Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Blast From the Past

Someone uncovered film from my high school football team’s 1975 state championship season. You gotta be on Facebook to see it. An early-season game against Butler at old Porter Stadium in Macon. That’s me at the 8:40 mark kicking the extra point. Also at 14:00 and 17:25. 

Late in the game Johnny Crawford's punt gets a good roll, and you can see me (#21) on the sideline (20:20). This was one of the few games when I didn’t handle kickoffs. Too bad its so blurry. That year I spatted my black cleats, taping over the laces as well as the back of the heels. Not sure if I was wearing long white sleeves or taped forearms like Fred Biletnikoff (or both).

https://www.facebook.com/100000171156220/videos/4378563718825957/

Those days in high school and college would be fun to relive. My high school football team wore old helmets in practice, and newer air helmets in games. At one point my junior year a team manager found an old single bar suspension helmets in the back of the equipment room. Fit me perfectly. I wore it as my practice helmet after that. By then (1975) no one in high school wore single bars any more. Had I wore it in a game I’m sure an opponent would’ve taken a shot at my teeth. Loved that helmet. Should’ve kept it.

Busy Monday. Was stuck at the office from before 8 am past 5:50 pm. Then straight to small group, where I met with Rob and Ron. We finished early, then had a good discussion on racism from Ron’s viewpoint (he’s Chinese). Then home. After C went to bed I watched two Seinfeld episodes, including the one where 21 year old Denise Richards played NBC president Russell Dalrymple’s 15 year old daughter.

Twenty years ago when their kids were young, Ron and his wife had been going to a Chinese church over in Lawrenceville. They were at a service but due to the crowd hadn’t been able to sit together, After the sermon Ron was led by God to come down from his seat in the balcony to accept Christ. When he arrived at the front his wife was there doing the same thing. They both got baptized on their tenth wedding anniversary.

Ron’s story reminded me that I was baptized on an Easter Sunday, in 1975. While I had grown up attending church, the pastor at Northside Christian Church game to our house and shared the gospel, of our need to accept Jesus as Savior. I count that Easter as when I became a Christian, though it was at the GT BSU and SPdL where I really first grew in the Lord.

MEL OTT  [SABR Bio] was a one-time Detroit Tiger announcer. He is tied with Ty Cobb for the shortest combined first-and-last names of any HOFer. Ott became the first player-manager to be ejected from both ends of a doubleheader. From 1924 to 1946 in the NL and from 1907 to 1952 in the AL, if a player or manager was ejected from the first game of a double header, they were automatically ejected from the second as well.  After that rule was lifted in the NL, New York Giants player-manager Mel Ott got himself separately tossed twice on 9-June-1946(1) & 9-June-1946(2). Bill James once called him the best player since the Baseball Writers launched their MVP Award in 1931 who never won the award. Source: The New Bill James Historical Abstract (2001)

Upbeat Denison column today: author Glenn T. Stanton notes, church attendance is at an all-time high, both in raw numbers and as a percentage of the population. Sociologist Rodney Stark reports the percentage of Americans who attend a local church has grown from 17% in 1776 to 69% today. Scholar Byron Johnson adds “theologically conservative denominations (evangelical churches, Pentecostal churches, and especially non-denominational churches) are not in decline but are alive and well.”

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/three-stories-of-good-news-for-the-church-in-the-culture-the-best-way-to-observe-silent-wednesday/?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=118841635&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_MzaE5FxEoW-CdXKXbqx9-g5Phe5BWNsbEuybqFwqwg4pq2O-RCAUlSrA-6PJpRPg_Kwhs7G1397-rkJlpgwXxbvIUkw&utm_content=118841635&utm_source=hs_email

Tried to monitor email yesterday and last night, but this morning I had over 200 new emails. Down to about 20 right now. Last day of the month. Got a ton of work to do.


W&MC's Sequoia had a flat tire today, and the spare was flat. But still kicking after 354,000 miles.

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Teri Garr in the Sound of Music?

This weekend I learned the role of Liesl in the Sound of Music was played by 21 year old Carmian Carr. She sang the song "I am 16, Going on 17. Others considered for the role included Teri Garr (above), Mia Farrow, Sharon Tate, and Leslie Ann Warren. 

Friday night we ate dinner outside at our friend's house. Four couples. Mexican. Then we sat around the firepit. Reid tried to start a fire but it wouldn't stay lit. Then Sarah kept adding kindling to keep it going, but the big logs never caught fire since they were wet. I was exhausted just watching Sarah work. I think she became overcome by smoke, because she was the first to leave.

Slept late Saturday. Worked upstairs, then downstairs laundry. Cut the grass and worked in the yard. Got in my 10000+ steps. Spaghetti and spinach.

On line Sunday School. More housework, laundry, and nap. Leftover spaghetti with spinach and broccoli. Lately I've been placing the broccoli on top of the spaghetti noodles, then topping both with the meat sauce.

Last year, due to covid, my company moved the New Year's Eve holiday to Good Friday. This year the Carolina's division just announced they'd be doing the same thing this year. I guess my region won't be joining them.

Denison on the USA Today's condemnation of Oral Robert's inclusion in the NCAA tourney: "Here's the irony: as Christianity Today reports, ORU's "involvement in basketball is part of a much longer story of Christian engagement with the game." James Naismith invented basketball at a Christian college: the YMCA International Training School. He described the task of a YMCA physical director: "to win men for the Master through the gym." ORU is just one of six Christian schools which advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in this year's tournament.

ME: if people are so concerned with Oral Roberts' biblical stand on marriage, perhaps everyone opposed should quit playing basketball in protest.

In The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis predicted how woke education could turn democracy into dictatorship.    

 April 22 is David Platt's Secret Church.

Psalm 118:8 is the center verse in the Bible. Psalm 118:22 is the most quoted OT verse in the NT.

A Dog Who Kept Sneaking into a Dollar General for a Unicorn Toy Gets His Plush and a New Start 

Monday, March 29, 2021

Mad as Hell

In the 1976 movie Network the TV news anchor screams “Get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” That’s how I’m feeling these days.

I went to the ballpark and a political debate broke out. We’re not to Opening Day but I’ve already had it with all the political posturing. I have yet to watch a single preseason game, and not sure what I’m going to have to do to watch regular season games. Not sure if I’ll even be able to buy a ticket and go to a game. Sounds like tickets will be even more expensive. Baseball wants to attract a younger generation. None of this is helping. All this just to watch 34 year-old Pablo Sandoval?

I quit reading Sports Illustrated because the content became less sports and too liberal. Now I’ve had it with Uni Watch, who won’t utter the Braves name for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. No “Indian iconography” on Uni Watch membership cards.  Now Uni Watch thinks the All-Star Game should be moved from Atlanta due to the state’s new voting law. Says the MLBPA is considering the proposal. Says the Dodgers manager might boycott. Uni Watch has lost a reader and Twitter follower. I’m tired of all the rhetoric.

What’s so bad about the new voting law? The law expands Saturday voting, and allows for Sunday voting if needing. The law forbids outsiders from distributing food and water to those in line, because outsiders could use the opportunity to influence votes. This is just an extension to the longtime law against campaigning near a voting facility. It’s still legal to bring food and beverages to a poll for officials to hand out, so no one will be dying of dehydration.

The new law requires an ID to obtain an absentee ballot. Critics claim this hurts minorities, who supposedly have less access to drivers licenses and other forms of ID. If this is true, how did these people register to vote? Get a checking account? Sign a lease for an apartment? Draw unemployment? Sign up for government benefits? Is it racist of me to ask these questions?

The new law is meant to make it harder to cheat. If there is no cheating, why is this new law a problem? The new law moves drop boxes inside, where they can be better monitored by election officials. This makes access harder, but makes illegal activity harder as well. Why do people oppose this new law?    

Soon you won't be able to go anywhere without a vaccination card. That ID is okay. But you can't get the vaccine without an ID. But you should be able to vote without an ID?

AJC headline: “Sweeping changes” to Georgia Elections Signed Into Law (parentheses mine). I share this link to provide details about the new law, plus another link with analysis.

https://www.ajc.com/politics/bill-changing-georgia-voting-rules-passes-state-house/EY2MATS6SRA77HTOBVEMTJLIT4/

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2021/03/28/the-most-insane-take-on-georgias-election-law-has-gone-forth-and-my-word-n351676

If someone says something that offends or hurts me, I can (a) get over it, (b) take action, or (c) ignore it. What I shouldn’t do is carry a grudge. Should you continue to repeat the story to others? What good does that do?

A gentle Asian lady I know mentioned how none of her coworkers or friends asked how she was doing in the wake of the recent shootings in metro Atlanta. Not that it’s an excuse, but I’d been so busy that it’s been hard to process such things. Were Asians targeted, or spa workers? I made a point to discuss the matter with my Asian friend in small group. This led to a interesting discussion. He was rightfully more concerned about individual attacks that are becoming more prevalent.

MLB ballpark's best traditions: Races, mascots, songs and celebrations - Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/interactive/2021/baseball-traditions-mlb-ballparks/

Clayton Trutor's book tells the story of Atlanta sports.

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.rutlandherald.com_sports_trutors-2Dbook-2Dtells-2Dstory-2Dof-2Datlanta-2Dsports_article-5Facede156-2D95be-2D588c-2D8095-2D212ddfe4954e.html&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=yxcbDZEK-wKsmSuYDr6kseXuN8A75TtQBcWf_65VlaY&s=FNAtc_hsVY1JIKkEcwBT73_7mAVywPaDtD1UmEo_Pt4&e=

R.A. DICKEY [SABR Bio] one-time Atlanta Brave and Texas Ranger. Dickey never had a right ulnar collateral ligamentDoctors said he should not be able to twist a doorknob, much less throw a pitch, without extreme pain. The knuckleball was his calling card in the majors. In his fifteen-year career, he only received Cy Young Award votes once. Won the NL CYA in 2012 pitching for the Mets. It took switching to a league where he wasn’t required to bat for him to win a Gold Glove for his fielding. Won the AL GG for pitchers in 2013, his 1st season w/TOR(He did come to bat six times that season & got two hits, one of them an RBI double).

Sunday, March 28, 2021

The Last Supper

Photos from one of Anna's last meals at W&MC's.


SAM McDOWELL  [SABR Bio] in the pros at age 17, struck out a future Hall of Famer, and a few others, in his first start in the majors. On 15-Sep-1961, McDowell struck out Harmon Killebrew plus three additional Twins (he got All-Star catcher Earl Battey two times) in 6-1/3 scoreless innings of work. Did not get a decision.  He had pitched in the minors at age 17. McDowell was so sought after as a teenager that 14 of the 16 major league teams offered him a contract. He chose Cleveland because of the impressive signing bonus of $75,000. He appeared as a guest on “To Tell the Truth” before he ever appeared in a major league game. On 16-Jun-1960 he appeared on the popular show. In his fifteen-year MLB career, he was only traded once and that was for a future Hall of Famer plus another player. On 29-November-1971, he was traded by CLE to SFG for Gaylord Perry and Frank Duffy. The very thing that drove him out of baseball led to his success afterwards. Alcohol consumption caught up with him when he was switched the bullpen. He later was a successful counselor with athletes, particularly baseball players, who also struggled with alcoholism. 

Speaking of the Indians, once Jimmy Piersall had to fight off a deranged fan.

Notes from a decision making training session I took this week.

Two types of decision makers – satisfiers and maximisers. By recognizing with style you are you can better control your decision making ability. Satisfiers prioritize an adequate approach over an optimal solution. Maximisers examine all possible outcomes in search of the best decision.

Humans have the ability to make snap decisions based on limited information. Less can be more. Instinct can be trusted and followed when making low impact decisions. This is known as expert intuition. When faced with a complex decision, slow thinking strategic intuition works best.

If you find yourself facing a difficult decision and the answer is not clear, be sure to ask for help from someone you trust.

Six thinking hats theory is good for looking at a decision from different viewpoints. Allows for emotion and skepticism. Allows for creativity. These decisions will be sounder and more resilient.  You’ll spot good reason and not follow a course of action before committing to it.

White details, focus on data

Yellow focus on benefits, use positive thinking

Green creativity

Red intuition gut feeling, intuition

Blue process control decide which hat is best

Black highlights weak points, bad points

Reflective practice – become aware of how you think and reason.

System 1 fast thinking can result in mental shortcuts can sometime skip over facts. Avoid cognitive biases, which can result in errors.

System 2 slow thinking: methodical and analytical

Ladder of inference – slow thinking rungs: data to observation to beliefs to prior experience to existing assumptions to conclusions to take actions, sometime skip facts without this. Work both up and down the ladder. Make your thinking visible to others. Ask others what they think, to test your assumptions. Explore, don’t disagree too soon. If you are challenging someone else’s conclusions, you need to be able to explain your reasoning in a way so both of you will be able to reach a shared conclusion.

Smart leaders will make counterintuitive decisions, like when Henry Ford gave his workers a higher wage to decrease turnover. Profits doubled. It’s through making decisions that we grow. Don’t be afraid of making a mistake. A mistake is not really a mistake until you make it twice. Making big decisions takes courage and foresight. Don’t give up on a decision too quickly if things aren’t going well. Sometimes persistence is needed.  The best decisions are sometimes counterintuitive.

I love reviewing to correct way to write in cursive. Not shown: the rarely used "end-t".


For the most part the top row of Green Bay's Lambeau Field was topped with luxury boxes and the press box. Didn't realize additional decks had been added on in one of the end zones. Some traditionalist Packer fans hate what the desecration has done to their shrine, but it's nothing like the monstrosity in the north end zone of Grant Field.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

MLK Jr's Baseball Connection

1969 World Series MVP Donn Clendenon grew up in Atlanta. He attended Morehouse College, where upperclassmen serve as mentors / big brothers for freshmen. Clendenon's big brother was Martin Luther King Jr. The former Met was raised by his stepfather Nish Williams, who played in the Negro Leagues with friends Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella, and Don Newcombe. From Friday's Uni Watch entry.

Sneakers: the Dirty Underside. Rare sneakers. Bots. Insider connections. This scandal has it all. A top Nike executive resigns, and her shoe reseller son face the wrath of sneakerheads, who think the shoe game is rigged against them.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-03-22/nike-sneaker-reseller-scandal

Tonight on Discovery+ the movie Resurrection debuts, produced by Mark "Survivor " Burnett and Roma "Touched by an Angel" Downey. Depicts Jesus after the crucifixion.

Denison: a Jewish high school baseball player is being profiled in the New York Times not only for his talent (he is a star pitcher and switch hitter) but for his dedication to the Shabbat (the Sabbath). He will not play games between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday, a commitment that may cost him in the future but one which he refuses to change.

Article: Phrases to use / not use.

1. People are good at recognizing when you don't care.

2. Don't say things you don't mean, and can't back up through actions.

3. The words you speak do matter.

4. When you're working with people and emotions there is no one solution that fits all.

5. The best solution is always based on understanding the person, and understanding the circumstances and situation.

6. BAD: I don't have time for this. Get to the point. I don't care. These suggest there has been no attempt to understand the circumstances or situation.

7. Don't prime a person for negative feedback by first giving them positive feedback. Instead be straightforward.

8. Demonstrate trust and appreciation through your words. Those who lack these skills come across as controlling or monitoring, revealing their lack of trust.

9. Words are not enough. They must be followed up with more words and actions.

10. GOOD: saying things like "Tell me more about…" or "Help me understand…" or "What do you think?"

11. BAD: non apologies like "I'm sorry, but…" or "I'm sorry that you feel that way." Instead apologize in a heartfelt way. 

https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/people-who-use-these-5-phrases-have-low-emotional-intelligence?ltm=WNu8sIBP2R5E9iJ4FCw%2Fo4es0q4o0eWMrG0ddd%2FSGmyxr4tzo1LquAXFkrV91YN3&utm_source=member&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-newsletter&utm_content=dnl-2021-3-19&subscriber_type=member 


 

It's been a busy, tough month. Looks like the next four weeks will be just as busy. My apologizes if the content here has gone downhill. Thanks for sticking with me. Hopefully things will be on the rebound soon.

 

Friday, March 26, 2021

Down By the River

Thursday: left work before 4 pm and met a friend to walk down by the river. He had surgery on both feet back in December, and getting back in the swing of things. Wednesday he’d walked 18 holes out at East Lake. We walked an eastern route by the river, taking the path underneath Roswell Road, over 3.6 miles. A good time. So hot I was down to one top layer, a t-shirt.

Speaking of down by the river, I saw an amazing entrance by Chris Farley when he visited the Late Show. There's a guy in the audience wearing a Braves cap.

Went home and crashed on the couch. Salad for supper. My stomach just hasn’t felt well. Saved the chicken and corn on the cob for Friday lunch. Ceil had a church meeting. Finished watching the Buck Leonard movie, and a couple of Seinfelds. Just not in the mood to watch anything else. Turned off the TV and read more of my Niekro book.

Philippians 2:12-13: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

The war on Christianity continues: The USA Today doesn’t think Oral Roberts University (or any other Christian university upholding biblical values) should be allowed in the NCAA tournament. Two days later the fishwrapper did publish an editorial with an opposing opinion, but was sure to note that article expressed only the views of the author, not the publication. The original article, also labeled opinion, did not carry the same disclaimer.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/03/oral-roberts-ncaa-anti-lgbtq-code-of-conduct

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/03/25/oral-roberts-university-basketball-deserve-cancel-culture-golden-knights-column/6994502002/

https://albertmohler.com/2021/03/25/theyre-coming-for-oral-roberts-university-and-that-means-they-are-coming-for-you-too?fbclid=IwAR28QhvVBNjzGK56PaXiXk8Q-RR_xXS2CiNmQOZ4dGDh-6ctd9PfanEC3R0

LON WARNEKE  [SABR Bio] hit the first triple in All-Star competition. 1933 ASG, 6th inning off General Crowder Warneke remains the only person to play in and umpire a major league All-Star Game. Named to NL AS in 1933, 34, 36, 39 & 41; Umpired 1952. From 1940 through 1955, he umpired more than 1,000 MLB games. He is the only pitcher ever to strike out a certain Hall of Famer in a major league game. On 27-Sep-1936, Walter Alston played two innings of major league baseball. He made an error at 1B on the first ball hit to him. Warneke struck him out to end the game. It was Alston’s only time at bat in the majors. Managing was clearly his calling, his strength.

Denison: a Marine Corps officer warned Congress against classifying Christians in the military as “religious extremists.” Mike Berry noted a US Army Reserve training presentation on religious extremism lists al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the KKK as “groups that use or advocate violence to accomplish their objectives and are therefore rightly classified as extremists.” Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism were also included in the presentation as “extremists.” Berry stated, “The Pentagon cannot possibly believe that because Evangelical Christians and Catholics hold fast to age-old views on marriage and human sexuality, they should be labeled as ‘extremists’ and deemed unfit to serve.”

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Movin' On Up

Having grown up in Macon in smaller churches, I really enjoyed being at really big Georgia Tech, the GT BSU with 50-100 in weekly meetings and other events, and the big church environments – college department, youth department, Chapel Choir, singles department, Sunday School volleyball, SPdL softball, and GT intramural sports. Back then Sunday night services and Wednesday night prayer meeting was well attended, and a bunch of us from Tech would go. Loved Dr. Marsh’s sermons. Easy to take notes listening to him.

Small youth groups in high school weren’t that great, though I did become a Christian during that time. Not many church events. Sunday school classes with a teacher and like four students. I was busy with school and football and work at Baskin Robbins and friends and girlfriends. 

I remember when I was chapel choir president on a choir tour. I had to give a little speech in front of the choir, and it was the first time I called Mr. Condra “John”.

Enjoyed my GT PE classes: aerobics (twice), drownproofing, and gymnastics. Luckily gymnastics was taught by GT’s weightlifting coach, so things like pushups, sit-ups, and the mile run counted just as much as the gymnastics.

While visiting Glenn Cowart in Colombia, we went to his church singles department party, where I met Ceil. It was a girl’s birthday and Ceil had made her a framed drawing, which I’d liked since I was a little artistic. Later C moved to Atlanta to take classes at Georgia State for a year. I helped her move in to the Peachtree Hills apartments. Sometimes she’s come to SPdL, but sometimes I’d be driving up Peachtree on a Sunday morning and see her driving to another church. One time I’d gone to NC to visit Jim Johnson, who later married Kimberly Kitchens. On the way back I saw Ceil driving back to Atlanta from SC.

In 1986 I didn’t have any birthday plans, so I asked Ceil out on our first date, to The Upper Crust Pizza in the Around Lenox shopping center  We had talked about marriage, and after celebrating Easter 1987 in Macon we stopped by Indian Springs State park near Jackson GA on the way back to Atlanta, where I formally proposed.

Yesterday I wore my new dark grey Columbia shirt and black Columbia pants, to fit in with the cool dude fab guys who sit near me. Today I’m wearing my new Braves Maintenance golf shirt and white PF Flyers, with green trim.  Need to start wearing something special every day, like my collection of sports ties: Braves, Hawks, and Falcons.

Wednesday: worked from before 8 am well past 5:30. Supper was baked chicken, baked French “fries”, and green beans. C went to bed shortly after nine, I watched a couple of Seinfeld episodes before heading upstairs.

Today: super busy morning. Decided to work from 7 am to 8 am. That’s when I saw Edie’s texts, so I texted her and David Hurt. My shot wasn’t until 9:40 but I wanted to go early, as traffic around that Perimeter Mall area can be hectic. Left at 8:20 and it took less than 25 minutes. Called Edie on the way, then David Hurt, who I hadn’t talked to in months.

The parking lot behind Chickfila on Mt Vernon was almost full, but they were moving people in and out quickly. Had my shot just after 9 am, got on my work call, then got my appointment for shot #2 during my 15 minute wait. Was back in my car before 9:25. Much quicker than downtown at Mercedes Benz Stadium.

It was a straight shot on Mt Vernon to Spaulding to Peachtree Industrial. Rewarded myself by driving thru to pick up breakfast.

Had one conference call as soon as I got to the office. Got another one later on. Left at 4 pm to meet a friend to walk by the river. Tonight Ceil attends a JFBC women’s event in a home with a few friends.

Interesting how some basketball defenders are better coached and more disciplined than others. Often the difference between winning and losing. Late in games I watch for things like that, like whether a team calls a timeout. Oftentimes Coach K wants to attack immediately, as the defense might be expecting a timeout and instead have to immediately defend.

UGA had a fake punt called in a big game a few years ago, sneaking in freshman backup QB Justin Fields to run the fake. He took too long to get the play off, and by then the opponent had sniffed out the fake, and stopped the Dawgs from gaining a first down. UGA lost the game. The longer the offense sits there, the longer the defense has time to get ready.

I’ve often thought the military would’ve done me good, or even Matthew could’ve benefitted. 

Here we go. The Los Angeles Times thinks MLB should pull the All Star Game out of Atlanta. 

https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.latimes.com_sports_story_2021-2D03-2D25_mlb-2Dall-2Dstar-2Dgame-2Datlanta-2Dgeorgia-2Dvoting-2Drights-2Dlebron-2Djames&d=DwIFAg&c=UXihhqr7vvdA-hrKyTiC1Q&r=wMWwaEbn9nr4zXI4p6CDP7FGwn1DrBd77MJElrWsP6U&m=FoDL5EMeexUONeGTuhZTwjUna2facfcfCqU-Ul7EGpg&s=mBReUu3h5K-UzK3nRFafXxK3RJbepczV1R64IMBriKE&e=

RUBE MARQUARD  [SABR Bio] a one-time Boston Brave, the first pitcher to play in five World Series in the Modern Era. Played in WS in 1911, 1912, 1913, 1916 & 1920. Played for BSN 1922-25. He wasn’t on the winning side in any of them. Series were won by PHA, BOS, PHA, BOS & CLE respectively. He surrendered the first of the World Series home runs that cemented Frank Baker’s nickname. In the 1911 WS, Baker took Marquard deep in G 2 on 16-Oct. Marquard was criticized in print for how he had pitched to Baker, but in the very next WS game the next day, the person who had done the criticizing, gave up a second HR to Baker. From that moment, Frank Baker would never NOT be Home Run Baker. The pitcher with that uncharacteristic (and untimely) criticism? Marquard’s gentlemanly teammate, Christy Mathewson.