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The Trick That Let A Poor Boy See A Baseball Game With President Calvin Coolidge For Free
A teen messenger got the thrill of a lifetime thanks to a very clever plan
Many young people want to grow up to become a professional baseball player, while others aspire to become the President of the United States. Therefore the chance for a kid to watch a ballgame with the Commander in Chief would be quite the opportunity. That’s exactly what happened to a poor teenager named Benny Thompson in 1928, who could not afford a ticket to a ballgame but through a brilliant trick not only only got into the stadium for free but was able to sit next to Calvin Coolidge.
On July 26, 1928 it was reported that someone figured out how to circumvent tickets and security to get a young fan the best of both worlds. Thompson, a 16-year-old messenger for Western Union, hand-delivered a message to the gates of the Superior, Wisconsin baseball park with a telegram expressly addressed to President Coolidge, who was in attendance and throwing out the first pitch that day for the start of a baseball tournament.
Thompson was the sole provider for his mother, and despite his need to work, was a big baseball fan and also had long desired to meet Coolidge. At least his delivery was going to accomplish one of those things.
