In the early 1970s, author, collector and dealer Bill Hongach was just a young batboy for the New York Yankees. The love of baseball clearly coursed through his veins at a young age, as he began the process of contacting Major League players by mail, and  years later he continued, with a printed page that opened with a letter that read as follows:

  I hope this letter finds you well. I was a batboy for the N.Y. Yankees in 1972 and 1973 and I hope you will excuse this style of letter as I am working with my son on a mamoth (sic) project of asking each and every player who has ever been in the majors to take a few moments to tell what his greatest thrill-most memorable moment in Baseball was. We would like to publish all these responses so that your memories, insights and feelings are forever remembered. I would be most grateful if you could write what your greatest thrill-memorable moment in baseball was below (and on the back). My sincerest thanks and I have enclosed a stamped return envelope. Take care.

  Sincerely;

  Bill Hongach

Presented here is a wonderful collection of responses from a host of players whose careers ranged from the recent to the distant past.  There are 42 responses here in total, and what makes them amazing is that these are not remembrances from Hall of Famers. For the most part, they're the memories of players that - while often successful - were also not among the game's best-known players.  Most are handwritten responses, most directly on the sheet provided by Hongach but others on separate pages.  They are an amazing group of recollections, easy to get lost in as one reads and learns the things that are memorable to real major league players.  The collection includes the following:

George Culver (vintage response): Making the big leagues
Bruce Dal Canton (vintage response): Completing a game against Don Drysdale (a loss)
Dave Duncan: Playing in and winning the 7th game of the 1972 World Series
Duffy Dyer: Being on the 1969 Mets and winning the championship
Lee Elia: First hit at Yankee Stadium
Rob Ellis: Watching an old-timers game while playing for the Portland Beavers of the PCL in 1979
Harold Epps: Hit a leadoff home run in his first game

Chuck Estrada (Getting to wear his first major league uniform)
Andy Etchebarren: Winning four straight games in the 1966 World Series using only four pitchers
Carmen Fanzone (Hit a home run in his first at bat)
Tony Fernandez: Watching Joe Carter's game winning home run to win the 1993 World Series
Steve Foster: Seeing Tommy Lasorda tackle a fan on the mound during the National Anthem
Terry Fox: Pitching 9 innings of relief in a 22-inning game
Greg Gagne: Game-winning single in Game 7 of the 1987 World Series
Kiko Garcia: Triple in Game 3 of the 1979 World Series
Phil Garner: Nice play on Ken Singleton ground ball in the 1979 World Series
Wayne Garrett: Game winning home run in 1969 to win the Mets' first pennant
Ned Garver (vintage reply): Watching the final out of his 20th win of the 1951 season
Rod Gaspar - Being on the 1969 Mets
Rusty Gerhardt (Biggest Thrill: playing in front of his family in Pittsburgh and striking out Willie Stargell)

Joe Gibbon (Biggest Thrill - Bill Mazeroski's home run)
Russ Gibson (Biggest Thrill: first game, at Yankee Stadium, going 2-for-4 against Whitey Ford)
Don Gile: (Playing third base when Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth's home run record)
Thomas Giordano (Biggest Thrill: Hitting 3 home runs in a Sally League game)
Mike Glavine: His first major league game, his Hall of Fame brother Tom on the mound.
Preston Gomez: As a coach, watching Sandy Koufax shut out the Twins on two days rest in the World Series
Michael Grace: Shutting out the Yankees in 1997
Dick Gray: Hitting the first home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Jim Greengrass: First major league home run - a grand slam at Ebbets Field
Bobby Grich: 5 RBI game off Ron Guidry in 1979
Tom Grieve: Having his name announced at Yankee Stadium by Bob Sheppard (longtime PA announcer)
Jason Grimsley: Calling his parents to let them know he was called up to the majors
Dick Groat: Beating the Yankees in 1960 and 1964 ("Being World Champions is what baseball is all about.")
Howard Groskloss: First major league at bat against Carl Hubbell ("My best friend was Pie Traynor.")
Mark Gubicza: Winning the 1985 World Series
Ozzie Guillen: Winning the Rookie of the Year
Boo Ferriss: Pitching in the 1946 World Series against the Cardinals
Bill Fischer (setting the ML record of 84 1/3 innings without a walk)
Jack Fisher: Giving up Roger Maris' 60th home run
Ben Flowers: Shutting out the 1951 Yankees in Yankee Stadium for three innings

An incredible collection of memories, straight from the players, for the most part in their own handwriting.  40+ pages of Love of the Game.