The Fresno Bee Lewis Griswold column
By Lewis Griswold, The Fresno Bee | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
On April Fool's Day 1985, the
The team's owners -- insurance broker
Simpson received a tongue-in-cheek ransom note, typewritten in the era before email.
"Simpson et al," the note said. "If you want to see your bus again, the following demands MUST be met."
A list of 10 demands followed, including executive box seats for the 1985
"You better respond favorably to these ransom demands, in writing," the note said.
A Postal Connection address was included and the tagline read "Who You Gonna Call? Busbusters." (The popular "Ghostbusters" movie had been released the previous year.)
Right away, Simpson suspected banker
He wrote a reply to the ransom note, noting that his partner Higgins "has decided to sell his half of the franchise because of the humiliation he has suffered. So, you might contact your favorite banker to secure the necessary funds to buy his interest."
But Dossey kept a straight face.
Daily ransom notes arrived with rhymes such as "Don't worry, don't fret, don't even fuss / Just sit back and wonder who has the bus."
A Polaroid of the missing bus was attached to a milk carton and delivered to
Meanwhile, tempers in the front office of the ball club frayed because the season was about to start. There was talk about notifying baseball commissioner
Finally, on
Dignitaries and community stalwarts bounded out the door, including Sheriff
Also in the mix, to Simpson's surprise: his own mother,
The moment of truth had arrived.
Dossey and two of Simpson's old-time
Police Chief
"We were 'arrested,' " Dossey recalled.
A party commenced.
"It was a gala," Simpson said. "The bus is back and the
Dossey, retired to
"It truly caught the attention of folks," he said. "It created its own legs."
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