| WAKE FOREST - TOMMY BYRNE DEAD AT 87|Raleigh Durham Real Estate Blog

WAKE FOREST - TOMMY BYRNE DEAD AT 87

Wake Forest, North Carolina. Yankee Pitcher Takes Strike Three. I grew up living, breathing and playing baseball in the land of the Cubs and Cardinals. Therefore, it was only natural that I hated - - the Yankess.

A few years ago a friend and business associate introduced me to Tommy Byrne at Tommy’s home. I vividly recall the goose bumps I got in seeing the signed bats, baseballs, photos and other memorabilia of his years as a pitcher in baseball but more particularly of his Yankee team mates and friends. Tommy played with the Browns, Senators and White Sox as well but his Yankee years were his most memorable. Meeting Tommy was not meeting a hated Yankee but meeting baseball in the flesh and all the memories that went with it. Being able to ask him questions about other players and listen to his stories about some of them - - - it doesn’t get any better than that.

I saw him several times after that and also got to know one of his sons, Tommy, Jr.; another very fine man. Tommy served as a town commissioner in Wake Forest for eight years and two terms as mayor. He had many business interests including being a partner in the building of the Wake Forest Country Club golf course. After baseball and his wife, golf was Tommy’s first love.

How often it’s the small moments in life you remember the most. Getting to know Tommy, if just a little, will one I will never forget. He has now rejoined his team mates and I do hope they play baseball in heaven. I wonder if God has a favorite team?

HASENTREE - continued from yesterday’s post. These photos are of the wine room, the lower level kitchen and the exercise room. I could go into detail about them but I think you would rather look than read. To view each photo full size just click on it and click - Back to return to the next one.