Baseball Bucket List: TRIPS

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number twelve out of twelve is:

TRIPS

1 Take A Baseball Road Trip
This is my idea of how I would do a baseball road trip if I had a whole season in which to do it. Start in Spring Training and spend about ten days in Arizona seeing games around the Cactus League. Then take the next ten days to travel across the country and see any baseball and non-baseball related sites along the route to Florida and the Grapefruit League. Spend the end of Spring Training seeing Grapefruit League games, especially Red Sox games. Since I would be in Florida at the start of the regular season, I would see the Tampa Bay Rays and the Florida Marlins play and then head north to see the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals. The plan would be to visit at least five teams each month during the season, therefore visiting all thirty teams by the end of the regular season. Ideally, I would be able to arrange the travel so that a number of the teams I visit would be playing the Red Sox on that day. And of course, along the way see as many baseball sites as possible (and other non-baseball attractions).

20 Visit Rickwood Field
Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest surviving professional baseball park in the United States. It was built for the Birmingham Barons in 1910 by industrialist and team-owner Rick Woodward and has served as the home park for the Birmingham Barons and the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro Leagues. Though the Barons have moved their home games to the suburbs, Rickwood Field has been preserved and is undergoing gradual restoration as a "working museum" where baseball's history can be experienced. Rickwood Field is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. – Wikipedia.org
Rickwood Field
1137 Second Avenue West
Birmingham, AL 35204
David Brewer
david@rickwood.com
205.458.8161
1.800.rickwood
Park Hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm
Check event schedule for expanded hours.

70 Visit Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood is 478 spectacular acres of hills, valleys, glacial ponds and paths, throughout which exists one of the largest outdoor collections of 19th- and 20th-century statuary and mausoleums. Four seasons of beauty from century-and-a-half-old trees offer a peaceful oasis to visitors, as well as its 560,000 permanent residents, including Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Horace Greeley, Civil War generals, baseball legends, politicians, artists, entertainers and inventors. – official website
The Greenwood Historic Fund &
The Green-Wood Cemetery
500 25th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: 718-788-1101
info@greenwoodcemetery.org
Our main entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th street is open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM seven days a week, with extended hours in the summer.

77 Visit The Field Of Dreams Movie Site
Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa. A place of fertile soil, traditional values and simple pleasure. And in Dyersville, Iowa, at the century-old Lansing family farm with its quaint, and oh so recognizable house, baseball still ranks as a favorite pastime for all ages. What better place to carve a baseball diamond from a corn field and to make a movie about pursuing one's dream, no matter how much effort it takes? – official website
Field of Dreams Movie Site
28995 Lansing Road
Dyersville, Iowa 52040
Phone Toll-Free 1-888-875-8404
E-mail info@fodmoviesite.com
Open April 1st through November 30th
Hours of Operation:
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Free admission. Souvenirs are available

93 Visit Dedeaux Field And The USC Baseball Hall Of Fame
With dimensions of 335 feet down the right and left field lines, 365 in the right field power alleys and 375 to the left field power alleys, and 395 to straightaway center, Dedeaux Field is a natural grass field and seats more than 1,800. The outfield fences stand 10 feet high. The lighting is comparable to most professional baseball fields (with footcandle power of 82 in the infield and 71 in the outfield). – official website
Just minutes away from downtown Los Angeles, the field is located on the northwest corner of the USC campus near the intersection of Jefferson and Vermont streets.

141 Visit The Barnstable Bat Company
In 1992, the Barnstable Bat Company began making wooden bats. Our goal was to make a high quality product. Our goals and ideals have not changed. By 1994, Barnstable Bats were a common sight on Cape League baseball fields. The league batting champion, Jon Petke, used Barnstable Bats to attain his .379 batting average. During the 1996 Major League Baseball season, Oakland A's designated hitter, Geronimo Berroa, hit 31 of his 37 home runs with Barnstable bats. Players on the Twins, Royals and Red Sox also used Barnstable Bats in game play. Barnstable Bats were used in Major League Baseball for 9 years. – official website
Barnstable Bat 40 Pleasant Pines Ave. Centerville, MA 02632 Local (508)362-8046
Toll Free (888) 549-8046
Fax: (508) 362-3983
Business Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm Saturday - Varied hours-Please call ahead. Sunday - Closed
email: info@barnstablebat.com

142 Take A Baseball Tour Of Japan
I think this would be a wonderful trip to see how the game of baseball is approached in Japan, as well as see other cultural aspects of the nation.

149 Visit The Gravesite Of Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr.
Founded in 1844, Oahu Cemetery is Hawaii's oldest public graveyard. It was established at the height of the whaling era to meet the burial needs of Honolulu's growing foreign population, particularly whalers and sailors who were "put out" at this busy port due to lingering illnesses or bad behavior aboard ship. Over the years, Oahu Cemetery has become the permanent residence of hundreds of prominent history makers, including the so-called "Father" of American baseball, Alexander J. Cartwright. – official website
Oahu Cemetery
2162 Nuuanu Avenue • Honolulu, HI 96817
PHONE: (808) 538-1538 / FAX: (808) 538-1490
EMAIL: info@oahucemetery.org
WEBSITE: www.OahuCemetery.org

156 Visit George M. Steinbrenner Field
Opened in 1996, George M. Steinbrenner Field is the Spring home of the New York Yankees, the full-time home of the Tampa Yankees (Single-A affiliate) and host to numerous other special events including concerts (i.e. Rod Stewart, Natalie Merchant, Moody Blues, Sting, Chicago, etc.), Florida State High School Championships, Preliminary Olympic Baseball and visits from President George W. Bush. – official website
One Steinbrenner Drive
Tampa, FL 33614
Phone: (813)673-3055
Fax: (813)673-3174

159 Visit Bowman Field
Bowman Field is a minor league baseball stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is home to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York - Penn League. Official seating capacity is 4,200. Bowman Field is the second oldest ballpark in minor league baseball, behind Centennial Field, home of the Vermont Lake Monsters in Burlington, Vermont. It is also the home field for the Wildcats of the Pennsylvania College of Technology. – Wikipedia.org
Historic Bowman Field is located at;
1700 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701

162 Visit Elysian Fields
Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey is believed to be the site of the first organized baseball game, giving Hoboken a strong claim to be the birthplace of baseball. In 1845, Knickerbocker Club of New York City began using Elysian Fields in Hoboken to play baseball due to the lack of suitable grounds across the Hudson River in Manhattan. On June 19, 1846, the Knickerbockers led by Alexander Cartwright played the New York Nine on these grounds in the first organized game between two clubs. – Wikipedia.org


Images:
Left: Dedeaux Field from the website grfx.cstv.com
Center: Elysian Fields from the website xroads.virginia.edu
Right: Green-Wood Cemetery from the website green-wood.com

Baseball Bucket List: THEATRE

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number eleven out of twelve is:

THEATRE

56 Attend A Theatrical Production Of Damn Yankees
The original 1955 Tony award-winning musical comedy, Damn Yankees, was based on the Douglass Wallop book, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant, published in 1954. There have been several theatrical revivals of this Faustian-themed story, as well as a 1958 Damn Yankees film.



78 Attend A Theatrical Production Of Bleacher Bums
A 1977 play, Bleacher Bums, is the story of a game in the life of some Chicago Cub fans at Wrigley Field. There have been two television productions of Bleacher Bums, one in 1979 and the other in 2002.



Inning Two

Inning Three

Inning Four

Inning Five

Inning Six

Inning Seven

Inning Eight

Inning Nine



Images:
Left: The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant from the website openlibray.org
Center: Damn Yankees from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: Bleacher Bums from the website imdb.com

Baseball Bucket List: TEAMS – Part 2

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number ten out of twelve is:

TEAMS – Part 2

90 See The (St. Louis) Cardinals Play At Busch Stadium

92 See The (Texas) Rangers Play At Rangers Ballpark
The Texas Rangers play in the city of Arlington

105 See The (Kansas City) Royals Play At Kauffman Stadium
The Kansas City Royals play in the city of Kansas City, Missouri
The Athletics left Kansas City for Oakland after the 1967 season. Major League Baseball, looking to expand to 24 teams, grants Kansas City one of its four expansion teams which would begin play in 1969. The team, which is owned by Ewing M. Kauffman, would be named the Royals. - official website

109 See The (Minnesota) Twins Play At Target Field
The Minnesota Twins play in the city of Minneapolis
1960 - On October 26, Calvin Griffith, president of the Washington Senators, made the historic decision to move his club to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, thereby giving birth to the "Minnesota Twins," named after the two Upper Midwest cities. The Griffith organization had operated the team in our nation's capital ever since the immortal Clark Griffith took over as manager of the club in 1912. The team moved to Minnesota sporting such names as Harmon Killebrew, Bob Allison, Camilo Pascual and Jim Lemon. - official website

111 See The (Detroit) Tigers Play At Comerica Park
1901 - On April 24, 1901, the Tigers prepared to take to the field for their first official American League game. A standing room only crowd was anticipated at Bennett Park, but unpredictable weather postponed the opening by a day. On that historic afternoon, April 25, 1901, in front of 10,000 fans, the Tigers entered the ninth inning trailing Milwaukee, 13-4. A series of hits and miscues followed, moving the score to 13-12 with two runners on. With two out, Tiger Frank "Pop" Dillon faced reliever Bert Husting, and the lefthanded hitter rapped a two-run double to complete a 14-13 comeback win. - official website

116 See The (Chicago) White Sox Play At U.S. Cellular Field
Have been to Chicago only once and it was after baseball season.

118 See The (Cincinnati) Reds Play At Great American Ballpark
1869 Nov. 6: In the final official match of the season, the Red Stockings defeat the Mutuals of New York, 17-8, on Union Grounds. Baseball's first team of professionals finished the season with a perfect 57-0 record. - official website

120 See The (Atlanta) Braves Play At Turner Field

126 See The (Washington) Nationals Play At Nationals Park
The Washington Nationals play in the city of Washington, D. C.
Twice visited Washington, D.C., but both times were before the Nationals were in the capitol.

129 See The (Arizona) Diamondbacks Play At Chase Field
The Arizona Diamondbacks play in the city of Phoenix

136 See The (Houston) Astros Play At Minute Maid Park

144 See The (Toronto) Blue Jays Play At Rogers Centre

146 See The (Florida) Marlins Play At (Sun Life) Land Shark Stadium
The Florida Marlins play in the city of Miami
Only been one time in Miami and no baseball on that trip.

150 See The (Tampa Bay) Rays Play At Tropicana Field
The Tampa Bay Rays play in the city of St. Petersburg, Florida
1995 On March 9, at a meeting in West Palm Beach, Fla., Major League Baseball owners officially welcome the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks as the 13th and 14th expansion teams in Major League history by a vote of 28-0 and on April 17, the Devil Rays and the City of St. Petersburg agree on a 30-year lease for the team to play their home games at the ThunderDome. In July the Devil Rays name Chuck LaMar as senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager and on Sept. 26, the Devil Rays sign their first player - Adam Sisk, a 6-4 right-handed pitcher from Edison Community College in Fort Myers, Florida. On Nov. 2 they unveil their official 1998 game uniforms during a special "fashion show" at the Florida Aquarium. - official website

155 See The (Oakland) Athletics Play At The Oakland Coliseum
1901 - The Philadelphia Athletics baseball club was founded as part of the brand new American Baseball League. Connie Mack managed the A's for 50 years, (1901-1950). During their 54 year stay in Philadelphia, they produced such Hall of Famers as: Frank Baker, Chief Bender, Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Eddie Collins Sr. Jimmie Foxx, Nelson Fox, Lefty Grove, George Kell, Nap Lajoie, Connie Mack, Eddie Plank, Al Simmons, Tris Speaker, Rube Waddell, and Zack Wheat. Some of them are better known for their play with other teams but all were A's at one time. - official website


Images:
Left: Sun Life Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: Nationals Park from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: U. S. Cellular Field from the website upload.wikimedia.org

Baseball Bucket List: TEAMS – Part 1

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number ten out of twelve is:

TEAMS – Part 1

5 See The (Chicago) Cubs Play At Wrigley Field
Though I have never seen the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, if they ever make it to the World Series I will be rooting for them (only if the Red Sox are not their opponent)

7 See The (Boston) Red Sox Play At Fenway Park
I have seen the Red Sox at Fenway many times and though they may not have always won, I was always happy to have gone to the games.

22 See The (Los Angeles) Dodgers Play At Dodger Stadium
I have seen the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium twice and both times their opponent was the San Francisco Giants. Can’t remember who won.

28 See The (Baltimore) Orioles Play At Oriole Park At Camden Yards
I have seen the Orioles at the old Memorial Stadium once and I’m sure Oriole Park is a vast improvement over the stadium.

30 See The (Pittsburgh) Pirates Play At PNC Park
April 30, 1887 -- The Pittsburgh Alleghenies play their first National League game, defeating the defending league champion Chicago White Stockings, 6-2, in front of nearly 10,000 fans at Recreation Park.
December 1891 -- The Alleghenies are renamed Pirates after signing second baseman Louis Bierbauer away from the Philadelphia Athletics.
April 22, 1891 -- The Pirates play their first game at Exposition Park, located on the north shore of the Allegheny River across from downtown Pittsburgh, not far from the current site of PNC Park.
In 1900, Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the defunct Louisville club, acquires controlling interest of the Pirates and brings 14 players with him, including future Hall of Famers Honus Wagner and Fred Clarke. - official website

35 See The (San Francisco) Giants Play At AT&T Park
Although I have been to San Francisco twice, I have not seen the Giants play in their home ballpark.

41 See The (Cleveland) Indians Play At Progressive Field

46 See The (Seattle) Mariners Play At Safeco Field

55 See The (San Diego) Padres Play At Petco Park
Have been to San Diego twice, but neither time was to see the Padres at Petco Park. There was an opportunity in June 2007 when the Red Sox came to San Diego, but that fizzled out.

63 See The (Colorado) Rockies Play At Coors Field
The Colorado Rockies play in the city of Denver

65 See The (New York) Mets Play At Citi Field
March 6, 1961 - The New York Metropolitan Baseball Club Inc., formally receives a certificate of membership from National League President Warren Giles. The Mets' name was judged by club owner Joan Payson as the one that best met five basic criteria:
1) It met public and press acceptance;
2) It was closely related to the team's corporate name (Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc);
3) It was descriptive of the metropolitan area;
4) It had a brevity that delighted copy readers everywhere;
5) It had historical background referring to the Metropolitans of the 19th century American Association. Other names considered included Rebels, Skyliners, NYBs, Burros (for the five boroughs), Continentals, Avengers... as well as Jets and Islanders, names that would eventually find their way onto the New York sports scene.
May 8, 1961 - New York's National League club announces that the team nickname will be "Mets," a natural shortening of the corporate name ("New York Metropolitan Baseball Club, Inc.") - official website

67 See The (New York) Yankees Play At Yankee Stadium
Jan. 9, 1903: Frank Farrell and Bill Devery purchase the defunct Baltimore franchise of the American League for $18,000 and then move the team to Manhattan.
Mar. 12, 1903: The New York franchise is approved as a member of the American League. The team will play in a hastily constructed, all-wood park at 168th Street and Broadway. Because the site is one of the highest spots in Manhattan, the club will be known as the "Highlanders" and their home field "Hilltop Park."
Apr. 22, 1903: The Highlanders play their first game, a 3-1 loss at Washington.
Apr. 23, 1903: The Highlanders record the first win in franchise history, a 7-2 decision at Washington. Harry Howell recorded the win.
Apr. 30, 1903: The Highlanders notch a 6-2 win vs. Washington in their inaugural home opener at Hilltop Park. - official website

75 See The (Milwaukee) Brewers Play At Miller Park

80 See The (Philadelphia) Phillies Play At Citizens Bank Park
No one could have realized it at the time, but when the Phillies were formed in 1883, history was in the making. Now, as the 21st century begins, the Phillies are the oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional sports.
The original Phillies began when the Worcester Ruby Legs were disbanded and the franchise was moved by the National League to Philadelphia. Al Reach, who in 1866 had become the first professional baseball player and was later a successful sporting goods dealer, became the Phillies first owner along with attorney John Rogers. Reach named the team the Phillies, a take-off on the team's geographic roots, "Philly."
The first Phillies game was played May 1, 1883 at Recreation Park on the corner of 24th Street and Ridge Avenue with the club losing 4-3 to the Providence Grays. The club would go on to win just 17 of 98 games that season, pitcher John Coleman losing 48 of them. - official website

85 See The (Los Angeles) Angels Play At Angel Stadium
I have seen the Angels at Angel Stadium approximately six times and every time their opponent was the Boston Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Red Sox did not win any of those games. Despite being the Los Angele Angels, the team plays neither in the city of Los Angeles nor in any Los Angeles County city. They play in Anaheim, located in Orange County. They should have kept California Angels as their name.


Images:
Left: Angel Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: Fenway Park from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: Dodger Stadium from the website upload.wikimedia.org

Baseball Bucket List: SOUNDS

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number nine out of twelve is:

SOUNDS

86 Learn The Story Behind “Take Me Out To The Ball Game”
The story of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is told in a book titled “Baseball’s Greatest Hit” by Andy Strasberg, Bob Thompson and Tim Wiles. The book: the complete story of the song is presented, taking us on a fascinating journey into how ""Ball Game"" has come to take a unique place in our cultural landscape. With images of historical newspaper clippings, baseball cards, sheet music, movie stills, ballplayers at the mic, and of course, Harry Caray leading the crowd at Wrigley, Baseball's Greatest Hit also comes packaged with a CD of rare and classic recordings, including performances by Dr. John, Arturo Sandoval, George Winston, Harry Caray and many more. Features an introduction by baseball commissioner Bud Selig and a foreword by Carly Simon. Baseball's Greatest Hit is a gorgeous celebration, not only of a song, but of baseball, music, pop culture, and the creative ways that Americans have always taken popular music and made it their own.



88 Listen To The Great American Baseball Box
The compilation of sounds in The Great American Baseball Box is: The crack of the bat . . . The roar of the crowd . . . The biggest names and greatest moments in baseball history. It’s all here. With over 4 hours of music, play-by-play and unforgettable on- and off-the-field moments, The Great American Baseball Box is the ultimate celebration of America’s national pastime. Relive the greatest moments in the game’s history as you listen to firsthand accounts from the most beloved Major League Baseball voices. Experience the game’s indelible impact on popular culture — with music and soundbites from the news, comedy skits, commercials and more! Rediscover the joy and heartbreak of the game you loved as a kid, but never outgrew.
Disc 1: The Music, Disc 2: The Games, Disc 3: The Players, Disc 4: The Rest (The spirit of the game captured through 28 tracks of comedy, controversy, commercials and more!)

110 Listen To Lou Gehrig’s Famous Farewell Speech
Didn’t find a complete video of Lou Gehrig’s speech, but here is the complete text and there’s a short video following the speech.
"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

"Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky. Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky.

"When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift - that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies - that's something. When you have a wonderful mother-in-law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter - that's something. When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body - it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed - that's the finest I know.

"So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for."




Images:
Left: The Great American Baseball Box from the website music.barnesandnoble.com
Center: Lou Gehrig farewell from the website americanrhetroic.com
Right: Take Me Out to the Ball Game from the website baseball-almanac.com

Baseball Bucket List: PARTICIPATION – Part 2

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number eight out of twelve is:

PARTICIPATION – Part 2

101 Umpire A Baseball Game
I don’t think this is a part of baseball that I would want to do. Though it is a power position, I know I would feel bad if I completely got something wrong. Such a thankless job, but I’m glad there are people willing to do it.

102 Join The Baseball Reliquary
The Baseball Reliquary is a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of American art and culture through the context of baseball history and to exploring the national pastime's unparalleled creative possibilities. The Baseball Reliquary gladly accepts the donation of artworks and objects of historic content, provided their authenticity is well documented. The Baseball Reliquary is supported in part by a grant from the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

112 Hit In The Batting Cages
This would be absolutely fun! I’ve never done this, but I would be willing to try. I’m a right-handed batter and I tend to hit balls down the third base line. The opportunity to improve my swing and perhaps learn how to hit to other parts of the field would be wonderful. An experience to which I look forward to having someday!

117 Play APBA
APBA dates back to the 1930s and a bunch of high-school buddies in Lancaster, PA. The boys played a baseball simulation game invented by one of them, Dick Seitz. His game was loosely based on an old tabletop baseball game called National Pastime. But unlike any previous board game, it combined the randomness of dice with the on-field performances of individual players. The boys called themselves the American Professional Baseball Association. That appellation soon was whittled down to its essential form: APBA. So while APBA is still an acronym for that first baseball simulation league, the word has taken on a meaning of its own. The game is APBA, and the word is pronounced "App'Bah" - a term as slick and condensed as the game.

119 Play In A Vintage Base Ball League
There is a Vintage Base Ball Association which was founded in 1996. The mission and purpose of the Vintage Base Ball Association shall be to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the game of base ball as it was played during its formative years in the nineteenth century and other historic eras. This worthy objective shall be accomplished by the following activities and endeavors: Presenting the game of base ball as it was actually played in accordance with the rules, equipment, uniforms, field specifications, customs, practices, language, and behavioral norms of the period.

125 Play Strat-O-Matic Baseball
Strat-O-Matic produces sports-simulation games that rate real players and teams accurately for professional baseball, football, basketball and hockey, and college football. Strat-O-Matic has the best-selling board games and computer text sims in our field, because we combine statistical realism with life-like strategy decisions in games that can be completed in a small fraction of the time it takes to watch a real game. Our fans keep coming back for more, because each time they play, they know their decisions influence victory or defeat.

132 Delve Into Some Baseball Scholarship
Steaming from the fact that I didn’t know that women played professional baseball until I saw the film, A League of Their Own; I would want to research player and other roles women have had in the game of baseball and their contributions since its beginning.

139 Throw Out The First Pitch
I want to do this!!! The ideal one would be Opening Day at Fenway Park after the festivities of a ring ceremony and the Yankees are the opponents for the game. I’m not sure to whom I would want to pitch – Tek, Wake, Jells or someone else. It would be such great fun and be one of the best baseball experiences I could have.

148 Fix Up A Baseball Field
I think doing this for kids would be great – a real community effort to develop a good place for the up and coming baseball players to have games. It would be a real accomplishment and a field for everyone to enjoy.


Images:
Left: APBA logo from the website apbagames.com
Center: Baseball Reliquary logo from the website baseballreliquary.org
Right: Vintage Base Ball Association logo from the website vbba.org

Baseball Bucket List: PARTICIPATION – Part 1

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number eight out of twelve is:

PARTICIPATION – Part 1

9 Play Fantasy Baseball In A Rotisserie League
The only time I played Fantasy Baseball was in 2004 (yes, that memorable season). It was fun, but a lot of work. Seemed I always had to make last minute lineup changes before each game (the fantasy allowed for adjustments just before game time). The best part was making trades and reassessing the players and obtaining new ones. Of course I liked it when I did well. If I were to play Fantasy Baseball again, I want to have just one opponent. I would have all the Red Sox players and my competitor would have all the Yankees. A real team-to-team matchup - how great is that! Any takers for 2012?

12 Learn To Keep Score
In college I would go to Red Sox games several times a season and part of my game ritual was to buy a scorecard when I arrived at Fenway Park. I didn’t know how to keep score, but I figured I’d followed the scoring information provided and muddle through a game. Well, that plan never worked as I always got so caught up in the action on the field, that I totally forgot to make any type of notation on the card!. Oh well, learning how to keep score is a baseball skill I have yet to master. The booklet of scorecards I bought on sale will just have to wait for another year. But there’s probably some online, just input the information way to keep score. Is there an app for that? Question: How does one become an official scorer for a Major League team?

16 Take A Kid To His Or Her First Major League Baseball Game
I took me to my first Major League game, other than it was at Fenway Park, I have no recollection of who the other team was, where I sat, or what the final score was. I know that I brought my glove (long since vanished), but never in all the times that I’ve gone to Fenway has a foul ball come close to me. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to take a kid to a baseball game, though I think it would be fun to do so.

18 Attend A Major League Baseball Fantasy Camp
All the Major League teams offer a baseball fantasy camp held in January or February. Although a somewhat pricey fantasy (2012 Red Sox camp is $4,595 per person), it is a great opportunity to receive instruction from former players and meet team-affiliated personalities. The Red Sox will hold their 2012 baseball fantasy camp in Ft. Myers, Florida from Sunday 5 February to Sunday 12 February. Guess it’s the closest any baseball fan would have to playing in the Majors. Wonder if any scouts will be there.

42 Coach A Season Of Little League Baseball
Unfortunately I don’t have the skills or knowledge to coach Little League or any league level of baseball. I certainly wish I’d been able to play Little League – I might actually be able to make an accurate throw from the outfield! If you have the ability, time and interest, help youngsters on the road to a lifetime of baseball playing and enjoyment on all levels.

47 Learn To Figure Important Baseball Statistics
Personally, I’m happy enough to know what the statistics mean, never mind actually having to figure them out. But for those of you more numerically ambitious, here is some information on figuring offensive statistics, defensive statistics and pitching statistics. Go for it – who knows perhaps you’ll be so inspired that you’ll make up a new statistic of your own!

48 Become A Member Of SABR
The Society for American Baseball Research had its beginnings in Cooperstown, New York. It was the brainchild of L. Robert Davids, who in August 1971 gathered 15 other baseball researchers at the National Baseball Hall of Fame to form the organization. From this modest start, SABR membership has broadened steadily. A decade later, it had reached 1,500; today, it totals more than 6,000 worldwide. Who belongs to SABR? Many major and minor league baseball officials, broadcasters and writers, as well as numerous former players. Primarily, the membership consists of "just plain fans" — anyone interested in baseball can join. While the original purpose of SABR was to band together baseball historians, statisticians and researchers, it is not necessary to engage in research to become a member.
SABR has an annual convention. The 2011 one was held in Long Beach, California from Wednesday 6 July to Sunday 10 July. The 2012 convention will be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the 2013 convention will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

51 Play In An Adult Baseball League
I guess this is where formerly aspiring Major League baseball enthusiasts go to play. There’s a National Adult Baseball Association. - NABA, the fastest growing adult baseball organization in America, is proud to have you step into our dugout. We provide all the information you will need to become a player, manager, coach, sponsor or fan of the NABA. If you're already a part of the NABA, The Dugout will update you on the latest NABA news and upcoming tournament schedules and information, list important contact numbers for NABA national staff, as well as provide an opportunity to purchase official NABA logo merchandise. The NABA is organized nationally by age groups. The largest division of play is the Open Division (18 & Over). The NABA also features 25 & Over, 35 & Over, 45 & Over and 55 & Over Divisions.

52 Attend A Fan Fest
A Fan Fest is one of the All-Star celebration events that happen during the weekend before the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game. There are exhibits, interaction with players, merchandise buying and Q&A sessions. It’s an appetizer for the star baseball attraction!


Images:
Left: Little League Baseball logo from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: National Adult Baseball Association logo from the website dugout.org
Right: SABR Convention 41 logo from the website sabr.org

Baseball Bucket List: MUSEUMS

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number seven out of twelve is:

MUSEUMS

2 Visit The National Baseball Hall Of Fame And Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an independent, non-profit educational institution dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of baseball and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to our national pastime.
25 Main Street, Cooperstown, NY 13326, Phone: 1-888-HALL-OF-FAME | Fax: 607-547-2044
Open daily, year-round, closed only Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Summer hours, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., Memorial Day Weekend through the day before Labor Day

11 Visit The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Founded in 1990, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) is a privately funded, non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the rich history of African-American Baseball. Experience a tour of multi-media displays, museum store, hundreds of photographs, & artifacts dating from the late 1800s through the 1960s. The NLBM opened its permanent 10,000 square foot facility in 1997 sharing the new 18th & Vine museum complex with the American Jazz Museum.
1616 East 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, (816) 221-1920, (888) 221-NLBM, (816) 221-8424 fax
Exhibit Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 am–6:00 p.m., Sunday NOON–6:00 p.m., Closed Monday

34 Tour The Louisville Slugger Museum And Factory
It takes a special place to craft the Official Bat of Major League Baseball. Since 1884, Louisville Slugger has put prime lumber in the hands of the greatest players of the game. A visit to the museum shows you how the sport has changed a bit between then and now, but the "crack of the bat" remains one of the sporting world's most thrilling moments.
800 West Main St., Louisville, KY 40202, 1-877-7-SLUGGER (877-775-8443)
2011 Hours: Monday through Saturday 9:00-5:00 ET Sunday Noon-5:00 ET, Open Until 6:00 pm July 1 through August 14, Closed New Year’s Day, Saturday January 1, 2011; Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 24, 2011; Christmas Day, Sunday December 25, 2011; New Year’s Day Sunday January 1, 2012

45 Visit The Legends Of The Game Museum
The Legends of the Game Museum has closed. Please check back soon for more information and click here for information on hosting events at Rangers Ballpark.

49 Visit The Cincinnati Reds Hall Of Fame And Museum
Our core purpose is to record, preserve and promote the rich history and traditions of the Cincinnati Reds, honor on-field accomplishments and achievements, and create an everlasting memorial to baseball and the Cincinnati Reds. We also maintain a first-class facility where, through various dramatic educational exhibits, exciting initiatives, and special events, we ensure that noteworthy contributions to the Reds are properly recognized while inspiring and empowering new generations to achieve and perform to their highest potential. The Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum is a 16,000 sq. ft. facility with exhibit galleries located on two floors. Please allow at least 45-60 minutes for your self-guided tour.
100 Joe Nuxhall, Cincinnati, OH 45202, Call the Reds: 513-765-7000
Non-Game Days Sunday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Game Days Sunday - Saturday (day game) 10 a.m. until two hours after the end of the game for all afternoon games, Sunday - Saturday (night game) 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. for all night games

61 Visit The Yogi Berra Museum And Learning Center
Our Mission is to preserve and promote the values of respect, sportsmanship, social justice and excellence through inclusive, culturally diverse, sports-based educational programs and exhibits.
On the campus of Montclair State University. 8 Quarry Road, Little Falls, NJ 07424, View Directions
Office: 973.655.2378 Fax: 973.655.6894. The Museum is available 7 days a week for school programs, group tours, corporate meetings, events and private parties. Museum Hours: We are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, Noon to 5:00 p.m. We are closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve.

71 Visit The Babe Ruth Birthplace And Museum
The Babe Ruth Birthplace Foundation, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit educational institution dedicated to perpetuating the historic legacy of Babe Ruth, Baltimore's Orioles and Colts, and local and regional sports at the amateur, collegiate and professional levels, by preserving, exhibiting, interpreting and augmenting its collection for a diverse audience.
216 Emory Street, Baltimore, Maryland, three blocks west of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Just follow the 60 baseballs painted on the sidewalk from the stadium to the Museum.
Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum Every Day: 10:00am to 5:00pm **
Babe Ruth Birthplace Gift Shop Every Day: 10:00am to 5:00pm **
** 7:00PM on Orioles home game days (Monday thru Saturday); Sunday game days 5:00PM
Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Call 410-727-1539, or check website for weather-related closures.

97 Visit The Bob Feller Museum
In 1990 a committee was formed in Van Meter, Iowa for the purpose of establishing a museum honoring Van Meter native Bob Feller. The museum collection includes artifacts from Bob Feller’s childhood through his baseball career and his military service during World War II.
310 Mill Street, P.O. Box 95, Van Meter, Iowa 50261, (515) 996-2806, Email: info@bobfellermuseum.org
Hours: Closed Monday, Open Tuesday - Sat, 10am - 3pm, Sunday: Noon - 4pm

100 Visit The Ty Cobb Museum
The mission of the Ty Cobb Museum is to foster education and understanding to the broadest possible audience of the greatest baseball hitter of all time, Tyrus Raymond Cobb. This is done by collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting artifacts related to Cobb for a local, regional, and national audience. The museum provides art and memorabilia, film, video, books and historical archives allowing the legendary "Georgia Peach" to live on.
461 Cook Street, Royston, GA 30662-3903, Tel: (706) 245-1825 Fax: (706) 245-1831
The Ty Cobb Museum is open throughout the year. We are closed on Labor Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
Monday - Friday: 9:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. Saturday: 10:00a.m. - 4:00p.m
*This schedule may be modified based on special event scheduling, group schedules, and other unscheduled events. Out of town visitors are encouraged to call the museum prior to visiting to ensure the Museum is open during your visit (706) 245-1825.

115 Visit The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum And Hall Of Fame
The Ivan Allen Jr. Braves Museum & Hall of Fame (BMHF) is an education and entertainment venue, which features more than 600 Braves artifacts and photographs that trace the team's history from its beginnings in Boston (1871-1952) to Milwaukee (1953-65) to Atlanta (1966-present). It is located on the northwest side of Turner Field at Aisle 134.
755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315
Hours of Operation Baseball Season (April - September) Monday - Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m. Tours are not available on days when the Braves have afternoon home games.
Off-Season (October - March) Monday - Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Closed: MLK Day, Thanksgiving Day, December 23-January 2 The museum opens two and a half hours before each game and closes in the middle of the seventh inning. Tours start at the top of each hour and last approximately one hour. No reservations are necessary for individuals or groups of less than 20 people. Tickets can be purchased the day of your tour at the main ticket window. Free parking is available in the Green Lot.

130 Take In A Local Museum Baseball Exhibit
Michigan Historical Museum – “Old Ball Game” – Thursday 30 June 2011 to Friday 16 September 2011
Renfrew Museum – Baseball Exhibit – April 2011 to August 2011
The Eliot Museum – Baseball Exhibit – Permanent

153 Visit The Canadian Baseball Hall Of Fame And Museum
VISION: A culture which champions education, respect, diversity and healthy lifestyles across generations. MISSION: By honouring, preserving, fostering and sharing Canada’s living history of baseball, we teach life lessons exemplified by the game.
PO Box 1838, 140 Queen St. (Office), 386 Church St. S. (Museum) St. Marys, ON N4X 1C2
Phone: 519-284-1838, Toll-free: 877-250-2255, Fax: 519-284-1234
October 10, 2010 -May 6, 2011, open for pre-booked tours only through our office. Call 519-284-1838 or email SCOTTMay 2011 (weekends only-starting May 7), Saturday 10:30-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm
June 2011 through October 9th 2011, open daily 10:30-4pm, Sunday 12-4pm

158 Visit The Sports Museum Of Los Angeles
Welcome to the Sports Museum of Los Angeles (SMLA), the largest known private collection of iconic sports artifacts, collectibles and memorabilia in the United States. The 32,000 square foot museum houses more than 10,000 items and is valued in the millions of dollars. SMLA’s collection captures the signature moments of the greatest sports stars and teams of the distant and recent past. The museum brings history to life by providing visitors an opportunity to view antiquities and relics, including photographs and uniforms from the early days that trace the evolution of national and international sports.
The museum will be closed to the general public until the Summer of 2009.
Sports Museum of Los Angeles is available for viewing by private functions and tours.
Please inquire at 888.540.8223
1900 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007


Images:
Left: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum from the website facebook.com
Center: Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory from the website sluggermuseum.org
Right: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum from the website nlbm.com

Baseball Bucket List: MOVIES – Part 3

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:

MOVIES – Part 3

76 Watch The Movie, The Pride Of the Yankees
This 1942 biopic, The Pride of the Yankees, is the life story of Lou Gehrig who played first base for the New York Yankees. Gary Cooper portrays Gehrig, nicknamed the “Iron Horse” for never missing a game. However, Gehrig becomes sick with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his baseball career comes to an unexpected end. And of course the film has Cooper speak Gehrig’s famous farewell - “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth”. Actual teammates of Gehrig appear as themselves in the film, one of them being Babe Ruth. The Pride of the Yankees is available on DVD in a Collector’s Edition.

95 Watch The Movie, Bang The Drum Slowly
Based on the 1956 novel of the same title, the 1973 film Bang the Drum Slowly, is another tale of death-too-soon in the world of baseball, fictional though it is. The start pitcher and the unfortunate catcher play for the New York Mammoths, based on you-know-who (see entry above). The time frame is one season and the catcher’s illness is kept secret by his best friend, the pitcher. It’s not a good season either for the team as a whole, but when the catcher’s condition is revealed, the Mammoths turn things around. Bang the Drum Slowly is available on DVD.

103 Watch The Abbott & Costello Skit, “Who’s On First?”
I don’t remember when I first heard the routine “Who’s on First?”, but I know it was sometime in my adolescence. It is the best! I laugh every time I hear it. If somehow you have missed this hilarious baseball gem, read the text here and see the performance below. Enjoy!!!

114 Watch The Movie, Sugar
This 2008 film, Sugar, is the fictional tale of a young Dominican Republic pitcher (Sugar) who makes his way from a Major League sponsored baseball academy in the DR to the Minor League Single-A affiliate of the made-up team Kansas City Knights. In Iowa Sugar lives with a farm family and begins his exposure to American life. With only one friend from the Dominican Republic on the team, Sugar struggles to find a place for himself in this unfamiliar setting and begins questioning his goal to become a Major League baseball player. Sugar is available on DVD.

134 Watch The Movie, Fever Pitch
This 2005 romantic comedy, Fever Pitch, is based on both the 1992 book, Fever Pitch: A Fan’s Life and the 1997 British film. Soccer is the sport in the book and the first film, but baseball is the game in the American film. Not just baseball, but Major League Boston Red Sox baseball! Taking place over the 2004 baseball season, Fever Pitch is the falling in love of a Red Sox obsessed fan with the not-so-obsessed woman who wins his heart while Boston wins the World, as in Series! I have never seen so many Red Sox logoed items in my life as were displayed in character Ben Wrightman’s apartment. My meager Red Sox items are put to shame. Fever Pitch is available on DVD in Full Screen, Widescreen and Boston Red Sox Curse Reversed Editions.

138 Watch The Movie, The Sandlot
Baseball on a kid’s level is the story of the 1993 film, The Sandlot. The film is a reminiscence told by the adult who was the new kid in a Los Angeles neighborhood back in the summer of 1962. With the friendship and help of the best ballplayer in the neighborhood, the new kid improves his baseball skills and earns the respect of the other members of the team. It is a summer of adventures and of the Beast. The Sandlot is available on DVD as are The Sandlot 2 (2005) and The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007).

152 Watch The Movie, Cobb
This 1994 biopic, Cobb, is based on the book Cobb: A Biography. It is the life of Tyrus Raymond Cobb from the perspective of his biographer while he was with Cobb and writing the biography. I haven’t seen this movie and most likely never will. Cobb may have been the first inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame, but he is one of the last players baseball would ever want to represent the sport. Cobb is available on DVD.


My Boston Red Sox DVD Recommendations:

I owe all the DVDs in the following list, but a few of them I have not had the pleasure of viewing. The films are listed in the order I think they should be viewed, but feel free to ignore my suggestion and see whichever ones interest you, in whatever order you like.

Still, We Believe: The Boston Red Sox Movie (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)

Faith Rewarded: The Historic Season of the 2004 Boston Red Sox (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)

Wait ‘Til This Year: A Totally Different Look Back at the 2004 Boston Red Sox Season (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set

The Boston Red Sox 2004 World Series Collector’s Edition
All seven complete ALCS games versus the New York Yankees
All four full World Series games versus the St. Louis Cardinals

2004 World Series: Boston Red Vs. St. Louis Cardinals

History Rings True (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)

Red Sox Vs. Yankees: The Ultimate Rivalry

The Boston Red Sox 2007 World Series Collector’s Edition
Complete ALCS games 5, 6 and 7 versus the Cleveland Indians
All four World Series games against the Colorado Rockies

2007 World Series: Colorado Rockies Vs. Boston Red Sox

Red Sox Memories: The Greatest Moments in Boston Red Sox History

Spaceman: A Baseball Odyssey (included in The Ultimate Boston Baseball Fan Box Set)

The Lost Son of Havana




Images:
Left: Sugar from the website amazon.com
Center: Fever Pitch from the website amazon.com
Right: The Sandlot from the website upload.wikimedia.org

Baseball Bucket List: MOVIES – Part 2

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:

MOVIES – Part 2

39 Watch The Movie, The Rookie
Based on a true story, The Rookie offers inspiration not only for aspiring Major League players, but for anyone who has a dream unfulfilled. This drama is the 2002 telling of Jim Morris’ life, who grew up in that bastion of baseball - the state of Texas (sarcasm, just in case you’re wondering). With the support of his family, Jim pursues his late-in-baseball-life travels/travails through the Minors until his debut in the Majors. What is your baseball dream? Life dream? The Rookie is available on DVD in Full Screen and Widescreen editions.

43 Watch The Movie, For Love Of The Game
This 1999 romantic drama, For Love of the Game, is based on the 1991 book of the same name. Another Kevin Costner baseball film (Bull Durham, Field of Dreams), the action takes places on the pitcher’s mound and in the pitcher’s mind. Costner’s Billy Chapel is pitching the final game of his Hall-of-Fame career and as he proceeds to pitch a perfect game, Billy reminisces on his not-so-perfect love life. Will Billy be able to take those back-and-forth memories and find a new life when the game is over? For Love of the Game is available on DVD.

54 Watch The Movie, 61*
In the 2001 made-for-television movie 61*, two baseball players compete to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 single season record of 60 homeruns. The year is 1961 and the ballplayers are teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris of the New York Yankees. They are a study in contrasts - one is loved by fans, the other hated; one is a womanizer, the other married; one fails, the other prevails. With the backdrop of Mark McGwire’s bid to surpass the record that Mantle or Maris broke, an historic season with the Yankees unfolds. 61* is available on DVD.

62 Watch The Movie, Soul Of The Game
The 1996 made-for-television movie, Soul of the Game, focuses on Negro League baseball players Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and Jackie Robinson. And how Robinson’s signing to integrate Major League Baseball put a strain on the relationship between them. Fortunately, there is a positive resolution and baseball life continued. Soul of the Game is available on DVD.

73 Watch The Movie, Major League
This 1989 comedy, Major League, portrays a season (not-based-on-reality) with the Cleveland Indians. The team is made up of misfits who somehow manage to win their division and thwart the plans of the new owner to move the team to Miami. Only by having a low attendance could the team’s owner break the contract with Cleveland and Rachel Phelps’ idea to field an absolutely poor-performing team utterly backfires. Watch a pitcher who has no control, a base stealer who can’t get on base and a batter who performs voodoo ceremonies. This film spawned two sequels – Major League II (1994) and Major League: Back to the Minors (1998). All three films are available on DVD.

74 Watch The Documentary, The Life And Times Of Hank Greenberg
A 1998 documentary, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg, presents the story of Hall of Fame and Jewish baseball player Hank Greenberg. It is through interviews with family, friends and teammates, as well as film footage that Greenberg’s life is told. And along the way, America’s story is revealed in that era. The documentary is available on DVD.




Images:
Left: For Love of the Game from the website imdb.com
Center: Soul of the Game from the website imdb.com
Right: The Rookie from the website amazon.com

Baseball Bucket List: MOVIES – Part 1

On Tuesday 9 March 2010 a book was published titled: The Baseball Fan’s Bucket List: 162 Things You Must Do, See, Get, and Experience Before You Die, by Robert Santelli and Jenna Santelli. The book’s table of contents lists all 162 items per the authors’ ranking. I have taken that list and organized it into twelve categories, which I find easier to consider when dealing with the list. I will be presenting each category alphabetically over the course of the 2011 baseball season. The number to the left of each item is its position on the Santellis’ list. Items in red would be of particular interest to Red Sox fans. Today’s category number six out of twelve is:

MOVIES – Part 1

6 Watch The Ken Burns Documentary, Baseball
To me, Baseball is the definitive history of baseball on video. It is structured into nine innings that begin with the origins of baseball and end in 1993. This documentary originally aired on the PBS network during September 1994. It became available on DVD in September 2004 and includes an additional inning of features titled Extra Innings, making it a ten DVD set. In September 2010, PBS aired The Tenth Inning which covers from 1994 to 2009. This is also available on DVD and Blu-ray by itself. It is also included in a revised Baseball DVD box set. I highly recommend Baseball and any future innings Ken Burns decides to document.

14 Watch The Movie, Bull Durham
A slice of life in the Minor Leagues is portrayed in Bull Durham, a romantic comedy from 1988. Starring Susan Sarandon, Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins, the lives of these three people intersect one baseball season in Durham, North Carolina. A woman, a catcher and his rookie pitcher form a crooked sort of love triangle in which there is poetry, profoundness and posturing. The sound track of the film is great and I’ve always liked Costner’s character’s name – Crash Davis. Though I’m not sure that in combination with Robbins’ character’s nickname it would make for a confident sounding battery – Crash and Nuke. Or perhaps opponents would find it intimidating. What do you think? The film is on DVD in the original release, Special Edition and Collector’s Edition versions.

19 Watch The Movie, The Natural
This 1984 drama, The Natural, is based on the 1952 book of the same title. An obsessed and disturbed woman shots an up-and-coming pitcher and such begins the saga of Roy Hobbs. The majority of the film takes place years after the shooting when Hobbs (played by Robert Redford) comes to a struggling team in order to rescue it and lift it to a pennant. I’ve only seen this film once, and although there are a number of on field and off field dramas to keep the film moving, I couldn’t take seeing Robert Redford get shot again. It was such a surprise the first time. Yes, the film’s ending is different from the book’s – the requisite Hollywood happy ending is in play – after all, Robert Redford mustn’t go down in defeat. The film is available in the theatrical version on DVD and Blu-ray and in the director’s cut version on DVD.

21 Watch The Movie, Field Of Dreams
Based on the 1982 book Shoeless Joe, the 1989 film, Field of Dreams is another baseball movie gem starting Kevin Costner. This baseball fantasy takes place in Iowa and involves a farmer, the 1919 Chicago White Sox scandal, a reclusive writer (a different one than in the book) and a dream fulfilled. For Red Sox fans, there is a scene at Fenway Park and supposedly (I don’t remember) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon can be seen at the game. Conflict in the film is between the reality of providing a living to support a family and the romance of playing professional baseball. Part of the baseball field in Iowa that was used in the film is still intact. Of course Field of Dreams is available on DVD in an Anniversary Edition and Collector’s Edition.

27 Watch The Movie, A League Of Their Own
Until A League of Their Own came out in 1992, I never knew that there had been a professional women’s baseball league. How I wish the league had continued and perhaps, instead of dreaming of being the starting catcher for the Boston Red Sox, I had actually played professional baseball – as I’m sure do many women. Someday a woman will play in the Majors and I hope I’m around to see it. In the meantime, enjoy this fictional story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (would it have evolved into Women’s Major League Baseball?) which is available on DVD in a Special Edition. The famous quote uttered by Tom Hanks’ character is: "Are you crying? There's no crying! There's no crying in baseball!" Maybe there’s no crying, but perhaps a little sadness for what the league might have become.

31 Watch The Documentary, Viva Baseball
The documentary, Viva Baseball, aired on Spike TV in September 2005. It covers the history of Latin American baseball players in the Majors. Viva Baseball is available on DVD.

32 Watch The Movie, Eight Men Out
The account of the 1919 Chicago White Sox in which eight members of the team accept bribers to throw the World Series, is told in 1988’s Eight Men Out and is based on the 1963 book of the same name. Known as the Black Sox scandal, the film tells the background of life for the White Sox players which leads to those men being approached by gamblers. Whatever the truth behind this murky event in professional baseball history, no team will ever throw the World Series again. Eight Men Out is available on DVD in a 20th Anniversary Edition.




Images:
Left: Baseball from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Center: A League of Their Own from the website upload.wikimedia.org
Right: Field of Dreams from the website upload.wikimedia.org