The HOF Senator of No

Senator Jim Bunning (R) KY has been in the news recently as a conspicuous dick-head who single-handedly obstructed the payment of unemployment benefits to millions of struggling Americans. It turns out he's consistently ranked as both one of the most conservative US Senators and as one of the worst US Senators.
As I'm sure anyone who'd be reading this blog would know, Bunning is a Hall Of Fame pitcher. So I asked myself, "Just who is this guy and what kind of a ballplayer was he? Were there any portents of dick-headedness apparent early in his public life?"

He pitched 17 ML seasons, 1955 thru 1971, with a won-loss record of 224-184 and a career ERA of 3.27. His 2,855 career strikeouts was #2 all-time at the time, now ranks as #17 all-time.
A perusal of his career stats page shows that he was a "workhorse" pitcher during his peak years, roughly '63 through '67, eating up 300+ innings and recording complete games in the teens annually.
In 1958, as a Detroit Tiger, he threw a no-hitter, and on Father's Day in 1964 he threw a perfect game for the Phillies.
The '64 season is notorious for the great "Phillie Phold."

"Bunning is remembered for his role in the pennant race of 1964, in which the Phillies held a commanding lead in the National League for most of the season, eventually losing the title to the St. Louis Cardinals. Manager Gene Mauch used Bunning and fellow hurler Chris Short heavily down the stretch, and the two became visibly fatigued as September wore on. The collapse of the 1964 Phillies remains one of the most infamous in baseball history. With a six and a half game lead as late as September 21, they lost 10 games in a row to finish tied for second place." (from Wikipedia)

Bunning and Mauch feuded. Mauch was experimenting with the idea of the manager calling pitches from the dugout but Bunning always shook off those signs.

Maybe that's what Senator Bunning has been doing lately, stubbornly shaking off the signs, signs from the American people, that change is a welcome thing, that we selected a president and a congress to get certain things accomplished, to make the world a better place. Instead he's standing up for some obsolete notion of the way things ought to be. And he's doing it all for a losing cause.

Barry & Leon

Good sportswriting is easy to find these days if you look outside of the "traditional" media and cruise the electronic world. One of my favorites is Edge of Sports, featuring the estimable Dave Zirin. In his latest piece, Boss's Boycott: The Bonds Vanishes, he compares our very own Barry Lamar to none other than LEON TROTSKY. Now Mr. Bonds has been described as The Devil Incarnate by many a "sportswriter," but this is the first time he's been linked with a commie revolutionary. For that alone, Mr. Zirin deserves your ear.

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(Both these images are taken from Wikimedia Commons and are in the public domain.)

Barry & Bobby

Great article by John Brattain at THE HARDBALL TIMES dated 9 April called See Windmill, tilt at windmill . . . rinse, lather, repeat.

LINK

All fans of Barry & Bobby should read it. That's ALL Giants fans, isn't it?

Baseball Break!

In the spirit of a day off, I figured we could branch out into the ...."real world."
Scary, huh?

Actually this topic is thrilling and exciting....one could say that is full of "the audacity of hope."
Yes, I am talking about Sen. Barack Obama. If you have not read his speech last night, please do so now. I can not EVER remember hearing a politician talk like that. He truly is THE ONLY PERSON in the world that could have given that speech....a speech that I believe will be referred to for MANY years to come. Never before have I witnessed such pure presidential leadership. Finally a political campaign that is causing America to discuss IMPORTANT topics, and, perhaps more importantly, a campaign that makes one believe that change is possible. Even if Senator Obama fails to become president (remember life mocks me!) his contribution to this time is HUGE.
Read the speech and make someone else read it too.