I'm not a Redskins fan, so I have no attachment to the name, but it's a pretty ridiculous one for a sports franchise. They are only the "Red" skins because they moved from the Boston Braves' stadium to Fenway and football teams liked to have synergy with the more popular MLB teams (Lions & Tigers, Giants, Bears & Cubs, Pirates, etc). Factor in how racist GP Marshall was and that white people chased most of the natives away from the Potomac centuries ago, the name applies about as well as Jazz does to Utah.

I'm surprised that Wahoo ever resurfaced, it's a ridiculously dated caricature. I always found the Indian sports chants pretty silly, glad I grew up with the Brewers and not the Braves.

“You just go & lay your hand
On a Washington Redskins fan
& I think you’re gonna finally understand”
😮 😛 😛 hehe

Am sure Charlie is liking his 1st few days in the promised land
& btw, all would do well, esp powers that be, to take a listen to the CDB’s Indian Man

Well - the Redskins were the Boston Braves their 1st year (1932)
Maybe, as a compromise, to restore the original name of the franchise....

The Washington Braves? Keeping intact the Native American connection but in a less offensive way maybe? After all no one seems to mind the Atlanta Braves
Guessing they’ll pick Americans (Senators??? 😮 ) - go out on a limb they won’t

I’m an Indians fan, mainly thru my dad who grew up in Cleveland - you couldn’t be a Tribe fan & not love the grinning face of Chief Wahoo - still have my pennant 😉

So the rooftop seats for Cubs games this year are going for $350-$400 a pop.
😮

At the end of the day......
Ray Caldwell’s 9.2 innings of 5-hit relief preserves NY’s 17-inning 7-5 win over Browns
It was the end of the 1917 night when the hard-living RHP had his troubles - arrested by St.L police for grand larceny after stealing a woman’s diamond ring

1932, same thing
Despite giving up a record 29 hits in an 18-inning 18-17 win over Indians, A’s P Ed Rommel gets the win after a 17-inning relief stint necessitated by the fact that, to save train fare, Phila owner/mgr Connie Mack only brought 2 pitchers
Mayb they lost, but Chief Wahoo & his Tribe cheered themselves hoarse as OF Johnny Burnett went 9-for-11 at the plate, another record from that game that stands today

Yeah good to see Cubs got the average joe in mind when setting ticket prices
Internet headline said all 30 teams tentatively scheduled to begin full season April 2021
They’re rusty, they’re out of shape, some are staying home...
players will drop like flies if MLB goes thru w/its 2020 mini season - it’s ridiculous, so are the NHL’s & NBA’s summer plans

Brewers have been airing their scrimmages on facebook this week. Usually I'd just listen to the the feed but there's no crowd and no announcers. Just the cracks of the bat and the ball hitting leather.

The Washington Braves? Keeping intact the Native American connection but in a less offensive way maybe? After all no one seems to mind the Atlanta Braves
Guessing they’ll pick Americans (Senators??? 😮 ) - go out on a limb they won’t

I doubt they will just go back to being the Braves, even though that's less controversial. If they are going to go through the lengthy process of rebranding I imagine they will shed any native american iconography, especially seeing the Indians under the spot light. Why just go half way and have to do it again in 10 years?

Highly doubt "Americans" or "Senators". In the age of merchandise, trademarks and corporate identity, why would they choose more MLB names? Teams such as the Red Sox were originally called "Americans" because they were in the American League - Washington is in the NFC, and Washington Nationals is already taken.

I saw "Red Tails" suggested, which would be a nice way to retain "Red" and tie in with the Air & Space Museum.

Also, The Washington Generals offered to sell their name, but not sure Snyder wants their W-L record 😉

Compromise is good tho, by meeting them halfway they could please the hardliners who want it changed, & fans who don’t want it changed but would accept Braves to keep the image/specter of the proud red man - invoking at the same time the franchise’s original name, pleasing the historically minded - then if it needed revisiting in later years.....

Americans would round off nicely w/the other 2 DC teams, the Nationals & Capitals
The Generals - that’s my favorite one - marching down the field - Red Klotz would live forever - watta Washington legend

So Blackhawks & Braves are OK, Redskins & Indians aren’t - it’s BS

[Edited on 7/11/2020 by Stephen]

Who could forget it - a frail Mickey Mantle saying he was no hero but a bad example to follow/idolize - this was after his liver transplant surgery - 25 years go by quickly

I thought Mickey was too hard on himself, he played a lot of his career w/that bad knee he blew out in that drainage grate in the OF at the stadium - other injuries followed, yet he still hit 536 HR i(that was from memory!:D), ncluding some of the longest ever

Mickey would pass away the next month, Aug 13 1995 - just 4 days after that of another all-too-soon-departed loved cultural icon, Jerry Garcia

[Edited on 7/11/2020 by Stephen]

There was a restaurant in Manhattan, just south of Central park. It was called Mickey Mantle's or something. I guess his family owned it. So years ago I went in there, got a sandwich and a Diet Coke. $32. This would probably be like 50 bucks today. For a sandwich and a drink. 😮

WOW - yeah even today upscale teams like NY, LA, Tex, also Fenway probably, charge-&-get prices like that - $20 for a hot dog, $25 for a beer......no thanks
After that grand slam to the wallet, I hope Mickey’s cookstaff hit a grand slam HR w/the sandwich they served up 😮

Hopefully they just call the season off, it’s both the sensible And PC thing to do - they’re a leg up on it w/their recent decision to go business as usual in 2021 - pitchers & catchers report in Feb, spring training/practice games March, Play Ball April 2021, & how nice - fans allowed

But they need to stick to that almost regardless of virus status - realize it’ll be in the multi millions, but they still need to play regardless - can well understand where veteran ump Joe West is coming from on this -

hopefully players wouldnt be wearing masks in the dugout - & no masking fans, they’re there to cheer

[Edited on 7/12/2020 by Stephen]

To clarify - Don’t Make Masks Mandatory
People can wear them if they want, - point is, Don’t Restart if concessions are closed/masks are mandatory etc etc - being muffled while trying to cheer a HR/great play, it’s dumb & they should forget that idea & instead not let people in the stadiums in the first place

What would it sound like - fans cheering thru masks
Pretty darn weak imo
Fielders wouldn’t have to but what if catchers & ump had to wear masks - on a hot humid day, forget it -
batters would have to wear em too
So no, if it’s all this as part of restart, FORGET IT
& no playing to empty seats either, that’s not baseball - compromise 6 feet social distancing mayb but even that’s weak

Saw somewhere recently, NL is going to DH?
All 1 can say is, wtf

[Edited on 7/12/2020 by Stephen]

Saw somewhere recently, NL is going to DH?
All 1 can say is, wtf

[Edited on 7/12/2020 by Stephen]

Yes, they are going to the DH this season (if they play it) for all games. This season aside, I personally don't care if the N.L. has the DH or not. Kind of. While if I was king of the baseball world, there would be no DH. That being said, I just want both leagues to play by the same rules. The inter league games put the road team at the disadvantage. Magnified during the World Series.

Oh, and who was the first DH in baseball?

Might be a little late on this, on July 4, 2020, at historic Luther Williams Field in Macon, Ga. a baseball game was played by two teams of the collegiate league. I've posted before about our team The Macon Bacon, and the mascot Kevin Bacon (the real Kevin Bacon has done promotions for the team).
On the aforementioned July 4, the Macon Bacon played against the newest team, the Macon Eggs.

Yep, billed as the Bacon and Eggs series.

https://www.13wmaz.com/article/news/local/macon-bacon-defeats-alter-ego-the-macon-eggs/93-20988790-57b0-4633-a40a-d850c8a95e29

I love the names - the Macon Bacon, Savannah Bananas - the Bacon & Egg series, awesome - that’s what sports needs, a return to the Fun of it - but just good seeing em on the field!

Pete Broberg doesn’t count, I say it was Chacha 😮 (hehe) - no it was Broberg (1st DH, didn’t hafta lookemup;) )

It was cool having Cepeda, Marichal, Aparicio & those greats play out their careers in Boston

Pete Broberg doesn’t count, I say it was Chacha 😮 (hehe) - no it was Broberg (1st DH, didn’t hafta lookemup;) )

Holy sh!t was I ever wrong - did look it up, Pete Broberg was a pitcher for pete’s sake - it was Ron Blomberg - soundalike names tripped me up but still shoulda known
😛 but nothing changes, Chacha was still the man!

This I think I have right:yawn:
OTDate, 2 Braves legends belt their 500th career HRs, becoming just the 7th & 8th ever to attain the milestone

...as Eddie Mathews, now an Astro, takes Juan Marichal deep at Candlestick Park, 1967
....& a year later, again playing SF, Hank Aaron hammers one off Mike McCormick in Atlanta

Pete Broberg doesn’t count, I say it was Chacha 😮 (hehe) - no it was Broberg (1st DH, didn’t hafta lookemup;) )

Holy sh!t was I ever wrong - did look it up, Pete Broberg was a pitcher for pete’s sake - it was Ron Blomberg - soundalike names tripped me up but still shoulda known
😛 but nothing changes, Chacha was still the man!

Yep, Ron Blomberg. Fat guy for the Yankees. '73 I want to say.

You guys have any thoughts on the rule this season for any extra inning game to put a runner on second base to start the 10th inning?

So The Chicago Dogs, an independent minor league team started their season last week in Rosemont, IL., north of Chicago, The ABB actually played up there a few times.

I tried to get my buddy to go and see them but he wouldn't budge. Too scared. My wife and I are going to go to a game. I think The Big Ten Conference HQ is there if I recall. Bill Murray and his brothers have a place right up there too.

Jesus - the centennial of the greatest pitching duel ever
Yes I said greatest Ever! :so?:
😉
Rube Benton, 17 shutout innings as the Giants beat the Pirates 7-0 July 16 1920 at Forbes Field
His opposite #, Earl Hamilton - the game of his life - 16 shutout innings b4 finally tiring & the seven-run 17th
Rube, a 9-hitter for the shutout despite 4 NY errors

Some of these blurbs would read like fiction/a John Tunis novel to the uninitiated
Can’t believe this game isn’t up there in bright lights alongside Spahn-Marichal as GOAT in pitching

[Edited on 7/16/2020 by Stephen]

Jesus - the centennial of the greatest pitching duel ever
Yes I said greatest Ever!

Nope
I mean it’s crazy - no, the date of July 17 should be in bright lights - two times
July 17 1914
July 17 1918
A pair of 21 inning games - & not a reliever in sight
Not only that, Pirates’ Babe Adams Allows No Walks, but still loses 3-1 to Rube Marquard & Giants in the 1914 game

4 yrs later, Phila’s Milt Watson outlasts Cubs’ Lefty Tyler 2-1 in 21 innings

In their zeal to safeguard their pitchers’ mental health by minimizing their IPs, teams today would run out of pitchers long before a game got to this point

If today’s Ps read this, it would literally cause sore arms as they strained to comprehend it all
“It’s not possible!!”
“They had to have had the equivalent of steroids, only w/5 times the kick, to go 21 IP!”

 

Always enjoy reading about the greats from when it was a game
HI BELL, for instance
Beat Braves 1st game of dblhdr
Felt fine, got cleaned up, probly a shower, quick bite to eat, wash it down w/a beer, have a smoke, sit down w/catcher.....
& do it again
allowing two runs pitching all 18 innings in complete-game wins
Yes the glory of their times
& yes Virginia, it’s not fiction - it did happen (July 19 1924, Sportsman Park, St.L)
Cardinals RHP Hi Bell, an immortal

Q: Who was the last P to start both games of a dblhdr
A: Wilbah Wood, 1973
The knuckleballing ChiSox LHP didn’t fare as well as Hi Bell - started 2nd game after not getting outta 1st inning of 1st game, took that loss also (nightcap) in NY

Wilbur Wood, the pride of Lexington Mass - a heyday of 4 straight 20-win seasons - likely the last to win 20 & lose 20 (24-20, also ‘73)

In contrast to his 1st eight years, when he had a combined 5-12 record - bizarro

[Edited on 7/20/2020 by Stephen]

So I just got home from an appointment and I flip on The MLB Network. Houston vs. KC. The Royals have a left handed pitched with the last name of "Lovelady". Poor guy. The Astros were lighting up Lovelady.

Like canned laughter, artificially piped-in cheers & boos as our heroes take the field to empty seats & supposedly-breathless cyberfans
Haven’t read that masks are mandatory in dugouts, & for catchers & ump - how can they justify no fans -

At least no fans is better than partial fans, w/masks mandatory - that woulda been ludicrous
It’s Nuts - radio said recently, Nats need five busses for the trip to Baltimore - so many people per bus, six feet apart, masked

There’s not a dry eye in the house as, on the day NY celebrates Babe Ruth’s 100th birthday, a frail Mickey Mantle bids Yankee fans farewell in a Jumbotron message, saying “I feel like Phil Rizzuto In Babe Ruth’s uniform” - Mickey will pass away of liver cancer 22 days later

Same seven years later at Fenway, when more than 20,000 fans and the country pay tribute to the life of Ted Williams, who had died 17 days earlier, July 5 1995

[Edited on 7/22/2020 by Stephen]

Like canned laughter, artificially piped-in cheers & boos as our heroes take the field to empty seats & supposedly-breathless cyberfans
Haven’t read that masks are mandatory in dugouts, & for catchers & ump - how can they justify no fans -

At least no fans is better than partial fans, w/masks mandatory - that woulda been ludicrous
It’s Nuts - radio said recently, Nats need five busses for the trip to Baltimore - so many people per bus, six feet apart, masked

I think it's about controlling the environment for the players who can be tested regularly. Other than taking temperatures at the gate, even with masks, fans are a COVID wild card. Because you know MLB would take their money if they could, but the season is tenuous enough.

Blue Jays will play their games in...uh...Pittsburgh? I guess without home fans, what does it matter? Pittsburgh is lovely in the the Summer.

The Cubs / Sox games were on the other two nights and the broadcasts were well done as well as what they did in the stadiums. They announced the players just as they would for a real game when they came to bat. The piped in noise which was certainly kind of odd but I imagine they were trying to create some sense of normalcy.

The Cubs announcers I thought did a great job of trying to make it seem like a regular environment the first night. Talked about the upcoming season as if they were in Arizona in March calling a spring season game.

Does it suck? Of course it does. But I have to at least give people props for trying.

I shouldn’t say anything, my interest in MLB has waned for a long time
Still doesn’t sit the right way tho - too much like lip syncing, where the singers lip synch to recorded music - the blandness of playing in empty stadiums......baseball shouldn’t be played that way - it’s too forced, too contrived -

What if the people administering the cheers & boos make a mistake - what if a soundtrack has a glitch & loud boos came on say, when Xander hit one out at Fenway....:o 😛 - that’d be hilarious

Conversely, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” means nothing anymore - how sad is that

Conversely, “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” means nothing anymore - how sad is that

The whole situation seems somewhat contrived. Lots of HUGE salaries to pay and Baseball, unlike the NFL makes it $$ at the gate...

We'll see...