Those who have seen Field of Dreams or read the book on which it was based, Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella, will remember the character “Moonlight” Graham, played by Burt Lancaster in the film.
Archibald Wright Graham (1876-1965) was an actual player — and a doctor. Graham played in one game for the New York Giants. He was in the field for two innings but was on deck when his one game ended.
It was 102 years ago today, June 29, 1905 (in the movie it was the last game of 1929).
According to the Seattle Weekly the following will get you ejected from Safeco Field, home of the Mariners.
•Foul/abusive language or obscene gestures
•Intoxication or other signs of impairment related to alcohol consumption
•Displays of affection not appropriate in a public, family setting
•Obscene or indecent clothing
•Any disruption of a game or event, including throwing of objects or trespassing on the playing field or other restricted areas
•Sitting in a location other than the guest’s ticketed seat
•Fighting, taunting or making threatening remarks or gestures
•Smoking or the use of tobacco products, in any form
NewMexiKen can’t decide what I think about this. Yes, I’ve witnessed some awful behavior at stadiums, even threatening. Still, some of my fondest memories of ball parks include the guy eating the moths — and kissing his girlfriend; some guys yelling to the lower deck, “Hey Miller, how much for your daughter?” (Miller was the name on the jersey a guy was wearing); and, of course, moving to better seats.
Oh, and catching my teenage uncle smoking when I was 7 or 8 — and threatening to tell Grandma.
Link via Awful Announcing.
Letterman’s Top Ten Signs A Baseball Player Is Too Old:
8. While playing outfield, yells at teamates to get the hell off his lawn
7. When buying performance-enhancing drugs, gets the AARP discount
1. When he’s in the on-deck circle, asks bat boy, “What did I come in here for?”
“I’m not one to wish direct harm on anyone, but Clemens is 44 years old (45 in August). The clock runs out on every professional athlete eventually – here’s hoping this is the year it happens to Clemens.”
Awful Announcing on the news that Clemens has signed with the Yankees.
MILWAUKEE—In what Major League Baseball officials are calling a “long overdue correction of a gross oversight,” Commissioner Bud Selig announced Tuesday the discovery that Hall of Famer Hank Aaron had in fact accumulated 50 previously unaccounted-for home runs during his illustrious 22-year baseball career, bringing his once record total of 755 to an even higher 805 and putting the all-time home-run record perhaps forever out of reach.
Works for me.
A small, but entirely nice gesture.
The Washington Nationals wore Virginia Tech baseball caps during Tuesday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves as a tribute to the victims of the shooting rampage at the school.
Nationals players wore the burgundy hats with “VT” in orange when they took the field for the top of the second inning, and the team said they’d keep them on for the rest of the game.
| . . . appeared in his first major league game 60 years ago today. He went hitless but scored the winning run.
The front page of the Pittsburgh Courier, once the country’s most widely circulated African-American newspaper, conveys the significance of that day. Click on image to enlarge. |
 |
For the first time in Major League Baseball history, Commissioner Bud Selig has decreed that any uniformed personnel — player, coach or manager — can wear Jackie Robinson’s famous No. 42 as the sport celebrates on Sunday the 60th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier.
Robinson will be honored in each of the 15 ballparks where games will be played . . . .
NewMexiKen agrees with the Sports Prof, every player should wear #42 Sunday. After all, isn’t 42 the Ultimate Answer to the Great Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything?
What position is responsible for the most home runs in baseball history, 1876-2004?