Baseball Quiz: In 1995, these two future Hall of Famers were the oldest players in their respective leagues. Name ‘em. Answer below.
Daytona
So I told you this is the one race I make sure I watch each year and it didn’t disappoint. I caught the first 70 of 200 laps and then flipped back and forth between the race and golf the rest of the way, knowing I needed to watch the last 10 laps for the duration and at that point, the top 20 drivers were all within one second…one second…of each other. The rest was a tension convention, waiting to see who would make a move.
So on the last lap, Denny Hamlin, in fourth at the time, made it. Matt Kenseth went with him but hit the wall, yet amazingly saved his car to avoid a final turn disaster with the field, as Hamlin shot past Marin Truex Jr. and won by a foot…yes, a foot…the closest finish ever. I really don’t need to comment further, or else I’d sound like a moron, except to say it was a great shot in the arm for the sport.
For Hamlin it was his first Daytona 500 win. But, remember how I wrote recently Joe Gibbs Racing hadn’t won since 1993? Hamlin is a JGB racer. Go Joe!
College Basketball Review
–Since the last chat…on Wednesday….
3 Oklahoma was upset by Texas Tech (16-9, 6-7) 65-63. Bad loss for the Sooners.
And an awful loss for 4 Iowa in losing to Penn State (13-13, 4-9) 79-75 in Happy Valley.
8 Xavier stuck a fork in 23 Providence’s top 25 ranking with an 85-74 win as the Friars fell to 19-8, 7-7.
And 15 Dayton lost to Saint Joseph’s in what was hardly an upset, 79-70, with the Hawks advancing to 22-4, 11-2, while Dayton fell to 21-4, 11-2.
But the game of the night, and one of the games of the year, was 20 Duke’s 74-73 win over North Carolina.
Brice Johnson had 18 points and 11rebounds in the first half on 8 of 10 from the field, but he finished ‘just’ 29 and 19, 13 of 17, as Carolina failed to get him the ball more often in the second half. Instead, the rest of the Tar Heels were 17 of 53 from the floor for the game, with supposed All-American Marcus Paige just 2 of 10, 0 for 6 from three.
As for Duke, they lost guard Matt Jones to a twisted ankle early and with a thin (non-existent) bench stayed in it on sheer guts.
But it was the ending that left a bitter taste for Tar Heels fans.
Nicole Auerbach / USA TODAY
“Twenty seconds remained on the game clock Wednesday when North Carolina forward Brice Johnson grabbed the defensive rebound. After leading almost the entire game, the fourth-ranked Tar Heels trailed No. 19 Duke, 74-73, and could play for the potential game-winning shot.
“North Carolina had three timeouts remaining, yet didn’t call for one. Instead, the Tar Heels clumsily watched the precious seconds tick down. Justin Jackson dribbled into the defense, then passed out to Joel Berry, who drove to the right elbow and tried a contested jumper that was blocked by Duke guard Derryck Thornton who tipped the ball to teammate Grayson Allen as time expired.
“It was total mismanagement of the final possession – and something that happened all too frequently for North Carolina in the second half…..
“After the game, a sullen North Carolina coach Roy Williams shouldered some of the blame for the disappointing final possession.
“ ‘It’s my call, and I think you should always attack before the defense gets set,’ Williams said. ‘It was what I was taught. It’s the way I’ve always played. I told the kids I should have called a timeout.”
But then he added that if faced with the same situation the next game, he’d probably do the same thing.
–On to Saturday….
And North Carolina (22-5, 11-3), recovering from its loss, blasted 11 Miami (21-5, 10-4) 96-71 behind Brice Johnson’s 16 points, 15 rebounds, while Duke (20-7, 9-5) squandered its momentum and lost at 18 Louisville (21-6, 10-4) as the Blue Devils, and Coach K, lost their composure. Grayson Allen had 29 in defeat but fouled out and was hit with a technical at the worst possible time down the stretch. [On the other hand, a gutty performance for Rick Pitino’s Cardinals, who only have the conference regular-season title to play for after the school’s self-imposed penalty banning Louisville from postseason play.]
3 Oklahoma (21-5, 9-5) played like a No. 3 in defeating 10 West Virginia (20-7, 9-5) in Morgantown, 76-62, behind Buddy Hield’s 29.
Texas A&M (20-7, 9-5) upset 14 Kentucky (20-7, 10-4) 79-77.
St. Bonaventure (18-7, 10-4) kept its tourney hopes alive with a very good win at Dayton (21-5, 11-3), 79-72, as the Flyers are suddenly struggling.
–Just when it looked like LSU would make the NCAA tournament they have lost their last two, the latest an 81-65 drubbing at the hands of 13-14 Tennessee. So with the Tigers slipping to 16-11, it seems doubtful we’ll get a look at freshman sensation Ben Simmons on the biggest stage. But the fact is LSU doesn’t deserve a bid, pure and simple.
–In action on Sunday….
Wake Forest hosted Boston College in the Game of the Century, the Deacons playing without senior star Devin Thomas, who was suspended for two games for being a jerk, while sophomore forward Cornelius Hudson, who just had a career-high 22 in Tuesday’s 101-96 double-overtime loss at Pitt, was booted from the program for good for being an even bigger jerk, plus an idiot. The administration and coach Danny Manning didn’t say what the offenses were, but Hudson had been suspended early in the season for five games for failing to adhere to school policy.
Athletics Director Ron Wellman, who really needs to find another line of work, told the press, “I’m encouraged about our future, extremely encouraged about our future. We saw great potential this year.
“When I look out there and see who we have coming back, and the people who are coming in, there’s every reason to be encouraged by the future.”
Wellman is from the Planet Zortron.
But wait…Wake blasted BC 74-48! BC (7-20, 0-14) was one for its first 20 field goal attempts. The score was 41-14 at the half. Manning started our freshman 7-footer Doral Moore in place of Thomas and the kid responded with 19 points and 7 rebounds, as the Deacs went to 11-16, 2-13.
The significance of the game is that it just may help us retain our freshmen. Yours truly also won the annual Ferraro’s Lunch Challenge, BC alum Steve D. owing me lunch at Ferraro’s in Westfield, NJ. I’ve already told him its chicken parm.
–So I had to take a look at the shooting percentages of some of the San Diego State players and this is from the field, not three-point land.
Trey Kell (.386), Winston Shepard (.361), Dakarai Allen(.346) and Malik Pope (.350). Eegads.
But on Sunday night, SDSU, my “Pick to Click,” beat San Jose State 78-56, as coach Steve Fisher started Pope for the first time this season and the guy I’ve been telling you has as much raw talent as anyone in the country responded with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks.
The Aztecs are now 13-1 in Mountain West play and I have to believe are a lock for the Big Dance. They may only get like a 10-seed, but if Pope plays to his potential they will be a very hard out. And that’s a memo….
NBA
–Yawn…the trade deadline came and went and when I went through the list of all the very minor moves made, there isn’t one that I think is worth mentioning, unless you think the Magic trading Channing Frye to Cleveland as part of a three team deal is a move that puts the Cavs over the hump. [Answer: No.]
–As the teams came off the All-Star break, on Thursday, Chris Paul led the Clippers to a nice 105-86 win over the Spurs; Paul with 28 points and 12 assists.
–Friday night, Portland rode Damian Lillard’s career-high 51 points (with seven assists and six steals) to a stunning 137-105 win over Golden State in Portland. Portland is now 28-27 (prior to its Sunday night contest), having won nine of 10.
–Saturday, the Warriors edged the Clippers in L.A., 115-112.
–Meanwhile, the pathetic Knicks lost to the equally lowly Nets in their first game off the break, Friday, 109-98 in Brooklyn, but the Knicks bounced back Saturday night in Minnesota, winning 103-95.
So they are 24-33, having lost 11 of 13. There will be no playoffs.
–ESPN The Magazine’s Jackie MacMullan had a troubling article on the recent deaths of some of the NBA’s former stars.
“53: The average age of death for Moses Malone, Darryl Dawkins, Hot Rod Williams, Anthony Mason, Christian Welp, Jack Haley and Jerome Kersey – all of whom died in the past year. The average life span of NBA big men remains an open question.”
Larry Bird, 59, thinks about it all the time. He recalled a game on March 17, 1998, when as Indiana Pacers coach, he felt like his heart “was kicking out again.” He was suffering from sudden arrhythmia – waves of nausea and dizziness, sweating profusely.
In 1995 he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heartbeat resulting from electrical signals being generated chaotically throughout the heart’s upper chambers. With proper medication, exercise and diet, it can be controlled, but he has developed a fatalistic view of the future.
“I tell my wife all the time, ‘You don’t see many 7-footers walking around at the age of 75,” says Bird, who is 6-foot-9.
Then there’s Bill Walton, who suffered from such debilitating nerve pain in his back that in 2008, at age 56, he contemplated suicide. Walton estimates he’s undergone 37 surgeries, including fusion surgeries on both ankles, and in 2009, an 8 1/2-hour spinal fusion surgery.
MLB
–Arizona handed pitcher Zack Greinke a six-year, $206.5 million contract after his spectacular 2015, 19-3, 1.66 ERA. But he’s an interesting guy (to say the least) and so on Friday he said, “I don’t think you can build on it,” when asked how he might improve on last year’s numbers. “It’s about as good as it’s going to be for me. I’m probably not that good.”
If you’re an Arizona fan, you’re not exactly thrilled with the statement. Granted, you don’t expect 19-3, 1.66 again, but you do hope for at least 17-9, 2.50, for the next few years and just a little more positive attitude for the rest of his teammates, no?
–The Yankees’ CC Sabathia, fresh off alcohol rehab, announced himself fit and ready to contribute a lot more than his 6-10, 4.73 of last season. But he is making a staggering $25 million this year and might not even start.
–Us Mets fans are very lucky that our broadcast trio, Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez, is embarking on their 11th season together. During the dark times they saved our summers.
—Tony Phillips died. He was 56. Heart attack.
Phillips had an 18-year MLB career with six teams, a couple of them twice, but he started and ended with Oakland. He hit .266 for his career, but twice led the league in walks and had an outstanding on-base percentage of .374. Four times he scored 100 runs, leading the league once, and he had some pop…160 HR 819 RBI.
But Phillips, when he came up for the Hall of Fame, received a whopping 0.2%. Not that he deserved better, he probably didn’t, but I mean he did accumulate 2,023 hits and 1,300 runs.
The thing is Tony Phillips was much more. It’s easy being cynical these days in terms of our sports figures, but everyone liked Phillips.
Bob Nightengale / USA TODAY
“The laugh.
“The infectious, cackling laugh.
“That’s what I’ll remember about Tony Phillips….
“Word spread quickly (of his death), and brought horror to the faces of those who loved him….
“Sure, he had his flaws, like everyone else. Phillips was arrested for cocaine possession in 1997 with the Angels, entered a guilty plea, and went into drug counseling.
“Still, he kept coming back, again and again and again.
“He loved the game, and refused to let it go.”
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times
“Though small in stature – Phillips was 5-foot-10, 175 pounds – he infused the Angels with intensity, challenging teammates, often with stern, profanity-laced lectures, to play through pain and to put the team ahead of themselves….
“That attitude, that toughness, rubbed off on his teammates. [Former Angels shortstop Gary] DiSarcina recalled one particular tongue-lashing he received from Phillips on a brutally hot day in old Tiger Stadium in July 1995.
“Detroit was in the middle of a Midwest heat wave, and in the second game of a doubleheader, DiSarcina, who was having a rough day at the plate, took a called third strike, argued with the umpire and threw his bat and helmet toward the dugout.
“ ‘The ballpark was kind of quiet…but I kept hearing this little chirping, cuss words coming out,’ DiSarcina said. ‘I thought it was somebody in the stands. I turned around and looked and it was Tony, marching right at me from the on-deck circle, screaming and yelling at me to ‘go home! If you’re going to be a baby, go home.’ With some choice words.’
“ ‘I turned around and said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘We’re winning this game, and it’s not about you. If you want to complain and cry and be a baby, go home; we don’t want you here.’ He walked out to second base, I walked out to shortstop, and he screamed and yelled at me the whole way to be a man, to grow up. He taught me a lesson, that it’s a grown man’s game.’”
Phillips was in such good shape (which makes his sudden death all the more shocking), that he went to some big league camps at age 53, looking for a job. He played eight games of independent-league ball in 2015.
Tony Phillips is also the third member of the 1989 World Series-winning Oakland A’s to die in the past two years, joining pitcher Bob Welch and outfielder Dave Henderson.
–And former San Francisco Giants third baseman Jim Davenport died. He was 82. Over 13 seasons, he had a career batting average of .258, with 77 home runs and 456 RBI. His best season was 1962, when he hit .297 with 14 HR and 58 RBI, making his lone All-Star team. He also won a Gold Glove that year.
Davenport managed the Giants briefly in 1985, going 56-88 before he was replaced by Roger Craig.
Golf Balls
–It was a different Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club this week, as world number one, Jordan Spieth, shot a first round 79 and failed to make the cut, a stunning development.
Camilo Villegas shot one of the best rounds of his career, an opening 63 for a four-shot lead, but he wasn’t a factor after, finishing -4, T-37.
In the end it was Bubba Watson, his ninth PGA Tour triumph, one shot over Adam Scott and Jason Kokrak.
–Did you notice how at Riviera this weekend, more than a few players were hitting 2-irons?!
—Greg Norman bought his 8-acre estate in Jupiter Island, Fla., in 1991 for $4.9 million, according to property records, and now he has put it on the market for $55 million, which would amount to a nice investment. There are seven buildings, 26,000 total square feet, a putting green, a gym, a game room, a tennis pavilion and court and a two-bedroom, two-bath guest cottage right on the water. [Golfweek]
NFL
–Christine Brennan / USA TODAY…another on Peyton…
“This cannot be the sendoff Peyton Manning imagined.
“A social media firestorm about a 20-year-old college training room incident, viewed not in historical perspective but through the prism of the post-Ray Rice NFL.
“A league investigation into allegations that he received human growth hormone, a substance banned by the NFL.
“Conversations not about legacy, sportsmanship and class, but about mooning, court documents and settlements.
“Manning hasn’t said a word publicly since allegations of his so-called mooning incident at the University of Tennessee resurfaced in the New York Daily News over the weekend, and an e-mail to his spokesman, Ari Fleischer, went unanswered Wednesday.
“But there can be no little doubt that if his stellar 18-year NFL career is indeed over, he leaves with an image that is more tarnished now than it ever was as a player.
“Whatever Manning did in February 1996 is resonating today in large part because the sordid allegations form such a stark contrast to the squeaky-clean reputation he has cultivated over the entirety of his professional life. Shock value fuels interest, and, since all of the information and allegations and whatnot are traveling along the superhighway of social media, we’re moving at breakneck speed toward uncharted territory for Manning, and for all of us.
“It has always been easy to envision the second act of Manning’s life. He has set himself up to be a big part of our lives for the rest of it. He’ll sell us products. He’ll motivate audiences with inspirational stories. He’ll be his untouchable, sterling self, the famous middle brother of the first family of football.
“Or will he?”
–Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller announced his retirement after 11 seasons and two Super Bowl wins. Miller caught 592 passes in his career for 6,569 yards and 45 touchdowns – all franchise records for a tight end.
Miller was the consummate professional. The Steelers, and their fans, will miss him.
–And a college note…Mark R., Notre Dame alum, wanted me to mention the action taken by Fighting Irish offensive lineman, Steve Elmer, who was going to be a high draft pick in the NFL this spring or next. Instead, Elmer wrote the following for an ND web site.
“Let’s get the hard part out of the way first: I am writing to inform you that I have decided to forgo my final season of athletic eligibility at the University of Notre Dame, and I have no interest in pursuing a spot on an NFL roster.
“Now I know that for many of you reading this letter, this situation may sound a little crazy. After all, it’s not every day that you hear about a Notre Dame starter, about to enter his final season, stepping away willingly from this most-revered game. There must be something wrong. Actually, everything is great.
“I have no problems with the coaching staff, no academic issues, and no violations of team rules that normally come along with a statement like this. My reasons for cutting my playing career short have nothing to do with any negative experiences at Notre Dame; in fact, I would consider my commitment to this exceptional University the best decision I have ever made. Playing football here was a huge challenge, but I wouldn’t trade the experience of doing battle out there on that field with my brothers for anything….
“The experience of balancing Notre Dame’s academic rigors with my football commitments has given me a great foundation for my next endeavor. I will graduate from Notre Dame this May and start my professional journey this summer in the Washington, D.C. area.”
Elmer is interested in eventually pursuing a career in politics and he deserves tremendous credit for taking advantage of the system (I say this in a good way), gaining his scholarship, playing his heart out for his team and school, and then running with an opportunity that football helped him attain.
Good for Steve Elmer.
[Meanwhile, Mark R. owed me a six-pack of premium (or premium domestic) after Wake Forest beat the point spread in a football game last fall between our schools. But he sucked me into going double or nothing on the Wake Forest-ND women’s basketball game this past week and the Lady Demon Deacons lost 86-52 when I was given 25 points. I feel like an idiot, and I’m placing my own name in the December file. Unprecedented.]
Stuff
–No Premier League action owing to FA Cup competition. Play resumes next weekend.
–There were two World Cup downhill races this weekend in La Thuile, Italy, for the women and Lindsey Vonn had a DNF and a second (to Nadia Fanchini of Italy), but that was good enough for Vonn to clinch her eighth downhill season title, 20th World Cup crystal-globe title overall.
But Vonn got in trouble a day earlier when she posted a video of an angry outburst in which she destroyed her bindings with a hammer after one of her skis had come off during a race. She apologized a day later after removing the post from her Facebook page.
Sunday, Vonn finished third in a super G race, and with Switzerland’s Lara Gut placing second, Vonn’s overall World Cup lead was reduced to just 23 points over Gut, 1200 to 1177.
At Chamonix, Dominik Paris of Italy won the men’s downhill, finishing ahead of American Steven Nyman.
—Matt Centrowitz, 26, won the Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games in New York on Saturday in 3:50.63, the fourth-fastest indoor mile ever, though still more than two seconds off the world record set by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1997.
But in a prelim mile race, Drew Hunter of Loudoun Valley High in Virginia broke his own national indoor high school mile record that he had set just two weeks before on the same track, finishing in 3:57.81, fourth place in the invitational race.
As I noted the other week, Hunter will be attending the University of Oregon and on Saturday he wore a jersey bearing the likeness of Steve Prefontaine.
–I very seldom stay up for the late-night shows (none of them do a monologue like Jay Leno did, let alone Johnny Carson), but I was watching Jimmy Fallon and he mentioned how he had just been to a private party in Malibu with the likes of Bob Newhart and Don Rickles in attendance.
But guess who he said was “the funniest guy ever”? My man, and underrated entertainer of the century (the last one), Steve Lawrence!
–Nike has terminated its relationship with Manny Pacquiao after the boxer described homosexuals as “worse than animals.”
I had the chance to write about Pacquiao last Bar Chat but opted not to. I only bring it up now because of Nike’s move and I don’t expect to say anything more on this.
–Editorial / New York Post…on the passing of author Harper Lee.
“Few writers – certainly none known mainly for a single work of fiction – have sparked a massive outpouring of grief and affection like that heard across the nation Friday.
“But Nelle Harper Lee wasn’t your average writer. And ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was not just another novel.
“Lee, who died in her sleep at the age of 89, wrote a book that – more than a half-century later – remains one of the most beloved and inspiring works ever….
“Lee based the book’s hero, Atticus Finch, on her own father; its narrator, Scout, on herself and many of the other characters on her neighbors in tiny Monroeville, Ala.
“But she was also a New Yorker, dividing her time between Manhattan and Monroeville from 1949 until ill health forced her to move to an assisted-living facility.
“In fact, it was a New York couple who gave her the gift of a year’s income so she could complete without distraction the work that became her magnum opus.
“An instant best-seller, the book brought her fame with which she eventually grew uncomfortable – even as ‘Mockingbird’ won ever-widening acclaim.
“It remains one of the most widely taught pieces of literature in American schools….
“In presenting Lee with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007, President George W. Bush called her book ‘a gift to the entire world’ that ‘has influenced the character of our country for the better.’ RIP.”
Personally, the film version is in my top three or four all time, but I am upset how Ms. Lee’s legacy was tarnished in the end by her publishers and I’m saving this angle for my next WIR.
–No word on the fate of four of six lions that escaped Nairobi’s National Park, on the outskirts of the capital. On Friday morning, the six slipped out and began to wander toward the city center. As of yesterday there had not been any unwanted encounters as game wardens searched the streets. By midday, a lioness and her cub had returned to the park.
–I forgot to note the winner of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show the other day, California Journey (“C.J.”), a German shorthaired pointer.
Crain’s Liz Skinner notes that “Puppies of the three-year-old male will bring up to tens of thousands of dollars each, and endorsements could bring in even more.”
On the other hand, Skinner writes, “It probably costs the owners of the dogs that end up in the ring at Westminster at least $50,000 to get there, experts said.”
But there is a sidebar to the above. Johnny Mac relayed the story that 2008’s winner of Best in Show, Uno the beagle, was doing commentary work for CNBC’s telecast and, you know, dogs bark, especially when they are being asked for their opinions of the lineup.
Officials, hearing the barking, escorted Uno out of Madison Square Garden, flagging him as an “undocumented dog.” Ted Cruz and Donald Trump then went off on the beagle.
“These beagles are bringing in drugs, they’re rapists….,” said Trump.
Uno Nation, though, will have the last say in this one.
–And there is this awful story, as reported by the New York Post’s Lauren Tousignant.
“Tourists in Argentina killed a rare baby dolphin after grabbing it out of the water so they could take selfies, according to Central European News.
“La Plata dolphins often swim close to the shoreline – and the calf was scooped up on the shore of the Santa Teresita beach resort in Buenos Aires.
“A huge crowd passed around the squirming dolphin for photos, but dolphins can’t stay out of the water for long, and the animal died from dehydration.”
The photo of this incident, with a huge mob surrounding the animal, is sickening.
–Brad K. passed along this tale from Simon Tomlinson of the Daily Mail.
A Capuchin monkey grabbed a foot-long kitchen knife and chased after men at a Brazilian bar.
“The Capuchin became aggressive after drinking leftover rum at the venue in Paraiba, Brazil.
“It grabbed a foot-long knife and began chasing the male drinkers – but not the women.
“The bar owner was forced to call the fire brigade as the monkey rampaged out of control.”
So firefighters captured the animal, released it into a nature reserve, but then the monkey had to be caught again “after it began terrorizing nearby residents.”
There are happy drunks and there are angry ones. This is one Capuchin who cannot handle his drink and probably should be in rehab in Southern California. Maybe Passages Malibu, which, frankly, is where I want to go for rehab.
–Bruuuce Alert! His autobiography, Born to Run, is due out Sept. 27. As noted on a posting on his social media sites, he “widely recounts his relentless drive to become a musician, his early days as a bar band king in Asbury Park, and the rise of the E Street Band.”
Here’s my guess at what he writes.
“Growing up, I had a relentless drive to be a musician, but knew to be a success I’d have to work the bars in Asbury Park, though first I’d need to find a band.”
That’s pages 3-18, replete with lots of early photos.
Just kidding, Bruce fans!
As noted in a story by Chris Jordan of the Asbury Park Press (via USA TODAY):
“Writing about yourself is a funny business,” Springsteen says in the book. “But in a project like this, the writer has made one promise, to show the reader his mind. In these pages, I’ve tried to do this.”
So I’m guessing he writes:
“Saw this unbelievable chick at the Stone Pony, busting out of her halter top….”
Just kidding, Bruce fans!
[Can you imagine the lines for a book signing?]
Top 3 songs for the week 2/23/80: #1 “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (Queen) #2 “Do That To Me One More Time” (The Captain & Tennille) #3 “Yes, I’m Ready” (Teri DeSario with K.C.)…and…#4 “Cruisin’” (Smokey Robinson) #5 “Rock With You” (Michael Jackson) #6 “Longer” (Dan Fogelberg) #7 “On The Radio” (Donna Summer) #8 “Desire” (Andy Gibb) #9 “Coward Of The County” (Kenny Rogers) #10 “Sara” (Fleetwood Mac….in less than three months, would your editor graduate on time from Wake Forest? It’s touch and go. I’m taking piano and physical conditioning to pick up some final credits…GPA hovering at the Mendoza line…)
Baseball Quiz Answer: In 1995, Andre Dawson was the oldest in the NL, 40, while with Florida, while Dave Winfield was the oldest in the AL, 43, while with Cleveland.
Next Bar Chat, Thursday.
