The Bridgeport Post from Bridgeport, Connecticut • Page 71

BRIDGEPORT SUNDAY POST, March 19, 1973 F--5 Baseball Historian Gives The iigar to the 'Babe' By JOHN W. SOBER "They tell me I'm a baseball historian," comments Jules J. Bues of Bridgeport "I was tagged with the name and I guess maybe I am "Don't be misled," he says candidly, "I was never a great baseball player myself--never really played on a as" a kid I always seemed to either have a bat or a glove in my hand." For Jules Bues following baseball has been, as he calls it, "a labor of love," for 'a- good portion; of his: 76 years, His knowledge' of baseball is truly consum mate and he talks knowl- edgcably about players arid teams that played a half century ago as -if it were yesterday Over the years Jules Bues has been a friend and confidant of many well-known baseball players, a contributor to the baseball Halls oj Fame in Cooperstown N.Y., as. well as Tokyo Japan, and the collector of a sizeable amount of personal baseball memorabilia His wife, Louise, shrugs good naturedly at the mountain of information and; souvenirs, including no less than mammoth scrapbooks, observes, "well, now he's. alt.the closets filled." Bridgeport Native 5pm on street in Bridgeport in 1896, Jules has spent' all of i i i Bridge port except for Navy service in WWt, when he served on the battleships' North Carolina and Kentucky, and several years in the late 1920s when he lived in Utica, N.Y.

Although baseball has been his'-': principal preoccupation Jutes has had varied interests over the years. While living in Utica, for instance, Jules toured the, upstate New York area singing-and dancing in the old vau deville shows. Today he is an active mem- befpf the North End Good Guys, club', a civic organization which is active in a variety of chair table and community service projects. Serving as "Chief Aide" to the president of the JuleSj was -last November with the club's year- MUSEUM Photographs ol famous baseball players, many autographed, line the walls of Mr. Bues "baseball den" as he browses through one of his 27 scrapbooks.

Four official World Series bats, from the 1970 and 1971 seasons, pan of a collection of such bats going some SO years, are seen in-the center of the photo. HISTORIAN of baseball memorabila to (he Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, N.Y., Mr. Bues the museum's director, Sid Keener, center, and assistant treasurer Harold 1953. vice." "for. outstanding ser- ing to ask all kinds of baseball sports programs.

Generalry he has 'ce." Many times of and displayed items been through ut-oftown sports writers of interest pertaining to, have called man whom Jules considers to be.the.greatest baseball player VINTAGE GLOVE The'late'Neal Ball, left, is shown in 1952 Bridgeport Post photo presenting his famed "triple play" baseball glove to Mr Bues for subsequent placement in the baseball Hall of Fame. Ball, a Bridgeport resident in later life and close friend of Bues, used the glove in 1909 to make the first unassisted triple play i major leage baseball. Also active in civic affairs as "Chief Aide" to the president of the North End Good Guys, Mr. Bues. in right picture, holds the club's annual award presented to him last November.

and in 1969 presented this im- the Yankees team who were graphed commemorative bats occurred when he was living Utica, in 1927.. He teturrjing home on the train Rafter visiting his family in Bridgeport. his "baseball den" to ask him.for needed in ma ucu nntu-. itti pictures of baseball stars' formation or to settle disputes with an amzing ar I can't give them the an with, an amzing ray of baseball memorabilia will not doubt that Jules Bues is va baseball "Once the baseball season starts my phone begins to ring," "with people call- swer' from my head-I tell the'rri all Cobb and Honus Wagner were I'll call them after I look it up Babe in my library." On TV Shows observed. Jules has also been a guest on What JUles calls, the train arid.bought him a eak dinner When the tram reached Utica, ules' stop, Ruth helped him car- his bags Off the tram while veral bystanders watched in mazement Ruth was traveling west with the Yankee baseball am but before the train left he vited Jules to visit hjm at his tome in New York or at Yankee adium.

'I asked him why he had spent much time with me since he iiild have been spending his me on the train with more im- wrtant people, and 1-11 never orget what he said to me, 'Kid, 0 me you're That's IB kind of guy he was," Jules hlates He never forgot' a IUTI. Some time, Jules isited Yankee Stadium to watch luth and the Yankees play he surprised to find that Ruth id remember him and invitee lim down to the dugout. Jules remembers that he gestured toward the opposing pitcher warning up on the field and remarked casually, "I think- I can couple of hits off this guy." At That afternoon Jules in Yankee Stadium and during a double-header watched Ruth hit Jir.ee home runs, In the years that followed Jules met and corresponded with' a (lumber of baseball players in fcluding Ty Cobb and Lou Gehrig but he credits Babe, Ruth's assistance for starting-his collection of special baseball bats which today are probably his proudest possession. "One day in 1941 I asked 'Babe 1 I could have one of his bats nd he 'helped me get touch fith the 'Hillerich and Bradsby bmpany" (manufacturers of the amous "Louisville Slugger" and maker of most major league iseball bats). Jules got an official Babe Ruth iat from the firm, compliments its, president, and in 1941 began representing various other famous baseball players such as Ted' William's, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and others.

Keeps Bats in Safe Some time ago trie Hillerich and Bradsby Company informed Jules that lie now probably has the best collection of autographed and World Series Bats in existence. keeps the highly prized bats stored in a safe in Although justly: proud of the special bats and other baseball that- he Has collected, Jules feels' that his greatest achievements have been in obtaining important historical eer Ball made his home in Bridgeport. One day Jules began to won- a had happened to the that Ball had used while making the spectacular play and upon asking Ball, was told matter of fnctly that, "It's up in the attic, someplace." Jules convinced Ball to dig it out and subsequently, after proper authentication, had it presented to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperslown, where it is on dis play today. Jules laughingly recalls tha he later discovered that Ba' special "Yomiuri Giants" ennant. The Yomioui Giants re the oldest professional base- lall team in Japan.

His contributions have also ound their way to other recip- ents. In 1369 he presented a jainstakingly compiled scrap- xk of clippings on Bjbc allplayer's sister. Jules continues to correspond with several relatives of deceased baseball players of the past. He also digressed briefly from his baseball hobby to construct a scrapbook of the University Notre Dame football team pressive compilation to the Fairfield County Notre Dame Alumni club. Retired from a position with Ruth's career to the the Leverty and famous Hurley company of Bridgeport, Jules today resides at 104 Beechmont avenue with his wife.

He is far from retired from his baseball activities and spends most of his time collecting, corresponding and researching the answers to baseball questions for sports writers and just about anyone who asks. also still had his old uniform shirt which he was using as "Fishing shirt." Jules managed to talk him out of this, too, and! baseball items for it is a i so the Hall i they, really belong," i observes. some was a close friend of Neal Ball who baseball' fans remember achieved immortality the port when made the first unassisted 'triple play in major eague baseball in 1909; At the UttgUU a a III UIC Ul I "HI 11 i conclusion his baseball ca-'tion for his efforts he received! Wins a Pennant His historical efforts have, in fact, been international and the Baseball Hall of Fame Japan currently carries a display of photographs-and other items supplied by Jules. As a token of Japanese apprecia-j KZY? 'I. went back the observa- lion car on the rear'oJ-ibi tram and went out oh tile back plat- the car since it was also great, but I'm partial to September and warm sitting there smoking never' -be Babe Ruth," dnd with his feet up on the railing was another man." receive' a set of Thinking he familiar a variety of radio and television I greatest thrills of my life," The bats are specially manufac immediately, ureB by the company at its plan "you look like Bape Ruth" an in, Louisville each at the conclusion of the World Series, a very limited number.

that -he and Jules' were rticipating World Scries player both about 30 years old at the ieceives the bat decorated for time, "I call everyone 'kid' unti and representing his team. they're 35' and' after that I cal addition, a set of bats, representing both of the' participating teams, is presented to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in them Chat with the Babe Also a cigar smoker, Jules fered Ruth a Connecticut Top by Hillerich and Bradsby and a stone cigar which he smoke while regaling the Bridgeport set is sent to Jules Bues. baseball stories. Later he intro In addition, he has from. time diiced Jules other member to time received authentic auto- Connecticut Businessmen: We have more than one hundred highly trained and efficient communications consultants.

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