On Memorable All-Star Moments

Baseball’s All-Star Game – the Mid-Summer Classic has been thrilling fans since 1933. The game has provided many memorable moments, even one embarrassing, forgettable moment a short time ago.

Below are 20 All-Star game moments and factoids. The goal is to match the moment to the game’s venue. It’s not as easy, and answers are provided after a classic, must-watch All-Star commercial from many years ago. Enjoy and let us know how you did.

Matching Choices
Anaheim Stadium, Astrodome, Camden Yards, Candlestick Park, Comiskey Park, Ebbets Field, Fenway Park, Griffith Stadium, Jacobs Field, Metropolitan Stadium, Miller Park, Municipal Stadium (Cleveland), Polo Grounds, Riverfront Stadium, Safeco Field, Shea Stadium, Shibe Park, The Ballpark at Arlington, Tiger Stadium, Yankee Stadium,

Events

1. Fred Lynn hits the first grand slam HR in All Star history at the site of the first All-Star Game –just 50 years later
2. Pete Rose collides with catcher Ray Fosse
3. Reggie Jackson’s HR off the light tower
4. Carl the King Hubbell consecutively fans Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin
5. Stu Miller allegedly being blown off the mound
6. John Kruk batting against Randy Johnson
7. Ted Williams homers on a Rip (Luke) Sewell eephus pitch
8. Earl Averill’s line drive hits pitcher Dizzy Dean’s foot and essentially ending Dean’s career
9. Tony Perez’s game-deciding 15th-inning HR
10. Racial barrier is broken by four players
11. Sandy Alomar’s game-winning HR in his home park
12. Cal Ripken homers in his last All-Star at bat
13. The NL is held to 3 hits, yet 3 solo HRs were enough for a 3-2 win.
14. Willie Mays returns to the city long before Josh Hamilton’s derby homers
15. First expansion team stadium to host an All-Star game
16. First AL expansion team stadium to host an All-Star game
17. First All-Star played indoors on artificial turf
18. First All-Star game held at night, surprisingly in 1943 and at the same location as the first AL game at night
19. After 4 consecutive years of the game being played twice in a month, the All Star game returns to a once-a-year format
20. Commissioner rules the game a tie in the 11th inning as both teams lack pitchers

Answers

1. Fred Lynn hits the first grand slam HR in All Star history at the site of the first All-Star Game –just 50 years later (Comiskey Park)
2. Pete Rose collides with catcher Ray Fosse (Riverfront Stadium)
3. Reggie Jackson’s HR off the light tower (Tiger Stadium)
4. Carl the King Hubbell consecutively fans Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin (Polo Grounds)
5. Stu Miller allegedly being blown off the mound (Candlestick Park)
6. John Kruk batting against Randy Johnson (Camden Yards)
7. Ted Williams homers on a Rip (Luke) Sewell eephus pitch (Fenway, Boston)
8. Earl Averill’s line drive hits pitcher Dizzy Dean’s foot and essentially ending Dean’s career (Griffith Stadium)
9. Tony Perez’s game-deciding 15th-inning HR (Anaheim Stadium)
10. Racial barrier is broken by four players (Ebbets Field)
11. Sandy Alomar’s game-winning HR in his home park (Jacobs Field)
12. Cal Ripken homers in his last All-Star at bat (Safeco Field)
13. The NL is held to 3 hits, yet 3 solo HRs were enough for a 3-2 win. (The Ballpark at Arlington)
14. Willie Mays returns to the city long before Josh Hamilton’s derby homers (Yankee Stadium)
15. First expansion team stadium to host an All-Star game (Shea Stadium)
16. First AL expansion team stadium to host an All-Star game (Metropolitan Stadium)
17. First All-Star played indoors on artificial turf (Astrodome)
18. First All-Star game held at night, surprisingly in 1943 and at the same location as the first AL game at night (Shibe Park)
19. After 4 consecutive years of the game being played twice in a month, the All Star game returns to a once-a-year format (Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium)
20. Commissioner rules the game a tie in the 11th inning as both teams lack pitchers (Miller Park)

On a Not-so-Famous Bowl that’s not a Bowl

We’re approaching baseball’s All-Star Game, yet this post is about a bowl. There are famous sports venues called bowls, such as the Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Yale Bowl, and probably others.

Certainly the Baker Bowl doesn’t fit into the celebrated nature of those venues. Heck, it’s not best known as a football venue, yet it’s certainly shaped for football and it hosted the Eagles from 1933-1935. It was a long-time baseball home that never hosted an All-Star Game, but was the venue for the first U.S. President (Woodrow Wilson) to see a World Series game.

Originally named National League Park and nicknamed the Huntington Street Grounds, the Baker Bowl served as Philadelphia Phillies home for 51 ½ years (1887-1938). Eventually named for the Phillies owner, bowl was used because Baker Field was associated with Columbia University.

The Baker Bowl was cozy and great for hitters, thus commonly referred to as a band box or cigar box. 1930 produced some unreal numbers. In the 77-game home schedule, opponents outscored the Phillies 644-543; that’s an average score of a bit more than 8-7!

This stadium had its oddities.

• A hump in centerfield due to a railroad tunnel below
• Using goats to keep the grass cut
• The 60 ft right field wall and screen a mere 280 down the right field line
• A wide, banked CF warning track that served bicycle races
• A centerfield clubhouse known as one with just the basics

In a 1938 mid-season transfer, the Phillies shifted to Shibe Park – the new facility built just 5 blocks away to house the A’s and the home the most long-time fans associated with the Phillies. (See the Baker Bowl in the foreground?)

Watch the animated tour of the Baker Bowl.

Resources
Wikipedia
Google Images Search results

Drawing from The Pinetar Rag

Photos from Wikipedia

On Bringing a Smile

Smiles are commonly associated with photographs, joyous occasions, fun, humor, confidence, friendliness, confidence, good will, greetings, love, and many more. Smiles touch people – connect people – regardless if strangers, friends, or acquaintances.

Whether receiving or giving, most of us enjoy a smile because smiles also permeate the inner body by providing a sense of warmth and happiness. May these two short videos bring a smile to you today.

The Latest

From 1998

On Opinions in the Shorts: Vol. 30

On the Tribute
I admit that a side of me was leery about the Michael Jackson tribute being an out-of-control sideshow – thus am glad that didn’t happen, so here are a few thoughts.

Positives: Very well done planned, dignified, balanced blend of tribute and memorial, focused on the good, contained many great statements I wish I would have written down because they were applicable and meaningful to all

Negatives: I can’t help but wonder how much was designed with future DVD sales in mind.

Future: I can’t wait to see Rep. Peter King’s (R-NY) vote on the mentioned House resolution.

On Odd Timing
On the day after the Jackson tribute, I saw this headline: Thin-looking Kim Jong II makes rare appearance at memorial

On Classic Dignity
Although many reality-show-based attitudes promote the contrary, many people still admire, seek, and promote dignity. This recent David Brooks column is worth reading.

On Twitter
Twitter was in Cincinnati’s news twice this morning. The first about a city council member sending tweets during a council meeting, and secondly, Bengals WR and self-promoting egotist Chad Ocho Cinco desiring to send tweets in team meetings, during games, and at halftime. To both I say this: Read the Brooks column and do your job.

On an Interesting Artist
For those enjoying art, Stephanie Clair’s works caught my eye, thanks to Maxi at Ovah’ Coffee.  This link shows Stephanie’s work, and the Artists link on the left sidebar leads viewers to other artists. Enjoy.

On Evolution and Religion Journey
I continue to read interesting information and learning about this subject. I’m currently reading by Nature, Reality, and the Sacred by Langdon Gilkey. Now deceased, Gilkey was a Professor of Theology at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School and was an expert witness at the historic evolution-creationism in education trial in Arkansas.

On Mickelson Prayers
Thoughts and prayers to Phil Mickelson and his family as they also deal with his mother’s breast cancer.

On Something to Ponder
Not long ago I purchased a book light for $4, which included 2 batteries. Replacement batteries cost $6.

On an Ambitious Energy Project
Masdar is a planned city located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates that is based on renewable resources and zero-carbon, zero-waste technologies. To stimulate thoughts, watch the 2-minute+ video below. To learn more, use this link to CNN Search Results that include many interesting resources, including one from GE.