Author's posts
Apr 24
Locker room reporting
For years the Philadelphia Phillies’ clubhouse was deemed hostile. When Steve Carlton refused to talk to Tom Boswell of the Washington Post, Boswell interviewed Calrton’s locker. Carlton warned Boswell never to do this again. A reporter risked his life talking to Gil Hodges locker area. Gil’s faithful companion, Gina was on guard. Hodges rewarded Gina …
Mar 26
My Friend EDDIE YOST
One Sunday morning in 1964, the Washington Senators began arriving in the visitors clubhouse at Yankee Stadium. Coach Eddie Yost signaled for me to come to his locker. He had spent the last two nights at home with his mother in South Ozone Park, Queens. “I asked her if I could poke around in the …
Feb 24
ONCE UP A DIAMOND, Senators wore spikes
ONCE UP A DIAMOND, Senators wore spikes. They played at a ballpark even though it was called a stadium. Griffith Stadium. In the early fifties, folks came by car and by trolley. They paid $2.50 for a box seat. A dime for a scorecard. A quarter for a coke. Same for a hot dog – …
Oct 19
Why the Mocking Bird Sang to the Relief Pitcher
Of the thousands of baseball players who have heard the mocking bird sing, only one knew that a bright, joyful, clever mocking bird was singing just to him. When this began to happen, Dave Baldwin’s baseball career took flight. I watched Mr. Baldwin work as a major league relief pitcher, know he has a Ph.D …
Oct 02
WE were the children of the Greatest Generation
WASHINGTON, D.C. 1950 Our parents had endured the Great Depression, our fathers the Great War. Our mothers were homemakers. Families were families – neighborhoods were neighborhoods. We were raised in homes without air conditioning. We played music on the victrola. We listened to baseball games on the radio. We bought groceries at the A&P. Boys …