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TCBA Yearbook |
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INDEX Seasons 1911 1912 1913 1921 1922 1923 1930 1931 1932 1940 1941 1942 1950 1951 1952 1960 1961 1962 1970 1971 1972 1980 1981 1982 1990 1991 1992 2000 2001 2002 2010 2011 2012 2020 2021 2022 Miscellaneous |
Al Keefer Charter Member 54 years young Pharmacist and owner of Keefer Pharmacy Evanston, Illinois Evanston Bees My best memories are all the face-to-face meetings versus Bradenton, and even the memorable poundings we took from Winnebago’s powerhouse - All the great conventions we’ve had. It’s well known the Bees don’t trade often. One of the best was trading Butch Wynegar for enough cash to let us get Tim Raines and Fernando Valenzuela in the same rookie draft. I also made a big 12-player swap in 1979, when we got Cey, Simmons, and Tanana, that panned out well. More recently, the Robbie Thompson acquisition for Jim Gantner turned out well. On the negative side, Ron Cey sent off for Steve Ontiveros, who headed to Japan, and Doug Bair, was a bummer. Worst trade was probably Lee May for Amos Otis. “Float Like a Butterfly...” - Al credits Mohammed Ali for his team’s nickname. “We may not look tough,” says Al, “but look out!” Bob Wood - While visiting Houston, Texas I was the guest of Dave Brown. Later I would visit Gorney in Michigan. I’ve been to the Braunfest in Beacon and have vacationed with the McEneaney’s on Cape Cod. Face-to-face series were fast and furious, but none more enduring than with Al Keefer. Al & I have played 257 of our 285 games face-to-face. We alternate visits to the other’s home each year. It is always a pleasure to see him and Lynn, or to have him visit at my home, even if I do burn the chili. Bob Braun - In 1981, just a month or so after my son David was born, I visited the Chicago area with my family. We were actually planning a move to Chicagoland because of a promotion I had received at work which required me to spend much time in the mid-west. On one particular afternoon, we headed north out of the city to Evanston. While stopped at a traffic light, wondering where in the world we might be, I looked across the intersection and saw a very satisfying sight. There on the corner was Keefer’s Pharmacy! I happened to have some instructions for a series to be played against the Bees with me, so I strolled into the joint, demanded to see the owner (or the owner’s son), and spent some pleasant minutes just chatting with Al in his store. Some 7 or 8 years later, while on business in Chicago, I invited Al down to attend a Food Industry Convention, and we ended up on the 35th floor of the Marriott Hotel rolling dice and reading boards. Al’s Bees kicked our butts then, too. His teams have always had a knack of beating the Vita-Men and the Braves. And I’ve never really minded that.
Al Keefer 1997
Bob Wood - There were the days of the big trades. I once swapped between 14 and 17 players with BOTH Marty and Mad Mac. And all the three-way deals with Gilbert & Zarse........ In all these years and in all my trades, though, I have yet to acquire a player from Al Keefer. He did buy two relievers from me once - Tom Burgmeier and Rollie Fingers, if I remember correctly. Marty Fiehl - This was also the time Bob Wood and I used to hook up on the phone and make some real monster deals. One big one saw 14 players exchange uniforms. We topped that one shortly by swapping 16 players in a single deal! It’s possible some household pets may have been involved in that also. I believe that record still stands today. My guess is the rosters were new to us and we didn’t have time to build up any loyalties to our players, hence we didn’t mind throwing them in the pot like so many poker chips. Al Keefer - My most vivid memories are of suffering through endless losses to the Winnebago Indians.
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