Andy Pafko

Andy Pafko was my neighbor when I grew up near Kelvyn Park in Chicago. He was my idol and I kept in contact with him all of my life until his health declined. I never realized how many fans Andy had. He was the best idol any young boy could have and I will never forgot him.

Andy was my boyhood idol, His birthday, Feb. 25, was one day after mine! I followed his career from his earliest days with the Cubs. I got to see Andy play at County Stadium in April of 1953 in a pre-season game with the White Sox. His 1st at bat was a towering homer to left. 2nd at bat he ripped a single up the middle to center. and then Horrors! My hero was taken out of the game and replaced by a skinny black kid named Hank Aaron!
Great memory, and thanks for all the great memories...

remember him when I was a boy, admired him

I was 11 years old when I got to tour the Braves clubhouse at the old Milwaukee County Stadium with my Dad and Bob Allen of the Braves organization. The first player I met was Andy. He gave me a "big hello", signed my baseball, and took me around and introduced me to all the other "greats", Hank Aaron, Billy Bruton, Warren Spahn, Joe Adcock, etc., who were prepping for the game. He made me feel like his most important fan.

He also said, "Why don't you introduce the kid to the guy in...

When I was a little girl (MANY years ago!), Andy Pafko was my very favorite Brave! My dad took me to a game and afterward we went to the locker room so I could ask for Andy's autograph. (You could do that then!) The person who came to the door was Eddie Mathews (probably the highest profile of the Braves at the time) and I politely told him that I didn't want HIS autograph --- I wanted Andy Pafko's! I think my father was mortified, but I got the autograph I really wanted --- and have...