Larry the Usher

I’ve known a few Braves ushers over the years. At Turner Field these nice ladies would give us extra bobbleheads. Then two lady ushers at Truist Park, but both eventually passed away.

I had bored the old guys with my Turner Field story, sitting alone way up in the end of the upper deck on a sparsely attended weeknight game. Usher Larry walked up and told me to follow him. I thought I was in trouble. We weaved our way down to the lower deck, and he led me down to a seat right behind home plate. Ever since then I make a point to say hello whenever I see him.

So last Friday at the HBCU game as we were walking around who did we see but Larry, so I stopped to say hello, and to tell Beau who he was. Then a little later I saw him again. I told Larry that when I retired, I might come work for the Braves. He said that he would give me a recommendation.

A few years ago Larry won the Braves Walter Banks Hospitality Award for being the best usher. Pretty sure the two deceased lady ushers had won the same award. As long as I’ve known him (ten years?), Larry has worn the same style of gum-soled white Reeboks. They always look brand new. Larry may look a little out of place in a coat and tie, but he looks like a natural in an usher uniform.

Looks like the Braves may trade Ozuna and the closer. Not sure of the closer’s contract status, but they have another closer waiting in the wings. Ozuna’s contract is expiring, so they might as well get something for him while they can. The Braves can always re-sign him for next year if they want. Thing is, with the immergence of Drake Baldwin, they may not need Ozuna going forward. Will be interesting to see whether the Braves will keep Ozzie Albies long term. They could eventually trade him, or let him go free agent.

I’ll always love Freddie Freeman, but Olson has been one of the most prolific first basemen in baseball this year. Freddie was having a good season until late May, when his production dropped almost to Michael Harris levels. Not sure what the Braves will do about Harris, who draws fewer walks that any player in baseball. Its almost of he goes up to the plate and swings at the first three pitches, and either hits the ball or strikes out. So all the pitchers know to not throw him pitches near the strike zone. 

Its as if Harris has always gotten by with his athletic ability up to now. But as Yogi used to say, “Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical”. Harris may have tons more athletic ability than Berra, but Yogi was tons better at getter his bat on bad pitches than Harris. Many think Harris needs to be sent back to AAA Gwinnett to regroup.

Braves To Wear Special Jerseys for “Speedway Classic” with special racecar like numbers. The front remains the same.

Speaking of stuff, I came home from All Star Week with a bunch of swag, mostly junk. Two oversized gloves that are selling for big bucks on eBay. I’ll keep one and need to sell one. Four bucket hats that are too small. Three t-shirts. Two caps. Two pairs of sunglasses. A nice cup. A nice cooling towel. Two helmet cups. A selfie stick. Several koozies, which I will distribute at the beach next month. Two different clear bags, a needed commodity these days. Lots of OxiClean samples. One pin. Two “nice” snap bracelets, if there is such a thing. A ball from the batting cage. Fanny pack. My credential is a keepsake. Supposed to get an ASG baseball and drawstring backpack. I saved all the daily field pass bracelets and will paste them into my calendar scrapbook. And lots of photos.

HARMON KILLEBREW [SABR Bio] leads the Twins in 26 of the 46 documented offensive categories. See here.  In 7 other categories he is in the Top Ten. Only Babe Ruth has more American League season home run titles. Killebrew led the AL six times, in 1959 (42), 1962 (48), 1963 (45), 1964 (49), 1967 (44), and 1969 (49). Ruth led the AL 12 times. Killebrew’s grandfather was the heavyweight wrestling champion of the Union Army during the Civil War. Culver Killebrew. Family lore has it that he could jump over a horse from a flat-footed start. Harmon’s father, Harmon Clayton “Larry” Killebrew, played football at Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois.