Autograph Tales:The Keough Family

A few weeks ago, I highlighted a baseball I had signed by the LaRoche family (Dave, Andy and Adam). Today, I am happy to feature another baseball signed by another family.
Marty Keough was the first Keough to make the majors, debuting in 1956.  The outfielder-first baseman played for six teams during the course of his eleven year career.  He finished with the Chicago Cubs in 1966.
Marty's brother Joe Keough debuted in 1968 with the Oakland A's.  Mostly an outfielder, Joe played six seasons, ending his career with the Chicago White Sox.
Marty's son Matt Keough made his debut in 1977 as a pitcher with the Oakland A's.  He pitched mostly for the A's, although he also pitched for the Yankees, Cardinals, Cubs and Astros.  He deserved better than his record of 58-84 would indicate.
Several years ago, I sent a baseball to Marty Keough, asking him to sign it.  I mentioned that I planned on sending it to Joe and Matt in the future in an effort to have all three on the ball.  Much to my surprise, Marty did the work for me, getting Joe and Matt to sign the ball before he returned it to me.  How very cool of all of them.
I always take special interest in family ties within sports.  Much like with the LaRoche family, I was very happy to add the Keough family ball to my collection.

 Matt Keough

Marty Keough

Joe Keough

Old Times at Comiskey Park

Many of my fellow bloggers like to determine the date of game played for baseball cards featuring in-game shots.  Their determination and eye for detail amazes me.  Of course, it also inspires me to try to do the same for some old pictures I have.

Below is a picture of Matt Keough of the Oakland A's warming up before a game against the Whte Sox in Comiskey Park.  I think I have figured out which game this was.

At first, I thought it was from 1981.  However, on second study of box scores, that was a doubleheader in which Keough pitched the second game.  It had a stated attendance of over 25,000.  These two facts made me realize it couldn't be that game.

Looking at the stands, there aren't that many people..  This was back when double-headers weren't played as day-night.  I doubt that many people would have left after game one.  I also don't think Keough would have warmed up prior to the first game if he was starting the second.
This lead me back to the boxscores and ultimately to September 16, 1979.  The Sox beat Keough and the A's 5-2 in front of about 11,000 fans (this also explains the lack of fans in the stands).
My only problem with this theory is the #25 in the A's uniform in the background.  There was no #25 on the 1979 A's, unless it was a coach.
I am disappointed that I could not pinpoint this game, but I am not going to lose sleep or anything.  Maybe I'll have more luck with pictures in the future.  Either way, as always I love the nostalgia of the picture.

Matt Keough in Comiskey Park in Chicago, IL-September 1979.