On Friday July 6th I set up a table at the Hagerstown Suns game where I had the pleasure of selling and signing books for fans who had come out on Nora Roberts Night to see the Suns take on the Lexington Legends (the Suns won 5-4 in the bottom of the 9th).
Author David B. Stinson At Hagerstown Suns Game
While I truly enjoyed talking with Suns fans who stopped to chat or buy a book, nothing compared to the sense of accomplishment, the sense of the pride I felt when, quite unexpectedly, I saw my name posted in an Official Hagerstown Suns Publication on the stadium wall . . .
My Name Amongst The Fine Print
just above a men’s room urinal . . .
My Name Up In . . . Well, Up Above The Urinal!!
“What a relief,” I thought, as I read the flyer’s text: “Author David Stinson will be available selling his new book, Deadball, and autographing copies for fans.” The words flew off my lips. I read it a second time just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. Seeing my name above the urinal in an official Suns publication (as opposed to scrawled in pen on the cinder block as if back in Jr. High) I knew I had attained a new level of, um, well, I’m not sure exactly what, but certainly a new level of something.
Admittedly, I felt a bit uncomfortable bringing my camera into the men’s room to document my level of attainment. But persevere I did, and now I can share with you the proof that I’ve made it.
In a couple weeks I’ll be selling and signing books at the Bowie Baysox – July 22nd to be exact. Here’s hoping I’ll have made it there as well.
my regret is that I am not allowed to enter the room in which your esteemed name is displayed.
congratulations on all your success!
My Daughter Dylan, who helped me sell books at the game, can attest that my name was likewise posted in a room that you, but not I, could enter. DBS
“take any opportunity you get to spread the word”..
Congratulations.
Could not agree with you more. thanks Sam.
Sometimes success is found in unusual places… Congrats, Dave!
And measured in unusual ways. Thanks Alan.
Proof that ur-ine amongst the big time authors now. Congrats!
Well said. DBS
Hello David,
Doing other things but surfed into your pages.
I was born 26 Oct 1936 in Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and am retired from our Royal Canadian Air Force, having served in the regular force from 1955 until 1991.
Have been a baseball fan and “Yankees” supporter since about 1945 – before you were born.
All that to say: Martin Leo Boutilier, (correct spelling) aka Brother Mathias, was born a couple of miles from Glace Bay at a small area called Lingan – which looks straight at the Atlantic Ocean. He was born 1872 and my grandfather, Frank McGillivary, was practically a next-door neighbour and was born less than a year later in 1873. The two youngsters grew up together and obviously were school mates until Martin Leo emigrated with his parents and other siblings to “the Boston States.”
I am related to Martin Leo Boutilier on both sides of my family and have been doing the genealogy quest since 1964.
My telephone number is xxxxxxxxxx and I live in our nation’s capital, Ottawa with my wife, Patricia.
It would be fun to connect,
Aloha,
FX McGillivary
Hello Francis
Thanks so very much for the post. I did not know until I read your post that Brother Mathias was Nova Scotia. I will most certainly give you a call to learn more (I redacted your phone number from your post). BTW – I took my kids to Ottawa several years back so they could see the Lynx’s before they left. Ottawa is a beautiful city. Did another team come in and start playing at Ottawa Stadium? DBS
Hi
My wife is a Boutilier from Port Morien Cape Breton and she has the family tree going back to the 1500 ,s.She assumes that Martin Leo Boutilier must be a relative but can not find him in the Boutilier family tree
Hi Robert,
I’ve been researching my “fanilies” since 1964. My great grandmoother was Mary Martha Boutilier,(wife of Joseph Currie) born Coxheath, CB, NS in 1823 and died South Head of Port Morien Feb 1916. Her dad was Henry Joseph, born N.S., son of Jacques who was born in Etobon, now part of France in 1735.He came to Coxheath 1809 from Lunenburg County( I visited Etobon three times and made friends with George Boutilier of nearby Valentigny. I lived 4 yrs in France and 2 in Germany) Jacques came with the French Protestants to Halifax in 1752. Hi parents both died on the voyage which took more than two months from Rotterdam, Netherlands. My great grandmother on McGillivary side was also a Boutilier. Did that side also. My mother was Carmella Currie born Port Morien 1907.
Aloha,
FX McGillivary, born Glace Bay 1936, retired RCAF, Ottawa
David: Just a note to thank you for a really fun read. You’ve done a nice job weaving history and reality together in “Deadball,” and I really enjoyed it (perfect poolside reading last week in Ocean City). Your mentions of New Cathedral Cemetery brought back a lot of memories – when I was a student at UMBC, I took an American Studies course on the 1890s and wrote about the Hall of Famers buried there as my final exam project (got an A, too!). I remember the ladies at the desk being happy to help once they found out I was a student (they even waived a small fee for looking up the burial sites). My grandfather managed the Cannon Shoe Store on Greenmount Avenue in the 1960s/1970s, and I used to eat dinner from Harley’s there before O’s games at Memorial Stadium. Littel did I know how close I was to a previous chapter of Baltimore baseball history. Anyway, I mentioned “Deadball” in a post today on MASNsports.com. Here’s the link: http://masn.me/8sbb
Hello Pete
Thanks so much for the nice words about Deadball in your post and on MASN’s website. You obviously know your Baltimore baseball history. Just so you know, it first occurred to me to check out the site of Union Park at the time the city was debating what to do with Memorial Stadium. Although I had gone to many games at Memorial Stadium when I was a kid, after the stadium was abandoned, I took several trips to 33rd Street so my kids could see the stadium before it was torn down. On one of those trips I decided to find where Union Park used to be. Let me know if you want someone to show you around the various ballpark sites. I’ll even buy you lunch at the Stone Tavern. DBS
The family tree of the Boutilier’s of Nova Scotia starts in Germany with the Quaty Tribe centuries ago. The tribal leaders were the only members that could use the tribal name as their surname. The Alsace Loraine region of Germany was the most fought over land in Europe and is now a part of France. The German Quaty people were allowed to have a “fife” in France for some time until the Catholic French decided to be-head the German Lutherans and take the land of the Fife’s within their border. The Quaty people took the name Boutilier to appear as frenchmen which with a slightly different spelling means bottler or keeper of the wines. Look on the bottle of a french wine and you will find the name.
When the French were claiming Nova Scotia the Queen of England offered free passage and land in Nova Scotia for people loyal to United Kingdom with the only requirement being that you sign a statement the you hated the French. Of course the Boutilier clan signed on because the French took their country (fife) The Boutiliers are well represented in NS with several towns and area’s named after them. When Nova Scotia deported the French Acadian loyalists the Boutilier’s remained in NS while the French Acadians escaped to Louisiana and are now the Cajuns.
I’m doing some research on Martin Leo Boutilier (aka Brother Mathias), and cannot find any reference to his date of passing, or where he was laid to rest. Any assistance would be appreciated.
P. Carpenter
Sacramento CA
Hi Paul,
I am a descendant of Martin Boutilier, and was fortunate to recently locate his grave through the assistance of the Catholic Church. I would be glad to share this information with you. My phone # is (781) 630-2340.
Jean Mor
I apologize for the incorrect wording. I am a descendant of Henry Boutilier, who was Martin’s brother. Sorry about the poor choice of words.
Jean Mor
Jean,
I appreciate your gracious offer, sorry it took me so long to reply. I’ll contact you shortly.
Paul C.
I am doing research for a biography of Babe Ruth and would love to be in touch with members of the Boutilier family. Please write. Thanks, Jane
Hello Jane
I’ve been following your Facebook posts with pictures of Babe Ruth. Looking forward to your book. I will contact you via email with info I have. DBS