Let's Talk Some Football

Joe Kapp receives scant credit for being the first Latino QB to make it to the Super Bowl. I always liked Kapp in the old Wheaties commercial with the song “Hey Joe, you didn’t eat your Wheaties! Hey Joe, you’re going to lose the game”. The commercial was odd because instead of the purple Vikings helmets with horns, the helmets had little triangles. His red opponent in the commercial “the Chiefs” also had little triangles as well. 

I also liked Joe’s single bar helmet. Kapp appeared in The Longest Yard, and later in Semi Tough.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://remezcla.com/features/sports/joe-kapp-nfl-latino-pioneer/__;!!AE29DT8V!UXOoe-8IdIyaLmeSPJHKNrqUGBQoVgsjZQQbbejGQVkzdQnjBVw9-tXw_BJgKuluc-S8MR_5NB5gNt9VQQ8$

Chuck Oliver on AM680 doesn’t think Clemson’s prize QB recruit will be ready to play this season, especially since there’s no spot on the schedule to ease him in against easier teams in back to back games. Means Dabo may be stuck with last year’s QB DJ Ukeleli, who was one of the lowest rated QB’s in the nation (and worst in the ACC).

Like 2021, this fall GT will have the toughest schedule in the country. Open with Clemson and finish with UGA, with Miami and UNC in between. Former Heisman winner Chris Weinke is a coach at GT now. Here at work we have an intern who plays offensive line at Tech.

Saw another Top 50 college QB list. GT QB Jeff Sims is 49, ahead of the Notre Dame QB. UGA QB Stetson Bennett is 20th, 15 spots higher than the last list I saw. More like it. Clemson QB DJ Uiagalelei is 29, which is crazy talk. Also Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker way too high at 5. Talent is one thing, but actually leading your team to victory is another.

The Braves have tied their franchise record for most wins in a calendar month, with 21. That’s a 126 win pace. Braves win again, taking the series in Philly. Big hit from Duval. Good outing by starting pitcher Kyle Wright. Another double from Olson, extending his league lead and broke the Braves record for most doubles before the All Star break.

Ozuna not much of a fielder. Snit wants to keep both his catchers in the lineup so one has to DH, especially when d’Arnauld needs a night off from catching. Need to put Contreris in left field. Some say Contraris has better stats than his brother for the Cubs, who may make the all star game. Now I need to learn to spell Contraris as well. d’Arnauld is deserving this year, as is Dansby. Gotta keep mentioning Dansby to keep my blog readers mad, although Swanson has been in a little slump as of late.

Sounds like Freddie Freeman waited until he returned to Atlanta to fire his agent, who allegedly didn’t tell Freeman about the Braves final offer. There were reports the agent was well regarded in Los Angeles. The agent may sue a media member for reporting inaccurate information. The agent also represents Dansby Swanson, who will be a free agent this year. If Dansby moves on, the Braves don’t have a replacement in their minor league system, and would have to scramble to sign a suitable free agent.

Dimino thinks Freddie will return to Atlanta. Right now Freeman may be slightly more clutch than Olson, but the Braves are better set in the long term. 

I’m a little concerned about the Peachtree Road Race, with all those people. I bet watching the road race would get boring real quick unless you were around a bunch of people you like. I’ll probably be at the back, and won’t get to SPdL until 8:15 or so. Man my right leg hurts. Knee. Hip. Plus the sciatica. No gym this morning. I will probably take it easy until the race on Monday, besides golf on Saturday morning.

Matthew’s friend’s funeral is tomorrow morning 8 am at a Catholic church in Kennesaw. M ate supper with us last night. C made her beff tips into a stir fry with peppers, onions, etc. Good except the beef is always too tough. Not sure why. Want the leftovers??

After supper I watched Season 2 episode 1 of Only Murders in the Building, then a little Holey Moley. On the way to work this morning I stopped by RaceTrac for my free coke and ran into coworker Josh. I see him everywhere. 

Last day of the month today. Customer is supposed to be slowing down, but the morning was crazy. Machine broke down so I had to undo a lot of the work I’d done yesterday. Still have to get to my month end work. One team member out with covid, so I have been filling in with some of her work.

The regional VP called me into his office this morning and presented me with a special 2022 star performer “Taking Care of Business” Award, given to only a select few employees. Inside Sales Manager, the Tubing Lady, and my outside sales team member also received the award. All three are deserving.

EARL WEAVER [SABR Bio] is the majors’ only manager to win more than 107 games in consecutive seasons. His Orioles won 109 G in 1969 and 108 in 1970. Managers Billy Southworth, Frank Chance, and John McGraw won more than 105 games in consecutive seasons. Weaver was twice thrown out of both games of a doubleheader  - before the second games even started, on 15-Aug-1975(1) & 15-Aug-1975(2); and 29-Sep-1985(1) & 29-Sep-1985(2). Ron Luciano one of the majors’ most outspoken umpires, placed him first, second, third AND fourth on the list of the five most difficult managers he had to deal with.

Classic Carson: the Copper Clapper Caper, with Dragnet's Jack Webb. 

Handwriting: A Lost Art

Good handwriting is becoming a lost art. People aren’t writing any more. When confronted with a machine to sign for a credit card purchase, many just scribble. A recent contestant on Jeopardy lost because of poor penmanship. That’s kinda what the show is all about. But the world says its not her fault, it’s the Jeopardy host’s fault - even though the backstage judge made the ruling. Personal responsibility is no longer a thing. It’s always someone else’s fault.

‘Jeopardy!’ Fans Rally Behind Contestant After Poor Handwriting Cost Her Big (msn.com)

Braves beat the Phillies. Olson slugged two taters. That trade looks better and better. d’Arnauld had a big night. I’d thought I’d finally learned how to spell his name, but now I’m not so sure. I’m hearing lots of folk dissing on Braves reliever Will Smith. He didn’t look good against the Dodgers, and I think his stats aren’t good. He did better last year in the closer role, when the pressure was more intense. Harder for hom to perform in the setup role, I guess.

Matthew doesn’t have many friends, but those he does have he holds dear. A friend he spends lots of time with died unexpectedly yesterday. Had trouble breathing. Went to the hospital, and passed away. M had been with her the night before, and she'd been fine. They were supposed to go on a short trip this weekend. M was crushed.

When Ceil heard the news she rushed home from W&MC’s. Both Anna and MC came over after work. Will was pulling another 12 hour shift at Kennestone. After I got home and Shivonne finished eating we all went up to Moxie Burger to eat.

Up to that point M had had a red letter day. He’d had a good second interview at Monday Night Garage, a popular brewery / restaurant in West End – and landed the job. M will be out in the middle of things making the pizzas. The managers encouraged him to take a 6-pack home, and part of his orientation is to sample all of their many beers. Anna’s High Country Outfitters has done joint promotions with Monday Night, and Caleb has a friend that works there. MNG is located on the westside beltline. W&MC have walked there before from their house. Additionally Matthew had also received two other pieces of good news yesterday. Before receiving the bad.

It was too early to know her cause of death. I try to not be a conspiracy theorist, but I’m hearing more and more reports in the news about more and more people “dying unexpectedly” – with possible links to covid and/or the vaccine. Many people in their twenties. Happened upon this tweet earlier today.

Shivonne’s diet, in addition to mother’s milk: broccoli, carrots, butterbeans, avocado, beets, berries, strawberries, bananas, and other vegetables.

Another new low weight this morning. Closing in on 25 pounds lost. Easier to eat less when I go to the office. Today after lifting weights at the gym, I came back to work from home. Did a new pullup exercise that was hard. Supposed to be good for my aching back.

Ceil often sends me to Office Depot for her, and it’s always a challenge to get the right thing printed.

No current plans to return to SC any time soon. The annual family reunion is in late August, but we usually don’t attend. There is an annual golf tourney, but that’s a long way just to play golf. Looks like I will get to play in this year’s EZGo golf tourney in October.

Coworker Brad’s youngest son returned from Florida and tested positive. Coworker Angie tested positive today. Her husband was already sick yesterday. Great. I feel fine. Gotta return to the office tomorrow for month end but will work from home on Friday. Headed to Augusta for work next Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday.

Been on the phone almost all morning. Emails building up. It never ends.

Like at Taqueria, I finally have gone to Jeni’s Ice Cream enough to figure out what to get – three scoops is a better deal than two. Rocket science. I get three different flavors, including brambleberry crisp.

ANTHONY RIZZO  [B-R Bio] has twice been on teams that were no-hit, but four times on teams who no-hit opponents. Was on teams no-hit on 25-Jul-2015 (Cole Hamels vs. his Cubs) and 25-Jun-2022 (Astros trio vs. his Yankees). Rizzo was on the victorious side on 30-Aug-2015, 21-Apr-2016 (Jake Arrieta vs. LA and the Reds); 13-Sep-2020 (Alec Mills vs. Milwaukee); and 24-Jun-2020 (Cubs quartet vs, LA). Rizzo will have received more than $100 million in MLB salary by the end of his current contract next year. He was a recipient of the coveted Roberto Clemente Award (RCA) in 2017.

DENISON: author Wayne W. Dyer noted, "Loving people live in a loving world. Hostile people live in a hostile world. Same world."

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/the-world-is-unhappier-more-stressed-out-than-ever-but-is-this-a-bad-thing/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The+world+is+%22unhappier%2C+more+stressed+out+than+ever%22&utm_campaign=06-29-22+The+world+is+%22unhappier%2C+more+stressed+out+than+ever

Stories I've Told Before

Back when our kids were young, for some reason I couldn’t go to SC for Thanksgiving. Then like on Friday I decided to go anyway. On the way my car broke down and I wound up spending the night at a co-worker’s house near Athens. By the time we got the car fixed it was too late, so I went back home.

Another Friday I hustled home from working a week in Charlotte. By the time I got to the house to get my car it was well after Will’s baseball game was to have ended. I decided to drive over to the field anyway. When I arrived the coach pitch game was still going on. I walked up. Will was fielding the pitcher position. He backed up and caught a pop fly, stepped on second base to double off the runner, then ran down and tagged out the runner on first – unassisted triple play! The next inning Will was playing first base. He caught a line drive, stepped on first to double off the runner, then threw to across the diamond to double off the runner at third base. The throw arrived in time, but the third baseman dropped the ball. Almost two triple plays in two innings!

Corn hole – when “we” used to play at the beach there would always be a crowd of our group wanting to play, so I just didn’t bother with it.

Man the Braves best two relievers (Tyler Matzek and Kenley Jansen) are injured. Also RHP Jay Jackson. And Acuna, Albies, and Soroka. They might have to put that guy with the mustache back in the bullpen. Spencer Strider.

Not much to report here. Tried to rest yesterday after work, since I’d been on my feet all weekend. Went to bed at 9:30. For supper Ceil fixed chicken, pasta, and tossed a salad.

This morning I ran my first three miles in 33:20, an average of 11:07. My three fastest miles in years. Then my knee started to lock up, and I pretty much had to walk the fourth mile.

When we were up in SC I asked Rusty if Matthew could take a set of 40 year-old stereo speakers, that were up in the bonus room. Also several cast iron pans up in storage that Matthew had wanted. Of course Rusty had no problem with it. Ceil is finishing up writing and mailing out all the thank you notes.

Speaking of cast iron, Matthew bought a cast iron skillet at a thrift store that was almost 100 years old.

Tips to sleep well at night.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/journal/lifestyle/how-to-sleep-well-night-wellbeing-33-ways-17440532__;!!AE29DT8V!XJX9-eDkvAJkT6dSpTjAAGQ3uSbIOZIYINptNWvWrM5hYoBIY_o9kkX18tPe0ybB2P7TlmHIINkEDnBD6M8$

SPARKY ANDERSON [SABR Bio]  was born in Bridgewater, South Dakota 22-Feb-1934. Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, Manitoba, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and Yukon have produced exactly one native Hall of Fame manager. Anderson coached an expansion team in their first year before he managed. Coached SDP in 1969. When asked about his profession, he once responded, “My idea of managing is giving the ball to Tom Seaver and sitting down and watching him work”. Anderson managed Seaver in Cincinnati in 1977 & 1978.

DENISON: the Supreme Court ruled 6-to-3 that a school district cannot bar a football coach from publicly exercising his faith on the field after the game. Justice Gorsuch wrote that students should consider the coach’s prayers a lesson for "learning how to tolerate speech or prayer of all kinds" as "part of learning how to live in a pluralistic society." (ME: of all the outcry about this Supreme Court decision, I have heard zero comment about this. Where are all the people preaching tolerance and diversity? 

Anglican priest and New York Times opinion writer Tish Harrison Warren has published a brilliantly reasoned article defending the biblical sanctity of life. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27).

https://www.denisonforum.org/daily-article/supreme-court-rules-that-high-school-coach-can-pray-on-field/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=SCOTUS+ruling%3A+Coach+can+pray+on+field&utm_campaign=06-28-22+Supreme+Court+rules+that+high+school+coach+can+pray+on+field 

Today was the season two premiere of Only Murders in the Building. Can't wait to watch.

Olson Trade: The Sure Thing

When the Braves traded for Matt Olson, so many expert fans said they gave up too much. Almost half a season in, and the trade looks smart for numerous reasons. Michael Harris proving Atlanta Braves made right call on Cristian Pache.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/michael-harris-proving-atlanta-braves-made-right-call-on-cristian-pache/ar-AAYVJGm?ocid=uxbndlbing

Olson has gotten off to a slow start, yet he leads the league in doubles. Matt will be around for eight seasons. Freddie won’t. Pache won’t. The jury is still out on Laneliers and the two pitchers.

Pache has a WAR of -0.6. Batting .167 with a .446 OPS. Pathetic. Even if he’s Andruw on defense, you can’t have a centerfielder so anemic at the plate. Better to put Adam Duvall in center. He won a Gold Glove. Moving Pache made room for rookie Michael Harris, who is batting .330 with an .879 OPS – and playing great defense. Harris has out-produced Pache in half the at bats, and already has a WAR of +1.0. It was good for the Braves to dump Pache on Oakland.

Catcher Langeliers is still in the minors, with decent stats. Batting .271 with a .862 OPS. But the Braves have the most productive catching tandem with Travis d’Arnaud and William Contreras – 19 total home runs. OPS of .809 and .904 respectively. d’Arnaud is becoming a team leader. If Chris Dimino likes him, he must be doing something right.

The two pitchers included in the deal aren’t exactly Cy Young. Ryan Cusiak and Joey Estes are a combined 1-9. Estes was a 16th round draft choice. He is just an arm. I did like Cusiak in “The Sure Thing” (below).

W-L.ERA.WHIP..IP..H..R

1-5  8.13 2.14  27.2 46 29 RC

0-4  5.13 1.44  42.1 46 26 JE 

People need to get over the trade. Actually everyone has forgotten about it. Don’t bother them with the details. It was a good deal, especially for the Braves. 

Remember this one, Don Head? A heartwarming tale of a lad who travels cross country only to realize he loved his best friend, and chose love over lust. Young Cusack's crazy pickup truck hitch-hiker scene was Oscar worthy.  

Today: trying to work from home but having one computer problem after another. Meanwhile the emails keep coming. About half the emails are people asking for help on things unrelated to my customer.

I had a busy busy weekend. C went out of town on Friday. Usually that means I get to rest. I did have a list of things to do. Left work Friday shortly after five. Kroger. High Country. Road Runners Sports. Got home and Winnie was crazy, having been cooped up all day. Went to bed early since it had been a long day, but Winnie was restless.

Since I played golf on Friday I “slept in” on Saturday. But Winnie had me up at 7 am. Did some pre-cleaning since MC was coming over to help do some deep cleaning, since C was been gone so much (seven trips to SC in the past 1-1/2 months). Laundry. Cleaned our bedroom and later the master bath. Took out the trash. Watered the plants. Cleared out my car, and some in the garage. Folded clothes. Did the dishes. MC came and cleaned a bunch more. Hard to list. Lampshades. Cabinets. Appliances. Baseboards. Countertops. Dusted. Vacumed. Amazing. 

I got to play with Shivonne. Such a happy baby. Winnie tickled her toes. Later Matthew, Shiv, MC, and I ate at Spiced Right Rib Shack up by the Roswell Square. I’d always wanted to go there. M got wings. MC a pork sandwich and fried okra. I ate a brisket sandwich, hashbrown casserole, corn souffle. Shiv are some of the hashbrowns. Good stuff. Live music – an old guy on guitar playing 70’s pop rock, like the neverending American Pie. Watched the Braves beat the Dodgers. Didn’t get to bed as early as I would’ve liked.

Sunday: up early for golf. Then McDonalds, RaceTrac, and NAPA. Nap before Sunday School. On the way home from church I stopped by Dollar Tree, Goodwill to drop off and shop, NAPA, Great Clips, and by the car wash. Lunch. MC and Shiv returned. When I got home from church I changed clothes. Put on a t-shirt fresh from the dryer and went out to cut the grass. Some sort of bug was inside my shirt, and bit me several times. I changed shirts. A 15000 step day.

Ceil got home around five, after stopping by Dekalb Farmer’s Market. Ceil was so grateful for all of MC’s hard work, as was I. Anna joined us, and C cooked homemade pizza. Shivonne helped. 

Will had to work 12 hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday, so he missed out on all the fun. Today is his first day at Northside Hospital.

I hit the weights this morning at the Y. Looks like next weekend will be another busy one. Looks like Sunday and Monday are already full.

Exercises for sciatica.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://facty.com/conditions/sciatica/8-exercises-for-sciatica/__;!!AE29DT8V!U6NzJZ8ePWyah0TDJ17gOFSO5igabbhQO9nOZyeK4YRBw9vMR_fyBfl2fGJxrWwLWKbJfoc3JJS1MBUU6io$ 

Managers with 360 more career wins than losses.

Mgr            Yrs       Career     W      L   Ties G>.500

Alston........23...1954–1976...2040..1613. 5...427

Anderson..26...1970–1995...2194..1834.. 2..360

Clarke........19...1897–1915...1602..1181.43..421

Cox............29...1978–2010...2504..2001.. 3..503

La Russa.. 34...1979–2021...2821..2434.. 4. 387

Lopez........17....1951–1969...1410..1004 11. 406

McCarthy..24....1926–1950...2125..1333 29. 792

McGraw.... 33...1899–1932...2763..1948 58. 815

Selee.........16....1890–1905...1284  0862 34 .422

Weaver......17....1968–1986...1480 1060 .. 1  420

 

“Laws change because people’s voices are heard” – Obama, on an ESPN commercial currently being broadcast.

Smiling Happy People

 
Shivonne came back for the second day in a row. Always a good thing. Ceil returned from her weekend in Colombia with high school friends Jackie, Becky, and Kathy.

Anna and Caleb returned from Charleston.

Venus was close to the crescent moon this morning. Had to take Winnie outside before I left for the golf course. Usually I arrive well ahead of Robert, but he was walking up right when I arrived at the first tee.

1. Cruddy tee shot in rough short of fairway. Couldn't find mulligan. Good hybrid short of green. Good chip but over the green. Good chip back. Two putt. 

2. Good 3 wood to right fringe hole high. Great lag putt to two feet. Par.

3. Hit a good 6 iron but left into gulch. Chip chip chip chip. Call it an eight.

4. Three wood bounced past green. Good chip back but then three putted.

5. Good 3 wood to right fringe. Almost the same spot I'd hit it to on Friday. Two putt for par, I think. Robert parred his fourth straight hole.

6. Decent drive off senior tee that bounced past the big oak. Shot of the day. Flubbed the next shot. Then hit a hybrid that clipped the leaves and stayed right. Good chip onto green. Two putt.

7. Drive sliced right past several trees. Hit a 5 iron too well. Ball hit a tree and bounced back. Decent hybrid. Hit my approach with an iron to the back fringe. Two putt.

8. Hit drive too low, but it continued to bounce down the hill. Hit a 6 iron that bounced onto the green and rolled to the back fringe. Another shot of the day nominee. Good lag putt and drained the par putt.

9. Hit perhaps my best tee shot on nine ever, a 3 wood that started left, drew back slightly right, kicked right, and stopped short of the green. Was able to putt to within a foot. Sank the putt for my first par on that hole ever.

Finished around 7:45. Thought about playing another nine, but a twosome had just teed off, a foursome was behind them, and course marshal Mike had a full slate of golfers signed up to play. 

Stopped by McDonalds for a dollar chicken biscuit, RaceTrac for a free soft drink, and by the NAPA store but it wasn't open yet. Then home for a nap before church. Later I dropped off a carload of giveaways at Goodwill, bought a blue Columbia PFG shorts, Dollar Tree, NAPA, Great Clips (Denise wasn't there), and past Mr. Clean Car Wash, but it hasn't reopened yet.

 I traded in new new Hokas for a white pair of On Cloud Monsters, but they were just too white for running shoes.

Tracked down a pair in blue. Hope I can tolerate the splash of purple. I'll keep you posted.

These Cloud Monsters come highly rated. we shall see. The royal Hokas I've been running in are almost 2-1/2 years old. According to the companies who want to sell more shoes, it was past time for me to buy a new pair. Hope they're happy happy happy.

Secrets of the Secret Service

Finished the book “The First Family Detail: Secret Service Agents Reveal the Hidden Lives of the Presidents”. Amazing stories – dirt on Presidents, First Ladies, Vice Presidents, and other high ranking officials, mostly from Kennedy to Obama, when the book was published. Who wasted money. Who treated agents nice, and who treated them horribly. Some Presidents wouldn’t travel until after Christmas just so agents could be at home with their families. Others traveled home almost every weekend on the government dime. Who risked national security to appear like a regular person. Who waived security checks to allow possible assassins into large crowds. I won't tell you who had low marks and who had high, but I wasn't surprised.

Had a dream that traffic had been re-routed and I went inside this place at the corner of Holcomb Bridge and Old Alabama, where the BP/McDonalds is now. The SPdL adult choir was gathering there, with robes on. Saw several familiar faces, including Ginny Green. Then old Bob Marsh was coming up the stairs. I went out back and sat at a table with my boss. Charles Baugh joined us. I was trying to tell him about the choir but he was looking at these plastic glasses that someone was trying to sell us. Someone said the Whitakers were there. I saw one lady that looked like Edie, but never saw Reid. My boss had left for the office. I hopped in a golf cart and drove around the building. A kitten was there next to Holcomb Bridge Road with its mother – a full grown lion. I drove my open golf cart right past the lion. Then I was inside a seafood restaurant. They were bringing all sorts of food, big platters. I ordered a Diet Coke. Had I posted this before?

Shivonne stopped by to visit today to play with Winnie. Don't tell Ceil.

Had a problem with my phone saving photos to the cloud. It’s always something. Cleared out half the photos on my phone and it started working again.

I don’t know anyone who likes those LIV guys.

One typical person’s opinion of baseball uniforms: Yankees good, Braves bad.

https://www.esquire.com/style/mens-fashion/g12810061/baseball-uniforms-history-best-worst/?utm_source=facebook_arb&utm_medium=cpm&utm_campaign=arb_fb_esq_m_am_g12810061&fbclid=IwAR0YAxx0dfxmqwx8dG9uzuaBCajkAGTzHPb2JlvRVlJrkjd5kdYjg3LlpBo_aem_AY3cXo2bg5pfNFtm3HGklfbbYvXU5v9F6Pa4XwjMQA-1I-T6GGngVATdW2pos9GGGGFlHZE_pIEE5BRFsVzGOdbgaeJm_9aJkCISst-cylw-f-ML5uV1CeWOFN3U1WYDdCs

Former Georgia swimming coach Jack Bauerle says Herschel Walker ‘would run wild’ with modern Bulldogs.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/georgia-football/former-georgia-swimming-coach-jack-bauerle-says-herschel-walker-would-run-wild-with-modern-bulldogs/__;!!AE29DT8V!XS2-AVlvlPdOkWXbgQDEJJMHBC79_OpM21Ew5cN5jR-IE1eHaClHyFtN1rN7qdx88SgvfdJQIVy3AIwTPJc$

The “25 Greatest Running Backs Of All-Time” according to NewArena.com. Decent list, but no Herschel. Too many recent players. Not as many from the old days.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://newarena.com/nfl/ranked-the-25-greatest-running-back-of-all-time/__;!!AE29DT8V!QUUGEyR7QSU1HRbNwgfneitzJjZ8IVmHaadHDV0zOm_RUa1B2zjPj3PvLpu6vOTQFcc8Se-2HJla0YLrZl8$

WALTER JOHNSON  [SABR Bio] hit more batters in the 20th century than any other pitcher. - Ans. Johnson hit 205 batters 1907-1927. He was the first native of Kansas to receive a vote for the Hall of Fame, receiving 189 votes (83.6%) for the Hall’s inaugural class. He was born in Humboldt, Kansas, but spent much of his youth in Weiser, Idaho and graduated from high school in California. No other pitcher in history racked up more extra-base hits as a batter (159) - shown here.

ANDY MESSERSMITH  [SABR Bio] struck out four and surrendered two runs in three innings of work in the 1974 ASG. He finished 2nd in the CYA voting behind record-setting reliever Mike Marshall. Messersmith attended the University of California at Berkeley. He surrendered one of the home runs that Willie Stargell hit completely out of Dodger Stadium. On 08-May-1973 in LA, Stargell homered twice off Messersmith. The second traveled 470 feet, completely out of Dodger Stadium. It was Stargell’s second time breaching the famed corrugated roof, the first off Alan Foster in 1969. In his first full season in the majors, Andy led the majors in wild pitches: 16 in 1969.