Hot Stove

Left work at 445 Wednesday for Hot Stove. Didn’t get home until 1015 pm. Two special guests: the 74 year old author of a new book "715 at 50" by a photographer who took photos at the game when Hank broke Babe Ruth's record, and the 83 year old owner of a company who makes stadium models (below right, next to host Johnny). 

The company started by selling models of SEC football stadiums (like Sanford Stadium, below). These bad boys sell for hundreds of dollars.

In January Robbie (below, right) had brought a vintage Marty Marion mitt that he had restored. 

This time Robbie brought a baseball he had picked up at an estate sale, loaded with signatures of Hall of Famers.

Ted Williams, Luke Appling, Duke Snider, Billy Williams, Joe Sewell, Hoyt Wilhelm, Enos Slaughter, Joe Boudreau, Bob Feller, Al Kaline, Lefty Gomez, and others.

After Hot Stove, host Johnny Tallant gave me a unique winter Braves cap: heavier wool with a flap that covers the ears and back of the head. An “official” New Era cap I had only seen once before, and had been on the lookout for ever since. Someone had recently given it to Johnny. Sweet find.

Thursday: up early to run at the gym.

ED WALSH [SABR Bio] is the most recent pitcher to rack up forty wins in a single season, playing for the White Sox in 1908. Hard to imagine what the team’s 88-64-4 record that year might have been without him. Only one other pitcher won 40+ games in the Modern Era: Jack Chesbro won 41 in 1904 for the Yankees. Walsh’s career ERA of 1.84 is the best all-time. He is the only American Leaguer to pitch two complete-game victories in one day and then repeat that performance three years later. In game one on 26-Sep-1905(1), Walsh came in to relieve Doc White after White had surrendered a hit. Walsh pitched 9 complete innings. In game two (26-Sep-2905(2)), Walsh started and pitched a complete game. Then on 29-Sep-1908(1) & 29-Sep-1908(2), he started and finished both games.

UGA’s top ten prospects in the NFL draft.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://theathletic.com/5339341/2024/03/13/nfl-draft-georgia-bulldogs-pro-day/__;!!AE29DT8V!XAoCb3pC1s3sWn3RgmAm3i-SnrK9eRchxKHCjhvXZKt2ZktJ1gFGredVDiR5DVZvJsYQ1o6JYqw4Wzli5BQ$

Due to mismanagement, Family Dollar will be closing hundreds of stores. Too expensive anyway. But it’s owner Dollar Tree (my favorite) will also be closing 30 stores when their leases expire. Horrors. Fun fact: I visited Dollar Tree twice today, a new record.

https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://endtimeheadlines.org/2024/03/family-dollar-and-dollar-tree-set-to-close-1000-stores/__;!!AE29DT8V!WvUctGY6wQpnupqqd5JEtfrwBdnczLzAeXmSu7ekcMF2eUkwZbxxK7EAd9oi4MvRR2_TalgYzHGCCOUUAZc$

DENISON: I believe God redeems all he allows. One way he does this is by using our challenges to rescue us from challenges, and our suffering to save us from suffering.

Putin warns that Russia is prepared to use nuclear weapons (denisonforum.org) 

Yesterday was Pi Day. Today, the Ides of March. Beware.