It's World Series time and I'm jazzed!
My Father was born in New York City in 1905 and was a Yankees fan. He saw Murderers Row up close and personal, and all the other greats of the time. Told me lots of stories that I was too young and dumb to commit to memory. Do have a couple:
Seems many teams infields played Babe Ruth way back past the dirt. Every once in a while, Babe would lay down a bunt...WALK to first... and stand there laughing his ass off.
One of the Yankee outfielders had a weak arm (sound familiar?)...can't remember the name but he was apparently a good fielder. Would catch the ball and toss it to Babe or the other fielder for the throw in.
Negro League teams frequently played "exhibitions" at Yankee stadium. Dad particularly enjoyed these, because he appreciated baseball excellence, and didn't give a damn what a man's color was. Told me the best ballplayer he EVER saw was catcher Josh Gibson. He could throw a strike to second base, on a line, without coming out of his crouch. Said the longest homerun he ever saw at Yankee Stadium was hit by Josh.
My thoughts:
The best baseball book title, heck maybe ANY book title: "Only The Ball Was White" (history of the Negro Leagues).
Best nickname..."Cool Papa" Bell. Who wouldn't want to be known as a Cool Papa???. It was said of him (I think Satchel)..."he could turn out the lights and be in bed before it got dark". "He could hit a ball to the shortstop and be on third when the play was over."
My favorite player, ever...Willie McCovey. The majesty was mesmerizing. I love me some of "Stretch".
Best baseball movie...it's a tie..."Field of Dreams"..if ya got a heart and a head for baseball, hearing this...from THE VOICE of James Earl Jones...heck it STILL chokes me up....
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.
AND, "Bull Durham".... as close to "inside" baseball as I'm ever likely to see...and funnier than shit to boot...I mean c'mon..."the rose goes in the front big fella"
I LOVE the game...and I played. Was a Little League All-Star, but that was my peak. In high school my position was...left out and right pine
. But I did personally get to see Larry Christianson (Marysville, Wa...Philadelphia Phillies) throw a one hitter and hit two homeruns. There were REAL baseball scouts in the stands. Remember thinking...geez, they're all fat and smoking cigars.....
I could go on and on and on....
“Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” Jacques Barzun
Best,
Jon
Home
Pages: 1
random baseball thoughts...... (Read 1120 times)
