09/29/2025
Earlier this month, we lost a dear friend of ours in California, Stanley Silver. I was honored to be asked to fly to LA to give a eulogy at his funeral and wanted to take a minute to share with all of you. May God bless Stanley and provide comfort for his children, who have become family to me.
TO STANLEY -
I’m honored to stand before you today, not only as the founder of the Parkhurst Field Foundation, but as a son, a father, and a fellow believer in the power of baseball to connect generations — to create bonds that last far beyond the game itself.
I met Stanley just three years ago, thanks to our mutual friend David Pietrusza — a gifted author and baseball historian. David introduced us not only because of Stanley’s remarkable collection of autographed baseballs, but because he saw a shared purpose — a shared love — in what we were trying to do: preserve not just baseball history, but the deeply personal stories behind it.
Ten years earlier, I had reached out to David as I began researching the hidden history of Parkhurst Field — the same field in NY where I played Little League as a boy. Back then, I had no idea this field had once hosted legends like Honus Wagner, Cy Young, Chief Bender, Edd Roush, and even Moonlight Doc Graham, immortalized in the movie Field of Dreams. As my son Michael and I uncovered these stories together, Parkhurst Field transformed from a dusty neighborhood ballfield into something more — a living testament to America’s pastime, and a bond between a father and son.
That’s why, when I was introduced to Stanley, our connection was instant. His story mirrored mine in such profound ways. His collection — over 1,200 autographed baseballs — wasn’t just memorabilia. It was memory. It was love. It was a tribute to a lifelong bond with his father, Harry Silver, forged in the alleys of Chicago, in the stands at Wrigley and Comiskey, and in the quiet ritual of filling out box scores together.
It began in 1945, when Stanley and his dad attended the World Series between the Cubs and the Tigers. It was the start of a passion that would span generations. When Stanley earned a scholarship to pitch at the University of Colorado, it was a dream for both of them — but tragically, Harry passed away during Stanley’s freshman year. And so, Stanley continued their journey alone — gathering stories, signatures, and moments that kept his father close.
But Stanley didn’t do this alone either. Behind the scenes of this incredible life and collection was the love of his life — his wife, Patty. Patty supported Stanley’s passion wholeheartedly. She stood by him, encouraged his vision, and shared in his joy. She was always present. A steady, loving presence in Stanley’s life.
When Patty passed away last year, it broke Stanley’s heart. You could hear it in his voice. Yet even in his grief, he remained committed to honoring the values they shared: love of family, love of philanthropy and love of legacy. This donation — this gift to Parkhurst Field — was as much hers as it was his.
And I want to share something that I will carry with me forever. I was blessed to have had the chance to visit Stanley in person last year. He was gracious enough to open his home to me — to welcome me in not just as a guest, but as family. It was a short weekend visit but we talked for hours — about his father…..about Patty and the kids he was so proud of….about baseball, and about what this game meant to each of us. That time together didn’t just solidify our friendship — it confirmed what I already believed: that our paths were meant to cross.
That visit changed me. It reminded me why we do this — why we honor these stories, these legacies, these families. And today, we also honor Stanley’s children - Harry, Champ, Deena - who stood beside their father in making this extraordinary donation. Your support and your understanding of what this collection meant to your Dad — and to your grandfather — is deeply moving. Because of you, this story doesn’t end here.
And thanks to your family’s generosity, it begins again, for the thousands of young players and families who will walk through and feel the magic at Parkhurst Field and across the street where the collection will be permanently displayed and honored in the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. Visitors from across the country will learn about the Silver family — not just for what they collected, but for what they stood for: love, memory, and devotion to the game and to each other.
Stanley once told me:
“I was surrounded daily with fond memories of my father and how we loved the game of baseball together. I hope that generations of kids and their families who come to your historic park can ‘have a catch’ together and enjoy them together as much as I have enjoyed building this collection with my family.”
I understand exactly what he meant. Because for me, Parkhurst Field became more than a ballpark. It became a Field of Dreams — not only because of the legends who played here, but because of the bond I’ve built with my own son, Michael, uncovering its history together.
Today, Stanley’s story will live on. It will be told at Parkhurst Field. It will be experienced at the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame. And it will continue to inspire everyone who believes that baseball isn’t just a game — it’s time. It’s memory. It’s family. It’s love.
Thank you, Stanley.
Thank you, Patty.
Thank you to your children.
Your legacy is forever woven with ours. And it always will be.
May we all remember: the best stories in baseball aren't written in the box score.
They're written in the hearts of those who share it.
Rest in peace, my friend.
