American League RBI Quiz: 1) Who is the last to lead the league three consecutive seasons? 2) What three Red Sox players led the league in the 1960s? 3) Who is the only player to lead the league three times in the 1950s? 4) In the history of the game, who is the only American Leaguer to lead the league in RBI while playing for two teams that season? Answers below.
Flip Bondy / New York Daily News
“There are people who inexplicably pay $2,600 a pop to watch the Cleveland Indians play baseball in the Bronx. And for those crazies who didn’t reach their cushioned Legends seats yesterday until the bottom of the second inning, the Yankees offer no refunds – on the reassurance it will be some time before Chien-Ming Wang’s turn comes around again in the rotation.
“What can you say when the home team loses 22-4 and gives up a franchise-record 14 runs and 13 hits in a single, nightmare inning, the worst 37 minutes in 106 years?….
“The mysterious unraveling of a one-time projected ace is not a pretty thing to watch, ever. The crowd’s reservoir of goodwill ran dry for Wang after he gave up a fourth hit in that second inning, a double to Ben Francisco. He has lost his way in a most humiliating fashion.”
Like try 23 hits and 23 runs in just six innings in three starts. A staggering 34.50 ERA for a two-time 19-game winner who entered this season a spectacular 54-20 for his career. As I was swapping notes with Johnny Mac afterwards, consider that Wang needs to throw 40 scoreless innings from here to get the ERA down to 4.50. The Elias Sports Bureau (the best organization of any kind in the world, frankly, besting the United Nations, IMF, World Bank, American Red Cross…well, maybe not this last one…) said that Wang is the first pitcher who hasn’t lasted four innings in any of his first three starts since Cleveland’s Larry Sorensen in 1982.
I didn’t watch much of the game on television, having caught the Mets earlier, and like many of you, when I first checked the score, at the time 20-2, online, I didn’t believe it. So picture the game was Fox’s national contest and I do have to give Joe Buck kudos for his remark as the Cleveland pitcher wrapped it up in the ninth. “That was not a save situation.” Brilliant.
And isn’t it great the way the Yankees have opened their new stadium? In the span of three days, the Yanks gave up innings of 9 and 14 runs to the Indians. Consider that in the history of the old Yankee Stadium, there were only 11 times where the opponent scored nine or more, including what had been the most, 13, way back in 1925.
Fan Shawn McCarthy, 28, of Hoboken, told the New York Post, “I paid $10 a beer to see this chop-shop team? They suck!” [Congratulations, Shawn. You just made Bar Chat, an honor that stays with you forever.]
On the other hand, across town the New York Mets have quite an ace in Johan Santana, who has given up one run in 19 innings but is only 2-1, and that second win on Saturday was hard to come by as the Mets eked out a 1-0 victory. Santana hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs since July 17, but in four straight, going back to last year, the Mets haven’t scored more than two runs for him.
Separately, on Friday night, Gary Sheffield became the 25th to clout 500 home runs, his first hit as a Met, and thus he reenters the debate on the Hall of Fame and steroids. He admitted to using a performance-enhancing cream back in 2001, after all, and was named in the Mitchell Report.
But something cool happened on Friday. 22-year-old Chris Matcovich of Suffern, N.Y., caught the home run ball and traded it for five signed jerseys (for him and his four friends), plus some balls and bats from Sheffield. Chris says he’s unemployed and broke but never gave trying to sell the ball a second thought.
“I respect the game too much to sell it or keep it,” Matcovich said. “That’s [Sheffield’s]. He worked so hard for it.” Sheff said, “That was definitely special for him to do that. He didn’t have to.” And so for a few days we’ll leave the topic of Sheffield and steroids alone and focus on the positive.
And while I’m on the topic of the Mets, I saw in the paper that the new Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan, went to a food pantry in the poorest section of the Bronx as his first official business since replacing Cardinal Egan. Some of us are excited that Dolan seems like a real breath of fresh air. But I’m bringing this up here because this particular food pantry is the result of a partnership between Catholic Charities and the Rusty Staub Foundation! Staub, one of the most popular Mets in their history, has done a lot of good work going back to his playing days, but I had no idea how big some of his projects have become. [Aside from a well known one where he aids the children of police and firemen killed in the line of duty.]
Just musing, but Staub, an immensely intelligent man, would blow Washington away if he ever ran for the Senate. No B.S. from Rusty. Just the facts and “get down to work, you lazy, corrupt, bunch of thieves”…. sorry, I’m picturing Rusty’s first speech on the Senate floor, as his fellow senators would then slither away in fear.
It’s easy to take shots at the guy now that he has retired after 30 years. Let’s face it, he wasn’t exactly at the top of his game the last few seasons. But at the same time, he deserved his legend status because he was the first to really popularize the sport of football in a way no others had before when he first went into the broadcast booth in 1979, after a sterling career as head coach of the Oakland Raiders (103-32-7, with a Super Bowl title). NBC Sports’ Dick Ebersol said “John was the only broadcaster who I believed could change ratings. He was so consistently entertaining, that was a guy you really wanted to have on the couch with you, only larger than life.” And the mystique of the Madden Bus didn’t hurt.
Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University, probably summed it up best.
“I would not call John the most articulate or analytical mind, but he brought to a football broadcast knowledge and fun that worked even if you didn’t care about the game. He was a vaudevillian in the booth.” [Los Angeles Times]
Madden was also all about Thanksgiving, for many years, and his passion for turducken – chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey.
Bob Costas said, “He brought such a big-as-life personality with the combination of insight and fun, of everyman enjoyment. And with the Madden video game, that connected him to the younger generation and players….He stayed contemporary.”
Oh, I read some comments from television critics, such as from one who will go nameless who noted, “He always played it safe” and, while he would complain about show-boaters off air, on air he rarely took a harsh stand and yet he was in a position to change things. Point taken. But he rose to where he was because the vast majority found him entertaining, and he was in the entertainment business. That’s pretty much the bottom line. He did his part in bringing football to the masses. Nothing wrong with that as a legacy, and if he was enriched in the process, well, that’s America.
—Golf Bits [I don’t receive all my golf magazines until late in the week, thus the reason for passing on some stories from last weekend.]
I was reading a conversation between Dan Patrick and Jim Nantz and I totally forgot that back in 1996, when Kenny Perry was in the hunt at the PGA, Perry had entered the booth with Nantz as Mark Brooks finished up, 40 minutes behind Perry. That jogged the old memory bank and it really was a strange moment because Perry should have been on the practice range, as he then proceeded to lose a playoff to Brooks.
It turns out Tiger Woods was even more testy at Augusta than normal. As Jamie Diaz of Sports Illustrated writes, these days for Tiger it’s virtually all about the majors and nothing else. “(The) internal pressure that Woods carries in majors – which at his best he tempers with an air of serenity – seemed palpable at Augusta.” After his second-round 72, for example, he let swing coach Hank Haney have it on the practice range in such a harsh fashion that caddie Steve Williams walked away until Woods cooled off. And he was last heard mumbling on Sunday, “It was just terrible. I don’t know what was going on. It was just frustrating.”
And if you were wondering why he seemed to be consistently outdriven, it would appear Tiger planned his assault on the course way too conservatively and kept dialing back when, say, Phil Mickelson, blasted away.
They say the Champions Dinner was quite an occasion as Jose Maria Olazabal read a letter from Seve Ballesteros that Masters Chairman Billy Payne said was “an amazing moment. It was very emotional, very loving, and as it was read, you could feel in the air the reciprocation from his friends and former champions going all the way back to Spain.” [Golfweek]
Lee Elder wants a sit down with President Obama, thinking the president could do wonders for spreading the word on golf and minority participation. As Elder points out, it’s pretty remarkable that there were a dozen blacks on tour when he was on it, and just Tiger today (and none on the LPGA, which I find equally remarkable).
With Tiger, for every frustrating moment you learn of a good one. Tuesday of Masters week he sought out Gary Player, considered the best bunker player of all time, for some advice. After the two chatted in the locker room, they headed to the short-game practice area for a formal session; Woods always looking to get better.
Lanny Wadkins was elected to the Golf Hall of Fame (along with Jose Maria Olazabal). Wadkins won 21 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1977 PGA Championship at Pebble Beach, and he was 20-11-3 in eight Ryder Cups. Enshrinement had been a touchy subject the past few years, however, because the well-deserving Wadkins was passed over for golfers who hadn’t met his victory total; such as Greg Norman, Nick Price, Hale Irwin, Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Hubert Green, Larry Nelson and college teammate Curtis Strange. [I’d put Payne Stewart, also in the Hall, in a separate category. Who knows what he would have gone on to accomplish. Five majors? You know, to a great extent the sport still really misses him.] I’ve said it before, but golf really needs to set some kind of standard like the LPGA has. I’m thinking 18 wins (which must include one major) and/or 3 majors and 10 wins.
Back to Kenny Perry, universally loved in the sport, I forgot 5 percent of his prize money goes to fund a scholarship he has established at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn. The total has now grown to $1.4 million. That’s awesome. [Especially considering Perry went to Western Kentucky.]
So Ernie Els missed the cut at Augusta for a third consecutive year, while Sandy Lyle made it for a third year in a row. Go figure. In fact, Sandy Lyle was hitting his rescue club 250-260 yards, to give you an idea of how far technology has come. Kenny Perry, 48, hits it as long as anyone thanks to the advancements in same.
Uh oh. In 2006, Michelle Wie made $20 million in endorsements and appearance fees. That was then. This is now. Sony has ended its relationship with Wie, a $5 million value. Her other significant deals are with Nike and Omega watches. In other words, especially in these tough times, she better get crackin’.
John Daly, in the midst of his double-secret probation from the PGA Tour, had lap-band stomach surgery and has lost 40 pounds. At 43, Daly is said to be serious about a comeback in May, when his suspension evidently ends, but we’ve heard that before.
Finally, Alan Shipnuck of Sports Illustrated described Masters winner Angel Cabrera’s victory partner Sunday night.
“Cabrera was whooping it up at a rented house in a stately Augusta neighborhood. Two dozen people had turned up for the party – friends, players, caddies, friends of friends. Already a futbol chant had rung out in the night: ‘Ole, ole, ole, ole, Pa-to, Pa-to!’….Now holding court at his party, the Argentine was barefoot, wearing only shorts and a T-shirt.
“Cabrera’s appetites are like his drives – prodigious. Earlier in the evening a quaint Masters tradition had compelled him to eat a champion’s dinner with the Augusta National members. Eschewing the lobster macaroni and cheese [ed. man, that sounds delicious] and other delicacies from the buffet, Cabrera settled on an irresistible item called the Tiger Woods Cheeseburger. The burgers were smaller than expected, so a famished Cabrera ate nine of them, washed down by gulps of red wine. Back at the house, as it neared 2 a.m., he took lusty sips of his favorite drink: Coke missed with Fernet Branca, a bitter, aromatic spirit brewed from grapes and more than 40 herbs and spices.” I wish I was there.
Consider that Cabrera was left by his parents at age three and grew up in a tin-roofed house on a dirt road with his grandmother. As Shipnuck put it, Cabrera learned to survive “on his wits and fists.” He was always fighting, usually over a girl, and he has three scars “adorning” his face that attest “to his pugilistic past. No wonder, then, he wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated when Woods and Phil Mickelson threw their best punches on Sunday.” The sport needs more like Angel, and tournament sponsors should be throwing themselves at him because his popularity is on the verge of soaring.
–Not a lot to say yet about the Rick Pitino alleged extortion case, but sounds like a whacko woman, the ex- of the University of Louisville equipment manager, was claiming all kinds of defamatory stuff. Pitino went to the FBI but no real details have emerged.
–50-year-old Mark Martin became the third-oldest to win a NASCAR race on Saturday night in Phoenix. A great feat for one of the more popular drivers in history.
–Of all the Yogi Berra lines, the Yogi-isms, I think my favorite is “Always go to other’s people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t come to yours.”
–The Royals\’ Zack Greinke is 3-0 and has yet to allow a run in 20 innings.
—Rachel Robinson told basketball legend Bill Russell that her husband Jackie wanted Russell to be a pall-bearer at Jackie’s funeral because he considered Russell his favorite athlete. Before Saturday night’s Mavs-Spurs playoff opener (won by Dallas), there was a neat piece with Tim Duncan and Bill Russell sitting down together and Russell saying Duncan was in turn his favorite player.
–I loved the way the Phillies honored Harry Kalas on Saturday in placing his casket at home plate before the game. Kalas thus became only the third affiliated with the sport to be so honored, the other two being Babe Ruth and broadcaster Jack Buck.
—1969 Mets, continued…Mets 3-5
Apr. 16…Mets lose to the Pirates in Pittsburgh, 11-3. Roberto Clemente has 3 hits, 2 RBI, while Jose Pagan has 4 hits with 3 ribbies. Bob Moose went all the way for the Bucs, while Jerry Koosman was shelled for five runs in 2 1/3.
Apr. 17…Mets lose to the Pirates, 4-0, as Jim Bunning (six innings) and Ron Kline (three) combine on the three-hitter. Don Cardwell pitched well in defeat.
Apr. 19…Tom Seaver (1-1) outdueled Bob Gibson in St. Louis as the Mets won 2-1. Seaver scattered nine hits and fanned just three.
Apr. 20…Mets win second in St. Louis, 11-3, as Nolan Ryan picks up the win in relief of an ineffective Jim McAndrew, with Ryan going 4 1/3. Kevin Collins homered for New York, while Jerry Grote had 3 hits and 4 RBI and Ron Swoboda knocked in 3.
Apr. 21…Mets lose to the Phillies in 11, 2-1, at Shea. Woody Fryman went 10 innings for the win, while Ron Taylor, in relief of Gary Gentry who went 9, took the loss.
Apr. 23…Strange scheduling, I guess due to rainouts, as Mets defeat the Pirates 2-0 at Shea with Jerry Koosman going all the way for the shutout. Jim Bunning again pitched an effective six innings for Pittsburgh. [I have to admit, I forgot Bunning was a Pirate back then…very embarrassed about this, frankly, especially since I sponsor his page on baseballreference.com.]
So the Mets are now 6-8. Incidentally, the Mets drew just 9,286 and 7,274 for these last two home games. Next up, four with the Cubbies at Shea. About now, as a 10-year-old fan, I’m thinking the Mets suck.
–I just saw "Doc" Blanchard, the 1945 Heisman Trophy winner, passed away. Blanchard and Glenn Davis led Army to consecutive national titles in 1944-45. Davis won the Heisman in \’46. Blanchard did not play professional football because of his military commitment and became a colonel in the Air Force. Davis died in 2005.
–Brian Gay won the Heritage in Hilton Head Island, S.C., by 10 strokes, the best performance in three years. It was Gay\’s second PGA Tour title.
–Hey ‘24’ fans, after six years in Los Angles and one in D.C., Season 8 is going to take place in New York. CTU returns under the leadership of a new, male character, and Chloe gets more of a role again. One potential story line is for the Yankees to continue to throw Chien-Ming Wang on the mound, in essence waterboarding Yankees fans who then join al-Qaeda-type organizations as a way of getting retribution for paying $100s to watch the ongoing disaster.
–So I hadn’t checked out the Wake Forest sports Web site in a while and finally saw the write-up on our new junior college recruit, Konner Tucker. Looks like the kid is going to be a huge fan favorite, and he graduated from high school with a 4.1 grade average, or twice my final GPA at Wake. Not bad, not bad at all.
–Two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves was acquitted on charges he sought to evade more than $2.3 million in income taxes. This is one lucky dude, because my reading of the case was that it was pretty clear cut the other way. [I won’t bore you with the details but the bottom line is he claimed he didn’t own a shell company set up for a $5 million licensing deal and other sponsorships, ostensibly to dodge taxes, say prosecutors, while the IRS showed all manner of documents in which Castroneves claimed the corporation as his own.]
–Four of 12 pythons escaped from a container in a Qantas airlines cargo hold. Following a 2 1/2 –hour flight, Qantas staff were unable to find the escapees among the luggage.
It turns out they were traveling in an appropriate container and no one can figure out how they got out. Must have been followers of the Amazing Randi. Alas, the plane was fumigated to kill the four. The other 8 pythons have filed suit against Qantas and are being represented by Rumpole of the Bailey.
–The Post has a story by Annie Karni on New York City’s cougars – “single, sexy, successful 40-something ladies with a penchant for – growl – much younger prey. Once the term was a stigma, but with the rise in divorce (and Botox), more foxy felines than ever are prowling the city’s bars and clubs looking for fresh meat.”
Personally, I’m too old for cougars, but they’re also all over my part of New Jersey, I tell ya. Anyway, the Post’s top ten cougar list includes Madonna, 50, at No. 5; Elle Macpherson, 45, No. 6; Carol Alt, 48, No. 8; and Katie Couric, 52, No. 9. I’m sure Ms. Couric is just thrilled. Or maybe CBS could incorporate a growling cougar as part of the theme music for CBS News…you know, like the MGM lion. Then the voice would go, “And now…Katie Couric.” “Good evening…you be looking at me, ‘cause I’m looking at you. In Iran today….”
–One of Germany’s most popular singers, Nadja Benaissa, who is part of the girl group No Angels (modeled after the Spice Girls), was arrested on suspicion of causing “grievous bodily harm by infecting a partner with HIV” by having unprotected sex with at least three men, one of whom now says he has the virus. So, guys, if you see her at the post office or grocery store, keep your distance, and whatever you do, don’t flirt with her in the produce section.
–The number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay has increased 43 percent over last year to an estimated 400 million, so some say efforts to clean it up, as well as limitations on the catch, are taking hold. Back in 1991, however, there were about 828 million of the delicious treats. [Oh baby, I just went on marylandbluecrabexpress.com and now I’m hungry as heck.]
–Officials are warning those living in my area to be on guard for coyotes. Some idiots have been getting close enough to snap off pictures. If I saw one in my driveway, I’d be a bit unsettled. This past week, though, I did see what had to be the same red fox three times on my drive to work. Luckily I didn’t come too close to killing the thing. So lots of nature in an area that saw little just 30 years ago. Plus all those cougars I noted above.
–Is Dunkirk in the Kentucky Derby or what? The official site for the Derby is about the worst I’ve ever seen for a major event. Every day they should have a simple link telling you who has qualified and officially entered, including those on the bubble. Is that too much to ask, race fans? Instead, there is a bunch of garbage that is hopelessly out of date. So I keep saying that Dunkirk should be in, but until I see it in a hard news story, I don’t know for sure.
[And I finally did…Edgar Prado is up on Dunkirk. He’s in, and I’m officially psyched. Now I need to tell my father to buy more beer because it would appear I’ll be watching the race at my parents’ place since they have the spectacular TV I bought them.]
—Bruce Springsteen’s alleged mistress, Ann Kelly, said her whacko estranged husband “went public with claims of a steamy affair to keep her from getting the ‘upper hand’ in their nasty split.” [Jeane MacIntosh / New York Post] Ann continues to claim there was no affair between her and Bruuuuuuce.
–We congratulate Andy Roddick for convincing the lovely Brooklyn Decker that he’s the one she should be married to, even though Roddick is no longer a real threat to win a big one, in the humble opinion of your very amateur tennis analyst.
–Some in the Bar Chat community are still grieving over the death of Marilyn Chambers. Jeff B. has had a tough time coping, seeing as he went to the same high school as the porn goddess. In growing up in Westport, Conn., she attended Staples High School, where she was a cheerleader and was voted “Best Student Body” (I swear, it’s in a Westport News article that Jeff passed on to me). In fact, Marilyn was still a student when she had her part in “The Owl and the Pussycat.” Growl….
But wait…there’s more! You know the Hall & Oates song “Rich Girl”? Jeff says it’s about another “famous” Staples High School girl from his class….this is true, but I can’t reveal the name. Wouldn’t be prudent. [Unless Jeff says it’s okay. Evidently, the 30th reunion was pretty funny.]
–Speaking of my friend Jeff B., recall he was one of the last to see Paul Newman before his death, as Jeff had dinner at a restaurant where Newman and friends were eating. I wrote at the time how Jeff was pleased to see Newman drinking a fair amount of beer.
Well it turns out there is a nasty book coming out by Shawn Levy titled “Paul Newman: A Life,” that slams Newman for putting away “beer after beer after beer, a case or more a day.” So, what’s new? Levy also writes that Newman hated when people asked to see his famous blue eyes. He raged, “There’s nothing that makes you feel more like a piece of meat. It’s like saying to a woman, ‘Open your blouse, I want to see your [blocked by the International Web Site Association].”
Sorry, Mr. Levy. Your book won’t change my opinion one bit. Like what about Newman’s immense work for charity…and sick kids?
–And now…your EXCLUSIVE wrap-up of the Miss USA pageant! With your hosts, Billy Bush and Nadine Velazquez. Once again, I chose my own top ten with the introductions to see how I would stack up. My picks were:
Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Texas, Vermont and Virginia.
But the judges, after first selecting fifteen, narrowed their top ten down to:
Utah, California, Arizona, South Carolina, Kentucky, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, West Virginia and Tennessee
All top tens, having seen them in swimsuits, had very nice abs. But I was upset with myself for missing Arizona and California, in particular, earlier. I also couldn’t help but notice that Miss Kentucky said she liked to travel. I do too, which means we have a match. Not a bad thing.
OK, the tension is mounting as I first headed downstairs to get a beer…a premium… because a few weeks ago I had a party and still have a lot of premium left in the fridge. But enough about me.
The final five…give it up for Miss North Carolina! Miss Arizona! Miss Utah, the Bulgarian! Miss California! And Miss Kentucky! [I’m picking our first destinations; thinking standard fare such as London and Paris, before I throw in Beirut and a car ride into the Bekaa Valley.] I do have to add that Miss Texas got robbed.
Uh oh…it’s now question time. But this first round is easy. What makes you beautiful? Why is your name Daddy Long Legs? [Asked of Miss Arizona] What about your passion for basketball? What’s this pen-pal deal? [Asked of the Bulgarian] What do you look for in a man? [Miss Kentucky got this one and started out by saying looks are important….I didn’t know how to take this….]
After a commercial break, and another rush downstairs for a premium, the questions got harder…much harder.
Would you use taxpayer money to bailout companies? No, said Miss North Carolina, eliciting raucous applause from the audience at the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.
Miss Arizona was asked, ‘Should the U.S. have universal healthcare?’ and she proceeded to say something incoherent that didn’t come close to answering the question. It might have been about the Diamondbacks’ pennant chances, but I couldn’t really tell.
Miss Utah was asked if she would spend money on Afghanistan’s election, and the Bulgarian said it was the right thing to do. The Republican National Committee, realizing the Bulgarian may have less baggage than Sarah Palin, immediately tabbed Miss Utah as a frontrunner for 2012 and I cast my absentee ballot before posting this column.
Judge Perez Hilton, as good an example as any of why this country is going to hell, asked Miss California what she thought of same-sex marriage, and Miss California said it should be between a man and a woman as the camera panned to a distraught Mr. Hilton. Of course I thought, you have guts, Miss California, but no way you’re winning now. Perez Hilton is out for blood.
Lastly, Miss Kentucky, having just received the itinerary for our trip to London and Paris, was asked about the Chris Brown / Rihanna fiasco and she said assault of any kind is bad, or something like that. I didn’t really catch it because I was trying to get us an upgrade on our flights at this time.
The 4th runner-up is…Miss Kentucky! Drat. I was hoping to tell my friends I was traveling to Europe with Miss USA. 4th runner-up isn’t bad, though, and we’ll deal with it.
3rd runner-up is…Miss Utah! It seems the judges during the last commercial break checked her citizenship papers and there was some uncertainty, ergo, the Bulgarian dropped on some ballots.
2nd runner-up…Miss Arizona. Clearly, she was hurt on her universal healthcare / Diamondbacks answer.
1st runner-up…Miss California! Yes, it’s clear Perez Hilton prevented her from winning. But remember, should our winner later be found to have nude pictures on the Net, or a photo of her standing with Kim Jong-il, watching a military parade, the 1st runner-up then becomes Miss USA.
But for now, Miss USA is…Miss North Carolina! We wish her the best. I’m hoping she’ll invite me to a NASCAR race and all the pulled pork sandwiches I can eat.
All in all, I was disappointed with my performance and I feel for Miss Texas, Brooke Daniel. I’ll let you know later how my trip with Miss Kentucky went.
Top 3 songs for the week 4/22/78: #1 “Night Fever” (Bee Gees…this tune has not aged well) #2 “If I Can’t Have You” (Yvonne Elliman…hanging in there) #3 “Can’t Smile Without You” (Barry Manilow…a lot better than some of the others on this list)… and…#4 “Lay Down Sally” (Eric Clapton…can’t stand this one) #5 “The Closer I Get To You” (Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway…solid) #6 “Dust In The Wind” (Kansas…see #4) #7 “With A Little Luck” (Wings…another dreadful tune, in what was really a lousy week to be alive) #8 “Jack And Jill” (Raydio…ughh…except the middle part is pretty good) #9 “We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again” (England Dan & John Ford Coley…OK) #10 “Our Love” (Natalie Cole…always liked her)
*Mark R. reminded me that Roy Clark was asked to sing “Yesterday When I Was Young” at Mickey Mantle’s funeral. I’ll have a story on Mickey, Roy et al in a few weeks.
American League RBI Quiz Answers: 1) Cecil Fielder is the last to lead the league three consecutive seasons, 1990-92 (132, 133, 124). 2) Three Red Sox players in the 60s: Dick Stuart, 1963 (118), Yaz, 1967 (121), Ken Harrelson, 1968 (109). 3) Boston’s Jackie Jensen led the league three times in the 1950s. 1955 he shared with Ray Boone at 116. Then Jensen led in 1958 (122) and 1959 (112). [Jensen had an interesting career. Didn’t blossom until he was 27, then had six good years, five with 100-RBI, but peaked at 32. MVP in 1958, three-time All-Star.] 4) Gus Zernial is the only player to lead the league while playing for two teams. In 1951, Zernial played four games with the White Sox, getting four ribbies (on two hits), then played 139 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, where he picked up another 125 RBI for 129 total. Zernial had 237 homers and 776 RBI in his 11-year career.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday, from Reykjavik, Iceland. I will not be posting until Thursday morning, I’m guessing.
