Happy Mother’s Day

A Mother’s

Day story for

all ages 

By Ron P. Coderre

In 1950 Walt “Moose” Dropo, a Plainfield High School and UConn graduate, was a rookie with the Boston Red Sox.  He was on his way to what would turn out to be one of the greatest rookie seasons in the history of baseball, batting .344, driving in a league leading 144 runs and slamming 34 home runs.  He was named the American League Rookie of the Year and selected as a member of the AL All Star team.

The following story was passed on to me verbally around 1964 by Dropo’s late brother George and his friend the late Gerry “Hooker” Carroll.

A Mother’s Day Present 1950

Walter Dropo was born to Savo and Mary Dropo, a couple of Serbian decent.  He was the middle of three athletically gifted sons, older brother Milton and younger brother George.  The Dropo family was typical of families residing in Moosup when Walt was growing up.  That would change when Walter graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1947 and moved on to play for the Boston Red Sox.

In 1949 Walter had a brief stint with the Red Sox but was sent back to the minors as he failed to live up to team expectations.  The year 1950 would be much different.  As Mother’s Day loomed on the horizon that season, Dropo was one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

The Saturday prior to Mother’s Day the 26-year-old Dropo called his mother in Moosup to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day and tell her that tickets would be available for her, her son George and his friend Gerry Carroll to attend the scheduled Red Sox Mother’s Day doubleheader at Fenway Park.

Just prior to hanging up the phone, Mary Dropo in her broken English said, “Walter hit a home run for momma tomorrow.”  

“I’ll try momma,” replied Walter.

As Sunday and Mother’s Day dawned, George Dropo and his friend Gerry Carroll piled into the automobile with Mrs. Dropo for the long ride to Boston, in the days prior to I-395 and the Mass Pike.

The trio arrived in Boston very close to game time, parked the car and headed to the Fenway Park “Will Call” window.  Much to George Dropo’s surprise there was confusion over the ticket arrangements and while the situation was being investigated the game got underway.

While Mrs. Dropo, George and Gerry Carroll waited patiently on the ticket concourse for someone to attend to the confusion, aloud roar went up from inside Fenway Park.  At that same moment an attendant came by announcing, “Dropo just hit a home run for Boston.”

Upon hearing the news, Mrs. Dropo began to cry.  When asked by the attendant why she was crying she said, “That’s my boy who hit the home run.  He promised me he’d hit a home run for me on Mother’s Day.”

Almost immediately upon hear the sobbing Mrs. Dropo, the Red Sox ticket department swung into action, escorting the trio to front row seats in the vicinity of the Boston dugout.

Between games, as was the custom at the time, the players came out in front of the dugout to loosen up their arms prior to the start of the second game.  Big Walter Dropo ambled over to his mother, seated in the front row, to wish her “Happy Mother’s Day.”

She informed her son of the unfortunate incident with the ticket confusion and how she had missed his home run.  In typical motherly fashion she once again said, “Walter hit a home run for momma.” 

“I’ll try momma,” was his response once again.

As the second game progressed Dropo came to bat midway through the game and sure enough he connected for another round tripper, bringing a big smile and tears of joy to “momma’s” eyes.  Her Mother’s Day wish had been granted.

Following the game the quartet dined in Boston and momma and her escorts headed back to Moosup with the best Mother’s Day present she could ever have imagined.  Her son, the Boston Red Sox slugging first baseman had presented her with a home run on this very special Mother’s Day 1950.

Walter Dropo went on to have a 13-year Major League career, playing for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles.  He concluded his career at age 38 with a lifetime .270 batting average, 152 home runs, 1113 hits and 704 runs batted in.  He still holds the Major league record of 12 hits in 12 consecutive times at-bat.  Dropo died on December 17, 2010 at the age of 87.