Our speaker today is Denny Dressman, who was accompanied by his wife, Melanie.
DENNY DRESSMAN concluded a 44-year newspaper career in June 2007, retiring from the “Rocky Mountain News” in Denver after 25 years. From 1992 to 2001 he was vice president for labor and human resources at the News. Earlier, he was city editor at “The Cincinnati Enquirer” and editor of the “Oakland Tribune”. He began his career as a sportswriter at “The Kentucky Post” and the “Courier-Journal & Louisville Times”. He was inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame in 2008.
Dressman served as president of the Colorado Authors’ League, the state’s oldest professional writers' organization, for two and a half years, from January 2016 through June 2018. Author of one book in Cincinnati in 1981, he resumed writing books in 2005, and his ninth book, “Beyond The Camps – From Japanese American Internment Nightmare To ‘American Dream’” was published in April 2018. This biography of horse trainer John Parisella is his tenth book.
His past books—all nonfiction—include a biography of iconic Grambling football coach Eddie Robinson titled EDDIE ROBINSON ‘... he was the Martin Luther King of football’ that was a Colorado Books Awards finalist; first-person accounts of the wartime experiences of 36 veterans from northeast Colorado titled Sterling Heroes of World War II; a behind-the-scenes true story about the 1970 Major League Baseball All-Star Game titled “HEARD but not SEEN: Richard Nixon, Frank Robinson and The All-Star Game’s" most debated play”; and “The Idea Within: David Griggs and his quest for meaning in public art”.
Dressman has edited a dozen other books; written for several magazines; taught writing and editing in the University of Denver’s University College continuing education program; and won several writing awards. He is a past president of the Colorado Press Association, the trade organization representing the state’s newspapers.
Denny has written 15 books, 9 are sports related. He wrote Game 163, a game the Colorado Rockies played against the San Diego Padres that lasted 13 innings with Matt Holiday scoring the winning run on a sacrifice fly. Denny tells us about the inspiration for this book; it was during the pandemic listening to a replay of this great game that KOA broadcast. Another book Denny wrote about is Opening Day in 1995, called Walk Off. In each case, the game is the focal point of the book but there is much more to the story. It was during this season, 1995, the Rockies ended up winning the Wild Card, being the first year of the Wild card playoff format.
Denny wrote another book about Brett Mahne being the 1st position player to be the winning pitcher in the major league in 32 years. Denny recounts how Bob Gearhart, former General Manager for the Rockies, was able to recount many facts and stories that helped with the writing of the book. Denny tells us about Tim McLelland, the retired umpire who made the call in the ’95 game featured in his book. After several attempts to track down McClelland, who had said he wasn’t interested in talking about his umpiring career, that Denny ending up doing an interview with him over the phone. He ended asking several questions about his career and his memories.
Denny tells us about instances where he was able to reach people through other players. Denny tells us about people on the fringe and not just the stars of those teams. One such player is Jim Tatum, an original draft pick by the Rockies way back in in ’93. Denny ended up calling the High School Tatum attended, and through the grapevine found a teacher that taught at his high school. When Tatum was drafted by the Rockies, he was playing winter ball in Venezuela and couldn’t get out of the country, due to a military coup that had taken place. Denny found Adam Melhuse who hit his first major league hit to win the game, for his book 16 Innings. You never know where the story is going to come from.
Denny then tells us his thoughts about the Rockies upcoming season. This will be the fourth decade of the Rockies coming up. Hope springs eternal, which is about all the Rockies have. Even though the club didn’t sign any free agents this year, Chris Bryant played so little that it seems he qualifies as a signing for this year.
Denny tells us that he attended the fall league in Arizona this year, and he got to see Zach Vene, who is one of the Rockies prime prospects and looked impressive. Denny believes he is going to be a star. Denny also spoke to Eric Young about his first pitch home run back 1993. Denny talks about Bud Black, and who, in Denny’s opinion is too much of a player’s manager and too accepting of mistakes players make. Denny came to the Rocky Mountain news as Sports Editor. In the walk off book, Denny tells a great story about signing Todd Helton and scouting by Bob Gearhart. Helton actually backed up Payton Manning in football at Tennessee, in addition to being a great baseball player. Was “Rocky top” on the juice? Denny thinks it’s plausible and relates some interesting stats to back up his suspicion. Your editor was hoping for some stories about his all-time favorite Rockie, Vinny Castillia who may have the best walk-up song in the history of the club: Matador by Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. Books are for sale. Wonderful presentation.
DRAWING
Do we have a drawing? Our editor, George Buzick, won the pot last week, so there is only $20 in the pot this week, 2 of Diamonds is the lucky card, Larry Pulaski has the first lucky ticket and asks our speaker to draw a card and just like last year’s Rockies team, he comes up snake eyes. Dick Nickoloff takes a cup, Phil Perrington takes a cup, Larry has another winning ticket takes a cup. Kent Gloor takes a cup. a cup. Jack Kleinheksel take the last cup. Larry draws Ed Collins’ name and draw a cup. Our speaker Denny leads us in the Creed. Go forth and promote Optimism.
Our greeters this morning are Bob Avery and Frank Middleton. A cold winter morning with an impressive full moon peeking over the cloud in Denver, CO.
UEST
Bob Avery tells us that will soon be judging Eagle Scout projects for 2022. Recent awards were for 2021 projects, delayed because of Covid 19.
