[Big Six]

This letter from Colonel O'Farrell was delivered to Pat in Los Angeles by his wife Sarah when she joined him there.

Dear Pat,

I was overjoyed to receive your letter, as I know how busy your schedule must be. My birthday was a joyful occasion, spent with family and friends. I used to wonder what it would be like to grow old, and I must admit that I rather like it. Every word from my mouth is now regarded as the wisdom of the ages, and none of it makes any more sense than it did when I was half my current age.

It sounds like young Mr. Minner will have, at the least, stories to tell his grandchildren one day. They will sit at his knee and listen to him describe the day back in ’20 when he faced the mighty Ty Cobb when the big league stars came to town. In the eyes of the young Minners, their grandpa will be a hero, and any bad memories Mr. Minner might carry with him will fade away. That is one thing age does to a man; it softens the edges of many of the harsh events that seem so terrible when we are young.

I read in the paper that Mr. Cobb has returned to Detroit, or to Georgia, or to wherever else his business leads him. I suppose that Mr. Cobb might very well be one hundred percent truthful about his reasons for his decision. One thing I learned in my experience in the South, during the unpleasant war in which I fought, was that gentlemen from that region often place an importance upon their honor which supersedes all else. The
Confederate officers I met, men who had been taken prisoner and had little left but their honor, brought that fact home to me in an unforgettable fashion. I encountered the same sort of devotion to honor among the sons of the South with whom I served in Congress after the war. I suspect that Mr. Cobb may not be any different.

I trust Sarah’s train trip was blissfully uneventful, and that the two of you are enjoying some wonderful times together in between your games in Los Angeles. I know both she and Emily were anxiously awaiting the chance to see their husbands. I would very much like to watch Emily’s Mr. Wood pitch a game of ball sometime, as I hear he is quite talented. I pitched a few games of ball during the war, you know, although the technique was quite different in my day. I could not throw the thing overhand as the fellows do today.

Enough of my reminiscences; you would probably much rather be spending time with your lovely wife than reading my letter. I will be visiting your children on Saturday, and I am looking forward to that very much. Every time I see them, I am reminded of what a wonderful man you have become—a talented ball player, and most importantly, a fine husband and father. I shall always be glad I have been allowed enough time on earth to discover this fact.

Take care of yourself and return home safely, as always, I remain

Yours affectionately,
Grandpa