"Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No"

"without question the most intimidating pitcher of his era"

I've posted before of Dock Ellis and his no-hitter pitched while under the influence of LSD.
Here's a great short film by James Blagden.



The preceding video, and the following description, are from NoMasTV's channel.

In celebration of the greatest athletic achievement by a man on a psychedelic journey, No Mas and artist James Blagden proudly present the animated tale of Dock Ellis' legendary LSD no-hitter. In the past few years we've heard all too much about performance enhancing drugs from greenies to tetrahydrogestrinone, and not enough about performance inhibiting drugs. If our evaluation of the records of athletes like Mark McGwire, Roger Clemens, Marion Jones, and Barry Bonds needs to be revised downwards with an asterisk, we submit that that Dock Ellis record deserves a giant exclamation point. Of the 263 no-hitters ever thrown in the Big Leagues, we can only guess how many were aided by steroids, but we can say without question that only one was ever thrown on acid.

Sadly, the great Dock Ellis died last December at 63. A year before, radio producers Donnell Alexander and Neille Ilel, had recorded an interview with Ellis in which the former Pirate right hander gave a moment by moment account of June 12, 1970, the day he no-hit the San Diego Padres. Alexander and Ilels original four minute piece appeared March 29, 2008 on NPRs Weekend America. When we stumbled across that piece this past June, Blagden and Isenberg were inspired to create a short animated film around the original audio.

Some Recent Photos

Ommegang

I recently traveled to Cooperstown, NY with Gator to visit Brewery Ommegang.


Ommegang, which began brewing Belgian-style ales in 1997, started up in a purpose-built building based on a traditional Belgian farmhouse, set on a former 136 acre hop farm in the Susqehanna River Valley, four miles south of Cooperstown, New York in the Town of Middlefield.




After filling some growlers and grabbing some "750's" at the gift shop, we ventured downtown and imbibed at some local establishments. We passed a Chinese restaurant called Foo Kin John. I toyed with the notion of stopping in and demanding a "Foo Kin egg roll", but opted for a burger elsewhere.




Whilst in Cooperstown - "a drinking town with a baseball problem" - we also paid a visit to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.




It was a great trip. I wish that I had more photos, but there were camera issues.
Oh well.

"Detrimental To Baseball"

"detrimental to baseball," so quoth former Major League Baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn about Jim Bouton's tell-all autobiography Ball Four.

Former Yankee pitcher Jim Bouton, who celebrates his 71st birthday today, was ostracized from baseball after writing the controversial book which was a combination diary of his 1969 season and memoir of his years with the New York Yankees, Seattle Pilots, and Houston Astros.
Despite its controversy at the time,it is considered to be one of the most important sports books ever written.The book was also the basis for the short-lived 1976 CBS TV show of the same name, which starred Bouton. The TV show was canceled after a few episodes.

Jim Bouton started his major league career in 1962 with the Yankees, where his tenacity earned him the nickname "Bulldog." He also came to be known for his cap flying off his head at the completion of his delivery to the plate, as well as for his uniform number 56, a number usually assigned in spring training to players designated for the minor leagues (Bouton later explained that he had been assigned the number in 1962 when he was promoted to the Yankees, and wanted to keep it as a reminder of how close he had come to not making the ball club.
Bouton retired midway through the 1970 season after the Astros sent him down to the minor leagues. He immediately became a local sports anchor for New York station WABC-TV. It was not long after, that a cult audience saw Ball Four as a candid and comic portrayal of the ups and downs of baseball life and Jim Bouton went on the college lecture circuit, delivering humorous talks on his experiences.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Yankees Win!!!!

The New York Yankees have won their 27th World Championship.


The following column appeared on October 28th at PolitickerNJ.com.
The piece draws some interesting comparisons between the two cities (New York and Philadelphia) and also successfully predicts the outcome.

Tale of the Tape: Why the New York Yankees will win the World Series.

By Joey Novick

The last time the New York Yankees played the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, "The House That Ruth Built" was a mere-twentysomething, no stadiums had corporate names, and the Yankees beat the Phillies 4-0.

In the ensuing 60 years, much has happened.

So, let’s compare New York and Philadelphia in nine random categories, and see which town measures up.

PHILADELPHIA VS. NEW YORK

RIVER:
Delaware vs. Hudson

Philly: Named for an Indian tribe who was already in America.
NY: Named for a Dutch explorer who came from hundreds of miles away.

Edge: New York

FOOD:
Cheese Steak & Cream Cheese vs. Hot Dog & Cheese Cake

Nathan’s New York hot dogs known world wide; and cream cheese is key ingredient in Cheese Cake. Cheese steak tougher to eat at a ball park, but you only need one.

Edge: TOSS UP

FAMOUS COMEDIANS who are Black, Jewish and Chubby:
Bill Cosby, David Brenner, Curly Joe DeRita vs.
Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Jackie Gleason

Edge: Slight edge to New York by a “Bang zoom to the Moon, Alice.” DeRita was one of the fake Curly’s, not even a real Stooge.

New Year’s Eve Host:
Dick Clark vs. Guy Lombardo

Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve vs. Lombardo’s band called the “Royal Canadians”? Not even an American. No contest.

Edge: Philadelphia

Airports named after famous people:
Philadelphia International Airport vs. LaGuardia Airport and JFK Airport.

Philly could not find a famous dead guy to name their airport after? What about Franklin? You name everything else after him.
NY: A mayor and a president trumps “international”.

Edge: New York

Patriotic Symbol:
Liberty Bell vs. Statue of Liberty

NY: On display in the Harbor, welcomes the tired, the poor and the wretched refuse yearning to breath free.
Philly: Keeps it locked up, and besides, it has a crack in it. Spend a couple of bucks, fix that thing.

Edge: New York

Signers of Declaration of Independence:
Ben Franklin vs. Lewis Morris, Francis Lewis, Philip Livingston, William Floyd

The inventor of electricity had time to fly a kite, invent the pot belly stove, and then still kick back with hot 18th century chicks.
NY: Who are these four guys?

Edge: Philadelphia

Team Symbol:
Big Red “P” vs. The Yankee Pinstripes.

NY: Copied worldwide.
Philly: A big red “P”. Yeah, like that’s creative.

Edge: New York

Bridge Connected to New Jersey:
Ben Franklin Bridge vs. Outerbridge Crossing

Philly: Named for you know who.
NY: “Outerbridge Crossing”, named for Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge. Who is this guy?

Edge: Philadelphia

Tale of the Tape: New York 5, Philadelphia 3. One tie.

Edge: New York

My prediction: Yankees in 6.

Pass The Popcorn Please has a related post, a short film (about 1 min.), that satirizes those fans that jump on a winning team's bandwagon.

My prediction, I predict this victory will stimulate the sale of Yankee merchandise.

Barack Obama at the All-Star game

Bob comments on "The One" 's appearance at the game last night

"Last night Barack Obama threw out the first pitch at the all-star game. He walked out onto the mound and lobbed the ball over the plate**. When he was done he went into the stands had a couple of hot dogs and a couple of beers. In the 2nd inning he went into the commentators booth and talked to Joe Buck about how great his life is. Are you freaking kidding me?!
Did I miss something? Was there a memo that went out that said the economy had turned around? That un-employment was on it's way down? Was there a memo that said Iran and North Korea are no longer developing nuclear weapons? Of course not! There was no memo!
Would somebody tell Barack Obama, he's the President of the United States. That's not a 40 hour a week job! 7 days a week, 24 hours a day this guy should be up at the freaking White House thinking of ways to make this country a better place!
Nobody asked him to run for President. Nobody walked into Barack Obama's room late at night, grabbed him by the ears and told him he was going to run for president. He decided! He begged people to freaking vote for him. I love these senators, congressman , mayors and presidents; they beg people to vote for them and then when they get elected they act like they are doing us a freaking favor by just being in office.
Well let me tell you something Barack, you're not doing us any favors! The country is falling apart and this guy is at a freaking baseball game throwing back peanuts with his feet up on the back of somebody's freaking chair. It's disgusting! It's freaking disgusting what this guy is doing and I'm sick of it! I'm freaking sick of it!!"

(Click image for video)

Bob has been busy. He recently posted the following rants, as well.

On the Sotomayor hearings;

How much time and money are these freaking Senators on Capitol Hill wasting, while they interview Sonya Sotomayor?

On the GM bailout;

We didn't bailout General Motors to save America or the American Worker. We bailed out general Motors to save General Motors and that's WRONG! It's freaking wrong!!

Taxpayers Bailout the NY Yankees (again)

UPDATE:the Yankees are at it again.
"the Yankees just signed free agent Mark Teixeira to a 8 year 180 million dollar contract. They have spent 400 million over the last month on other various free agents. yet, they took 900 million from the taxpayers to build THEIR stadium and need another 300 million from the taxpayers to finish their stadium. I wish Barack Obama would hurry up and get back from vacation in Hawaii, so we can start seeing some of this 'change" he's been talking about!!!"


Previous Post (12/13):
NY Yankees give their new pitcher C.C. Sabathia $160 million over seven years. Yet, they TAKE $900 million from the taxpayers to build their new stadium.

Che Stadium 1965

This one is for Jimmy and Alfred.

The Rutles perform "It's Looking Good" (from the album Rutle Soul)

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

I recently posted about the Amsterdam Mohawks.
More recently, I went out to the game and snapped a few photos. I wasn't too pleased, overall, with the results, but here are a few pictures that I saw fit to upload.


The Mohawks play in what's been described as a throwback baseball field that sits in the middle of a green park. Some members of the Collegiate league that play there say it's like stepping back in time.

It's a very intimate setting for ball game and everything is reasonably priced.General Admission tickets are $3.00 each (on occasion the local paper will have a coupon for FREE admission!).
The Beer flows freely and a Yuengling (Traditional Lager) 16 oz. draft is $3.oo.There was one night, however, where they played a double header ( a make up game with a 3:30pm start) and they offered "Happy Hour Prices" from 3-5pm ($1 drafts!!!).

These young ladies below are the Amsterdam Zephyrs Dance Team. The Zephyrs are a member of Empire Football League.

The Old Ball Game

Those readers that have been with me from the beginning know that I currently reside in Amsterdam, NY. Just a short walk down the road is Shuttleworth Park, home to our local baseball team, the Amsterdam Mohawks. They play in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL).
It's a fun time to be had at a small stadium nestled within a little riverside park where I regularly walk Klara, my German Shepherd Dog.
Being new to town, and not knowing much about the club, I did a little online research (gee, this internet thingy is great. It might catch on!). My search revealed, among other things, an article which detailed some of the rich and colorful baseball history that the town boasts.
It so happened that the 1942 Yankees had played here against the Amsterdam Rugmakers of the Can-Am League.
Back then Shuttleworth Park was called Mohawk Mills Park.


"In July 1942 the New York Yankees, with DiMaggio, Henrich, Keller, Rizzuto, Gordon, Selkirk, and Rolfe in their lineup, struggled to a 9-5 ten-inning victory over the Rugmakers, but that wasn’t the unusual part of the story."

The story, by David Pietrusza, describes the earliest days of the park and more importantly the terrible fire that all but destroyed it just 8 days before the Yankees were to play, and how the town rallied to restore it in time.



UPDATE: Following the completion of the 2010 season, the Mohawks became a part of the newly founded Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL).

Life is Cheap in the World of Professional Sports

Player Traded for 10 Baseball Bats-via AOL Sports.