So last Sunday, it was great to see Jackie Robinson honored league-wide.
Bud Selig, for all the bad-mouthing I do about you, and will do for sure, did something decently this time (next time Gadget, next time!).
So 42 could have been worn by each and every player in the league for that day, and it would have been cool too (after seeing the Dodgers all wearing it, and having strange flashbacks to seeing Jackie Robinson pictures, and then having them transposed on Randy Wolf, No-maah, and the rest). The solidarity thing would have been a major point for me, if I were in charge. So, Bud, thanks for more nothing.
Jackie Robinson, for the newbs, was the first black (dark-skin-toned) player in the Major Leagues in the 20th century. There were black players in the big leagues in the 1800's, but they were forced out by the league after Cap Anson and a few superstars boycotted their games because a player with dark-skin was playing for the opposition.
I make that distinction (skin color, not ethnic background) because a few Cuban players (of Spanish decent) played in the 1920's-40's, because their skin color was not the problem to the league.
The leagues also made the distinction that they were not the reason why there were no "black" players in the league. It was a "gentleman's agreement", they called it, between all the team owners that prevented any players of color from being hired. A few owner/general manager/managers had tried to bring a player of color onto their team (John McGraw, Bill Veeck), but were quickly shot down by the other owners, and the commissioner of the league.
So the general manager of the Dodgers hired on Jackie Robinson, and both understood the weight that they were about to carry, being the first in a long, long time to be part of a team with a player of color on it. There was even a proposed petition among some of the Dodger players saying that they wouldn't play if Robinson played. That was quickly put to a stop by the team.
The whole problem was that this shaky experiement could have put racial integration of the team to a stop if Robinson lashed back at those attacking him on the field, or if he did not perform well on the field. Either would have showed the pundits that he was not worthy of playing with the non-players of color, and there would have been hesitiation among the other teams to hire any black players.
As it turned out, Jackie was something like Super-Ichiro in his first year, the spark of the 1947 Dodgers, the fire-starter, and the most inspirational player to his teammates (both on the field, but also in his determination against what he was up against). His team went all the way to the World Series after not being there for six years, and went again and again, going six years in Robinson's 10. Jackie began a movement to hire black and players of color, that continued to every other team, the Yankees and Red Sox being 2 of the last. They say that the slow adjustment to this major change (can you believe that in 1946, there were no players of color in the Major Leagues?!) was why the American League trailed the National League for so long in the strength of their teams and level of play.
---
Okay, so the half-tribute to Jackie Robinson put to a stop the tidbit I was going to write about:
A buddy and I were thinking, if 42 day went over so well, there could be other tributes.
Barry Bonds can and will break the all-time American homerun record (755).
Those in support of his record-breaker can wear the number 44 the day after he breaks the record, in tribute to Hammerin' Hank Aaron, the former record-holder.
Those who don't believe that Bonds is the new rightful record-holder can wear the number 3, for Babe Ruth, symbolizing a different era in baseball, when players of color were not included, and asterisks were put next to new records because they were not considered worthy of the old ones (Roger Maris hit *61 HRs in 1961). The Babe has cursed every player to pass one of his records. Maris' hair fell out, and he went on to get hurt a bunch, and never saw the * taken off his record. He's still not in the Hall of Fame, which should at least have a "Memorable Moments and Records" wing, if not just honorary induction for record-breakers like Maris, and Mike Benjamin, former Giants infielder, who got a hit 14 straight times. a new record, in 1995.
Bonds will wear his own 25, until he breaks the record, after which, he will wear 00, until he hits another HR, and the number will go up to 01, and so on. Or, maybe he should wear 56, for 756, the record-breaking number, or maybe just 756 (although that might be getting a little ridiculous).
Maybe A-Rod and Sammy could join in. They could wear the number which they would have to hit, to catch Bonds (a fluctuating number), or even Aaron (a set number, he having retired in 1976).
Maybe everyone could wear 76, for the year Aaron finished his record. And those who support Bonds could wear #07.
I wonder if Bonds will be at the All-Star Game. It would be sweet if he didn't make it, but showed up at the homer derby, to calls of Ba-rry, Ba-rry, ala Reggie Jackson at the 1993 Homerun Derby. Incidentally, he went out to the cheers of Baltimore's All Star crowd, hit a real homer to right field, and returned to the clubhouse, where he found that someone had stolen his glove. That sucks...
On a lighter note,
Craig Biggio is about a hundred hits from three thousand. Players in support of this record are allowed to wear 3, 30, 0, or 00, on the day after he breaks 3,000.
haha.
JN
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The Recap Edition, 4/18
Date: Wednesday, 4/18/07
Time: 12:35p-3p? (I;m never good at end of game times)
Place: Oakland Coliseum (for the second yr in a row, presented by Mah-caffee, an Irish coffee from Boston?)
Game #: Oakland #8, JN #10? of 2007
Attendance: 17,322 for $2 Wednesday (1st of this yr)
Those Present: JN, Tommy
The Players: A's and Angels, gm 2 of 2 for the short series.
Final Score: A's 3-0 in systematic win.
The $2 Wednesdays inspire those of us who would otherwise go to work, or stay home and ponder working, to go see baseball at the Major League level. Also, it makes for good target practice for our good-section-sneaking skills, in a less-than challenging atmosphere. (The guards/ushers checked our tickets for the Plaza outfield $2 sections, but not the juicy Plaza infield secs, non $2 sections. but enough writing about trade secrets).
So it was freezing out there. Weather dot-com says it was 61 to 47 F in the area today. I know exactly what 47F feels like now- I was debating whether my red cheeks were from (I did not imbibe during the game) the decorative sunlight, or the tundra winds.
We got right-field deck seats, which are a steal at $2, as long as you don't mind not seeing the fences (you're sitting a deck above the fence), and as long as bleacher-creatures are not your friends (the bleachers are also a deck down below). We did see some flag-folks, but I did not see Duke-X, or the 510 jersey guy though. Maybe some people get day-jobs after all (look who's talking).
We did encounter creatures though. We sat by a group of adults, who we affectionately thought of as the "short bus group". It turned out though, that they were more like on a field trip from the Crazy L, as we used to call the half-way-house-type-resident-hotel down the street from where I used to live in Oakland.
Now, there is nothing wrong with resident-hotels. My Giants-fan-buddy lives in one, and he has a respectable job and is the greatest guy I know. These were not those kind of guys and women though. The ex-chopper-rider was yelling about "his" Angels, and the others would stand up against the guardrail fence at the front of the deck and stare, and stare. I was beginning to question my own sanity, which I have a weak grasp on to begin with.
Overheard:
Raspy Chopper Guy: "Whatta my gonna do with this fuggin' Bay Area?"
Guy behind us: "Leave!"
So I told Tommy that "WE should GO get some beers after this inning", and we snuck down to Plaza level, by first base. Plaza Level, when I was younger and only accustomed to Candlestick and Pac Bell, was the greatest non-lowerdeck level I had ever been to. The players seem bigger than action figures in view, and the action is bigger than on TV.
So they don't look as close as in the lower deck, but for the price, it is really awesome (a more mature perspective, I'm sure). Dan Haren pitched great, mixing speeds really well, and keeping the hitters off balance (some fell over as they swung through his changeup, 81-84. His heater was hitting 91 to 93 on the stadium gun.
The A's side was as much as we could ask for, especially if you saw or heard the A's/Yankees game on Saturday last (got a runner or 2 on in the 9th, 10th, 11th, none scored, and the Y's won, on a Giambino homer, yuck). Swisher up with the bases loaded, no outs. A freakin' double-play would score a run, and it almost did, as Swish grounded to second, and the relay was late/Shannon Stewart went for 2b Erick Aybar's legs. Chavez lined to a diving 3b Macy-er Is-Tourist's glove, but too hard for him to hold on, and another run scored.
We ran into a group of 3 guys, drunk, happy, and baseball fans. The eldest of the three was happy about the A's winning: "They should take Haren out before he gets tired. I like giving them standing ovations." The youngest guy was just happy to be there, about Tommy and my age. The middle guy was a Giants fan (maybe that's why he was so annoying), but a nice guy, who wasn't yet over the Giants' 8th inning upset to Colorado the day before. He had all kinds of funny things to say, and when the Ben&Jerry Bars guy came around yelled to the next section, and us 4, "Ice Cream?! Anyone want one?! I'm buying!" He had no takers- ice cream needs 40F to stay cold, which is what we had in the shade of the stands. Funny Guy!
Haren for seven, Duke-sher for one (the guy should announce it Number Fifty-eight, Jus-Tin, Duke-SHHHHHERRRRRRRRR, with every er-er-er in there. that would be coool), and Street for the final 3 batters (M says that Huston Street has the "sexiest intro music" ever, and he still does this year).
Speaking of which, Tom was thrilled when he saw the films of the 70's WORLD SERIES A's set to the theme of the Who's He's a real good lookin' boyyy! They brought it back this year, and I like it even more the second time around. Here's to less PR, and more value for your ticket, even though its only a two-dollah sneak-pass.
JN
...On the way out: scalpers selling caps: "get your souvenirs, only five dollahs!"; two sax players, the one skinny one with shades, that like playing "Elmo's song", and a new one, round with glasses, playing jazz tunes (Take Five, among others); guys selling knockoff "official" Oakland Athletics teeshirts, and jersey guy, with nice looking "The City" official looking bright blue Warriors caps. He always has good stuff, but not always at $5.
Time: 12:35p-3p? (I;m never good at end of game times)
Place: Oakland Coliseum (for the second yr in a row, presented by Mah-caffee, an Irish coffee from Boston?)
Game #: Oakland #8, JN #10? of 2007
Attendance: 17,322 for $2 Wednesday (1st of this yr)
Those Present: JN, Tommy
The Players: A's and Angels, gm 2 of 2 for the short series.
Final Score: A's 3-0 in systematic win.
The $2 Wednesdays inspire those of us who would otherwise go to work, or stay home and ponder working, to go see baseball at the Major League level. Also, it makes for good target practice for our good-section-sneaking skills, in a less-than challenging atmosphere. (The guards/ushers checked our tickets for the Plaza outfield $2 sections, but not the juicy Plaza infield secs, non $2 sections. but enough writing about trade secrets).
So it was freezing out there. Weather dot-com says it was 61 to 47 F in the area today. I know exactly what 47F feels like now- I was debating whether my red cheeks were from (I did not imbibe during the game) the decorative sunlight, or the tundra winds.
We got right-field deck seats, which are a steal at $2, as long as you don't mind not seeing the fences (you're sitting a deck above the fence), and as long as bleacher-creatures are not your friends (the bleachers are also a deck down below). We did see some flag-folks, but I did not see Duke-X, or the 510 jersey guy though. Maybe some people get day-jobs after all (look who's talking).
We did encounter creatures though. We sat by a group of adults, who we affectionately thought of as the "short bus group". It turned out though, that they were more like on a field trip from the Crazy L, as we used to call the half-way-house-type-resident-hotel down the street from where I used to live in Oakland.
Now, there is nothing wrong with resident-hotels. My Giants-fan-buddy lives in one, and he has a respectable job and is the greatest guy I know. These were not those kind of guys and women though. The ex-chopper-rider was yelling about "his" Angels, and the others would stand up against the guardrail fence at the front of the deck and stare, and stare. I was beginning to question my own sanity, which I have a weak grasp on to begin with.
Overheard:
Raspy Chopper Guy: "Whatta my gonna do with this fuggin' Bay Area?"
Guy behind us: "Leave!"
So I told Tommy that "WE should GO get some beers after this inning", and we snuck down to Plaza level, by first base. Plaza Level, when I was younger and only accustomed to Candlestick and Pac Bell, was the greatest non-lowerdeck level I had ever been to. The players seem bigger than action figures in view, and the action is bigger than on TV.
So they don't look as close as in the lower deck, but for the price, it is really awesome (a more mature perspective, I'm sure). Dan Haren pitched great, mixing speeds really well, and keeping the hitters off balance (some fell over as they swung through his changeup, 81-84. His heater was hitting 91 to 93 on the stadium gun.
The A's side was as much as we could ask for, especially if you saw or heard the A's/Yankees game on Saturday last (got a runner or 2 on in the 9th, 10th, 11th, none scored, and the Y's won, on a Giambino homer, yuck). Swisher up with the bases loaded, no outs. A freakin' double-play would score a run, and it almost did, as Swish grounded to second, and the relay was late/Shannon Stewart went for 2b Erick Aybar's legs. Chavez lined to a diving 3b Macy-er Is-Tourist's glove, but too hard for him to hold on, and another run scored.
We ran into a group of 3 guys, drunk, happy, and baseball fans. The eldest of the three was happy about the A's winning: "They should take Haren out before he gets tired. I like giving them standing ovations." The youngest guy was just happy to be there, about Tommy and my age. The middle guy was a Giants fan (maybe that's why he was so annoying), but a nice guy, who wasn't yet over the Giants' 8th inning upset to Colorado the day before. He had all kinds of funny things to say, and when the Ben&Jerry Bars guy came around yelled to the next section, and us 4, "Ice Cream?! Anyone want one?! I'm buying!" He had no takers- ice cream needs 40F to stay cold, which is what we had in the shade of the stands. Funny Guy!
Haren for seven, Duke-sher for one (the guy should announce it Number Fifty-eight, Jus-Tin, Duke-SHHHHHERRRRRRRRR, with every er-er-er in there. that would be coool), and Street for the final 3 batters (M says that Huston Street has the "sexiest intro music" ever, and he still does this year).
Speaking of which, Tom was thrilled when he saw the films of the 70's WORLD SERIES A's set to the theme of the Who's He's a real good lookin' boyyy! They brought it back this year, and I like it even more the second time around. Here's to less PR, and more value for your ticket, even though its only a two-dollah sneak-pass.
JN
...On the way out: scalpers selling caps: "get your souvenirs, only five dollahs!"; two sax players, the one skinny one with shades, that like playing "Elmo's song", and a new one, round with glasses, playing jazz tunes (Take Five, among others); guys selling knockoff "official" Oakland Athletics teeshirts, and jersey guy, with nice looking "The City" official looking bright blue Warriors caps. He always has good stuff, but not always at $5.
News and Notes, 4/18
Off the top, after the Giants win in 12 on Richie Aurilia's gap hit.
I wonder if he still drinks 2 espressos before games (did he say caramel macchiatos back then) like he did his first time around in 2001, when he hit 37 HRs.
Also, I was in attendance with good 'ol Tommy for the A's first $2 Wednesday of the year, versus the Angels (or Angles, or Angees, apparently (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Riggs)
For the newbies- much love, and I go here for quickly-updated scores:
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/scoreboard
They update quickly, with less ads that take time to load (on dialup like at my folks house).
Today's Featured Obscure Player (FOP) of the day: Pete La Forest (http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/teams/players/bio/?id=3553&hubname=mlb-padres),
a Canuck who is finally getting his big-league chance.
He had great power in the minors, and was great in my Baseball Mogul game, when I turned around the TB Drays, but that was half-fantasy. Now he's off to a good start. I'm not picking him up for my fantasy team, the Fremont F's, just yet though, because I'd have to drop:
-Mark Burly Buehrle, who tossed a 6-0 NO-HITTER vs. Texas tonight. Haven't seen film yet, and he walked one, with no errors for the ChiSox. Glad I kept him on my team, after he was hit in the arm by a liner earlier this month. The Yahoo preview before the game said:
Boy, who wouldn't want to see that at the bottom of their boxscore, eay?
So much for guess-timation, based on previous stats.
Mark Burly, the Fremont F's thank you...
I wonder if he still drinks 2 espressos before games (did he say caramel macchiatos back then) like he did his first time around in 2001, when he hit 37 HRs.
Also, I was in attendance with good 'ol Tommy for the A's first $2 Wednesday of the year, versus the Angels (or Angles, or Angees, apparently (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Riggs)
For the newbies- much love, and I go here for quickly-updated scores:
http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/scoreboard
They update quickly, with less ads that take time to load (on dialup like at my folks house).
Today's Featured Obscure Player (FOP) of the day: Pete La Forest (http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/teams/players/bio/?id=3553&hubname=mlb-padres),
a Canuck who is finally getting his big-league chance.
He had great power in the minors, and was great in my Baseball Mogul game, when I turned around the TB Drays, but that was half-fantasy. Now he's off to a good start. I'm not picking him up for my fantasy team, the Fremont F's, just yet though, because I'd have to drop:
-Mark Burly Buehrle, who tossed a 6-0 NO-HITTER vs. Texas tonight. Haven't seen film yet, and he walked one, with no errors for the ChiSox. Glad I kept him on my team, after he was hit in the arm by a liner earlier this month. The Yahoo preview before the game said:
Buehrle tries for his first win of the season against the Rangers, who have caused him some problems lately.
The left-hander won his first seven starts against Texas, posting a 1.79 ERA in those games, but has gone just 1-3 with a 5.28 ERA in his last four starts against them. He was 1-2 with a 5.32 ERA against them last season.
and the wrapup of the boxscore showed these nuggets of beauty:| CHICAGO PITCHER MARK BUEHRLE HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH SIX INNINGS. |
| CHICAGO PITCHER MARK BUEHRLE HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH SEVEN INNINGS. |
| CHICAGO PITCHER MARK BUEHRLE HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH EIGHT INNINGS. |
| CHICAGO PITCHER MARK BUEHRLE HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH 8 1/3 INNINGS. |
| CHICAGO PITCHER MRK BUEHRLE HAS A NO-HITTER THROUGH 8 2/3 INNINGS. |
| CHICAGO PITCHER MARK BUEHRLE HAS THROWN A NO-HITTER. |
Boy, who wouldn't want to see that at the bottom of their boxscore, eay?
So much for guess-timation, based on previous stats.
Mark Burly, the Fremont F's thank you...
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