Monday, March 22, 2004
Five Baseball Players that are more interesting than Barry Bonds
5. Greg Harris
Harris pitched for Boston and Montreal, two of my favorite teams, but that alone does not qualify him for this list. Harris's numbers are an incredibly mediocre 74 wins 90 losses and a 3.69 era, hall of fame he ain't. Why would I include him in on the list? Well he's the only pitcher in the Modern Era (post 1920) who has switch pitched. What's that mean? Harris pitched to two batters with his left hand and to two batters with his right hand in the same goddamn inning. We're not talking about switch hitters here, we're talking about switch pitchers of which Harris is one of only four to ever pitch in the majors. He's an anomaly! I want to be an anomaly.
He was in the tradition of great Red Sox free spirits like Dennis Eckersley, Bernie Carbo, and Bill Lee. Management didn't appreciate it too much,
"Harris' unusual ability to pitch with both hands led to some tension between him and the Red Sox, who forbade the ambidextrous hurler from throwing lefty. GM Lou Gorman insisted it would "make a mockery" of the game, leading Harris to grumble, "Boston is so conservative. People are afraid to try anything." In a muted show of defiance, Harris usually chose to wear an ambidextrous glove on the mound."
Baseball-Library.com
4.(tie)Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich
I'm not sure why these two haven't been the subject of a major motion picture yet, because their story just screams "hollywood exploitation". So these two show up to Spring Training 1973, and announce that they've swapped wives, and families. Better yet even their dogs were swapped. Peterson and Kekich's wife lasted a while, but Kekich and Peterson's wife were broken up the next year. One Yankees' exec joked that "Family Day would have to be cancelled this year."
3. Rube Waddell
This guy used to chase firetrucks and shoot marbles with kids on the way to games. He used to disappear for days at time and even miss starts while fishing and drinking. He even wrestled an alligator. Opposing players would put toys just off the field so that he'd stray off the field during a game in order to play. This all happened in the early 20th century when no one had even heard of Mike Tyson or indoor plumbing. I'm pretty sure that nowadays he'd have been heavily medicated or hospitalized.
2. Steve Lyons
"In 1990, after sliding safely into first base while playing for the Chicago White Sox, Steve Lyons wanted to remove the dirt and dust from his pants. So he stood up in front of a national television audience and 35,000 fans, unbuckled his pants and pulled them down to his ankles."
From Baseball Digest
I think I can relate.
1. Bill "Spaceman" Lee
He ran for president on an anarchist platform saying that he wouldn't accept office if elected. He called for no guns and no butter. He has said that the world is a one celled organism and should be treated as such (ie no countries, no border). Was blacklisted from baseball because of his very liberal views (called Steinbrenner and the Yankees "brownshirts", admitted to marijuana usage, walked out when players were released for no apparent reason, highly critical of baseball's senior administration). He even played in my hometown for a senior league baseball team, The Sydney Sooners. His autobiography, the Wrong Stuff is a must read whether you're a baseball fan or not, I own two copies.
Honurable mention:
Mookie Wilson
I'm really not sure why he's on the list. I would assume it's because even though his stats are mostly mediocre he has probably the most memorable first name in baseball since Vida Blue. His was also one of the first baseball cards I ever bought.
5. Greg Harris
Harris pitched for Boston and Montreal, two of my favorite teams, but that alone does not qualify him for this list. Harris's numbers are an incredibly mediocre 74 wins 90 losses and a 3.69 era, hall of fame he ain't. Why would I include him in on the list? Well he's the only pitcher in the Modern Era (post 1920) who has switch pitched. What's that mean? Harris pitched to two batters with his left hand and to two batters with his right hand in the same goddamn inning. We're not talking about switch hitters here, we're talking about switch pitchers of which Harris is one of only four to ever pitch in the majors. He's an anomaly! I want to be an anomaly.
He was in the tradition of great Red Sox free spirits like Dennis Eckersley, Bernie Carbo, and Bill Lee. Management didn't appreciate it too much,
"Harris' unusual ability to pitch with both hands led to some tension between him and the Red Sox, who forbade the ambidextrous hurler from throwing lefty. GM Lou Gorman insisted it would "make a mockery" of the game, leading Harris to grumble, "Boston is so conservative. People are afraid to try anything." In a muted show of defiance, Harris usually chose to wear an ambidextrous glove on the mound."
Baseball-Library.com
4.(tie)Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich
I'm not sure why these two haven't been the subject of a major motion picture yet, because their story just screams "hollywood exploitation". So these two show up to Spring Training 1973, and announce that they've swapped wives, and families. Better yet even their dogs were swapped. Peterson and Kekich's wife lasted a while, but Kekich and Peterson's wife were broken up the next year. One Yankees' exec joked that "Family Day would have to be cancelled this year."
3. Rube Waddell
This guy used to chase firetrucks and shoot marbles with kids on the way to games. He used to disappear for days at time and even miss starts while fishing and drinking. He even wrestled an alligator. Opposing players would put toys just off the field so that he'd stray off the field during a game in order to play. This all happened in the early 20th century when no one had even heard of Mike Tyson or indoor plumbing. I'm pretty sure that nowadays he'd have been heavily medicated or hospitalized.
2. Steve Lyons
"In 1990, after sliding safely into first base while playing for the Chicago White Sox, Steve Lyons wanted to remove the dirt and dust from his pants. So he stood up in front of a national television audience and 35,000 fans, unbuckled his pants and pulled them down to his ankles."
From Baseball Digest
I think I can relate.
1. Bill "Spaceman" Lee
He ran for president on an anarchist platform saying that he wouldn't accept office if elected. He called for no guns and no butter. He has said that the world is a one celled organism and should be treated as such (ie no countries, no border). Was blacklisted from baseball because of his very liberal views (called Steinbrenner and the Yankees "brownshirts", admitted to marijuana usage, walked out when players were released for no apparent reason, highly critical of baseball's senior administration). He even played in my hometown for a senior league baseball team, The Sydney Sooners. His autobiography, the Wrong Stuff is a must read whether you're a baseball fan or not, I own two copies.
Honurable mention:
Mookie Wilson
I'm really not sure why he's on the list. I would assume it's because even though his stats are mostly mediocre he has probably the most memorable first name in baseball since Vida Blue. His was also one of the first baseball cards I ever bought.
My tribute to National Breakup Day
Small Wonder[that we can't be together]
Dear Vicki,
I want for things to work out between us I really and truly do, but in the preceding weeks I have realized that our relationship is doomed to fail. You see, I'm a flesh and blood human, and you, sadly enough, are a robot. You're fantastic, made of plastic, microchips here and there. You're a small wonder, bring love and laughter everywhere. I guess that's why this is so hard to do.
Love and Good-Bye,
Mark
Small Wonder[that we can't be together]
Dear Vicki,
I want for things to work out between us I really and truly do, but in the preceding weeks I have realized that our relationship is doomed to fail. You see, I'm a flesh and blood human, and you, sadly enough, are a robot. You're fantastic, made of plastic, microchips here and there. You're a small wonder, bring love and laughter everywhere. I guess that's why this is so hard to do.
Love and Good-Bye,
Mark
