I can't wait to read Mr. Frommer's book about 1970s baseball. That's when I learned everything that helps me understand the game today. I also learned about work/play ethic from Cubs greats like Ron Santo and Ernie Banks. Those guys, in general, made beans for money, but they played their asses off. They played hurt, they played "two," they sat through hours'-long rain delays and came back to finish games. They played extra innings however they were dealt, without a gimme runner on base, without knowing when they'd go home.
Then I moved to L.A. just in time for Fernando Valenzuela's rookie season as a starter, and it was a whole new era. The man would routinely approach 10 strikeouts per game. He was flash, but he was cool.
This article brought to mind the emotions that major-league ball used to generate. Now everything is so calibrated and optimized and challenged. It's still the greatest sport because the players, except for pitchers, have to be all-arounders, batting and fielding and bench warming until they get their shot. Thanks for this vivid look back at the wonder of a new phenom.
Bob Feller was amazing. Not having been around for his career, the best pitcher I saw regularly (during his prime) was Max Scherzer. I look forward to the sag someone tells the story of his 20K game.
I can't wait to read Mr. Frommer's book about 1970s baseball. That's when I learned everything that helps me understand the game today. I also learned about work/play ethic from Cubs greats like Ron Santo and Ernie Banks. Those guys, in general, made beans for money, but they played their asses off. They played hurt, they played "two," they sat through hours'-long rain delays and came back to finish games. They played extra innings however they were dealt, without a gimme runner on base, without knowing when they'd go home.
Then I moved to L.A. just in time for Fernando Valenzuela's rookie season as a starter, and it was a whole new era. The man would routinely approach 10 strikeouts per game. He was flash, but he was cool.
This article brought to mind the emotions that major-league ball used to generate. Now everything is so calibrated and optimized and challenged. It's still the greatest sport because the players, except for pitchers, have to be all-arounders, batting and fielding and bench warming until they get their shot. Thanks for this vivid look back at the wonder of a new phenom.
Great article on a great teenager who grew into a great man,
Bob Feller was amazing. Not having been around for his career, the best pitcher I saw regularly (during his prime) was Max Scherzer. I look forward to the sag someone tells the story of his 20K game.