50 years later, Detroit-area library says Chicago man can keep overdue book | News, Sports, Jobs

Chicago’s Chuck Hildebrandt holds the book “Baseball’s Zaniest Stars” on Dec. 10, 2024, which was scheduled to return to the library in Warren, Michigan, on Dec. 4, 1974. (Terrie Wendricks via AP)

DETROIT — Fifty years later, a man who grew up in suburban Detroit attempted to return a much-anticipated baseball book to his childhood library.

The answer: you can keep it – and no fine.

Chuck Hildebrandt, 63, of Chicago, said he went to the Warren Public Library while in town for Thanksgiving, with a book titled “Baseball’s Craziest Stars.” He borrowed it in 1974, when he was 13 years old. “a baseball madman” but I never returned it.

“When you move with a bunch of books, you don’t look at all the books. You throw them in a box and off you go. said Hildebrandt, who has lived in many cities. “But five or six years ago, I was looking through the shelf and there was a Dewey decimal library number on the book. What is this?”

Inside the book was a slip of paper stating that it was due to be returned to the Warren Library on December 4, 1974. Hildebrandt told the Associated Press that he had decided to keep the book until 2024 – the 50th anniversary – and then trying to give it back. . He thought the library might want to publicize this long-awaited exchange.

He said he recently met with library director Oksana Urban, who listened to his pitch. Hildebrandt said he hasn’t heard anything since, although Urban told the Detroit Free Press that all is forgiven.

“Some people never come back to face music” she said of customers whose books were late. “But there really was no music to contend with because he and the book were erased from our system.”

SO “Baseball’s Craziest Stars” is back on Hildebrandt’s shelf. In return, he’s now trying to raise $4,564 for Reading is Fundamental, a nonprofit literacy group. The amount is roughly a 50-year fine for an overdue library. Hildebrandt is funding this effort with $457.