Bad news for Shohei Ohtani, a big day for Aaron Judge, the usual dysfunction from the White Sox, the oldest player you’ve seen play, voter fraud, Russian "accidents," NYT nihilism, and my new book
Haven't tried to get a live ticket yet, but I've watched them live on YouTube a bunch of times. Yes, he can get the ball over the plate often enough to pitch an inning with good defense behind him. (For those who don't watch the Bananas--he's in the stands, not the dugout, hands his beer can to someone, and runs onto the field. I always wonder if he's actually been drinking that beer or if it's just a prop.)
True story. And they are enormous, I saw some in person a few years ago during a brewery visit for work to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo. We commented on the size of the fans and were told with laughter by our guide that they did indeed come from the Big Ass Fan company.
Based right here in Lexington, KY. A rumor circulated several years ago that this company might buy the naming rights to Rupp Arena (home of the UK Wildcats). The thought of having “Big Ass Arena” plastered on the outside of the building was so fun. Sorry it didn’t happen.
I became aware of Big Ass Fans when I was researching the piece I wrote about Toby Curtsinger, the man who became famous for stealing all of that Pappy Van Winkle from the Buffalo Trace Distillery. When I interviewed him he told me about all of the people who bought stolen whiskey from him and he said some executives/manager types "who ell the Big Ass Fans" did. I stopped him and I said "what was the name of the fan company?" He said "Big Ass Fans." I said "wait, that's the actual company?" "Yeah." Ever since then I notice them everywhere. They have a big business with large outdoor patios and I think warehouse stores like Costco have them too. Like, they use them, they don't sell them.
My closest encounter with a U.S. President was back in 1992 when Bush Sr. came to a minor league game I attended in Frederick, Maryland. He arrived via Marine helicopter and as he made his entrance into the stadium he walked down the same concourse where I was pondering what I wanted for dinner that evening. At one point he was so close to me that I could have reached out and touched him. But if I’d been stupid enough to try that I’m sure my arm would have been broken by the big Secret Service agent was was between me and him.
Hoping that Ohtani doesn't need the knife again, but no matter how you slice it, not good for him or for baseball. Back when he was being posted, I was pretty sure he would not be both pitcher and hitter for long, so I am not surprised, but this still sucks big time.
Speaking of nihilist NY Times stuff, Tyler Kepner is being transferred to The Athletic. No word whether he is being transferred out of the union, but it would not surprise me.
The mind boggles about just what's going on with Putin. But lord knows where it ends. Which is really kind of horrifying.
I can't be sure since I know I attended games earlier than this but cannot say exactly when. But we took a class trip in middle school to a Yankees game in 1981 or so, and Lou Pinella was almost definitely a Yankee. He's about to turn 80. So I will go with that.
ETA: No, I saw Pete Rose play the Mets in the mid-80s, and I recall saying if he got a hit, I would boo but also applaud during his chase after the record. He's 82.
Yeah, the union thing is the first thing I thought of when I saw that Kepler was moving to The Athletic. It's not a good look for him, or for The Times.
The oldest player who’s still alive that I saw play in a game I attended is Willie Mays. Age 92 and I hope is still going strong. The oldest player deceased I saw play is…I dunno. Who was playing for the Mets and the Phillies back in 1967?
I began attending games in Oakland in 1968 when the A's arrived. Off the top of my head, I know I saw Yaz, Al Kaline, and Harmon Killebrew among others. I'm a bit too lazy to check their birthdates, though, so I don't have a definitive answer.
We're of similar vintage -- my first game was 15 Sept 67 Cards at Reds at Crosley Field. Carlton threw a two-hitter and I still have the program, scorecard and ticket stubs -- thanks, Dad! Besides Carlton, there were Cepeda, Rose, Bench, among those still alive.
I also saw Mays play with the Mets at Riverfront a few years later. Trying now to remember who else I would have seen -- Aaron, probably but can't think of a specific game. I lived in National League cities for a long time, for better or worse.
However, the player who was oldest when I actually saw them play was in Baltimore in 1985, with the Yankees visiting. During BP, I couldn't figure out who the hunched-over guy was for the Yankees, and it turned out Billy Martin was taking ground balls at second.
My earliest memories of MLB baseball are snippets of 1986 and a lot more of 1987, mostly the SF Giants. Therefore, the oldest person I definitely remember watching play an MLB game is probably Rick Reuschel.
Now, the oldest person I remember seeing hit a home run in an MLB park is a little different: Sometime in the mid-90s, the Giants had an Old Timers Game featuring a wide variety of guys, but the highlights were Reggie Jackson absolutely BLAZING down the first base line on an infield grounder, and Bobby Bonds blasting one over the left-field bleachers at Candlestick. In all seriousness, that was the only time I ever saw anyone clear those bleachers.
Your speculation of what the Wagner chief would say if he lived through the impact invites a variation of the old joke: If a plane crashes part way from Moscow to St Petersburg, where are the survivors buried? "No one will ever know."
Also, what self-respecting brutality inflicting terrorist would have a replica of a sledgehammer? Isn't that just a plastic mallet?
Having just moved to Atlanta in the spring of '74, dad took me to a Braves game in which Hank Aaron (b. 02/05/34) played. Baseball Reference informs me that there were two older players in the NL that year -- Orlando Pena (b. 11/17/33) and Don McMahon (b. 01/04/30!) -- but I have no recollection even of who the Braves played that day, so I'll say it was the Hammer.
As far as oldest player on the field, I saw late-period Julio Franco a bunch of times, including once when he was 46 when he hit a ball harder than any other I can remember (possible exception, McGwire off Dennis Martinez). I was engaged in conversation during the AB, when suddenly there was this SOUND -- I looked up just in time to see it scream into the left field seats at a pace that seemed genuinely hazardous to anyone who might be in its path. Julio was one strong dude.
I have a very similar answer! Sunday, May 6, 1973. The Mets lost to Houston 14-8. Willie Mays' 42nd birthday. I doubt that there was any player older on either team. He's 92 now!
Can't help but revere Aaron and Mays not just for being so great but for doing it in the face of all of the crap that they went through.
My dad took me to see the Reds play the Mets in game 3 of the 1973 NLCS. That was the game when Pete Rose took out Bud Harrelson with a hard slide, which led to an all-out brawl. They sent Willie Mays, then four months older than 42, out to left field to calm down the fans, who had been throwing things, including large glass bottles, in Rose’s direction. Mays and the other players told the fans that the Mets would have to forfeit a game they were leading by seven runs if the nonsense didn’t stop. Seeing all this with my own 11 year old eyes was priceless. Thanks, Dad.
I saw Willie play a bit later in 1973, when the Mets paid a visit to Jarry Park in Montreal. I even got fairly up close to him, as he let me take his picture as he was about to enter the Mets clubhouse.
First game I saw in Atlanta was in 1974. And it was a special one — Hank Aaron Night. One of the speakers in the pre-game ceremony was a then-obscure politician who was at that time the Governor of Georgia: James Earl Carter. I remember that he was loudly booed.
I think Julio Franco might be mine too - I don't have a specific recollection of it, but I went to a fair number of Braves games in that stretch of time when he was still playing 1st base well past the age of 45.
1. In the bottom of the 9th of the Rays game, they would have won it but for the worst *replayed* call I’ve seen all year. On a throw to 1st, the 1B had his foot at least a couple inches off the bag ( you could clearly see dirt between the foot and the bag ) and after several minutes of everyone “knowing” the game was over, then wondering what was taking so long, the batter was incredibly called out.
2. My first game was in ‘75, Cubs vs Dodgers at Wrigley. Walter Alston was still Managing the Dodgers. Steve Stone got a hit and was called out for too much pine tar. (Seriously). In ‘76 I saw a doubleheader at Wrigley vs the Phillies and in Game 1 the Cubs won 4-0 with Rick Reuschel beating *Jim Kaat* both men pitched a complete game.
The first MLB game I attended in person was BAL@BOS on 9/2/2005, and the only reason I remember that was because it was the weekend after Katrina hit NOLA.
John Olerud (DOB 1968-08-05; 37 at the time) played 1B for the Sox in their 7-3 loss. It was otherwise a forgettable game.
June 2, 1991. Dwight Evans returned to Fenway as a Baltimore Orioles. Had a double and a triple, with the Sox having an error on the triple that let Evans score. He was 39, in his last season, and I was 8. I think he's the oldest player I've seen play. Funny thing was that the previous year was my first major league game, and it was Dwight Evans poster day, so I still have a giant 6 ft poster, with markings on the side so you can measure your height, featuring Dwight Evans drinking a carton of milk. Anyway, the oldest player I ever saw play, and he should be in the Hall of Fame for the poster alone.
Kaline in '72, Robinson a couple of time from '72 to his retirement, and Killebrew from '72 to this '75 season with the Royals.
Kaline and Robinson as visitors, and Killebrew as visitor and away.
There might be more, but I don't remember all the teams I saw as a kid. We went to a lot of games before I understood about famous players so I'm sure I saw a lot I don't remember seeing.
Do NOT read the Cramer book. It's so full of spite and hate. He hates DiMaggio. He hates everyone on the Yankees. The only person he doesn't hate is Marilyn, and he just pities her and takes away any agency from her. I have no idea why he wrote the book if he hates Joe so much.
Fair. But you can write a book about awful people without the level of bile Cramer has. For instance, I am reading about the royal cousins in the UK, Germany, and Russia who paved the way towards WWI. The author clearly holds Wilhelm and Nicholas in utter contempt, but she doesn't make it seem like they just kicked her puppy.
That said, I would rather have a diatribe than the opposite. Any book telling you DiMaggio was a saint is worse.
George, Nicholas and Wilhelm: Three Royal Cousins and the Road to World War I by Miranda Carter. Solid book, with some insights into how things were done in these nations (and also a lot about Victoria, who was everyone's grandmother, and King Edward), though her takeaways are pretty conventional. Never got into Tuchman.
There are two periods in history that I find absolutely fascinating. One is the post WWII era, especially the Cold War and all the Russian - American espionage. The other is WWI, a stunningly vicious conflict caused by what was essentially a family feud. So I have downloaded that book on Audible and envision many a long afternoon listening to it while I quilt. Thank you for the recommendation!
Yeah, that's my impression too. Still, it can sometimes be eye-opening to read about assholes (at least so as not to become a similar one). I think he had a pretty interesting life at a pretty interesting time in history, so I am interested in reading a good one about him.
Miller Park... I mean Am Fam field or stadium or whatever they call it now was supposed to be air conditioned by design but it was scrapped post-design to save $. There is a forced air system that allows them to heat the stadium about 20 degrees above the outdoor temp for April and late season games.
AC is an upgrade they talked about ten years or so ago....
Anyways I saw Jack Clark in his last full season at a September ‘91 Yanks/Sox matchup. He’s 67 years young. Jeff Reardon came out in relief and he’s a few months older.
An extremely cursory glance at the Cardinals games I remember going to as a kid suggests that the oldest player I've seen in person might be a 38-year-old Mike Morgan, giving up home run #61 to Mark McGwire.
Haven't tried to get a live ticket yet, but I've watched them live on YouTube a bunch of times. Yes, he can get the ball over the plate often enough to pitch an inning with good defense behind him. (For those who don't watch the Bananas--he's in the stands, not the dugout, hands his beer can to someone, and runs onto the field. I always wonder if he's actually been drinking that beer or if it's just a prop.)
Talking head expert on a news show seemed to think it couldn’t have been a bomb in the airplane. A photo of the debris was his evidence for that.
https://bigassfans.com/
Yes, it's real.
True story. And they are enormous, I saw some in person a few years ago during a brewery visit for work to Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo. We commented on the size of the fans and were told with laughter by our guide that they did indeed come from the Big Ass Fan company.
Didn't the predecessors to SHIELD in the Agent Carter show use that in an early version of the Helicarrier?
Based right here in Lexington, KY. A rumor circulated several years ago that this company might buy the naming rights to Rupp Arena (home of the UK Wildcats). The thought of having “Big Ass Arena” plastered on the outside of the building was so fun. Sorry it didn’t happen.
I became aware of Big Ass Fans when I was researching the piece I wrote about Toby Curtsinger, the man who became famous for stealing all of that Pappy Van Winkle from the Buffalo Trace Distillery. When I interviewed him he told me about all of the people who bought stolen whiskey from him and he said some executives/manager types "who ell the Big Ass Fans" did. I stopped him and I said "what was the name of the fan company?" He said "Big Ass Fans." I said "wait, that's the actual company?" "Yeah." Ever since then I notice them everywhere. They have a big business with large outdoor patios and I think warehouse stores like Costco have them too. Like, they use them, they don't sell them.
They have them in Busch Stadium.
Big Ass Fans are the real deal. Expensive as hell...but second to none.
You can’t just let that lay there without giving us the back story! Let’s hear more.
I’ve only been to one inauguration — Clinton 2 in 1997. Damn cold that day and I nearly froze my ass off.
My closest encounter with a U.S. President was back in 1992 when Bush Sr. came to a minor league game I attended in Frederick, Maryland. He arrived via Marine helicopter and as he made his entrance into the stadium he walked down the same concourse where I was pondering what I wanted for dinner that evening. At one point he was so close to me that I could have reached out and touched him. But if I’d been stupid enough to try that I’m sure my arm would have been broken by the big Secret Service agent was was between me and him.
Hoping that Ohtani doesn't need the knife again, but no matter how you slice it, not good for him or for baseball. Back when he was being posted, I was pretty sure he would not be both pitcher and hitter for long, so I am not surprised, but this still sucks big time.
Speaking of nihilist NY Times stuff, Tyler Kepner is being transferred to The Athletic. No word whether he is being transferred out of the union, but it would not surprise me.
The mind boggles about just what's going on with Putin. But lord knows where it ends. Which is really kind of horrifying.
I can't be sure since I know I attended games earlier than this but cannot say exactly when. But we took a class trip in middle school to a Yankees game in 1981 or so, and Lou Pinella was almost definitely a Yankee. He's about to turn 80. So I will go with that.
ETA: No, I saw Pete Rose play the Mets in the mid-80s, and I recall saying if he got a hit, I would boo but also applaud during his chase after the record. He's 82.
Yeah, the union thing is the first thing I thought of when I saw that Kepler was moving to The Athletic. It's not a good look for him, or for The Times.
We'll see how long it lasts for him. This might be out of necessity till he can shop his resume or start a substack.
The oldest player who’s still alive that I saw play in a game I attended is Willie Mays. Age 92 and I hope is still going strong. The oldest player deceased I saw play is…I dunno. Who was playing for the Mets and the Phillies back in 1967?
I began attending games in Oakland in 1968 when the A's arrived. Off the top of my head, I know I saw Yaz, Al Kaline, and Harmon Killebrew among others. I'm a bit too lazy to check their birthdates, though, so I don't have a definitive answer.
Fun fact - I also remember Joe DiMaggio as an A's coach wearing one of those goofy white coaches hats: https://www.mlb.com/news/joe-dimaggio-as-oakland-a-s-coach
We're of similar vintage -- my first game was 15 Sept 67 Cards at Reds at Crosley Field. Carlton threw a two-hitter and I still have the program, scorecard and ticket stubs -- thanks, Dad! Besides Carlton, there were Cepeda, Rose, Bench, among those still alive.
I also saw Mays play with the Mets at Riverfront a few years later. Trying now to remember who else I would have seen -- Aaron, probably but can't think of a specific game. I lived in National League cities for a long time, for better or worse.
However, the player who was oldest when I actually saw them play was in Baltimore in 1985, with the Yankees visiting. During BP, I couldn't figure out who the hunched-over guy was for the Yankees, and it turned out Billy Martin was taking ground balls at second.
My earliest memories of MLB baseball are snippets of 1986 and a lot more of 1987, mostly the SF Giants. Therefore, the oldest person I definitely remember watching play an MLB game is probably Rick Reuschel.
Now, the oldest person I remember seeing hit a home run in an MLB park is a little different: Sometime in the mid-90s, the Giants had an Old Timers Game featuring a wide variety of guys, but the highlights were Reggie Jackson absolutely BLAZING down the first base line on an infield grounder, and Bobby Bonds blasting one over the left-field bleachers at Candlestick. In all seriousness, that was the only time I ever saw anyone clear those bleachers.
Your speculation of what the Wagner chief would say if he lived through the impact invites a variation of the old joke: If a plane crashes part way from Moscow to St Petersburg, where are the survivors buried? "No one will ever know."
Also, what self-respecting brutality inflicting terrorist would have a replica of a sledgehammer? Isn't that just a plastic mallet?
Having just moved to Atlanta in the spring of '74, dad took me to a Braves game in which Hank Aaron (b. 02/05/34) played. Baseball Reference informs me that there were two older players in the NL that year -- Orlando Pena (b. 11/17/33) and Don McMahon (b. 01/04/30!) -- but I have no recollection even of who the Braves played that day, so I'll say it was the Hammer.
As far as oldest player on the field, I saw late-period Julio Franco a bunch of times, including once when he was 46 when he hit a ball harder than any other I can remember (possible exception, McGwire off Dennis Martinez). I was engaged in conversation during the AB, when suddenly there was this SOUND -- I looked up just in time to see it scream into the left field seats at a pace that seemed genuinely hazardous to anyone who might be in its path. Julio was one strong dude.
I have a very similar answer! Sunday, May 6, 1973. The Mets lost to Houston 14-8. Willie Mays' 42nd birthday. I doubt that there was any player older on either team. He's 92 now!
Can't help but revere Aaron and Mays not just for being so great but for doing it in the face of all of the crap that they went through.
My dad took me to see the Reds play the Mets in game 3 of the 1973 NLCS. That was the game when Pete Rose took out Bud Harrelson with a hard slide, which led to an all-out brawl. They sent Willie Mays, then four months older than 42, out to left field to calm down the fans, who had been throwing things, including large glass bottles, in Rose’s direction. Mays and the other players told the fans that the Mets would have to forfeit a game they were leading by seven runs if the nonsense didn’t stop. Seeing all this with my own 11 year old eyes was priceless. Thanks, Dad.
This:
https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-8-1973-harrelson-rose-square-off-as-mets-win-game-3-in-nlcs/
I saw Willie play a bit later in 1973, when the Mets paid a visit to Jarry Park in Montreal. I even got fairly up close to him, as he let me take his picture as he was about to enter the Mets clubhouse.
First game I saw in Atlanta was in 1974. And it was a special one — Hank Aaron Night. One of the speakers in the pre-game ceremony was a then-obscure politician who was at that time the Governor of Georgia: James Earl Carter. I remember that he was loudly booed.
I think Julio Franco might be mine too - I don't have a specific recollection of it, but I went to a fair number of Braves games in that stretch of time when he was still playing 1st base well past the age of 45.
When using the phrase “bereft of fucks to give” - do you want that TM’d or a footnote?
(Just wondering if there’s any SEO value too so ai can work it into all the copy I have to write today.)
If you like Craig's turn of phrase, I bet you will appreciate this one, which I have always loved.
https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/884877-and-not-a-single-fuck-was-given-that-day
1. In the bottom of the 9th of the Rays game, they would have won it but for the worst *replayed* call I’ve seen all year. On a throw to 1st, the 1B had his foot at least a couple inches off the bag ( you could clearly see dirt between the foot and the bag ) and after several minutes of everyone “knowing” the game was over, then wondering what was taking so long, the batter was incredibly called out.
2. My first game was in ‘75, Cubs vs Dodgers at Wrigley. Walter Alston was still Managing the Dodgers. Steve Stone got a hit and was called out for too much pine tar. (Seriously). In ‘76 I saw a doubleheader at Wrigley vs the Phillies and in Game 1 the Cubs won 4-0 with Rick Reuschel beating *Jim Kaat* both men pitched a complete game.
I vaguely remember seeing that game on TV with Jack Brickhouse on the call.
The first MLB game I attended in person was BAL@BOS on 9/2/2005, and the only reason I remember that was because it was the weekend after Katrina hit NOLA.
John Olerud (DOB 1968-08-05; 37 at the time) played 1B for the Sox in their 7-3 loss. It was otherwise a forgettable game.
June 2, 1991. Dwight Evans returned to Fenway as a Baltimore Orioles. Had a double and a triple, with the Sox having an error on the triple that let Evans score. He was 39, in his last season, and I was 8. I think he's the oldest player I've seen play. Funny thing was that the previous year was my first major league game, and it was Dwight Evans poster day, so I still have a giant 6 ft poster, with markings on the side so you can measure your height, featuring Dwight Evans drinking a carton of milk. Anyway, the oldest player I ever saw play, and he should be in the Hall of Fame for the poster alone.
The poster is rolled up in the basement somewhere to be fair.
One of the best players not in the Hall, IMO. Cannon for an arm.
I think Dwight Evans in 1991 would also be the oldest player I have seen in person at Memorial Stadium.
I saw Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew and Brooks Robinson play.
Must have been some game!
Well, not all the same games.
Kaline in '72, Robinson a couple of time from '72 to his retirement, and Killebrew from '72 to this '75 season with the Royals.
Kaline and Robinson as visitors, and Killebrew as visitor and away.
There might be more, but I don't remember all the teams I saw as a kid. We went to a lot of games before I understood about famous players so I'm sure I saw a lot I don't remember seeing.
My first game was a Red Sox-Orioles game in 1977, but Brooks didn’t play. So Yaz is my answer.
Luis Tiant was the starting pitcher for the Sox that night. He’s only 15 months younger than Yaz.
Speaking of older players, I'm looking for a good Joe DiMaggio biography that's available on Kindle. Anyone has any suggestion?
So this one on Amazon by Richard Ben Crame, ratings are good, but I'm hoping a more baseball savvy audience can suggest the best one!
Do NOT read the Cramer book. It's so full of spite and hate. He hates DiMaggio. He hates everyone on the Yankees. The only person he doesn't hate is Marilyn, and he just pities her and takes away any agency from her. I have no idea why he wrote the book if he hates Joe so much.
Fair. But you can write a book about awful people without the level of bile Cramer has. For instance, I am reading about the royal cousins in the UK, Germany, and Russia who paved the way towards WWI. The author clearly holds Wilhelm and Nicholas in utter contempt, but she doesn't make it seem like they just kicked her puppy.
That said, I would rather have a diatribe than the opposite. Any book telling you DiMaggio was a saint is worse.
The Guns of August?
George, Nicholas and Wilhelm: Three Royal Cousins and the Road to World War I by Miranda Carter. Solid book, with some insights into how things were done in these nations (and also a lot about Victoria, who was everyone's grandmother, and King Edward), though her takeaways are pretty conventional. Never got into Tuchman.
Ooh, that sounds interesting.
The whole Cousin Nicky and Cousin Willie thing may me my favorite part of the the whole First World War period.
There are two periods in history that I find absolutely fascinating. One is the post WWII era, especially the Cold War and all the Russian - American espionage. The other is WWI, a stunningly vicious conflict caused by what was essentially a family feud. So I have downloaded that book on Audible and envision many a long afternoon listening to it while I quilt. Thank you for the recommendation!
Yeah, that's my impression too. Still, it can sometimes be eye-opening to read about assholes (at least so as not to become a similar one). I think he had a pretty interesting life at a pretty interesting time in history, so I am interested in reading a good one about him.
Wow! Thanks. I will search some more then. Did you a good one about him?
Thanks for the tip! I think I read about the streak all I need to know (Joe Posnanski wrote about it pretty well in his book).
Alas, I have not encountered one. I am sure someone has tried to write a more balanced book in the years since but that doesn't mean we have one.
Haha! Here's an idea for Craig then for a new book :) Thank for the help, though.
Miller Park... I mean Am Fam field or stadium or whatever they call it now was supposed to be air conditioned by design but it was scrapped post-design to save $. There is a forced air system that allows them to heat the stadium about 20 degrees above the outdoor temp for April and late season games.
AC is an upgrade they talked about ten years or so ago....
The Metrodome in MN didn't have AC at first, probably the first 3 years.
I was there only once, on a raw and rainy April evening in the late 1980s. No A/C needed for that game, but I was grateful that there was heat.
Writes “Accidents Will Happen” but the clip he shares is “Everyday I Write the Book.” This is going to bug me all day.
It was a Brilliant Mistake, I'll admit that.
Anyways I saw Jack Clark in his last full season at a September ‘91 Yanks/Sox matchup. He’s 67 years young. Jeff Reardon came out in relief and he’s a few months older.
If I wanted to cheat I’d count the Yankees Old Timers Game in 2010
Are you sure you don't sang to blame Veronica? You're not 49 any more.
clearly "books" on your mind today.....
An extremely cursory glance at the Cardinals games I remember going to as a kid suggests that the oldest player I've seen in person might be a 38-year-old Mike Morgan, giving up home run #61 to Mark McGwire.