Remember Babe Ruth

George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1920

This quote from the famous American sports writer, Tommy Holmes, says it all about the Babe:

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me.

Sources:


Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry
Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org
Babe Ruth Museum

Baseball's "Old Perfesser"

He retired in 1960 only to return to the game two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their "Old Perfesser" coach. He captivated the press and broadcast media with his rich quips and comments delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style nurtured over his more than fifty years in baseball.

Never make predictions, especially about the future.

Whether you love or hate the Yankees really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the Yankees. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as manager of the Yankees in 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958.

Stengel in 1953

For a kid born in the mid-40's and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. It didn't work out that way for me. Rotten vision and Coke bottle bottom glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or hate 'em.

Eventually I left the Georges Creek Valley and have no idea what happened to my baseball pals. For certain, most of them left Appalachia in search of a better life. But regardless of their destinations, I imagine they never left the joy of baseball far behind. Though we are pulled in many directions and obligations place demands on our leisure, the old pastime is still with us, thanks to icons like Stengel. If you want to honor the old man, go to a game today. If that can't happen, gather the family and sit them down to watch Field of Dreams (1989). 


To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features, as well. Link to Wikipedia's more extensive biography here. The Casey Stengel Basebal Center is a fine source for exploring the man and his legacy.

There comes a time in every man's life, and I've had plenty of them.

Sources


Photo: cover, Baseball Digest, October 1953

Text: wikipedia,com

Baseball's Babe

George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 129th anniversary of the birth of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1920

This quote from the famous American sports writer, Tommy Holmes, says it all about the Babe:

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me.

Sources:


Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry
Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org
Babe Ruth Museum

Pigtown's Bambino

George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 128th anniversary of the birth of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1920

This quote from the famous American sports writer, Tommy Holmes, says it all about the Babe:

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me.

Sources:


Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry
Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org
Babe Ruth Museum

Remembering The "Old Perfesser"

Never make predictions, especially about the future.

He retired in 1960 only to return to the game two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their "Old Perfesser" coach. He captivated the press and broadcast media with his rich quips and comments delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style nurtured over his more than fifty years in baseball. 

Whether you love or hate the Yankees really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the Yankees. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as manager of the Yankees in 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958.

Stengal in 1953

For a kid born in the mid-40's and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. It didn't work out that way for me. Rotten vision and Coke bottle bottom glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or hate 'em.

Eventually I left the Georges Creek Valley and have no idea what happened to my baseball pals. For certain, most of them left Appalachia in search of a better life. But regardless of their destinations, I imagine they never left the joy of baseball far behind. Though we are pulled in many directions, and obligations place demands on our leisure, the old pastime is still with us, thanks to icons like Stengel. If you want to honor the old man, go to a game today. If that can't happen, gather the family and sit them down to watch Field of Dreams (1989). Chances are, Casey will drop by.


To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features, as well. Link to Wikipedia's more extensive biography here. The Casey Stengel Basebal Center is a fine source for exploring the man and his legacy.

There comes a time in every man's life, and I've had plenty of them.

Sources


Photo: cover, Baseball Digest, October 1953

Text: wikipedia,com

Baseball's Babe From Baltimore

George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 127th anniversary of the birth of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1920

This quote from the famous American sports writer, Tommy Holmes, says it all about the Babe:

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me.

Sources:


Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry
Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org
Babe Ruth Museum

Casey Stengel: Number 37 And The Field Of Dreams

For a kid born in the 1940's and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley in Maryland, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. In fact it was so natural it's a strong tradition even to this day. It didn't work out that way for me.  Rotten vision and breaking any number of "Coke bottle bottom" glasses rendered me useless - and expensive - on a baseball field. In fact that's why I didn't play sports, much to my disappointment. On the other hand, I followed baseball just as fiercely as my pals, collecting hundreds of baseball cards, listening to and later watching the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or hate 'em. 

Playing outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers, 1915

Ah, the Yankees. Love or hate for them really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well, His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. He began his professional career as a right fielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers, then played for several teams before moving into managing in 1925. Stengel became manager of the Yankees in 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. He went on to win two more championships with them in 1956 and 1958.

The "Old Perfesser" in 1949

You look up and down the bench and you have to say to yourself, 'Can't anybody here play this game?' There comes a time in every man's life and I've had plenty of them.

In 1960 he retired from the game only to return two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their coach who captivated the press and broadcast media with his quips and comments delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style nurtured over his rich career.

 

The Yankees retired his number 37 in 1970. The Mets did the same five years earlier. He was the first baseball personality to be so honored by two teams based only on his management skill.

To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features as well. Link to Wikipedia's extensive biography here. The Baseball Almanac has a great list of memorable quotes here. 

If you want to honor the man go to a baseball game this weekend. If that can't happen gather the family, especially the grandfathers, fathers and sons, and watch Field of Dreams (1989). Chances are, Casey will enter the conversation.






Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel in a 1949 issue of Baseball Digest, public domain
Playing outfield, Library of Congress photo, public domain

Text: wikipedia.org

Babe Ruth: "Every Strike Brings Me Closer To The Next Home Run."

 
George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 126th birthday of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, 1920

This quote from the famous American sports writer, Tommy Holmes, says it all about the Babe:

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me. 

Sources:


Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry
Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org
Babe Ruth Museum

That Pigtown Boy

February 6 is a legendary day in baseball history. On this day in 1895, George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to the St Mary's Industrial School for Boys. Ruth wasn't much of a scholar there but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the monks to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. By the age of 19, he was a professional baseball player and destined to become the greatest ever. Learn more about the Babe here at his official page or here at his extensive Wikipedia entry.

Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum

His page at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum website has even more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Ruth at St. Mary's

Echoes From The Old Ball Game

For a kid born in the 1940's and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley in Maryland, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. In fact it was so natural it's a strong tradition to this day. It didn't work out that way for me. Rotten vision and "Coke bottle" glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or hate 'em.

Ah, the Yankees. Love or hate for them really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the team. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as manager of the Yankees 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with them in 1956 and 1958.

The "Old Perfesser" in 1949

You look up and down the bench and you have to say to yourself, 'Can't anybody here play this game?' There comes a time in every man's life and I've had plenty of them.

In 1960 he retired from the game only to return two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their coach who captivated the press and broadcast media with his quips and comments delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style, nurtured over his rich career.

To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features as well. Link to Wikipedia's extensive biography here. The Official Casey Stengel Site has a great list of quotes here.

If you want to honor the man go to a baseball game this weekend. If that can't happen gather the family, especially the grandfathers, fathers and sons, and watch Field of Dreams (1989). Chances are, Casey will enter the conversation.

Sources

Photos and Illustrations:
public domain photo, New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel in a 1949 issue of Baseball Digest.

Text:
wikipedia.org

Words About "Old Perfesser" Casey Stengal On His 125th Birthday

Never make predictions, especially about the future.

He retired in 1960 only to return to the game two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their "Old Perfesser" coach who captivated the press and broadcast media with his quips and comments, delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style, nurtured over his rich career.

Whether you love or hate the Yankees really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the Yankees. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as manager of the Yankees 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958.

Stengal in 1953

For a kid born in 1946 and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. It didn't work out that way for me. Rotten vision and Coke bottle bottom glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or hate 'em.

I left the Georges Creek Valley in 1956 and have no idea what happened to my baseball pals. For certain, most of them left Appalachia in search of a better life. But regardless of their destinations, I imagine they never left the joy of baseball far behind. Though we are pulled in many directions, and obligations place demands on our leisure, the old pastime is still with us, thanks to icons like Stengel. If you want to honor the old man, go to a game today. If that can't happen, gather the fathers and sons in the family - and the girls who'll understand - and sit them down to watch Field of Dreams (1989). Chances are, Casey will drop by.

To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features, as well. Link to Wikipedia's more extensive biography here. The Official Casey Stengel Site has a great list of quotes here.

About the girls who'll understand...maybe they can find something else to do.

Sources

Photo: cover, Baseball Digest, October 1953

Text: wikipedia,com

Hank Aaron Hit #715 Forty-One Years Ago Today

It is a sultry day in Atlanta today, so much so that the upper 80's heat may break a record. If so it isn't the only hot record to be set on this date.  Forty-one years ago, Hank Aaron swung at a 4th inning pitch from Al Downing of the LA Dodgers. "Hammerin' Hank" sent it sailing for a home run in front of a record sellout crowd at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was his 715th career home run, one more than Babe Ruth's record set in 1935.

In 1976 Aaron retired from baseball with 755 home runs. That record would stand another forty years until broken in 2007 by San Francisco Giants slugger, Barry Bonds. Aaron joined the Braves management team after leaving the playing field. It's a job he still holds along with records for the most career RBI's (2297), the most career total bases (6856) and the most career extra bases hit (1577).

Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was demolished and replaced by a new stadium for the 1996 Olympic Games. That stadium was reconfigured as Turner Field, the Home of the Braves. And across the parking lot from Turner Field you can visit the holy ground of Aaron's record-breaking homer. There a section of home run fence and wall from the evening of April 8, 1974 still stands. It's a fitting shrine to an Atlanta hero, a gentleman, and one of baseball's finest.

Sources:
Plaque photo, Baseball Hall of Fame, Cooperstown, NY
kalw.org, San Francisco Public Radio
Wikipedia, Hank Aaron entry
baseballhall.org, Hank Aaron page

George Herman Ruth: A Babe With Potential

George Ruth wasn't much of a scholar at Baltimore's St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the Xavarian Brothers to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys.  He was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to St. Mary's. He entered when he was seven years old and stayed there for twelve years. A few months after his nineteenth birthday in 1914 he signed a professional baseball contract to play with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the newest "babe" to join the team and would go on to become a legend during his major league career (1914-1935) with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Braves.

Babe Ruth (top row, center) at St. Mary's School in 1913

Today marks the 120th birthday of Babe Ruth, the "Bambino," the "Sultan of Swat," arguably the greatest baseball player ever.

Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum

See Ruth's Wikipedia and National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum pages for more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

Babe Ruth , New York Yankees, 1920

Some 20 years ago, I stopped talking about the Babe for the simple reason that I realized that those who had never seen him didn't believe me.

                                                                                     Tommy Holmes (sportswriter)

Sources:

Babe Ruth, Wikipedia entry

Babe Ruth biography, Baseball Hall of Fame, baseballhall.org

Babe Ruth Museum, baberuthmuseum.org

The Babe From Pigtown

Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum 

Ruth at St. Mary's

February 6 is a legendary day in baseball history. On this day in 1895, George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in Pigtown, one of Baltimore's many rough and tough neighborhoods near it's famous harbor. After seven years struggling to maintain their working-class family his parents assigned custody of their son to the St Mary's Industrial School for Boys. Ruth wasn't much of a scholar there but he excelled at baseball, the primary sport used by the monks to bring structure and discipline to their 800 boys. By the age of 19, he was a professional baseball player and destined to become the greatest ever. Learn more about the Babe here at his official page or here at his extensive Wikipedia entry.

His page at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum website has even more information, including videos, photos, and a wealth of amazing statistics.

It's "The Old Perfesser's" Birthday

Casey Stengel playing the outfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers, 1915

For a kid born in 1946 and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley, playing baseball was supposed to be a natural. It didn't work out that way. Rotten vision and Coke bottle bottom glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or
hate 'em.

Whether you love or hate the Yankees really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the Yankees. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as the Yankees' manager in 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958.

He retired in 1960 only to return to the game two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their "Old Perfesser" coach who captivated the press and broadcast media with his quips and comments, delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style, nurtured over his rich career.

To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features, as well. Link to Wikipedia's more extensive biography here. The Official Casey Stengel Site has a great list of quotes here.

I left the Georges Creek Valley in 1956 and have no idea what happened to my baseball pals. For certain, most of them left Appalachia in search of a better life. But regardless of their destinations, I imagine they never left the joy of baseball far behind. Though we are pulled in many directions, and obligations place demands on our leisure, the old pastime is still with us, thanks to icons like Stengel. If you want to honor the old man, get to a game today. If that can't happen, gather the men and boys in the family - and the girls who'll understand - and sit them down to watch the film, Field of Dreams (1989). Chances are, Casey will drop by.

On second thought, I think the girls can find something else to do.

Favorite Scenes From A Century Of Cinema - 7

What a great film. Don't know one man who can ignore the powerful memories emerging from this scene.

The original "field of dreams" in Dyersville, Iowa, has been a sacred destination for almost twenty-five years now. Here is some recent news about the field's preservation and future plans for its surroundings.

Bob Feller Walks On The Field Of Dreams

OTR was ten when Bob Feller ended his extraordinary pitching career after the 1956 season. To the boys in Maryland's Georges Creek Valley, the pitcher of renown would always be our hometown boy, Lefty Grove, but finding a Feller card in your bubble gum pack was still golden. Feller passed away earlier this week. The New York Times provides a first-rate obituary for one of baseball's greatest stars.

Photo: dbking

The Old Perfesser

For a kid born in 1946 and growing up in Lefty Grove's Georges Creek Valley, playing baseball should be a natural. Sometime it doesn't work out that way. Rotten vision and Coke bottle bottom glasses rendered me useless on a baseball diamond, so I didn't play organized ball with my pals. On the other hand, I followed the sport just as fiercely, collecting my hundreds of baseball cards, listening to - later watching - the Washington Senators and the Baltimore Orioles, and arguing about those Yankees, love 'em or
hate 'em.

Whether you love or hate the Yankees really doesn't matter today. It's simply a great day in baseball history for a beloved man of the game who happened to do well - very well - with the Yankees. His name was Casey Stengel, born on July 30, 1890, in Kansas City. Stengel took over as the Yankees' manager in 1949 and won the World Series championship. They won again in 1950. And 1951, 1952, and 1953. It's a record of consecutive wins that still stands. Stengel went on to win two more championships with the Yankees in 1956 and 1958.

He retired in 1960 only to return to the game two years later as manager of the "Lovable Losers", the New York Mets. Fans loved them and their "Old Perfesser" coach who captivated the press and broadcast media with his quips and comments, delivered in his famous "Stengelese" style, nurtured over his rich career.

To learn more about Casey Stengel, visit his Baseball Hall of Fame page here. The page links to some good multimedia features, as well. Link to Wikipedia's more extensive biography here. The Official Casey Stengel Site has a great list of quotes here.

I left Georges Creek Valley in 1956 and have no idea what happened to my baseball pals. For certain, most of them left Appalachia in search of a better life. But regardless of their destinations, I imagine baseball was never left behind. Though we are pulled in many directions, and obligations place demands on our leisure, the old pastime is still with us, thanks to icons like Stengel. If you want to honor the old man, I can't think of a better way than gathering all the men and boys in the family - and the girls who'll understand - sitting them down for two hours and watching Field of Dreams. Chances are, Casey will drop by.

On second thought, I think the girls can find something else to do.