I love baseball. I have since I was a little boy. One of my earliest memories is of watching Don Larsen throw a perfect game in the 1956 World Series. I was too young to have appreciated the feat but I knew something very special had happened. I am writing this on Sunday morning and my motivation is some things that happened in relation to Major League Baseball (MLB) over the past few days. They tie into policy and politics as I will outline below. Oh, and I’ll throw in a few other tidbits.
Tag Archives: Major league baseball
When The Best And The Worst Intersect
Baseball has been my favorite sport from as far back as I can remember. In fact one of my earliest memories (admittedly somewhat foggy) was watching Don Larsen pitch his perfect game in the 1956 World Series on a black and white TV. It’s a sunny and hot Monday morning in Wake Forest, North Carolina as I pen this article and I’m also basking in the glow of my Tampa Bay Rays being in first place in the American League East (albeit part of a three way tie) with a record of 2-1. Major league baseball is back for the moment; that’s the good news. Unfortunately there is also bad news. Let’s explore. Continue reading When The Best And The Worst Intersect
A Different Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day in America; the day we set aside each year to remember our war dead. This year it is not that simple and even sadder. Let’s explore. Continue reading A Different Memorial Day
Who Needs Scouts?
While we are all distracted with Trump’s tweets and Russiagate he and his minions are doing severe damage to our federal government that will be with us long after they have exited the scene. In his defense it may well be due to his ignorance. I’m an old baseball fan (some days I feel the operative word is old). I remember when Marge Schott owned the Cincinnati Reds. Famously she once wanted to fire all their scouts. In the bliss of her ignorance she declared, “All they do is sit around and watch ball games.” Allow me to expand on that. Continue reading Who Needs Scouts?
In “The Show”
Baseball players and serious fans often refer to the major leagues as “The Show”. The major leagues are where the biggest rewards (fame and fortune) are as well as where the spotlight shines the brightest. Boot a grounder in Class A ball and only a few hundred people will ever know. Boot that same grounder in the major leagues and it just might end up on Sports Center and be viewed by millions (not counting live TV, radio and nationally syndicated news columns). In politics often sins go relatively unnoticed until you reach the highest levels. Many House members toil in relative obscurity. Reach the Senate and certainly the presidency and the entire world seems to monitor your every action. I don’t think Donald Trump ever realized that. Let’s explore. Continue reading In “The Show”