If you know how to cheat, start now.”—Baltimore manager Earl Weaver, to pitcher Ross Grimsley on the mound.
Ben Wade – 3.60 in Brooklyn
I really enjoy western type movies and I guess for their simplicity. I also enjoy baseball-type movies because of my love for baseball. Two of them came together for me in prompting this column. Who doesn’t love Clint Eastwood performances? I especially enjoyed his performance as Gus Lobel in “Trouble With the Curve”. I watched a re-run of it a while back and also watched a re-run of “3:10 to…
Can it Ever Be Normal Again?
Let me just say it here. I was wrong. I misjudged this whole thing. I apologize for what was my stubborn miscalculation of events. We are experiencing something that never has been experienced. When the whole world’s economy shuts down, the ramifications can be endless. Are we in for another great depression? I certainly hope not.
Fact versus Speculation
We have all seen statistical models of how this current pandemic is supposed to go. But, just like in sports, the computer-generated models are just that. The game is played by people… people who are capable of some really good or really bad things. So, I will not even speculate on what will happen. I learned a long time ago to control what I can control and quit worrying about…
This is a Troubling and Amazing Time
About a month ago, my 20-year-old (Stephen) son made a quick trip to NYC to rescue my 33-year-old son (Nick) and his two cats (Tango and Cash) from COVID-19 infested NYC. I let him take my Raptor F-150 (450 HP) and he made the round trip in 26 hours. No tickets that I know of! Steve is the model citizen and VP of sales for our company, while Nick was…
Odds and Ends – Bits and Pieces
About a year ago I posted a column on the remaining Brooklyn Dodgers. The current list includes any player who put on a Brooklyn Dodger uniform, even for one game. In the last year, we have lost Don Newcombe, Randy Jackson, and Glenn Mickens. This is the link to the previous article. https://ladodgertalk.com/2019/01/06/the-oldest-living-dodger/ And this is the present list. Eddie Basinski (97): November 4, 1922 1944-45 Tim Thompson (96): March…
Hey, Let Us Know If You Are OK…
I think that this is an amazing community, however, these are trying times. I have instructed my family to notify you if anything bad happens to me. Only the good die young, so I will be OK
“Pistol Pete” Reiser
Growing up, Pete Reiser excelled at any sport he tried. Besides baseball, he earned $50 a game playing soccer against professional players and was a talented football player with a dream of becoming a star player with Notre Dame. He was a skillful bowler and proficient at ice skating. Perhaps his greatest strength was that he was truly ambidextrous.
Pete Richert – Oh What a Night
On April 12, 1962, one week prior to my 11th birthday, Pete Richert made his major league debut against the Cincinnati Reds. I was listening to the game on my transistor radio. Richert entered the game in the top of the bottom of the second inning, with two outs and a runner on second. The Reds had already scored four runs in the inning.
Real Baseball News
We all know postseason play is often not won by the best team, but the hottest team. I don’t think that bodes well for the blue. With 14 teams in the mix, it’ll be tough to come out on top.