By Jon Adler, Special to OnMilwaukee.com   Published Jul 01, 2008 at 3:30 PM

I don't know if my Friday evening re-affirmed my faith in minor league baseball, "Happy Days," peoples' love of nostalgia or a little from column A, B and C.

Friday evening I attended the Madison Mallards game. For those who are not familiar with the Mallards, they are a Northwoods League team (along with other Wisconsin teams like Eau Claire and Green Bay). The players are not paid in order to maintain their NCAA eligibility, however the real entertainment is in the promotions.

Friday was "Happy Days Night," featuring an autograph signing with Anson Williams, aka "Potsie Webber." My girlfriend and I arrived well into the second inning and there already was a line of 15 or so people waiting to meet the greatest singer to grace "Happy Days" (sorry Leather Tuscadero but you weren't as consistent as a performer as Potsie).

Although my conversation with him was brief I did get a chance to do a little networking (a promise from him that he would be on our show sometime in August prior to his appearance at the unveiling of the "Bronze Fonz"). He was shocked to find out that I didn't know he was going to be in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

Humbled by my ignorance I did some research and found out indeed not only will he be here the day of the unveiling but he will SING the national anthem at Miller Park for the Brewers game that night against the Astros (I felt better when I found out that that information was also absent on the Brewers Web site under their promotional night tab. I hope THEY know that he's going to be there).

As far as the man himself, he's aged very well and is incredibly nice (and much like myself enjoys the French fries served at the park). However, here are some interesting things you may not have known about Anson Williams:

  • He is the nephew of Dr. Henry Heimlich, creator of the "Heimlich Maneuver"
  • His first wife is Lorrie Mahaffey who played Jennifer Jerome in "Happy Days" -- who Potsie dated.
  • He's directed numerous television shows, including "Melrose Place," "Charmed," "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Sabrina, the Teenaged Witch."

In hindsight, Potsie's role on "Happy Days" would be the equivalent of the utility player in baseball: he could sing, act, do well with the ladies and I believe he was the announcer during most if not all of Ritchie's basketball games.

Potsie is simply the best!