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Original Met in the House

Edgy DC Dec 19 2005 06:52 PM

Check out the Thomas thread.

metirish Dec 19 2005 11:20 PM

It's been a very cool week here at CPF, Edgy I bought the book from whatever site you posted last week, I was hoping to get it before I went home but I won't, you've been reading it, thoughts so far on it?

Edgy DC Dec 20 2005 12:02 AM Edited 3 time(s), most recently on Dec 20 2005 12:46 AM

I'm still early on in the book. For a self-published memoir, it's really comprehensive. Obviously a lot of research was done, I suspect, by the co-authors going through Thomas's personal archives with him. He vividly remembers 55-year-old game-changing hits from his minor league career. Clearly this was a different era, when minor-league ball could still be a gas, regardless of the fates of the big club. It was also the very end of the era when great (or, more typically, near-great) players would end their careers going back to the minors as a part-time players/managers/instuctors. I remember seeing a minor-league catcher named Olerud in Ball Four, and feeling some delight in realizing that it must have been Jon Olerud's father (as unlikely as it seemed, considering Olie's body type). Many of the names that Thomas lists are similarly familiar --- like Garber and Dravecky --- and I've got to wonder if at least some of them weren't the fathers, uncles, and grandfathers of the players I've seen play. Obviously Gus Bell was all that and more. I don't know why this should be so exciting. Making mental connections --- and I suppose emotional ones --- just is. Anyhow, if he recalls his big league career as vividly as his minor league days (and I can't see why he shouldn't), it should be a treat. His first year in pro ball, his team had five managers. The manager who turned him into a dead pull hitter wasn't a former hitter, but Rip Sewell, of Eephus Pitch fame. Two older gentlemen have already spotted me reading the book and asked me all about it. Fans of those Pirates loved those teams (fans of the 1970-era Pirates also1. One of those guys really thought it was Dick Groat on the cover. __________________________ 1But I don't see fans of The Family around often. And how about that? The Pirates were awesome around 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990, but missed the boat in 2000.

metirish Dec 20 2005 12:20 AM

Excellent, I can't wait to read it, perhaps this book could jump start the failed book club thing that was talked about.

Willets Point Dec 20 2005 09:21 AM

metirish wrote: Excellent, I can't wait to read it, perhaps this book could jump start the failed book club thing that was talked about. The book club is not failed, we're just waiting for the parody contest to end.

Edgy DC Dec 20 2005 09:55 AM

Well, that's an hour away. In my experience, a big hindrance to book clubs is too much pure democracy. Better to agree that each member gets to pick his or her selection --- and consider or reject any and all objections as capriciously as he or she will --- while the rest suffer, plotting their revenge when their turn comes around.

seawolf17 Dec 20 2005 10:04 AM

Suffering and revenge. That's my kinda book club.

Edgy DC Dec 27 2005 07:02 PM

Straighten up, scouts. The Original One is back. Check out the thread, youse.

Scrapple8 Dec 27 2005 08:42 PM

btw, that was olerud's dad. He rarely curses, so we asked him about the quote. He said it must be true if its in the book. Olerud's dad still plays in senior hardball tournaments.

MFS62 Dec 27 2005 08:52 PM

Scrapple8 wrote: btw, that was olerud's dad. He rarely curses, so we asked him about the quote. He said it must be true if its in the book. Olerud's dad still plays in senior hardball tournaments. I kept the CPF updated while Sr. played in the tourney. Thanks, Later

Edgy DC Dec 28 2005 08:31 AM

I'm sirius. Visit the thread at the top. He answered it all. Where missing socks in the dryer go, Dick York v. Dick Sargeant --- all of it.

Edgy DC Dec 28 2005 07:25 PM

Last warning. If you don't get up to that thread and start thanking the only Met ever to give us the time of day, I'm going to make a scene.

Edgy DC Jan 04 2006 09:49 AM

Frank's back.