If the Kansas City Athletics had not traded my mother’s first cousin Norm Siebern to the Baltimore Orioles in 1963, then the conversation I had about a month ago with my friend and coworker, Jon, would have been much less interesting.
Jon is a diehard Baltimore Orioles fan. His blood runs orange in the spring and summer and then Ravens purple when the leaves begin to change.
My mother loved all of her cousins but she was especially proud of Norm. I know this because when I met him I remember three things. First, he was a nice man. Second, he was tall. (I was a child back then.) Third, fearful I might say something moronic in front of him, my mother maintained a grip on my shoulder that would have been worthy of a rookie at bat facing a shutout juggernaut on the pitcher’s mound in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and a count of three and two. (Sometimes I can’t help myself.)
When I got around to adding Norm to my family tree, I realized I could create a timeline of events in his life unlike any other. So I started researching his baseball career. When I learned he had played for the Baltimore Orioles, Jon was the first person I had to tell. He didn’t immediately recall Norm’s name but he politely played along as I excitedly explained how Norm and I were related.
The very next day Jon texted me a picture of Norm’s 1964 Baltimore Orioles baseball card that had been safely tucked away in his personal collection. I’ve attached it as evidence!
First baseman Jim Gentile wasn’t enough of a trade when Baltimore swapped him for Norm. They had to throw in another $25,000 to convince Kansas City to release him. I know nothing of the value of baseball cards but I think Jon should hang on to this one. Not that Jon would ever consider trading a Baltimore Oriole, mind you.
Kenfolk: Utlauts
Relation: 1st cousin, 1x removed
Common ancestors: Louis and Lula (Turner) Clark, Norm’s maternal grandparents and my great grandparents
References:
Orioles Swap Gentile to A’s. (1963, November 27). The Indiana Gazette, p. 16.