I never saw him play. He died 2 months and 2 days after I was born. But from the time I first knew about his exploits on a ballfield, he was who I wanted to be like.
In many ways we had the same type of youth. I was put in foster care at 10. He went to a home at age 7. Only difference was he was considered incorrigible, and I was simply a burden on my mom.
We were both left handed. He started out as a catcher, I played the outfield. Later I moved to 1st base. He lost his mother at 12 and was rarely visited by family.
My mom lived to be 42, and died when I was 24. My mom rarely visited me after I went in the home and in the 14 years between when she did that, and she died, I saw her exactly 7 times.
My hero? George Herman ( Babe ) Ruth. I read a book about his life when I was 8. Found it in the school library. I also read about some other players, Gehrig, and Ty Cobb. But there was just something bigger than life about the Babe.
I saw a movie about his life, and in a child’s eyes, I thought wow, he sure looks a lot like William Bendix! But most of that movie was Hollywood fantasy. Of course, you do not know that when you are that young.
He of course played himself in Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper as Gehrig. But even in the short scenes he had, that bigger than life personality came out.
Another thing about Babe, he loved kids. He spent a lot of time with the kids back in those days. Constantly autographing balls, and teaching them some of his secrets of the game.
He was a pretty good pitcher. But with the bat, he was a force. Many might not agree, but he saved the game in the years following the Black Sox scandal. His homers incited an excitement that the game had not seen.
So the dead ball went the way of the Dodo bird and the era of the power hitter arrived. For most of his career, no one could match him. Oh, some came close, most notably Foxx and Wilson. But none hit the prodigious shots he did.
He inspired awe even when striking out. His life style was as over the top as he was. He was known to down a half dozen hot dogs before a game, along with a few soda’s. It caught up to him in 1924. He became ill and suffered what one reporter called, the big bellyache.
He had won what would be his only batting title that year. But the Yankees lost the pennant to the Senators. He played only 96 games in 1925 and had what for him was a rather pedestrian season.
He was back to being Babe in 1926 although the Yanks lost the series to the Cardinals. That was the series where Grover Alexander struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded.
1927 he hit his 60 homers. A mark that would stand until Maris beat it in 1961. His called shot, or at least the legend of his called shot came in the 32 series against the Cubs. 1932 was also his last superstar type year.
He hit .301 in 33, but in 34 his average dipped to .288 with only 22 homers. Gehrig was the star of the team by then. Babe went on a barnstorming tour that winter. Ruppert, the Yankee owner began trying to find some team who would take Ruth as a manager. Connie Mack considered it, but then changed his mind. Ruppert did offer Ruth the manager position at the Yankees top farm team, but Ruth’s wife and agent talked him out of it.
Later Ruppert began discussions with the Boston Braves. The Braves were a modest success, but drew terribly. They wanted the Babe as a gate attraction. Fuch’s reportedly told Ruth he would get some of the profits, become a team vice president, and be consulted on all team transactions. In addition, he would be the assistant manager to Bill McKechnie. So on Feb 26th Babe was traded to Boston.
Babe hit a HR his first game back in Boston, and had 2 hits in the second game also. But after that, it was all downhill. Babe soon realized that he had been lied to by Fuchs and Ruppert, and asked to retire. Fuchs asked him to stay through a Memorial day doubleheader in Philly.
On May 25th, Ruth had one last great day in the majors. He went 4-4 with 3 homers, the last one of his career and the game went over the roof at Forbes Field. The first time anyone had hit a fair ball completely out of Forbes Field. Contrary to the movie about his life, he did not retire after that game. He kept his word to Fuch’s and played through the Memorial day double header.
On June 2nd, Ruth retired after an argument with Fuchs. The Braves, 10-27 when Babe left finished at 38-115. The worst winning percentage in modern baseball history. Ruth was elected to the Hall in 1936. He was the only member of that first class, Cobb, Wagner, Mathewson, and Johnson who was never offered a managerial job in the majors.
Not getting the chance to manage was a major disappointment to Babe. But most teams felt his flamboyant life style and personality would not be good traits for a manager. Not getting a managerial position caused him to go into a deep depression. The Dodgers hired him as a coach in 1938. He got along with everyone except Leo Durocher, who was hired to replace Grimes after the season, so Babe left.
He spoke at Lou Gehrig’s day at Yankee Stadium on July 4th in 1939. During the war he made many appearances to help the war effort. In 1946, Babe began experiencing pain behind his eye and had difficulty swallowing. He went to the hospital and a inoperable tumor was found. His fame allowed him to have many experimental treatments.
On April 27th there was an observance of Babe Ruth day around the majors. Many team mates spoke about Ruth at the ceremony, and Babe himself made a short statement. But his voice was low and very raspy. I have heard a recording of that speech, but do not know where to find it on tape. One June 13th, 1948 Babe made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium dressed in his familiar #3 uniform and leaning on a bat for support. I was born at 1:15 Am the next morning.
On August 16th, 1948, the Babe passed away. He was 53 years old. His open coffin was placed in the rotunda of Yankee Stadium for 2 days, and over 77,000 people viewed him during that time. Babe was laid to rest at Gates of Heaven cemetery in Hawthorne New York. Fans to this day still leave tributes at his grave site.
Larger than life, to many eyes the greatest baseball player that ever lived. I for one would agree. All around he was a great player. He was the savior of the game. And he was my first baseball hero.
Considering his hitting and pitching accomplishments, MLB GOAT.
As fascinating as his personality was, I have no connection to Babe Ruth. My grandfather pitched to him and Gehrig one Spring. I loved hearing the story. But as you know, my first hero was Mantle. I saw him play in Kansas City. He hit two towering home runs. I was hooked. I wanted to be like him.
Babe Ruth. And endless tolerance for women, whiskey, cigars and hot dogs. Dead at 53. Mantle an alcoholic by 19, gone at 63 from liver disease. His kid died at 47 of liver cancer. Yeah, some role models.
When you are a kid, things like that do not matter. As my love for the Dodgers grew, I came to be a huge Duke Snider fan. We have discussed that before. But when I was still a baseball novice, Babe was larger than life.
My mother’s father was my hero. He was a cop in NYC before going to Europe for ‘The Great War’ with the calvalryman but horses were of little use due to trenches was wounded in action and decorated. He became a prison guard at Mcalester Oklahoma where he met and married my grandmother (not at the Prison) from the Choctaw Reservation. they moved to LA where my mother was born before moving to Alaska. He changed all the ships lighting to electricity from kerosene, divorced my my grand mother and moved to Reno Nevada, then back to LA and remarried my grandmother and was an alcoholic through every bit of all above. He served federal time for having a still during Prohibition. He went on several binges from that point and was hospitalized nearly each time. My mother called him ‘Daddy’ her whole life and only Daddy. He talked about Ruth and Gehrig but not of WW1
Most combat vets do not talk very much about what they experienced. My dad was a Pearl Harbor survivor, and he never talked about that at all. His passion was horses.
Hi Badger, is there something you would like to share about your grandfather’s story? I can’t speak for anyone else, but since we are covering historical recollections of baseball greats, I’d be interested in what he experienced.
Sure.
My grandfather pitched professionally all over the South in the 20s and 30s. There were numerous company teams and traveling squads that played all year somewhere. He got a chance to face a lot of the bigger names that were on that circuit. He pitched a couple innings against the Yankees in Florida, sometime around 1930. He walked Ruth, and Gehrig hit a home run, but he got everyone else out. He introduced me to Babe Herman on an elevator at Dodger Stadium. Babe didn’t remember him specifically but they talked briefly about a year.
I think this is his final speech, Bear. GREAT PIECE!
Yep, that is it. Thanks Mark.
Here is Austins Barnes Batting Average, Year-By-Year:
2015 – .207
2016 – .156
2017 – .289
2018 – .205
2019 – .203
2020 – .091
At this point, you have to consider that 2017 was a fluke. He is what he is: An excellent receiver with an average arm, excellent ball-blocking skills, and outstanding framing ability, who cannot jump out of a boat and hit water. Right now, framing skills are something teams value highly, but when the Electronic Strike Zone comes in, catcher will again become an offensive position.
Right about now, Austin Barnes is pretty offensive to me. I am not sure how Kaybear is doing, but he can’t do any worse. It’s time for a change.
At this point in time I would have to agree with that assessment. Steve Yeager was not a great offensive player either, but he did manage to hit .228 with 102 homers. He hit a lot better in the post season though. Amazingly he never won a gold glove.
All time favorite, non-Dodger was Stan Musial. Great player, model citizen, baseball ambassador. Brooklyn Dodgers fans were responsible for his nickname “The Man”
I saw him play quite a few times, great hitter. But I just could never use than stance.
There was no doubt who was hitting when you saw that stance. My first major league autograph was Musial.
Lousy game.
Yes it was not very well played at all. And they were totally over matched. But today is a new day, lets go win one.
Another interesting article Michael – really enjoyable.
So far I think my pre season apprehension about the Rotation is still there. I’m not sure we will have enough come playoff time, but there’s time to hit their stride I guess.
Today’s game marks the quarter pole. Only 45 games left. The one saving grace is that most of them are in their own division. They still have 7 with SD, 4 with SF, 6 With Az, and 10 with the Rockies. 2 more with Houston, 6 with the Angels, only 3 with the A’s. 4 with Seattle and 4 with the Rangers. After the 27th of August, they are done with the Giants. And they finish the season with 6 games against the AL West’s A’s and Angels. 27 games in the division, and 18 outside. But the starting pitching, which should be a strength, is very iffy right now. Last night was about as bad as I have ever seen Kersh pitch against the Giants. He usually dominates them in LA. If AF trades for anything at the deadline, I would suggest a starter. Because out side of May and Strip, I am not sure I trust any of them, and I definitely do not trust Wood. Might be time to let White pitch a game or two, or bring back Gonsolin. Bullpen has been nails.
Good morning, Bear, and all. Very nice article and well researched and written with a personal touch seen through your young eyes. Thank you. I found it a happy story reminiscing about Babe Ruth’s accomplishments and sad that he died at so early an age. The photo of the little boy wiping a tear off his face at Babe’s coffin, just tore me up.
Thank you DBM. I try to write about things I think would be interesting to the readers. As for the photo of the kid, and the people outside of Yankee Stadium waiting to view the Babe, those are courtesy of Jeff. D. The rest of the photo’s of Babe I found… The one of him with the fake beard is from when he played with the House of David as a ringer.
I think baseball is different right now, due to the late start. Let’s look all across baseball and see what other teams are doing. This is from last night:
Yankees and Rays
Cole – 4.2 IP
Glasnow – 2.2 IP
Indians and White Sox
Plesac – 6.0 IP
Foster – 2.0 IP
Tigers and Pirates
Nova – 5.0 IP (5 ER)
Holland – 5.0 IP (9 ER)
Astros and A’s
Valdez – 7.0 IP
Montas – 7.0 IP
Orioles and Nationals
Eshelman – 4.0 IP
Voth – 5.0 IP
Braves and Philies
Wright – 6.0 IP (4 ER)
Arrieta – 6.0 IP
Angels and Rangers
Sandoval – 6.0 IP
Allard – 5.0 IP
Twins and Royals
Odorizzi – 3.0 IP
Duffy – 4.0 IP
Mets and Marlins
Castano – 4.1 IP
Peterson – 5.0 IP
Reds and Brewers
DeSclafani – 6.0 IP
Anderson – 3.2 IP
Blue Jays and RedSox
Anderson – 3.0
Godley – 4.0
Rockets and M’s
Castellani – 4.0 IP
Margevicius – 3.1 IP
D-Bags and Padres
Kelly – 6.0 IP
Paddock – 5.2 IP
This is a trend right about now and I think that as the season progresses, you will see longer and longer outings. I am not concerned right about now and maybe even in the playoffs, it’s “just go as hard as you can as long as you can.”
Visited the Babe at his grave site once while in NY. There were flowers, baseballs, even an old glove honoring the GOAT.
Others at Gate of Heaven Cemetery are Billy Martin and Ralph Branca, along with Sal Mineo and James Cagney. Worth a visit.
Cool Rudy. I would love to get to NY and see Cooperstown and Babe’s grave would be high on my list too. When I was driving cross country, I was on my way to Dover Delaware to pick up some paint from PP& G. I drove through part of Maryland, and in this little town called Sudlersville, there was a little park with a statue of Jimmy Foxx. Turns out he was born there. That park could not have been more than 50 feet square all the way around. Foxx died in 1967 in Miami. He choked to death on a piece of food. What is strange about that is that the year before that, his second wife had also died of choking. He is buried in Miami.
I am more and more wanting to see Edwin Rios in the lineup. He hits 1 home run in nine at bats. Babe Ruth hit 1 home run in 11 at bats. This guy needs a nick name or at least a candy bar.
Whoa there skippy. Edwin is only 707 behind Babe. Babe had a career average of .342. Rios has a lot of pop, but a very average glove. He is trying to improve in that area, but the big bugaboo is the fact that although he hits a homer once every 9 at bats, his strikeout rate is over 33%. That is not very good.
I was just thinking about the other players buried in the same cemetery as Babe, LA is a treasure trove of celebrity graves. I do not know how many of you have driven down the 405 and seen the cemetery on the right behind the big Ford dealer just before you get to Culver City. It is Hillside Memorial Park. It is a Jewish cemetery. Al Jolson is buried there, and you can see his monument and the waterfall from the freeway. Also there is Mr Spock, Leonard Nimoy. There are 3 former MLB players there, including Hank Greenberg. And famous football coach Sid Gillman. Many actors, directors, a couple of studio heads, actresses, comedians, and other celebs are interred there. One of my all time favorites is there too. Moe Howard of the Three Stooges.
I seldom think of who is buried where. I prefer to focus and function among the living.
It looked for a while like piggy back starters were going to be a thing, but the idea died. I have no idea where you guys can go to visit it. I also thought following the NPB model would be wise. But, we just aren’t that progressive. So we stick with what we know, even though we know it ain’t working all that well. Those IP numbers at this point in the season suggest maybe players weren’t expecting a season to be played. 26 year old alleged Ace Walker Buehler, 2 starts 8.2 innings, 5.19 ERA looks like Rip Van Winkle on the mound. What’s the answer? Keep doing what you’ve been doing and hope it gets better. It’s a National theme.
Ahh Badger, you just do not have a morbid streak in you like I do. I just think it is amazing so many iconic names are in the same resting place. Me, I plan on being in the Vets cemetery here in Colorado. I want to be with my brothers. They are supposed to be opening a new one in Colorado Springs. As long as I am alive I focus on living. But I am just curious enough to wonder where some of the people I grew up admiring are resting. I do know that Bob Hope is at the San Fernando Mission, and President’s Reagan and Nixon are buried on the grounds of thier Presidential Libraries. To your other statement, I also thought due to the quick start up they might piggy back some starts, but that does not seem to be the plan.
Your brothers are not in a cemetery my friend. You see, the mystics tell us there is no such thing as death. Spirit lives on. You need only look in your heart to find the connection. I find graveyards rather macabre. There are none on my bucket list. But, that’s me. Find joy wherever you can. If for you it’s where they stack dead bodies, go and enjoy!
As a young man in ’69, I was in Paris, having the adventure of a lifetime. My french friend who lived there introduced me to a beautiful girl and she took me to Pere Lachaise cemetary where some of the greatest names in history are buried. It reads like a who’s who in western culture. It was definitely an interesting tour, but I must say that the girl interested me much more and we wound up rolling in the leaves, it was Autumn, and kissing. Yes, the living will always take preference in my world, too. This place is also a beautiful setting unlike any cemetery in the States.
I am not fixated on graves, but don’t mind visiting. Arlington has to leave you speechless. I do love the history involved. Here are 10 thought-provoking sayings:
1. “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” – Winston Churchill
2. “People are trapped in history and history is trapped in them.” – James Arthur Baldwin
3. “If you don’t know history, then you don’t know anything. You are a leaf that doesn’t know it is part of a tree. ” – Michael Chrichton
4. “History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
5. “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana
6. “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” – Aldous Huxley
7. “The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice.” – Mark Twain
8. “Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius
9. “History is a gallery of pictures in which there are few originals and many copies.” – Alexis de Tocqueville
10. “History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.” – Winston Churchill
I find some of those inspiring, some unreliable.
The very fact that history is written by the winners tells us history is fraught with inaccuracies . Look no further than our own history books for evidence of that.
What do losers write that is of any value?
The truth about what happened to them.
Been there once. And yes, it is awe inspiring. Especially the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Watching the changing of the guard there was something I will never forget. I saw JFK’s and Bobby’s, and I had to go to the office to find the location of Audie Murphy. There is a show that has been on You tube that goes around the country and visit’s celebrity grave sites. They also have done shows about graves that have some oddities to them. One that cracked me up was a woman who had them put her recipe for her chocolate chip cookies on the back of her head stone. Pretty weird. Then of course, they did the odd names. One of the more hilarious, yet probably not done on purpose was two headstones very close together. One was for some guy named Burger, and next to him, this is no kidding, was a guy named Fries.
I admit to being fascinated by grave sites.
I’ve visited:
MARILYN MONROE – L.A.
NATALIE WOOD – L.A.
TRUMAN CAPOTE – L.A.
BABE RUTH – NY
JAMES CAGNEY – NY
SAL MINEO – NY
JOHN KENNEDY – DC – ARLINGTON
ROBERT KENNEDY – DC
JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS – DC
AT PERE LACHAISE IN PARIS:
JIM MORRISON
OSCAR WILDE
CAMILLE PISSARRO
BALZAC
FREDERIC CHOPIN
MOLIERE
GERTRUSE STEIN
ALICE B. TOKLAS
MARCEL PROUST
RICHARD WRIGHT
VICTOR HUGO
EDITH PIAF
DELACROIX
ISADORA DUNCAN
MARCEL MARCEAU
I’d much prefer to visit places where those people lived.
Speaking of names, watching the PGA Tour Thursday made me hungry.
I’ll have a regular Daniel Berger and a double Wiesbeger, please.
If you are ever in Buenos Aires, the Recoleta Cemetery is a must-see. It’s essentially a mini-city packed full of ornate, multi-story mausoleums.
The Marlins are back playing but the Cardinals are still shut down with COVID-19.
Here is Indiana, we have had 4 consecutive days over 1,000 new cases, but deaths continue to plummet. We had 1 today. Doctors tell me that it is a combination of the following:
1. Quick treatment at the first sign;
2. Quick testing;
3. Virtually eliminating ventilators;
4. Remdesivir;
5. Steroids; and
6. Hydroxychloroquine (most people are reluctant to say they took it, for risk of ridicule).
At any rate, this second wave has been dramatically less lethal and hopefully MLB has the best of the best. It would be a shame if the championship were determined by COVID-19.
I’ve been injecting both bleach and sunshine. So far so good.
Maybe Indiana believes in those remedies, but outside of that bubble people are sick and dying. People are also having maskless bashes all over the place. This virus is going to be with us for a very long time.
Not to mention we are still in the first wave. As for hydroxycloroquine; no clinic trial has found it useful. This is per Dr. Fauci and the New England Journal of Medicine. So basically, anyone who has taken would have been cured without it. Your examples are nothing but confusing correlation with causation.
I have this bad feeling that this season could be one of attrition; where the healthiest team left standing wins.
See if you can say that with a straight face in a year. That’s all I will say.
Given how wrong you’ve been about the virus, I know I will have no problem with that.
Please, enlighten me. How have I been wrong?
FYI: Be prepared to have a take that does not suck!
As I mentioned a month ago;
You send out an early listing about the virus and things to do. Some were worthwhile, some could be ok and some off the wall ( silver solution). Now granted, this was early in the virus timeframe but your source was not credible. It was early so you can get a pass.
You question why we needed to lock down. Europe followed guidelines and they’re getting back to normal. We did not and we, as a result, are still in a first wave.
You compare Covid 19 to the Hong Kong flu. At the time the death rates were the same. What you are missing is that you can’t compare the two. They are two distinct statistical populations. One with unfettered access(HK Flu) and one where people have lockdowned, social distanced, wear face masks and increased ha d washing.
Even with 160,000 dead, you still question wether this was worth it. Last month you said you will remind everyone how right you were (and saying if wrong we would point that fact out. Current estimates are that by December we could have 300,000 dead. Not to get lost in all of this even for people who have survived end up with lung and heart issues.
I’m curious, how many deaths does it take for you to see this is a big issue?
Need to go out so this is my last post on this for now.
Since you brought up burial spots Bear, you should pay a visit to Westminster Abbey in London. There must be more famous people buried there per square foot than anywhere else on earth.
Among them are many kings and queens of England plus Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Laurence Olivier, Rudyard Kipling, plus others too numerous to mention.
Unlike cemeteries which are used mostly for funerals, Westminster Abbey has also been the sight of most coronations and many royal weddings. It’s a truly amazing place.
I’m sure Watford could give us far more information but, after all, this is a baseball blog.
I would love to go there. I am a baseball buff, but I am also into history of all kinds. And those folks are a part of history. What is amazing is the difference in headstones, or just name plates in the ground. Others look like monuments.
Good read today Bear. I’ve read a lot on the Babe and he was a fascinating character Big, fun-loving kid even when he wasn’t. When I was a kid of 12 or so I remember The Babe still being the gold standard. If another kid displayed a moment of excellent we might say “Who do you think you are, Babe Ruth?” He was still the man despite being dead for 15 years. I was a Mantle and Mays fan but the Babe was the GOAT.
Thoughts on last night’s game:
Not many – got out played – look to today.
Actually a couple things come to mind.
* Johnny Cueto went from Cy Young to Sayonara in a heartbeat. He’s sailing along with his no hitter, owning the Dodgers. Pence looses the fly for a triple and Johnny falls apart. He morphed into a new guy.
Apparent he had a blister on his toe and was limping a little. So maybe he was hurt and became frustrated. Maybe.
But to me he just looked flat out pissed. Everything changed; his pace, his body language, his expressions and his effectiveness, even his brief interaction with Pence in the dugout. 2 walks led to JT’s at bat and it was obvious Johnny was done. Oh the Old “let’s leave him in for one more guy” trick bit Kapler in the ass. One of the quickest and oddest meltdowns I’ve see.
* MT, your comment “Right now, framing skills are something teams value highly, but when the Electronic Strike Zone comes in, catcher will again become an offensive position.” is so true. The framing skill will become a lost art like middle infielder’s footwork around second. I agree it’s time for Barnes to go.
* At the same time (I am not panicking) I think it’s time to get Bellinger out of the 3 or 4 hole. It’s a production business and I’m not concerned with hurting his feeling. Start hitting.
* Move Betts to lead off and leave him alone (3 days in a row saying this)
* The first 4 guys for the Giants last night were 9 for 19 with 4 RBI.
Great day for a ballgame.
Thank you Phil. Yeah, Mantle and Mays were 2 of the best ever, and I am so glad I got to see them play. Mays more than Mantle, but they were both exciting to watch. The more I learned about Gehrig, he was another I wish I could have seen. I had a house father at the home I lived in in Highland Park. Mr Howell. He was from Brooklyn and he used to go to Vero to watch the Dodgers in Spring. But he got to see both Babe and Gehrig when he was a young man. He would always say how exciting it was when they made contact with the ball. He lost his only son on Okinawa just before the war ended. I believe his love of baseball was one of the main reasons he was able to not dwell on that loss.
Bear, that’s another trip for us with Sherman and Peabody and the Way Back Machine……………….
(I wish I had one)
Definitely. Also watching guys like Mathewson and Walter Johnson pitch, and I would have loved to see Rogers Hornsby hit.
BP takes a look at this season’s ball.
TL;DR: It’s less “juiced” than last year.
I don’t think LIndor is available nor financially possible, much less feasible.
Two very fun Trout vs. Ruth articles:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/22815467/sizing-mike-trout-sultan-swat-most-unseriously
On a personal note, there is no better excursion taken by the Effectively Wild podcast than debating the greatness of Trout.
I mean can you beat this sub-lede:
Through his age-25 season, Trout generated an astronomical 53.2 WAR, while the Great Bambino had a mind-boggling 271.6 WAR in that same time frame.
Gosh I love fun writing.
Me too. That was a fun read.
Getting away from all this death and cemetery talk, here’s our deathly lineup today:
Joc
Mookie
Belly
JT
Muncy (2b)
Pollock (DH)
Beaty (1b)
Smith
Kike (ss)
Walker Buehler
Deathly, I like that. I see Dave still has Cody in a spot where he will do the least damage. I am going to be offline the rest of the afternoon and evening. I have some people to see. But I want to thank everyone for the compliments I have recieved on the stories I have written. I have found that I really enjoy doing this. I am sorry this kind of degenerated into a who’s who of who is buried where. But some of it is baseball history, so it kind of fits. I hope Seager is back in the lineup sooner rather than later. And it is a wee bit early to talk of trades, but if they do make one I hope it is for a catcher.
Your writing is great. It’s like you let it all flow from the heart/mind. I wish I was better at that.
As far as trade, I want a stud starter. Buehler is a given. Kersh has consistently proven he can’t be trusted in October. Who knows what we have in Wood. May and Urias are young and inexperienced.
If Keibert Ruiz does come up, my bet is it’s as much for a trade deadline showcase as it is to shore up our catching.
I too would like to see better starting pitching. We might already have it in May, Gonsolin, White and Gray. I still think Urias will find it. Buehler has been a disappointment, Kershaw is just past his prime, nursing several owies but capable every now and then.
This is a team that may have to hit its way to a championship. And that won’t be done without Bellinger and Muncy.
At some point Doc has to tell Kershaw he’s going to have to settle for a new battery mate.
Thank you Bobby. I appreciate that. A lot of it is based on personal experiences, and some on the fact that I love history so much. When I lived in California, I loved going to places that had some history behind them. Even some where like the Graumann’s Chinese Theater in Hollyweird. Being the kind of movie buff I am, it was just cool to see all of the hand prints and stuff immortalized in cement. For a guy his size, John Wayne’s feet were not that large. Or maybe it is an illusion since he was wearing cowboy boots. Last time I was out there, we went to both Presidential Library’s. Those were cool places to visit no matter what ones political leanings are. I will attempt to keep writing about things I hope you all find fun to read.
A military lineup today. left, right. left, right, left, right, left, right, right………………………right?
Nice article Bear!! I’m more of a Lou Gehrig man myself, but there is no denying the impact that Babe Ruth had on baseball. He was truly larger than life. I still laugh every time I read his response to reporters who asked Ruth if he thought he deserved to be making more money than President Hoover, and he said, “’Why not? I had a better year than he did.”
Please keep these enjoyable stories coming. They’re the perfect anecdote to watching a few innings of a crappy Dodger game. I strongly dislike when the Dodgers lose to the Giants.
Everyone talks about how players only got 1 year deals back then. Babe actually from 1926 to 1929 was on a 3 year deal at 70,000 a year. Before the 1930 season, He rejected the Yankee offer of 70,000 for one year, and then what they said was their final offer for 2 years at 75,000. Ruth demanded 3 years at 85,000. When asked by a sports writer why he thought he was worth more than Hoover, He said basically what you quoted. About two months later he signed a deal for 2 years, and 80,000. In 1930 he hit .359 with 49 HR’s and 153 RBI”s. He also pitched for the first time in 9 years and got a complete game victory! That is pretty amazing. In 31 he hit .373 with 46 homers and 163 ribbies….316 RBI’s in 2 years! Some guys don’t do that their entire careers. In both of those years, despite Gehrig and Ruth’s heroics, the Yanks finished a combined 29 1/2 games behind Connie Mack’s A’s. Then they won in 1932 and faced the Cubbies. I always liked Gehrig. He was a great player and a real gentleman. I think he would have topped 500 HR’s easily had he not been injured as many times as he was and kept playing despite injuries to his hands, which had to affect his power. I find it a bit ironic that Gehrig finished with exactly the same amount of homers as Fred McGriff. The Babe also has one of the longest pages on Wikipedia.
Do you remember who the Dodgers got when they traded Demeter to the Phillies?? He was traded in May of 1961.
It is interesting to see the tangents that grow from these posts. The other day it was about the appropriateness of the usage of the word hate. Whether it was properly applied to baseball or baseball teams. Today it is about cemeteries, and where famous people are buried.
Well, at least it is not political, AC, lol, I don’t think.
That is probably my fault Jeff. I mentioned about fans still visiting the Babe’s grave and leaving balls, notes and other items. But it is kind of weird how sometimes the subject spins to something else entirely.
Docs new thing is lefty righty lefty righty. Just quit over managing and put your best hitters first so they will get the most at bats. I have a novel idea, how about putting the player you have the most trust in to get the job done when it is needed most.
Betts
Seager
Turner(he hits righties better than lefties) somebody tell doc
Bellinger
Muncy
Hernández
Pollock
Taylor
Smith
Vs. lefties
Betts
Seager
Turner
Bellinger
Muncy
Joc
Taylor
Rios
Smith
Vs. righties
I realize this is very subjective but I just disagree. I know he is a great communicator, highest win %, blah blah blah
The giants don’t have one player who can crack our starting lineup and yet we play .500 ball with them. They have a losing record otherwise. The giants are a very mediocre team.
The angels are another of our nemesis and I don’t look forward to the Oakland matchup. We need to be hammering these mediocre teams
I’ve always been a big supporter of Barnes through thick and thin. I really hoped he would make it back after getting sent down. He’s had his shot. Time to get real and pull the plug on Barnes.
I hear there are seven new Umpires making their debut in the majors. It’s been horrendous , it’s just BAD.
ESZ: Electronic Strike Zone… coming to a ballpark near you in 2021.
We have become the Swing and Miss Los Angeles Pop Ups.
Dodgers being no-hit last night into the 6th until Hunter Pence lost Kike’s pop-up in the dusk. No-hit again after 4 innings. What happened to the great offense that the Dodgers are supposed to have?
Babe Ruth couldn’t hit Gausman.
Of course, the Giants can’t hit Buehler. either… but they can walk!
He look like Sylvester Stallone.
Xanax in the Gatorade?
No they were not no hit thru 4. Pollock got their first hit in the 2nd inning on a single. Buehler no hit the Giants for 4 2/3 until Yastrzemski got their first hit to drive in both of their runs. They did not get their next hit until Solano’s swinging bunt single in the 9th.
I wish this game were played at night. I could use it to help me sleep
Word of the day for Bueller: STRUGGLE.
Wash, rinse, repeat = Dodgers offense. Whatever RVS is doing it might be time to do something different. I have read over the last couple of days where the Dodgers have said Muncy had a broken finger and then Doc says the Dodgers more so than other teams are impacted by the lack of fans in attendance. GMAFB with the excuses.
Walker has started four innings with a BB. That’s not ace like. I’m sensing complacency with some of the Dodger players in their approach to the shortened season.
This team looks off. Even the throw from Bellinger to home plate appeared lethargic.
Yea. A hit for Muncy. Maybe it’s the start of something.
Nope.
That ended in a hurry.
Ferguson look good. That’s something positive.
As bad as Buehler looked, he went 5.2 innings, which was an improvement.
He was unhittable, but also uncontrolled.
It is a forward step.
Cueto and Gausman will be available soon.
Would you trade Josiah Gray for them both?
No.
Would you?
I would give a definite “maybe.”
Nor would I. Buehler made a stupid 2-2 pitch to Panda. Maybe that’s why Barnes plays. He threw two heaters past him and then got cute with a breaking ball. Then wound up walking him. Same thing with the hit that scored two runs. Just throw the heater.
Thank you, ump, for calling that last pitch a strike!!
Lol. Never thought of that! Don’t mess with AJ!
One minute I was pissed at the HP umpire’s strike zone and the next I was happy he didn’t call it ball four to AJ. The quality in MLB umpiring is astoundingly bad right now. Really starting to notice the impact the veteran umpire opts outs (covid) vs. the “not quite ready” AAA umpires who have been called up.
I didn’t think I would ever say this, but I’m in favor of the electronic strike zone.
I have trashed pollock since he has become a dodger. So, while he is healthy and playing well I want to say he has been a shining light so far. I love the McGhee pickup.
He’s really come around since his kid got out of the hospital. You could almost see a big burden but lifted off of him.
Just win, Baby!
Giants DESTROYED! LOL
As much as we sometimes scratch our heads with Doc’s managerial moves, if I was a Giant fan I would absolutely be hating (can I say that word?) Kapler right about now. Gausman was pitching a gem only to take him out when he gives up just his third hit in 6.1 innings pitched with no BB and only 80 pitches to see AJ hit a three-run HR.
Kapler is not good!
I’m thankful the Dodgers didn’t hire Kapler.
You know damn well the Dodgers were happy and relieved to see Gausman taken out. Why is it so hard for managers to do a common sense thing sometimes?
To quote Mark Timmons
To Gabe Kapler “you sir are a dumbass”
And some say managers don’t make a difference
Kapler’s fine.
The ability of the fans’ ability to not realize that pitchers don’t go beyond six innings, nor go three times through an inning except on very rare occasions is really befuddling.
Pitchers don’t expect to go that long. Managers don’t expect them to and fans should not either.
Because that’s the accepted conventional thinking right now in baseball.
WTF does that mean!??!?!?!?
It’s that way because people more informed and more able to make such decisions have decided it’s the best course of action.
Because it makes statistical and historical sense.
This slavish adherence to statistics and statistical models totally ignores human and situational variables in a given situation. Real managing puts those variables in the equation. Relying solely on statistics to make reflexive decisions is lazy and unimaginative. That’s wtf I mean. I don’t want to be told how to play baseball by some goddamn number cruncher that’s never ever played the game.
Kapler played. Or maybe you’re referring to Zaidi.
The giants just aren’t a very good team, but it’s my opinion Zaidi and Kapler are going to eventually get it together. They’ve got money, they’ve got the fan base, and both Zaidi and Kapler are smart.
I understand those who miss the way baseball was played years ago, but fighting change is a losing battle. Analytics is here to stay.
Doc managed like a boss today . lol I didn’t “scratch my head ” once.
Rockies lose! The Rockies loooooooooooooooose! Thank you Seattle for stopping that juggernaut. The Padres who scored 9 runs in the first 3 innings, and hit 4 homers off of the Mad Bum, who is 0-3 with a 9.35 ERA and 6 over all, almost let AZ back in the game winning 9-5. Bet they wish they had not spent all that cash on Bumgarner, or maybe wish he had opted out.
I HATE Bumgarner. Oops I said the H-word.
That is OK. I feel exactly the same way about that guy. And I do not hide it either. He, Marichal and Bonds are the 3 Giants I emote that feeling for. That’s Barry not his dad Bobby, who by all accounts was a pretty decent guy. Between the two of them I would think their father-son HR totals have to be the highest in baseball history. Barry, 762, and Bobby, 332. 1094 HR’s between the two of them. No world series wins between either of them, and Barry only went to one.
We took 2 of 3. I”ll take it. Overall we’re 11-5. I’ll take it. We have lost all 5 games by 1 or 2 runs. So we’re in every game. Last year’s MVP is hitting about as well as our backup catcher.
And we’re still 11-5 despite how “bad” we’ve played. Can’t wait till we wake up! Hopefully we’re full stride by late Sept, heading into Oct.
By the way, the A’s and Trashtros got into a brawl today. Go A’s!!
You make good points. With the potential the dodgers have I think it’s natural that expectations are very high, and there’s a little frustration when they don’t reach that potential. But even with several players slumping they’re still 11 -5.
I’ve been frustrated with those 5 losses but . . . 11-5 is still a 41 -29 pace.
I had picked 39-21 (so I guess I’ll just be quiet and be happy.)
That does not sound like a very intelligent thing to do with all the restrictions on the players because of the pandemic. Hopefully no one gets sick.
A’s players were hit 5 times in the series. Laureano was hit twice in consecutive at bats. After the second one he went after the Astros hitting coach and the melee was on. Astros hitters were not hit once. One of the nice things to see is that the Astros have lost 5 in a row, and are not playing very good baseball. Matt Kemp got another hit and RBI in the Rockies game, but he also struck out 3 times. After today’s game here are the Dodgers BA,,, Joc .195, Betts .281, Belli .172, Turner .250, Muncy .177, Pollock .311, Beaty .133, Smith .214, Hernandez .260, Taylor .239. Yeah, I would say the offense needs some work. And the bullpen has been the surprise and strength of the team. McGee gets the win.
Speaking of bad umpires, have you seen Degrom’s second inning against Miami? 8 throws in a row called as a ball for 2 BB…
And I’m with Oakland, I hope they rip the heads off of all that Houston shit…
Looks like Madbum may have Kershaw’s Disease (lower back problem). That could turn into one bad contract for the D’backs, although at this point they’re just calling it back spasms.
As far as the Bonds father-son homer totals, I’ve done some quick calculations and my son and I are just 1094 behind Bobby and Barry.
you got this
The A’s are looking like the team to beat in the AL. 12-4 winning with great pitching and timely hitting. Glad we do not play them until the last week of the season.
I hope we are playing better when we get to them. Pederson, Muncy, Bellinger and Beaty all below .200. Buehler and Kershaw with 1 win between them and we are 11-5. Amazing.