk with you like you were one of the guys.I have one of his 1970 game jersey's signed.I'll cherish it forever.My condolences to his family and friends.Rest in Peace Curt.

I recall a great picture of Motton with a huge smile in an old O's yearbook, with quotes saying how happy he was to be on the team. Thanks for the memories, Curt.

On a different note, the natives are sure getting restless around here. Thank goodness we have FanFest to provide fodder for our muttering (swidt?). Amarie, sheets and anyone else in attendance, please send frequent reports from the front lines, especially if you attend Andy’s Q&A!

So it’s come to this: The Orioles might actually sign Miggy. The Apocalyse must be upon us. A recent poster even complimented Robert Andino’s offensive contributions, so I guess it'll start raining frogs any minute now. Yup, pretty soon we’ll be awestruck at Matt's surprising speed, admiring Ty's fancy glovework, and pining for MelMo’s expert baserunning. Signs and wonders abound. And here on Roch’s fine blog, kpb will develop insight, Brian will learn to read, and our troll will become a real boy, a la Pinocchio (although first he’ll have to stop talking, since every word out of his mouth is a lie).

I know we’ve hammered on many of Mr. Tejada’s shortcomings – his insatiable desire to swing at every pitch thrown in his general vicinity (19 walks in 673 plate appearances last year -- no, that’s not a misprint), his unrivalled knack for grounding into double plays (majors-leading 4 of the last 6 years -- no, that’s not a misprint either), his willingness to throw his team under the bus (constantly late, dogging it down the line, demanding to be traded, etc.), his persistent deceit, even under oath (steroids, his age). But, hey, Brian likes him, so I guess he’s okay! Sign him up!

Look, Miguel was a very fine player in his prime. And I’m the last guy to criticize the morals of taking steroids or lying about one’s age in an environment where these things were rife, particularly if one comes from poverty. But Miguel’s WAR last year, which summarizes his worth across fielding, running, and hitting, and adjusts for league and park, was a whopping .5. That means he was worth half a win over a replacement player. And that half a win he only earned through the positional adjustment granted to all shortstops. Miguel was one of the worst shortstops in the majors last year (-22 runs vs. replacement; not quite Yuniesky Betancourt, but clearly visible from there) and his trend line is downward. Some take a “he couldn’t be any worse at third than he is at short” line of reasoning. But even assuming Miguel could play third as well (i.e., at least equally horribly) as he played short last year – which we have NO evidence he can do -- we’re basically talking about a replacement level player. I personally believe that’s his CEILING. And I don’t want to discuss his floor, not on a family blog.

As I see it, Miguel does two things well: he avoids injury and he hits for a high average. These things have value. But his high average is negated by his terrible plate discipline and remarkable propensity for GIDPs, and his declining skills make his good health less of an advantage. Last year, when Melvin was struggling, did we all say, “Well, he sure sucks, but at least he plays every game”? If the soup is bad, the portion is kind of irrelevant.

Look, I hate Ty Wigginton as a third baseman. I really do. I think he’s awful. I’m actually not sure he’s much good anywhere, but he's certainly a disaster at third. Still, I’d rather watch Ty play third as a stopgap than sign a replacement player for a position he’s never played at a cost several times the minimum salary. Furthermore, I’m very surprised that in a mere two years we fans have become so willing to forgive and forget what Miguel put us through. I’m not sure if that makes me appreciate our loyalty or question our myopia. Maybe a little of each.

So, Andy, your move. If you sign Miguel, I’m really going to wonder what you know that I don’t. It had better be good.

Roch,

Do you know if Curt Motton funeral will be in Maryland or Georgia? Please give us more information when you find it....thanks
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Maryland. - Roch

Roch,

I remember Motton as a great example of a player that understood "the Oriole way". Cal Sr. and so many others in our farm system developed talent that came to the majors ready to play the game the right way.

It's a sad but true fact that a player like Cuz probably wouldn't be on the team now because we have to carry at least 12 pitchers and only have room for four players on the bench. How nice would it be for our five starting pitchers to throw at least 1000 innings this year?
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What a luxury to have guys like Motton and Crow coming off the bench in the late innings. - Roch

Motton was a cool dude. I remember him. He played on some great teams as a backup OFer & never complained supposedly & was steady. I remember checking out his minor league numbers on his baseball card, I had it. He did have some solid numbers, stats that would get him a real chance to start somewhere today. He never had Pie moments in the field when he did play. RIP

Man Roch, that list makes me feel OLD. I remember seeing every player on that list play. All good players from an ERA we may never see here again I fear.
I grew up watching those guys & the real Oriole Way, they made me fall in love with baseball. It might somewhat explain my attitude towards the existing regime.

On Crede, we have all seen how thoroughly potter has the Docs check out guys before $igning them, can you imagine his horror when they give Crede the once over? There is no way that guy will pass muster here with his injury past. We can relax, the played out market will be reexamined hopefully.
I remain dubious of Tejada too, based primarily on Roch's good pts/ the steroid BS/ & his suddenly aging 2 years after he was dealt. Does anything concerning the guy really pan out as true?

The Oriole world will miss Curt Motton. It's a real shame that he won't be here for the 40 year reunion. His passing and those of the others that you respectfully mentioned should serve as a reminder to all of us. It helps to put things in perspective. So take some time to " smell the roses " and remember that " it's not whether you win or lose that counts but how you play the game ". In the game of life Cuz was a champion and that's how he will be remembered. May he rest in peace.

the gidp is a very miss leading stat. check out other leaders and you will find a lot of the best in the league. they all hit the ball hard and if it's at an infielder with a man on. odds are it will be a dp. punch and judy hitters don't show in this category,ex. Zimmerman Cabrera, Longoria were not far behind. miggy is still the the best left standing ,its not a long time fix,but we do need a fix.

Sad to hear the news. I was listening to a sports show yesterday in Arizona and they mentioned Johnny Oates and it was his birthday (I believed he passed away in 2004). It was interesting that the person who was reading the sports people born on that day took time to mention that he believed that Johnny Oates was one of the nicest baseball people he had ever met.

I would like to pay my respects. Any info on when and where his services will be?
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I'll pass along any additional info that I receive. - Roch

Roch,
I met Elrod in a Toronto hotel along with other Orioles in the early 90's while the Orioles were playing Toronto, it was either the Sheriton or Marriot, I was there on business. Ellie sit with me for a couple of hours talking alittle about baseball, but we talked fishing too. Since I was from Kentucky, he wondered about a lake called Kentucky lake which was close to me. I invited him to come down sometime. He took me up on it just after the 95 season. He asked if he could bring someone along, it was Curt. They stayed for 3 days and we had a blast. Ellie and Curt loved talking Orioles baseball but loved fishing too. Some great stories at the campfire too. Curt will be missed just like Elrod is.

As a youngster, I loved all the Orioles but I've always had a special place in my baseball heart for the back-ups and the over achievers, especially if I had their baseball card. So guys like Motton, Dave May, Clay Dalrymple, Tommy Matchik, Tom Shopay, Terry Crowley, and Dave Pagan always caught my eye. I find it rewarding that Motton was considered such a nice guy and was so well liked. It kind of bolsters my childhood fantasies about how every player was an exemplary role model.

OCJ, I tend to agree with you in your analysis about Tejada. I do think his contributions with the bat could benefit the team, though you can't ignore the atrocious on-base percentage. But the best part of your analysis was this..., "Furthermore, I’m very surprised that in a mere two years we fans have become so willing to forgive and forget what Miguel put us through." Now that is bang on. I'd have a hard time rooting for the guy, and this comes from a guy who roots for virtually everyone who wears an Oriole uniform.

As for why so many here want him back? I think a lot of it has to do with the sense of satisfaction derived from further fleecing the Astros after getting five players for him in the first place. Getting Tejada back equates to getting Scott, Patton, Sarfate, Albers and Costanzo for virtually nothing. (I've seen the same argument for re-acquiring Bedard). This may seem very appealing on the surface but it should not be used as criteria for bringing these guys back.

So what is my preference? Joe Crede, but only if I knew he would be healthy. And that's a very big if. A healthy Crede could play above average defense, generate some power, drive in about 80 runs, and serve as a decent bridge until the team figures out whether or not Bell is worthy of the big leagues. An injured Crede? Pretty much a waste of money. The only other half-decent free-agent option is Ryan Garko for first base. When all is said and done, that would likely be my preference.

My condolences and prayers to the Motton family.

It seems more appropriate to wait for a later post to go back to commenting on the upcoming season.

for a little guy "cuz" had good power with a quick compact swing.

Roch,
Never saw him play but any player of anytime is always a lose to the Oriole family.

And one more thing about Tejada: How does signing him, or Bedard, affect Andy's previous trades of these players one way or another? If you think these things are connected, you don't understand the parameters of trading and need to think of the process not as ownership but as rental.

Part of what made these trades so great was that we didn't trade Tejada for Scott, Patton, etc. We traded TWO YEARS of Miggy for FOUR years of Luke, however many years of Patton, etc. It was a good trade with a chance to be great. The Bedard trade is already great with a chance to be extraordinary. Regardless of whether we re-sign either of them.

It's always a shame when somebody dies before their time; the nicer the guy, the more it hurts. After his career as a player was over, I remember seeing him at many games (I assumed he was scouting the opponents players form the Os). He was always very friendly to all who were nearby.

Roch:
On another note, I asked friends who live in Siesta Key (just off Sarasota) for restaurant recommendations. They recommend:

Zak's Steak House (Sarasota)
O'Leary's (Sarasota; great Tiki bar on the water)
Bella Roma (Siesta Key)
SKOB (Siesta Key Oyster Bar)
Blue Smoke (new in Siesta Village)
Village Cafe (Siesta Key; Breakfast & Lunch)
O'Leary's (Sarasota; great Tiki bar on the water)

They also provided this web site is for Original Restaurants in Sarasota...they say most most are very good.
http://www.freshoriginals.com/

Also, I have been to the Columbia Restaurant (on St. Armands Circle) for Spanish and Cuban cuisine; it's a landmark:
http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/sarasota.asp

I'll be at the Os game in Ft. Myers on March 16th, and the games in Sarasota on the 17th and 20th. I hope to catch up with you at one of them.

Brian said: "Does anything concerning the guy (Tejada) really pan out as true?"

Yes, Brian, it is true that he can still hit the baseball.

I also enjoyed watching Motton come to bat in a tight game. Sorry he is gone.

Man, things were different then without free agency. The depth of the Orioles bench, the strength of the pitching staff, and the caliber of the manager may never be repeated.

Hi Roch!

I got to know Curt in the 80's when his daughter was a student of mine at a local school. He was the greatest father in the world. There was none of that "I'm a big baseball star" attitude about him. He was so low key, that it was only upon hearing some of his feats of accomplishment from another student's dad, Elrod Hendricks, that I realized how lucky I was to get to know him.

I hope that his family is doing alright. His daughter would be all grown up now, and out of respect, I think it better not to be intrusive and write her name. My deep condolences go out to everyone who feels his loss.

Thoughts and prayers go out to the family for their sad loss....

Andy's Q&A tomorrow. That should be a nice objective session. My dad said he nearly threw up at the season ticket Q&As last year because so many of the questions were clearly screened or planted.

Andy should walk around the Yard before a game and ask random fans what they REALLY think about the direction of the club and his appalling performance.
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It's true what my father says about the apple not falling far from the tree. Tell your dad that nobody is "screened" or "planted." Anyone can step up and ask a question. One fan went off during last year's forum. I'm sure he wasn't screened or planted. Raise your hand or step up to the mic - however it's set up - and ask your question. But no. The same people who rail about the front office end up sitting there quietly and later complaining about all the softballs being tossed. - Roch

ESPN's rumor page is suggesting that the Brewers may actually be willing to consider trade Fielder now that they are a bit short on pitching. They list several teams as possible suitors with the O's being one of them.

Sad news indeed.

He was quite an ambassador for the O's. He made visits to many local elementary schools, including one where my mom is a school nurse.

Character never goes out of style. He had it. He will be missed.

Roch: It's always amusing when you get fed up with someone and give them a little slap. Thanks for the chuckle.

Joe in the Dena: You do realize that is primarily slow day speculation, right? That's why it's on a rumors page. Everybody looks at the O's, sees no apparent long term solution at 1B, and they will now be linked to every free agent/trade block 1B.

Also, I have been to the Columbia Restaurant (on St. Armands Circle) for Spanish and Cuban cuisine; it's a landmark:
http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/sarasota.asp

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I have eaten there too. Good food. Best bet is go for lunch though.

FanSince54 said:

Brian said: "Does anything concerning the guy (Tejada) really pan out as true?"

Yes, Brian, it is true that he can still hit the baseball.
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Yeah if you want a singles/doubles hitter from a power position. He seemed to lose his power, in one of the most hitter friendly parks in the NL, imagine that, I wonder why....

Is that Dick Hall in the middle of that picture?
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Can't say for sure, but that's a good guess. Unfortunately, that's a little before my time as a fan. - Roch

Did Brummies Dad ever have any kids that lived?

Motton was before my time, but sad to hear of his passing. Sounds like he was a great person.

orange crayon jesus, great post about Tejada. I remember how relieved everyone was when we traded him just to get him out of Baltimore (in our desperation, how soon we forget). I don't see him re-signing here. That ship is so far sailed from Baltimore it is in the Chesapeake Bay around the mouth of the James river.

Brian said:

, Brian, it is true that he can still hit the baseball.
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Yeah if you want a singles/doubles hitter from a power position. He seemed to lose his power, in one of the most hitter friendly parks in the NL, imagine that, I wonder why....

Let's be honest, after the play of our 3rd basemen last year, a .300 singles/doubles hitter would be a welcome addition.

I'm not advocating going after Miggy either. But any production out of that position would be nice. At this point I'd settle for Atkins at 3rd, and sign Garko to spilt duties at 1st with Aubrey. I liked Joe Crede up to 2006, but the back issues have really hindered his play. Too bad he was at one time a pretty good ball player. If we do end up signing him, I'm not losing any sleep.

Roch,

You don't see this story every day---
"Oakland Athletics prospect Grant Desme is retiring from baseball to enter the priesthood.

Desme was selected the 2009 Arizona Fall League MVP and was considered one of the top prospects in Oakland's system.

The 23-year-old outfielder batted .288 with 31 homers, 89 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 131 games at Class-A Kane County and Stockton last season. He then hit .315 with a league-leading 11 home runs and 27 RBIs in 27 games in the fall league."
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I was thinking the same thing. I can't come up with a similar example. I remember writing about this kid after he was named the AFL's MVP. - Roch

Brummie_Oriole said:
Andy's Q&A tomorrow. That should be a nice objective session. My dad said he nearly threw up at the season ticket Q&As last year because so many of the questions were clearly screened or planted.

Andy should walk around the Yard before a game and ask random fans what they REALLY think about the direction of the club and his appalling performance.

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I've reached the conclusion that are you sick. If Tiger Woods can be addicted to sex ( Really how is that possible?) then you can be addicted to unfounded hatred. Please get help.

I was in the stands to see Curt hit that pinch double off Vida Blue in Game #1 of the '71 ALCS. Curt Motton and Terry Crowly constituted a late-inning rally just by appearing in the on-deck circle.

Roch-

When Stan Stovall led his sports with "A former Oriole lost his battle with Cancer today", I had a total wave of panic. I was thinking, well, I don't wanna even say it. Ofcourse it is said when any one of them goes, but some will have more of an impact. I was thinking of that throw from the 3rd base coaching box in the WS.

Anyway, this is day 6 of the 7-10 day window Andy said to figure out the CI situation.
Is Miggy being in Haiti holding things up?

Please say yes, and cool about 200,000 O's fans down.

Sad news. He was a good player and played his part on those great
Oriole teams. He did his job and like Crowley contributed some big
hits. So sad that so many members of that 1970 team are gone.

Definitely not Dick Hall in the picture. Motton was only 5'8" or so, and Dick Hall was 6'6". Hall played semi-pro ball with my grandfather in the late 50s.

I've known Curt very well over the last fifteen years. As many of the previous comments bear out he indeed was a very humble man, extremely kind and gracious.

What many may find interesting is that in 1995 he became one of Jehovah's Witnesses and remained very active as one right up until his death. After he retired from scouting for the Orioles he increased his activity greatly, spending many hours each month in the public ministry. Many people in the Timonium/Cockeysville/Hunt Valley area may be surprised to know that they had him knock on their doors in the house-to-house ministry. I was privileged to work along with him often. It wasn't unusual for him to get out as early as 7 AM to talk to people waiting for the buses at the Deereco light rail stop and along York and Cranbrook Roads.

He had a very easy going manner with people and a genuine smile. His humility was shown in that I never recall him drawing attention to the fact that he was a former Oriole. He even mentioned to me that he never liked it if we were to mention that detail in introducing him to someone. He didn't want to divert attention away from the message he brought to people about Jehovah, the God of the Bible, and his purpose to restore the earth to a paradise.

I love to talk about sports and follow baseball pretty closely. Curt, of course, enjoyed sports but rarely initiated a conversation about them. I would have to bring up something about the Orioles or MLB and then he would share his insight and stories. I will miss those conversations, too.

According to his wishes, I know that there will be a memorial service given at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Lutherville. Knowing that he would soon die, he said regarding his memorial service, 'Don't make it long - talk about my mom being one of Jehovah's Witnesses (which he later became), mention that I played baseball, and talk about the resurrection.' He wanted people to hear of the day when God promises to bring the dead back to life and be reunited with their loved ones right here on a restored earth. I eagerly look forward to that day and seeing his smile again.
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Thank you so much for posting this comment. - Roch

Deepest condolences to Curt's family and friends. Motton was a very important member of those great Oriole teams and the organization as well.

I believe that's Hank Bauer in between Frank and Curt in the picture.

Roch,
Being 59, I remember him fondly, and the news when I heard it yesterday made my heart hurt.
In those days the Orioles' Way was the only way we fans knew.
Cuz examplified the Oriole Way.Cuz was a truly great team player and a truly geat human being as all those who have had the pleasure of meeting him have commented.

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On a side note:
Rich said:

Sad to hear the news. I was listening to a sports show yesterday in Arizona and they mentioned Johnny Oates and it was his birthday (I believed he passed away in 2004). It was interesting that the person who was reading the sports people born on that day took time to mention that he believed that Johnny Oates was one of the nicest baseball people he had ever met.
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When Johnny was managing the Orioles, my disabled stepson wrote him a long letter, full of typos and terrible grammar, about what moves he thought should be made with the team. He did this often before and after Johnny. Johnny was the only one who ever answered. It wasn't just a thanks for writing little note either.
Johnny took every point and explained to a very excited guy just why he was doing the things he did, thanked him for his ideas and his interest, and made him one very happy boy for months to come.

Johnny was class all the way.

As I get older I realize that there is nothing more important than character, kindness and class. Th old Orioles had these in spades.

My condolances to Cuz's family.

That's terrible news to hear. My condolences to his family.

I would like to thank everyone who sent in commemts about Curt. He was indeed a delightful and caring person to be around. I know if he could read the comments he would burst out into that infectious laugh he has. All I ask is that in leiu of flowers please support the Gilchrist Hospoe Center in Towson Md. and the Serpic Cancer Center at St. Joseph Center in Towson, Md.
Thank you all and God Bless
Marti
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I'll make sure to post your request in my next blog entry. Thank you so much for writing, and we're all deeply sorry for your loss. Curt was a wonderful, wonderful man. God bless. - Roch

I miss Curt and I think it was inappropriate for "ROB" to have commented on th witnessing by Mr. Curt at some light rail. A true Christian does not do this. It was about baseball and this is not the time to recruit for your beliefs and Jehovah. Shame on you!!!!!

I just can't get over this ROB guy. At Mr. Motton's expsense he decides to write something that may have been personal to Curt's family. They may not want their co-workers or friends knowing he ministered with witnesses on the street. If I were Mrs. Motton I would not be happy. He used Curt to exploit what he feels the rest of us readers should be doing as they did. It is not fair and should never have been said.You should not be on here recruiting for more people to join you when they have their own beliefs.
I hope Mrs. Motton reads this one. They used his name for the wrong reason. You should be talking about his life in baseball and contributions in baseball not religion. You did not even offer sympathy to her or the family. Buddy you talked about reincarnation instead! Where is your compassion for the living and celebrating HIS life instead of some new earth where the dead come back to. Are you for real?!

Perhaps my earlier posting may require some explanation.

As I read the earlier comments about Curt, there was an obvious desire for people to share what they appreciated about him. While many commented on the only thing they knew, his baseball acheivements, I noticed that not all were related to baseball. Others were sharing experiences that portrayed what fine qualities Curt had as a person. I knew Curt would have enjoyed all of those expressions. I also knew that he would have had some disappointment that nowhere was this aspect of his life, so important to him, even hinted at. Thus, for the few that may have read it, I hoped my post would enhance their appreciation for what outstanding character this man had.

Out of respect for my dear friend and to show my admiration, I wrote what I did. I know that Curt would have been thankful. I actually tried to exercise restraint in how much I wrote, while at the same time knowing how ardently Curt loved to speak about God. Frankly, I'm not sure that Curt would have been so concerned about the restraint shown. It is interesting that what one person is embarrassed by, another is proud of. Yet, it should be considered, can one really claim to respect a man, while at the same time ridiculing him for something that was such an integral part of his life? While some may have been glad to have his autograph or speak to him at an Orioles event, how did they treat him when he knocked on their door? Curt never demanded that people agree with his message, but he always strove to treat people with dignity and kindness, even when ridiculed. Curt Motton was proud of his beliefs and how he tried to live by them. If one reads Acts 17:17 and 20:20 you will see that what he did was not much different from the Apostle Paul.

Also, since I had never posted anything on the computer before, please excuse me if I unknowingly broke a law of ettiquite by failing to express condolences to the family via the internet. I have always believed that, when possible, it is best to make such expressions in person. Since I have been in contact with his wife and other family members both before and after his death, I chose that method. To any I did not know, please accept my condolensces. Curt will be greatly missed by those that knew and loved him.

I hope this response reflected the mildness and graciousness that Curt always did.

Rob contacted me to tell me about this site and posting because of a comment from one of my high school teachers. While I cannot express the gratitude and appreciation of the outpouring of love and support from so many Oriole fans, I am appalled by the comments from "Redds".

Just to set the record straight, Rob asked me if it would be okay to post on this blog about my father and his love for Jehovah. And knowing how much the Kingdom Hall and his faith was apart of him, of course I agreed. Rob had spoken at length with my father in regards to his faith, spirituality and love of Jehovah, who else would be qualified to make such comments?

While I myself am not a Jehovah's Witness, my father was and he was very proud of it. As such, I am very proud of his devotion and his active Christian lifesytle.

I am so sorry to all of those readers who had to endure such unwarranted criticism. And hope this clarifies the appropriateness of Rob's post.

Thank you again to all of you for the kind words and happy memories of a great man, friend, and dad.

Respectfully,
Simone N. Motton-Hall
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Thank you for writing, Simone, and I'm so sorry for your loss. Your father was a wonderful man, loved by everyone, and we'll miss him. - Roch

I grew up as a neighbor of Curt and his family in Randallstown and remember sitting in Curt's VW with Simone while we waited for the school bus on cold days. I recall Curt taking the time to show me how to grip a baseball and make outfield throws as a 10 year old. When I went to college and played baseball Curt always made sure the Orioles regional scout kept tabs on me and reported my progress. After college we lost touch for several years and then reconnected in more recent years. It was so great to see him and Nicole and see that everyone was well. A few years ago I met Curt in Bowie to watch a Bay Sox game he was scouting. What an incredible night to sit and watch and talk baseball. Amazing. This was a man I have known for over 30 years and as I look back was truly a hero of mine. My greatest wish when my time has passed is that people who knew me would talk about my impact in the same glowing terms as they have done with Curt. A few years ago I won a replica of Curt's 1970 jersey at an Orioles auction. It is framed and proudly displayed in my office. When Curt worked with Elrod at the summer camp I went for several years. I collected every baseball card Curt ever had and he gladly signed them all. I had no idea Curt had been ill. I am floored. I hope Curt can read this and hear my say "Thanks". You will never be forgotten. Nowadays I photograph the Orioles locally for Press Box and every day at the ballpark will certainly make me feel that much closer to Curt.