A. Arthur Giddon
Encyclopedia
A. Arthur Giddon was an American
lawyer
, World War II
veteran and Major League Baseball
batboy
.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Giddon was raised in Brookline
. His father, Abram, was in the horse business — commercial hauling ones, the type soon to be replaced by trucks — but the 13-year-old Arthur was more interested in baseball. After classes at Brookline’s Edward Devotion Grammar School, he would walk 10 minutes up to Braves Field
, the home of the Boston Braves
, for whom he served as bat boy during the 1922 season
. Early in the season, one day he met two prominent baseball figures at once: Babe Ruth
and baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
, as he recalled on an interview.
Giddon graduated from Tufts University
in 1932 and received a Juris Doctor
degree from Harvard Law School
in 1935, to become a successful lawyer. During World War II
, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years, most of the time in Europe and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In his youth, Giddon was active in Brookline politics, serving as president of the Republican Club and co-chairman of the Young Republicans of Massachusetts. He later served as a member of the 10th District Republican Committee in West Hartford and as a delegate to the 1970 Republican State Convention. In addition, he was on the West Hartford Development Commission and the War Memorial Committee, as well on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Giddon was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1948 without examination, and practiced before the state and federal courts of both Connecticut and Massachusetts, including the US Supreme Court and the US District Court of Connecticut. He was in private practice for many years, including a stint as counsel with Cole & Cole until being appointed Chief Public Defender for the Hartford County Superior Court in 1973.
After retiring in 1985, Giddon served as a magistrate in the Superior Court
. He also was one of the original members of the National Association of Claimant Compensation Attorneys in Connecticut, now the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and later served as vice president. He taught himself Spanish to better assist his clients, but his preferred language was Latin, which he never hesitated to quote, especially in court. In 2001, he was awarded the rank of honorary colonel at Fort Adams
, where he trained as a teenager.
On his 100th birthday, the Boston Red Sox
invited Giddon to be the team's honorary bat boy prior to a game against the New York Yankees
at Fenway Park
. He reprised his role for his now-beloved Red Sox, wearing a team's jersey with No. 100 and the legend “Big Pappy” on the back. The Red Sox won the contest, 16–11. This story drew headlines in the New York Times and Hartford Courant
and an invitation to appear on The Tonight Show
.
Giddon was a volunteer for Miles of Smiles Day at Connecticut Children’s Hospital and belonged to the American Legion Post 96 and the West Hartford Regents. He also served on the Tufts Alumni Council, was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel, and was a former president of the Braeburn School PTA in West Hartford.
An avid believer in physical exercise, Giddon continued to jump skipping rope 1,200-1,400 times every day in his early 70s. As a centenarian, he continued to exercising regularly on a stationary bicycle.
Giddon lived in Hartford, Connecticut
for almost 60 years. In 2008 he moved to Bloomfield
, where he died at the age of 101.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
batboy
Batboy
A batboy is an individual who carries the baseball bats around to a baseball team. A batboy may also lay out the equipment and mud the baseballs to be used in the game.Mascots and batboys had both been part of baseball since the 1880s....
.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Giddon was raised in Brookline
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
. His father, Abram, was in the horse business — commercial hauling ones, the type soon to be replaced by trucks — but the 13-year-old Arthur was more interested in baseball. After classes at Brookline’s Edward Devotion Grammar School, he would walk 10 minutes up to Braves Field
Braves Field
Braves Field was a baseball park that formerly stood on Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts. The stadium was home to the Boston Braves National League franchise from 1915–1952, when the team moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin...
, the home of the Boston Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, for whom he served as bat boy during the 1922 season
1922 Boston Braves season
The Boston Braves season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Braves finished eighth in the National League with a record of 53 wins and 100 losses.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
. Early in the season, one day he met two prominent baseball figures at once: Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
and baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
, as he recalled on an interview.
Giddon graduated from Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 1932 and received a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
in 1935, to become a successful lawyer. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years, most of the time in Europe and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In his youth, Giddon was active in Brookline politics, serving as president of the Republican Club and co-chairman of the Young Republicans of Massachusetts. He later served as a member of the 10th District Republican Committee in West Hartford and as a delegate to the 1970 Republican State Convention. In addition, he was on the West Hartford Development Commission and the War Memorial Committee, as well on the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Giddon was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1948 without examination, and practiced before the state and federal courts of both Connecticut and Massachusetts, including the US Supreme Court and the US District Court of Connecticut. He was in private practice for many years, including a stint as counsel with Cole & Cole until being appointed Chief Public Defender for the Hartford County Superior Court in 1973.
After retiring in 1985, Giddon served as a magistrate in the Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
. He also was one of the original members of the National Association of Claimant Compensation Attorneys in Connecticut, now the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, and later served as vice president. He taught himself Spanish to better assist his clients, but his preferred language was Latin, which he never hesitated to quote, especially in court. In 2001, he was awarded the rank of honorary colonel at Fort Adams
Fort Adams
Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island, was established on July 4, 1799 as a First System coastal fortification. Its first commander was Captain John Henry who was later instrumental in starting the War of 1812.-History:...
, where he trained as a teenager.
On his 100th birthday, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
invited Giddon to be the team's honorary bat boy prior to a game against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. He reprised his role for his now-beloved Red Sox, wearing a team's jersey with No. 100 and the legend “Big Pappy” on the back. The Red Sox won the contest, 16–11. This story drew headlines in the New York Times and Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is a morning newspaper for most of the state north of New Haven and east of Waterbury...
and an invitation to appear on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
.
Giddon was a volunteer for Miles of Smiles Day at Connecticut Children’s Hospital and belonged to the American Legion Post 96 and the West Hartford Regents. He also served on the Tufts Alumni Council, was a longtime member of Congregation Beth Israel, and was a former president of the Braeburn School PTA in West Hartford.
An avid believer in physical exercise, Giddon continued to jump skipping rope 1,200-1,400 times every day in his early 70s. As a centenarian, he continued to exercising regularly on a stationary bicycle.
Giddon lived in Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
for almost 60 years. In 2008 he moved to Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
, where he died at the age of 101.