Courtesy of Tony Romeo of PHL17.com
Matt Erbele is an autograph collector. Since the birth of his two-year-old son Nicholas , he has particularly been looking to autographs of players for when he is old enough to enjoy them. One of those autographs Matt was looking to get was a picture of the 1993 Phillies celebrating their National League victory.
Having gotten a few autographs on the picture from Phillies players recently at local autograph signings, Matt wanted the skipper Jim Fregosi's autograph to be part of the picture. On Thursday, February 13, Matt packed up the picture carefully and sent it out in the mail. That very afternoon, news broke that Fregosi had a stroke.
As we all hoped for the best for the former Phillies manager, Matt certainly did not think he was going to get something back in the mail. Then today, February 24, just 11 days after putting the letter into the mail and nine days after Fregosi's death, Matt got an envelope. Fregosi's daughter Lexi took the time to write back:
I cannot imagine having to make funeral arrangements, mourn the loss of your father, keep up with school work and on top of that take the time to respond to fans.
Lexi Fregosi was not even born when the Phillies made their magical World Series run in 1993. She is just a college freshman. What a touching gesture from a young lady who appears to just as classy and friendly as her father.
