Pittsburgh Pirates Quiz: 1) Who was the last 20-game winner?
2) Who was the only 20-game winner in the 1960s? 3) What two
outfielders won the Gold Glove in 1962? 4) Who was
Pittsburgh’s only 2-time Gold Glover at shortstop? 5) Name the
five to drive in 1,000 runs in a Bucs’ uniform. 6) Who am I? I
appeared in 84 games in 1979 and my initials are E.R. 7) Most
innings pitched, career? [Not a trick question] 8) Post-1900, who
holds the record for strikeouts in a season with 276? Answers
below.
Nothing But Stuff
–Drat! David A. Fahrenthold had a piece last weekend for the
Washington Post on the snakehead. Excitedly, I printed out all
13 pages, thinking there would be news of how the snakehead is
taking over our nation’s capital, but, alas, it proved to be
disappointing.
It was in 2002 that a snakehead was caught for the first time in
Maryland, setting off a panic, and then three years ago one was
caught in a tributary of the Potomac River.
But now, three years later:
“(The) range of the Potomac snakeheads starts in Northeast
Washington, at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens on the
Anacostia River, and extends about 45 miles downriver to Aquia
Creek, in Stafford County. In between, scientists say, there
could be hundreds or even thousands of snakeheads, though
some of Frankenfish’s original hype has turned out to be
overblown. They can’t, for instance, waddle any significant
distance on land. They haven’t eaten every other fish in the
river. But they are odd, adaptable beasts: Snakeheads can
breathe air and can survive for hours or even days out of water.
They have gnarly rows of sharp teeth in their mouth, and even in
the throat – not for chewing prey, apparently, but to make sure
the things they vacuum down can’t wriggle their way out again.”
I still say the government is withholding other information, not
wanting to cause a mass exodus north on I-95.
–Correction! You realize this column, and the other big one I
have something to do with, is really my diary, don’t you?
Believe me, little is held back. So I was thinking about what I
wrote last time on one of my Yap experiences involving
barracuda and realized I hadn’t expounded on why they were
dangerous to eat. That led me to the archives, and it turns out my
exact memory six years later wasn’t totally right.
I have the fishing trip laid out on 5/18/01, when my guide and I
caught the fish, but it turns out I read how dangerous barracuda
were to eat ‘after’ the trip, not before. Sorry about that, folks.
But here was my explanation of why barracuda are dangerous,
from the 7/11/01 edition.
“(Glancing) through my ‘Encyclopedia of the Sea,’ by Richard
Ellis, I now realize I was fortunate with the barracuda I recently
caught in the South Pacific. Al, the local who took me out into
the ocean, said he would cook up the three we caught. Being the
naive sort in these matters, I said, sure, as long as I can wash it
down with some brews! Alas, Ellis writes:
“Perhaps more dangerous to man (as opposed to an attack) is the
barracuda’s potential to carry ciguatera, a poison that can be
transmitted when the fish is eaten.”
So we flip to “ciguatera” in the ol’ encyclopedia and find:
“A kind of poisoning caused by eating the cooked flesh of certain
fishes. The symptoms, which may appear immediately or any
time within thirty hours of eating the fish, are tingling about the
lips, tongue, and throat; nausea; vomiting; abdominal cramps;
and diarrhea. Dull muscle pains and aching increase until the
victim is unable to walk. Teeth feel loose in their sockets, and
temporary blindness may occur. About 7 percent of those
infected die. There is no way of identifying ciguatera poisoning
in a fish before it is prepared, and no way of predicting which
species will transmit it. The fishes with the highest instance of
ciguatera poisoning are the barracuda, various jacks, and some of
the groupers.”
–The Shu was the first (of many) to notify me that the barbecue
joint in Kinston, NC, that I blanked out on was Kings. Years ago
I was sales manager for a group of brokerage offices in North
and South Carolina and I called it my barbecue tour. I’d dial up
branch managers, say I’m coming for lunch, they’d offer to take
me to the best place in town, and I’d say, “I just want Carolina
barbecue.” [Of course we’d end up at what was probably the
best place in town, regardless, devouring platters of shredded
pork, slaw and hush puppies.] Anyway, I wish I could remember
the others. Phil W. told me he prefers Wilber’s in Goldsboro. I
worked in Raleigh for a spell and can’t remember the name of a
great place downtown that I frequented. Once I took my brother
there prior to a NASCAR race down in Rockingham and he said
it was the best coleslaw he ever had in his life…………….And
that’s your b’cue report for the week. [I’m drooling.]
–Ryan Howard hit 28 home runs in his first 53 games after last
season’s All-Star Game (but then only two in his last 21). What
will he do this time?
–Speaking of the Phillies, Mark R. pointed out that they may
have wrapped up the 2007 “Bar Chat Good Guy Award” for
coming to the rescue of Colorado Rockies groundskeepers on
Sunday, as a squall hit and the crew was having a most difficult
time getting the tarp to stay on the field. One fellow was thrown
300 feet in the air! [OK, ten.] But were it not for the Phillies’
players suddenly rushing out to help, in all seriousness we could
have had a little tragedy there at Coors Field.
And where were the home team Rockies? In the clubhouse. So
we hereby put the Rockies in the yearend file for “Dirtball
Franchise of the Year.”
–Speaking of dirtballs, I once again can’t fault Barry Bonds on
an issue, that being his begging out of the home run derby. I
love the way A-Rod said he wished Barry had participated; this
as A-Rod refused to do so himself.
No, I didn’t watch the derby. I use the All-Star break to take my
own vacation from the game, though I watched the first seven
innings last night. Suffice it to say, Mr. Pujols is not real pleased
with his manager.
–Back to A-Rod, as Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times
points out, A-Rod could be up to 800 homers in 2013, at age 38.
It’s also interesting that thru age 30 (including all homers hit in a
season in which they were 30), A-Rod had 464 and Bonds just
292. Barry was soon to whip out the needles and cream.
–But wait…there’s more! On Tuesday, A-Rod was interviewed
by Bruce Beck of WNBC-TV and when Beck asked Alex to
describe the All-Star experience, A-Rod, in all seriousness, said,
“It’s very humbling…it reminds you of the responsibilities we
have as role models.”
And would these responsibilities happen to include allowing
your wife to wear a t-shirt that reads “F— you”? Or does it
include traveling the country with a stripper, A-Rod?
–In the ongoing steroids investigations, various media are
attempting to get the government to cough up the names of
ballplayers obtained in the Kirk Radomski case, he being the
former Mets clubhouse employee who is singing to the feds and
George Mitchell. 80% of them will be Dominican. It’s the Bar
Chat Guarantee!
–In a New York Times/CBS News poll, 57% of blacks are
rooting for Barry Bonds to break Aaron’s record, while only 29%
of whites want him to. 47% of black fans said the steroids
accusations are probably or definitely untrue. 46% of black fans
suspect that they are accurate, as do 70% of white fans. I’d say
that means 30% of white fans are total idiots.
–Brendan Prunty of the Star-Ledger examined some of
baseball’s career records and who could break them, if anyone;
such as games played…3,562 by Pete Rose. A-Rod is still 1,731
away, meaning he’d have to play injury-free for another 11
years, for example. Of course you have the obvious ones, and
others not so obvious…such as the fact no one will ever touch
Walter Johnson’s 110 shutouts the way today’s game is
structured with emphasis on the closer role.
But I loved Prunty’s explanation of just how awesome it is to hit
.366 for a career, such as what Ty Cobb did (1905-28).
What it would take to break it: “Go 11-for-30 over a week (five
two-hit games, one one-hit game and one oh-fer. Now do that
every week of your career. Now you’re tied.”
–OK, I promised a great tale of a near no-hitter and this comes
courtesy of Mike Robbins’ terrific book, “Ninety Feet from
Fame: Close Calls with Baseball Immortality.”
As opposed to Bobo Holloman who threw a no-hitter in his first
start, in 1967, 21-year-old Billy Rohr of the Boston Red Sox
found himself on the mound opposing Whitey Ford for the New
York Yankees’ home opener. Robbins picks up the story.
“It looked like one of those intentional mismatches college
football teams arrange for homecoming weekend to ensure the
alumni get a win – Michigan versus Leon’s Barber College, that
sort of thing.
“Only this time the barbers clipped the Yankees.
“Billy Rohr had been too nervous to sleep the night before the
game, but once he stepped on the mound he was cool and
collected. Rohr didn’t allow a hit through five innings. In the
6th, Yankee outfielder Bill Robinson hit an apparent single back
through the middle – but the ball deflected off Rohr’s leg to Joe
Foy at third, who threw to first for the out. For a moment Rohr
thought his leg was too badly hurt for him to continue, but he
walked off the pain and told Sox manager Dick Williams he
could stay in the game.
“ ‘I nearly took him out,’ said Dick Williams later. ‘I was afraid
he might hurt his arm by favoring his sore leg.’ An inning later,
Boston catcher Russ Gibson told Williams that Rohr’s stuff had
‘improved’ since he got hurt. Mickey Mantle pinch-hit in the 8th,
but Rohr got him to pop up. Tom Tresh flew to deep left to lead
off the 9th, but Carl Yastrzemski made a terrific diving catch to
keep the no-hitter alive. Joe Pepitone flew out next, leaving
Rohr just one out away from a no-hitter over Boston’s long-time
rival, New York….For Boston fans, a no-hitter against the hated
Yanks might have been even more memorable than a no-hitter in
a debut. Rohr was one out away from accomplishing both.
“Yankee catcher Elston Howard was up next. Rohr worked the
count to 1-2, and his fourth pitch seemed to catch the corner –
but the umpire called it a ball. Two pitches later the count was
full. Rohr hung a 3-2 curve, and Howard hit a clean single to
right center. The no-hit bid was over….
“Though it was Rohr’s first game in the majors, he’d been
through this before. Rohr had had a no-hitter broken up with two
out in the 9th one year earlier in the minors. His opponent that
day was the Toledo Mud Hens – then the International League
affiliate of the Yankees.
“Rohr’s next start for the Sox in 1967 would be less dramatic,
but just as effective. He cruised to a 6-1 victory, again over the
Yankees. The success wouldn’t last. After a few less-impressive
outings and a stint in the Army Reserves, manager Dick
Williams proclaimed that Rohr wasn’t tough enough to pitch in
the majors, and took away his spot in the rotation.”
Well, of course the 1967 season was a special one for Boston as
they went from 72-90 in ’66 to the World Series, where they lost
to St. Louis in seven.
As for Billy Rohr, he wasn’t on the post-season squad, ended up
in Cleveland in 1968, and it was all over at age 23. 3-3, 5.64
ERA.
Incredibly, there was another Rohr who burst on the scene in
1967, highly touted Les Rohr of the Mets, no relation to Billy.
He went 2-1 in three starts, but threw in just three more games
over the next two seasons, ending up 2-3 for his career.
So if your last name is Rohr and your son appears to have a live
arm…………change your name!!!!! Or, as was the case with
Billy, the kid can become a lawyer.
–This is incredible. Gene Upshaw, NFL Players Association
boss, earned $6.7 million for the year ended Feb. 2007. By
comparison, Donald Fehr of the Major League Baseball Players
Association earned $1 million and NBA Players Assoc.
executive director Billy Hunter took home $2.1 million for the
most recent pay period.
–On July 10, a giant squid washed up on the shores of Tasmania.
“The hood of the squid is about two meters long and the body a
couple of meters long.” A spokesman for Tasmania’s wildlife
agency said “the tentacles had been badly mangled so their
length could not be measured.” [Sydney Morning Herald] It
would appear a titanic battle took place with a creature that is
still out there………………………be afraid…be very afraid.
–6,358 players entered the 2007 World Series of Poker, which is
down from last year’s 8,773 participants. Interesting. Has poker
peaked? Or is it just because there are so many other options at
other casinos? All the biggies have daily tournaments these
days. With a buy-in of $10,000, the top prize for the Series this
year has been announced at $8.25 million.
–Here in New Jersey, we have two poisonous snakes, the
Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake; though
according to Fish and Wildlife, “The chance of being bitten by a
venomous snake here is far less than being struck by lightning.”
But in reading a column by the Star-Ledger’s Fred Aun, I just
have to note his advice when messin’ around where serpents
tread.
“If you’re an outdoors lover who drives a car to your favorite
trail, chances are good you have brought along the world’s best
snakebite kit.
“No, not one of the ubiquitous suction-cup gizmos found in
camping supply departments. Despite the packaging hype, those
kits don’t do much and might actually do more harm than good.
“ ‘The snakebite kit we recommend is a set of car keys to get you
to the hospital,’ said Dr. J. Ward Donovan, medical director of
PinnacleHealth Toxicology Center in Harrisburg, Pa. ‘And if
there was another good tool at your disposal, rather than a
snakebite kit, it would be a cellphone.’
“But Donovan stressed that, if you’re convinced the viper that
nailed you is venomous, you shouldn’t even take the time to stop
and dial that phone. Make the calls (such as to the poison-
control hotline: 800-222-1222) while walking back to the car or
to a place where an ambulance crew can find you. But don’t
wait in the woods for help to come.”
The reason why you really want to get to a hospital is because
most paramedics don’t carry anti-venom treatment.
And by the way, Dr. Donovan tells Fred that “merely being
bitten by a rattler or copperhead does not mean a person always
needs treatment. Donovan said there is no ‘envenomation’ about
25 percent of the time.” Envenomation shows in the first 15
minutes with pain and swelling.
Snakebite advice….another free feature of Bar Chat.
–And this just in…. “Canada geese numbers decline in Morris
County (NJ) parks”!!!! Roundups have been effective.
–I see where former Giants football player Ken MacAfee, 77,
died of a heart attack on July 4 while playing golf and I got to
thinking; while for some of us this is a dream way to go, I’m
having second doubts. Like I would hope it was after a birdie, or
even a spectacular par save.
Say you hit your drive on a 400-yard (white tees…it’s me) hole
into the woods. You have no other play but to chip back into the
fairway, leaving you 180-190 (again, it’s me) to the hole which is
guarded by traps. [It’s also the #1 handicap hole.]
But now you’re determined to salvage something from this mess
and you pull out your Adams 5-wood (I don’t have a hybrid yet),
and hit a soaring, gorgeous shot towards the green. It’s so high
and majestic that you have time to admire an eagle that appears
to be tracking the ball along with you….as it then lands softly,
three feet from the pin, and rolls another 30 or so inches, leaving
you a mere tap-in for the par of your life. As you accept the
heartfelt congratulations of your long-time playing companions,
you……………..
Now that’s not a bad way to go, right? But I’m afraid I’d hit the
drive into the woods, then pull a Mickelson and try to hit a
miraculous shot out, only to end up deeper into the forest, after
which I’m pawing around, looking for the ball, when a
copperhead strikes me and I die right there…in the poison-ivy
infested woods with all manner of bugs and such and my friends
afraid to drag the body out.
–Top Ten Movies, 1967
1. The Graduate
2. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
3. Bonnie and Clyde
4. Valley of the Dolls
5. The Dirty Dozen
6. You Only Live Twice
7. The Jungle Book
8. Thoroughly Modern Millie
9. Wait Until Dark
10. To Sir, With Love
–Top Ten Albums, 1967.
1. The Monkees…More of the Monkees
2. The Monkees…The Monkees
3. Doctor Zhivago…soundtrack
4. The Sound of Music…soundtrack…….CLIMB…EV-RY…
MOUN-TAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!…….ya gotta admit…best music moment
in any movie, period……….plus The Sound of Music’s opening
is the best ever. In other words, this is the best movie ever……
…………..though my personal favorite is still “Cool Hand
Luke.” Come to think of it, Paul Newman would have done
pretty well in the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest back
in the day.
5. The Temptations…Greatest Hits
6. A Man and a Woman…soundtrack
7. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass…S.R.O.
8. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass…Whipped Cream & Other
Delights……….best album cover ever….and it’s not even close
9. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass…Going Places
10. The Beatles…Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
You see, the purpose of listing the above was to point out what a
roll Herb Alpert was on in those days. You could win major
coin on this. So why not set up a sting operation at your local
watering hole?
Or, you could ask your friends / suckers, “Who sold more albums
in 1967 than the Beatles and Rolling Stones combined?” It’s The
Monkees.
–Jeff B. and I can’t figure out what the heck Lynn Johnston is
doing with “For Worse,” as we now call it. But one thing is for
sure. April is showing signs of ‘roid rage. And where would she
receive the steroids? From her father, of course. And just where
is Dr. P. these days? We’ll find out shortly, but I guarantee it
won’t be pretty.
–So I read David Kamp’s interview in Vanity Fair with Sly
Stone and it does seem real; that after a few gigs in Europe this
summer, Sly and most of the members of the Family Stone (if
not all) will be hitting the recording studio. Stone, now 64 but
looking in better shape than he did at his bizarre Grammy
performance last year, told Kamp he has a huge backlog of new
material, “a library, like a hundred and some songs, or maybe
200.” Just pick out the good ones, Sly!
–The Washington Post’s media critic Tom Shales beat me to the
punch. I forgot to write last time that after watching the
commercials, if any of you view NBC’s “The Singing Bee,” I’d
be deeply disappointed. This has to be the most moronic concept
of all time.
Tom Shales:
“Some bad shows call for essentially gentle, friendly warnings.
A network unleashes another blundered clunker that will hardly
be noticed and never be missed, and the critic sounds a mild
alarm. But then, on occasion, one faces something akin to a
toxic waste spill. Temperate caution is inadequate; the event calls
more for panicked cries of ‘Run for you lives!,’ aching moans of
‘Not since ‘My Mother the Car’’ and sundry screams of bloody
murder.
“Not that there are any bloody murders in ‘The Singing Bee,’ a
new NBC calamity premiering tonight and thus beating to the air
by a day Fox’s ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics!’ – a game show with a
format, according to industry buzz, nearly identical to that of
‘Singing Bee.’ At least NBC had the courage, foolhardy or not,
to let critics see ‘Singing Bee’ in advance, whereas Fox is
keeping ‘Don’t Forget the Lyrics!’ under wraps – and under lock
and key – until air time, the gutless wonders.
“What’s so bad about ‘The Singing Bee’? Just about
everything.”
As for host Joey Fatone, “The poor sap can’t ad-lib anything
beyond ‘oh, boy,’ and to call him mechanical would be to insult
millions of reliable, hard-working machines throughout the
world.”
Top 3 songs for the week of 7/11/64: #1 “I Get Around” (The
Beach Boys) #2 “Memphis” (Johnny Rivers) #3 “Rag Doll”
(The 4 Seasons)…and…#4 “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You
Crying” (Gerry and the Pacemakers) #5 “Can’t You See That
She’s Mine” (Dave Clark Five) #6 “My Boy Lollipop” (Millie
Small) #7 “People” (Barbra Streisand…goodness gracious…43
years ago!!….and it was all downhill after this super tune) #8 “A
World Without Love” (Peter and Gordon) #9 “The Girl From
Ipanema” (Getz/Gilberto) #10 “No Particular Place To Go”
(Chuck Berry)………….Now that, sports fans, is a top ten.
**The change in format here in the New York City market for
WCBS-FM (101.1) is taking place at 1:01 p.m. on Thursday.
DJs Dan Taylor and Bob Shannon, along with weatherman Mr.
G., are returning. However, I’m a little concerned that the return
to its oldies format has been amended to include the 80s, as well
as the 60s and 70s. I hope they haven’t blown it. [Actually,
what I’m most concerned about is having to listen to Blondie.
I’d have to commit hari-kari.]
Pittsburgh Pirates Quiz Answers: 1) John Smiley last won 20,
going 20-8 in 1991. 2) Vernon Law was the only hurler to win
20 in the 1960s…20-9 in ’60. 3) Outfielders Roberto Clemente
and Bill Virdon won Gold Gloves in 1962. 4) Gene Alley is the
only Pittsburgh shortstop to win two Gold Gloves, 1966-67. I
never thought of him as being a great fielder. Guess I was pretty
stupid when I was 8 and 9. 5) Five with 1,000 RBI: Willie
Stargell…1,540; Honus Wagner…1,475; Roberto Clemente…
1,305; Pie Traynor…1,273; Paul Waner…1,177. 6) Enrique
Romo appeared in 84 games in 1979. 7) Most innings pitched,
career: My main man…Bob Friend, 3,480. He’s also #1 in
career starts with 477. 8) Strikeouts, season (post-1900): Bob
Veale, 276 (1965).
Now here is some super trivia for you. Back in 1896, Frank
Killen of the Pirates went 30-18. Believe it or not, Frank Killen
is the last lefty to win 30 in the National League.
Next Bar Chat, Monday p.m.
