Baseball Quiz: 1) Who had the most 20-game hitting streaks,
career, post-1900, in the N.L.? A.L.? 2) Most consecutive
seasons leading league in triples, A.L.? N.L.? [Hint: Both are
post-1970…and no, one isn’t Willie Wilson.] 3) Most home runs
by pinch-hitter, career? 4) Most home runs by second baseman,
career, M.L.? 5) Most home runs by switch-hitter, season, N.L.?
Answers below.
**Congratulations to Lance Armstrong on winning his 7th Tour
de France. For generations to come, now when people see the
number 7 they’ll think of Lance along with Ed Kranepool.
Personally, I haven’t ridden a bike since I received my driver’s
license.
But here’s something you won’t see anywhere else. By my back
of the beer coaster calculation, Lance has kissed the two trophy
babes following each stage he’s led the last seven years over 400
times! That would be an average of 15 stages, times two babes,
times a kiss on each cheek, times 7. Not bad work if you can
find it.
Stuff
–Unfortunately I had already gone to post last time when I
learned of James Doohan’s death. Actually, my good friend Jeff
B. sent me a note, “Beam me up, Scotty!” And yes, “I dannae if
she can take any more, Captain!” is another that will forever be
etched in our memories.
It’s easy to forget, though, that “Star Trek” ran only three
seasons, but what a cult following. It’s also funny, looking back,
just how low-budget all the shows of that era (the mid- to late-
60s) were…like “Time Tunnel,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the
Sea,” and “Lost in Space.” Hell, “Leave it to Beaver” had a far
bigger budget.
Anyway, Doohan was a real-life war hero. A lieutenant in the
Canadian military (Scotty was Canadian, not a Scotsman as
portrayed on the show, for those not familiar with him); he
commanded an artillery regiment that landed on Juno Beach on
D-Day. As reported in the AP:
“The Canadians crossed a minefield laid for tanks; the soldiers
weren’t heavy enough to detonate the bombs. At 11:30 that
night, (Doohan) was machine-gunned, taking six hits: one that
took off his middle right finger (he managed to hide the missing
finger on screen), four in his leg and one in the chest.
Fortunately the chest bullet was stopped by his silver cigarette
case.”
The BBC notes that Doohan then witnessed a tank, “carrying
his substantial winnings from a cross-Channel card school,
blown to pieces before his eyes.” I would have died right there.
“Besides this, his aerobatic exploits, which included nearly
crashing his aircraft in Holland while taking ‘a look’ at a German
U-boat, earned him the title of ‘the craziest pilot in the Royal
Canadian Air Force.’”
At Doohan’s request, a portion of his ashes will be sent into
space and will orbit the Earth. That’s stupid. I thought he’d
want to go where no man has ever gone before!
–Continuing our look at 60s music from the UK, here were the
#1 albums, 1963-65, both before and after the British Invasion.
1963 [Chronologically]
Original Soundtrack – West Side Story…1 week
Shadows – Out of the Shadows…2
Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Summer Holiday…14
Beatles – Please Please Me…30
Beatles – With the Beatles…21
1964
Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones…12
Beatles – A Hard Day’s Night…21
Beatles – Beatles For Sale…7
1965
Rolling Stones – Rolling Stones No. 2…3
Beatles – Beatles For Sale…1
Rolling Stones…Rolling Stones No. 2…6
Bob Dylan…The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan…1
Rolling Stones…Rolling Stones No. 2…1
Beatles…Beatles For Sale…3
Bob Dylan…The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan…1
Bob Dylan…Briging It All Back Home…1
Original Soundtrack – The Sound of Music…10
Beatles – Help…9
Original Soundtrack – The Sound of Music…10
Beatles – Rubber Soul…8
Don’t you find it kind of strange that the same albums kept
bouncing back and forth? At least I find it so because the
‘singles’ were given just one shot at the top and then sent
spiraling back to earth as program managers moved on to the
next hot tune. In fact, “The Sound of Music” was also #1 three
separate times in 1966, five times in 1967, and twice in 1968!
More music history from the UK (via BBC archives) next chat.
–Brad K. passed along the story of how dog tags came to be.
This comes via Captain Richard W. Wooley and the
Quartermaster Professional Bulletin – December 1988.
“Arlington National Cemetery is not the only resting place for
‘Unknown Soldiers.’ Countless American soldiers have died
defending their way of life throughout the history of this nation;
many of their graves are marked with a single word, ‘unknown.’
“The Civil War provided the first recorded incident of American
soldiers making an effort to ensure that their identities would be
known should they die on the battlefield. Their methods were
varied, and all were taken on a soldier’s own initiative. In 1863,
prior to the battle of Mine’s run in northern Virginia, General
Meade’s troops wrote their names and unit designations on paper
tags and pinned them to their clothing. Many soldiers took great
care to mark all their personal belongings. Some troops
fashioned their own ‘ID’ tags out of pieces of wood, boring a
hole in one end so that they could be worn on a string around the
neck.
“The commercial sector saw the demand for an identification
method and provided products. Harper’s Weekly magazine
advertised ‘Soldier’s Pins’ which could be mail ordered. Made
of silver or gold, these pins were inscribed with an individual’s
name and unit description. Private vendors who followed troops
also offered ornate identification disks for sale just prior to
battles. Still, despite the fact that fear of being listed among the
unknowns was a real concern among the rank and file, no
reference to an official issue of identification tags by the Federal
Government exists. [42% of the Civil War dead remain
unidentified.]
“The first official advocacy of issuing identification tags took
place in 1899. Chaplain Charles C. Pierce, who was tasked to
establish the Quartermaster Office of Identification in the
Philippines, recommended inclusion of an ‘identity disc’ in the
combat field kit as the answer to the need for standard
identification. The Army Regulations of 1913 made
identification tags mandatory, and by 1917, all combat soldiers
wore aluminum discs on chains around their necks. By World
War II, the circular disc was replaced by the oblong shape
familiar to us today, generally referred to as ‘dog tags.’”
–I will not be interested in the upcoming NHL season until next
spring’s playoffs, assuming my Rangers finally make it. After
all, the last seven seasons the Rangers failed to advance. But it
will be interesting to some of us just what kind of attendance the
league is able to generate. The Rangers, for example, sell out
every game even though they suck because the seats are scarfed
up by corporations to give to clients. But the last few years,
increasingly the clients were saying “No thank you” when
offered the chance to watch a lousy product. So will the big guys
keep renewing? Rink-side seats run $139.
–This is sad. According to USA Today, Hurricane Emily was
responsible for destroying “nearly all the eggs that have been laid
so far this season by endangered sea turtles on the white sand
beach of Xcacel.” One conservationist estimates 84,000 eggs
were washed away. Here’s what really sucks. “These eggs were
laid on July 16, one day before the hurricane hit.” Only one
single nest survived, as best as can be determined. But some
turtles can emerge from the sea to lay eggs here as late as
September and a few have been returning. But I imagine word is
out that the survivors need to begin exploring other options or
they’re doomed.
–Gerry Thomas, the inventor of the TV dinner, died. Thomas
was a salesman for frozen food company C.A. Swanson & Sons
of Omaha. “The company found itself one year with an
oversupply of turkeys, so many that they were piled aboard
refrigerated railroad cars and were being shuttled around to keep
them cool.” [Louise Story / New York Times]
But Thomas just so happened to be visiting Pan American
Airways’ kitchens around this same time and noticed the
aluminum trays being used for airline meals. Asking for a
sample, he tinkered with the design, came up with three
compartments, presented it to his superiors and the rest was
history. Swanson had a gold mine.
–You have to feel sorry for Ronny Turiaf, a second-round draft
pick of the Los Angeles Lakers a few weeks ago. Turiaf was an
exciting player at Gonzaga and on Monday will be undergoing
open-heart surgery to repair an enlarged aortic root. Had it not
been diagnosed, Turiaf could have died. He vows to return to the
hardwood in time for the 2006-07 season.
–Reporters for the Washington Post measured the left-center
field power alley at RFK Stadium because the players have been
complaining that balls they were convinced were homers, given
the stated distance, haven’t been leaving the park. So the
reporters went out with a 300-foot tape measure and found that
the spot designated as 380 was actually 394 feet. Club officials
then spotted the activity and asked them to stop before other
measurements could be taken. Officials later admitted that when
measured with a laser, the mark was 394.74 feet and the distance
to right-center, also marked as 380, is 395. As of last week, in
the first 46 games at RFK, only 46 homers were hit, the lowest
ratio in baseball. The highest is Cincinnati’s Great American
Ball Park, which is serving up over 3 home runs a game. I’d add
that Philadelphia isn’t much better. You can hit a whiffle ball
out in these two. Washington Nationals manager Frank
Robinson is worried the flap over distances will affect his
players’ mindset.
“You have to know where you’re playing. We play here. We
don’t play in those other parks. Why would you say, ‘That
would have been a home run in Cincinnati?’ We’re not in
Cincinnati.”
You tell ‘em Frank. Until the new park is ready in 2 or 3 years,
look for Washington to bring in the fences next season.
–The other day, in discussing the Pittsburgh Pirates and their
World Championship team of 1960, Johnny Mac told me of the
tale of Don Hoak, the starting third baseman. Hoak was a
respectable ballplayer, averaging .265 in an 11-year career that
spanned 1954-64, and one of his better seasons was that title year
when he appeared in 155 games, clouting 16 home runs, driving
in 79 and hitting .282. Hoak was born in Roulette, Pennsylvania,
back on February 5, 1928. But there’s more, as told by J. Mac.
“Once upon a time, in a small coal mining town 40 miles east of
Pittsburgh, a young girl was born named Norma Jean Speranza.
She was a talented little thing, winning singing contests in and
around her home and landing a regular gig on radio by age 14.
Later, a demo tape, made when she was 17, somehow found its
way to the desk of Mitch Miller and he loved it, flying Norma
Jean to New York. Columbia Records then signed her, got Life
magazine to take some photos, and set up auditions with Arthur
Godfrey and Dave Garroway. Not a bad day, overall. She then
appeared with Garroway for nine months. He thought Norma
Jean Speranza was quite a mouthful so he picked Jill Corey out
of a phone book.
“Jill Corey appeared on the cover of Life, was on Carson and
Sullivan, headlined the Copa, played Vegas, was interviewed by
Murrow, and sold a ton of records. Movies now beckoned……
“Gigi,” “The Moon is Blue,” “Sabrina,” “Meet Me in St. Louis”
…and there were flings with Carson and all manner of
international playboys.
“But it was a no-nonsense ballplayer, Don Hoak, who stole her
heart in the end. Jill gave up everything to marry him and raise
their daughter.
“Then, 8 years later, Hoak started to chase a thief who he had
seen steal his brother-in-law’s car. Don Hoak had a heart attack
and died, October 9, 1969. Jill Corey? She packed up her
daughter, moved back to New York and eventually resurrected
her career, headlining various venues including Carnegie Hall.
She’s still performing today. And now you know…the rest of
the story.”
–OK…it’s time for……..CULTURE WATCH! Another free
feature of Bar Chat.
In looking at Friday’s Wall Street Journal, you all need to be
aware of some terrific art shows touring this great land of ours
this summer. Here are a few that caught my fancy.
I’m a big fan of the Hudson River School of painting and I see
that through Sept. 11, 50 works by the masters are being shown
at the Saint Louis Art Museum. www.slam.org
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has an exhibit by the
Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael through Sept. 18.
www.lacma.org
I’m not a fan of Toulouse-Lautrec (my brother is a fanatic), but if
you happen to be one, don’t miss out on the Art Institute of Chicago
show, through Oct. 10. www.artic.edu/aic
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is the site of an exhibit on
the American West through Jan. 8, 2006. www.mfa.org
And here’s one your editor must see. Cezanne and Pissarro.
Yes, Camille Pissarro is a big favorite of mine. Of course he
isn’t to be confused with pitcher Juan Pizarro, 1957-74…131-
105, W / L record. Pissarro’s work is being displayed at the
Museum of Modern Art in New York City through Sept. 12.
www.moma.org
There, now go drag your kids out to get some culture.
–This is too much. After trashing Wake Forest’s Chris Paul for
leaving school after his sophomore year when he hadn’t done a
thing as leader of the hoops team, I have been approached, as a
sponsor of the athletic department, to help support a scholarship
program he is establishing. Ah, I don’t think so.
[The form letter said I would be approached, personally, by one
of Paul’s representatives. That should be a fun call, I think you’d
agree.]
–Hey Dan D. in Honolulu. Why didn’t you tell me a flesh-
eating caterpillar has been found in Hawaii? Goodness gracious.
According to Mark Henderson of the London Times, the bug
uses “spider-like silk to trap snails before devouring them alive.”
“Once the larvae, which develop into moths, have tied the snails
to leaves, they climb inside their shells to feast on the soft
tissue.”
Ohhhh gross.
But what about the moths? Geezuz, if one of these suckers hops
on a Continental non-stop to Newark, that means next year
caterpillars could be devouring snails in New Jersey in no time.
And what if they then cross breed with the giant New Jersey
mosquito, which has a wingspan of up to 8 feet!
Back to the caterpillars in question; do not read the following
unless you want to have nightmares the rest of your life.
“Once the snail is immobilized, the caterpillar wedges its case
next to the snail shell before stretching its body out of the case
and into the shell. It then ‘pursues the retreating snail to the end
of the shell from which there is no escape,’ Dr. Rubinoff said.”
I’m sleeping with one eye open from here on, that’s for sure.
–Yikes, Harry K. passed along an awful story from up in
Ontario. Police have had a number of collisions with moose
recently. In one crash, an officer was killed and the other
seriously wounded. In another, an officer was seriously injured
with possible spinal injuries.
–You know, after Friday’s start, Roger Clemens has a 1.40 ERA.
Since about 100 games have been played, it’s fair to talk about
where Clemens would stand if he could finish the season at, say,
1.50 or better. Bob Gibson will forever hold the modern day
record with a 1.12 ERA in the year of the pitcher, 1968. But the
best since 1919 aside from Gibby’s mark is Dwight Gooden,
1.53 in 1985. Greg Maddux had a 1.57 ERA in 1994. So Roger
is in rarified air.
–In perusing the NY Times’ Best Seller list this weekend, I see
that the #5 nonfiction entry is “Confessions of a Video Vixen.”
“A tell-all memoir by a dancer and actress who has appeared in
many hip-hop videos.” Yes, I’d say that is light summer reading.
–We note the passing of the great accordionist Myron Floren. I
have to come clean on something…as a little kid I had to watch
“The Lawrence Welk Show” with my parents. Ah yes…Bobby
Burgess and Barbara Boyland, the Lennon Sisters, Larry Hooper,
Jo Ann Castle, and my own favorite, the great Joe (or as
Lawrence pronounced it, ‘Cho’) Feeney.
The show first aired on ABC back in 1955 and lasted an amazing
27 years; the last 11 in syndication after ABC dropped it because
the audience was deemed “too old.” In an obituary by Dennis
McLellan of the L.A. Times, he notes that a 1957 cover story for
Look magazine carried the title “Nobody Loves Him Except the
Public.” At its peak, 50 million tuned in each Saturday night.
–Golfer John Daly is one frustrating dude. He didn’t show at the
Champions Dinner at the British Open because he didn’t want to
pack a coat and tie. I love watching him play because he seldom
fails to entertain, but he’s still a jerk; albeit a generous one if you
read his excellent interview in the August Golf Digest.
–Time to congratulate my niece, Dale, for earning her black belt
the other day. Dale is entering the Univ. of Maryland, which I
mention only because any guy approaching her in the wrong way
could be in for a rude awakening. And as I told Dale, if college
doesn’t work out she can always protect me as I make countless
enemies on this site.
–Eugene Record, RIP. Record was the leader of the group the
Chi-Lites, who had the #1 “Oh Girl” (4/72) and the #3 “Have
You Seen Her?” (10/71). The group took its name from its
hometown, Chicago.
Top 3 songs for the week of 7/26/69: #1 “In The Year 2525
(Zager & Evans….ughhh) #2 “Crystal Blue Persuasion”
(Tommy James & The Shondells…consistently in editor’s top 3
all time…along with “Fooled Around And Fell In Love” and
“Hello, It’s Me”) #3 “Spinning Wheel” (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
But wait…there’s more…….
#4 “My Cherie Amour” (Stevie Wonder
#5 “What Does It Take To Win Your Love” (Jr. Walker & The
All Stars…best beginning for a tune…period…including
anything Beethoven did…then again, Johann Strauss had a few
good ones…and so did Richard Strauss…….I’m so confused)
#6 “Good Morning Starshine” (Oliver)
#7 “One” (Three Dog Night)
#8 “The Ballad Of John And Yoko” (The Beatles)
#18 “Black Pearl” (Sonny Charles…if you don’t remember this
one, find it…especially if you’re after Beyonce, who appears to
be single once more)
#21 “Yesterday When I Was Young” (Roy Clark…another great
one)
#26 “In The Ghetto” (Elvis Presley…always glad I grew up in
the suburbs when I hear this one)
#42 “A Boy Named Sue” (Johnny Cash…and glad my parents
named me “Editor”)
#56 “Lay Lady Lay” (Bob Dylan…never was a Dylan fan…but
you couldn’t help but love this one)
Baseball Quiz Answers: 1) Most 20-game hitting streaks, career:
No surprises…Pete Rose, 7 times, N.L. Ty Cobb, 7 times, A.L.
2) Most consecutive seasons leading league in triples: A.L. –
Lance Johnson, 4 (1991-1994); N.L. – Garry Templeton, 3
(1977-79). 3) Most home runs, pinch-hitter, career: M.L. – Cliff
Johnson, 20. [Jerry Lynch holds the N.L. record with 18. Gates
Brown the A.L. mark with 16.] 4) Most home runs second
baseman, career, M.L.: Jeff Kent, 278 entering 2005. [Ryne
Sandberg is the record holder for the N.L. with 277. Joe Gordon
had 246 for the A.L. mark.] 5) Most home runs by switch-hitter,
season, N.L.: Chipper Jones, 45, 1999. [Mickey Mantle holds
the M.L. mark with 54, 1961.]
Some baseball tidbits:
–Ty Cobb (14) and Pete Rose (10) also hold the A.L. and N.L.
marks for most times with five or more hits in one game, career.
[Post-1900]
–Most times with five or more hits in one game, season, post-
1900. N.L. record is shared by Stan Musial and Tony Gwynn
with 4. A.L. record is also 4, shared by Ty Cobb and Ichiro.
–Now here’s why some of us love baseball…Jim Greengrass
shares the mark with most doubles, opening game of season, 4.
Jim Greengrass? Hell, never heard of the guy. So we go to the
record book and see he played from 1952-56, an undistinguished
career comprising less than 1800 at-bats. But the year he hit the
4 doubles opening day, 1954, he ended up with 27 HR and 95
RBI (27 doubles) for Cincy. At age 26 he appeared to have a
future. Hell, the year before he had 20 HR and 100 RBI! But he
was out of baseball at 28.
–Stan Musial holds the N.L. mark for most triples with bases
filled, career, with 7. [The A.L. record is held by some guy
Shano Collins with 8…1910-1920.]
–Willie Mays, 22, and Babe Ruth, 16, have their respective
league records for most home runs, extra innings, career.
–This should have been a quiz question, but Babe Ruth, 12, and
Mike Schmidt, 8, hold the record for leading their leagues in
home runs. [Ralph Kiner had but the 7 we noted last week…all
in a row.]
–Babe Ruth, 11, and Hank Aaron, 8, hold the league marks for
most seasons with 40 home runs.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday. Johann Strauss and “Tales From the
Vienna Woods” ……………….JUST KIDDING!
