Rome Braves to Change Name

Like the Gwinnett Stripers, almost every minor league baseball team across America has been changing their name to create their own separate identity from their parent club, to draw more fans and sell more merchandise. On Friday the Rome Braves announced they’d be changing their name for next year. Not really unexpected or earth-shattering, but the national media is making it out to be a big story and great victory over the marginalization of Native Americans. Would be hilarious if the new team name instead honored Rome’s local Etowah Indians, whose ancient earthen mounds are a prominent landmark in the area. A hundred years ago Rome’s local nine were dubbed the Romans, which is another possibility – but more expected is a crazy name like Trash Pandas or Jumbo Shrimp. I vote for the Sweet Teas. Commenters on Uni Watch (and Baseball America) agreed that the name change was indeed about merchandising, not social justice.

Saturday I happened to pick up an old notebook I’d put together back in the late 1980’s with some of my old baseball cards. I quickly listed some of the best players whose cards were in the book: Hank Aaron, Felipe Alou, Dick Allen, Luis Aparicia, Johnny Bench, Vida Blue, Larry Bowa, a Braves team card, Bill Buckner, Jose Cardinal, Rod Carew, Steve Carlton, Ceasar Cedeno, Roberto Clemente, Tony C, Tony Cloninger, Dave Conception, Mike Cuellar, Don Drysdale, Darrell Evans, George Foster, Bill Freehan, Bart Giamatti, Bob Gibson, Elrod Hendricks, Richie Hebner, Gil Hodges, Bob Horner, Ralph Houk, Al Hrabosky, Pat Jarvis, Fergie Jenkins, Al Kaline, Dave Kingman, Bill Lee, Jim Lonborg, Davey Lopes, Billy Martin, Bill Mazeroski, Willie Mays, Willie, McCovey, Tim McCarver, Sam McDowell, Dave McNally, Denny McLain, Andy Messersmith, Joe Morgan, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Micky Mantle, Tony Olivia, Claude Osteen, Jim Palmer, Wes Parker, Tony Perez, Dan Quisenberry, Boog Powell, JR Richard, Pete Rose, Brooks Robinson, Manny Sanguillen, Red Schoendist, Mike Schmidt, Willie Stargell, Bruce Sutter, Don Sutton, Chuck Tanner, Kent Tekulve, Harmon Killebrew, Joe Torre, Cecil Upshaw, Zoilo Versalles, Harry Walker, Bob Watson, Claudell Washington, Earl Weaver, Rick Wise, Wilbur Wood, Jimmy Wynn, Carl Yastrzemski, and many others. In the 80’s there was a glut in the baseball card market, so most all the cards are worthless.

Took a survey for the Braves, asking my opinion of what gate giveaways should be given away next season. They’re considering various kinds of hats ( bucket hats, visors, trucker caps, or baseball caps), jewelry (rings, bracelets, earrings, or necklaces), replica jerseys (baseball, football, hockey, basketball), shirts (t-shirts, hoodies, jersey tees), and bobbleheads (current players, past players, notable achievements). Nowhere for me to suggest a Bobby Dews bobblehead.

Last night I watched ESPN’s “K-Rod” broadcast of the Braves Mets, with Alex Rodriguez and Yankee announcer Michael Kay. Not as good as the Manningcast. Several quiet spots during the game. Good guests: Dave Justice, Marquis Grissom, etc).  

Since the Braves play in front of large home crowds, its quite different to play in a quiet ballpark like Pittsburgh, the announcers were saying. Kinda like a good football team playing at a plaghce like Duke, with hardly any fans. The players get pumped up playing in front of a packed house, home or road.  Mets are in next to last place. Played horribly all weekend. Yet ESPN is showing their games once or twice every week. Same with the Yankees, who are in last place.

I should do a better job of texting my kids. C’s dad used to call her every day, and text his grandkids. Shivonne is always wanting to look at videos and pictures on C’s phone. I like to save good tweets from Christian leaders that inspire me. Like this one...

While Smoltz hit better than Glavine and Maddux in the postseason, Glavine and Maddux were better hitters then Smoltz in the regular season.

Friday night Rory sent his caddie to the Edwin Watts golf store In Memphis to get a quarter inch cut off his putter shaft.

Also in Memphis: the heat caused Harris English’s caddie to have to quit after 11 holes. English’s playing partner spotted a local club pro in the gallery, whom he knew had caddied before. The club pro was drafted into service – and made a suggestion that led to a birdie.

Young Jimmy Ewing’s home school literature teacher in high school was recently murdered by a shooter in Nashville. Jimmy wrote an essay on what an influence she’d been on his life.

Sunday School and worship. Made quesadillas from leftover beef and rice and cheese. Nap. Gassed up C’s car. The rain kept me from cutting the grass. Darn.

BILL SKOWRON   [SABR Bio] is one of only two players to hit three home runs in Game 7s of World Series. Skowron and Yogi Berra each hit three: Yogi bashed two in 1956 and one in 1960. Skowron went deep in 1956, 1958 & 1960. Skowron was on Yankees World Series winners in 1956, 1958, 1961 & 1962. He also won a ring with the Dodgers in 1963 beating his old teammates. Moose was an All-Star seven times in the space of five seasons, in 1957, 1958, 1959(1), 1959(2), 1960(1), 1960(2), and 1961(2). At Purdue, he kicked for the Boilermakers in the 1940s.