Last Sunday, the Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed 6 new inductees.
The first Hall of Fame “class” in 1939, was comprised of 5 members.
Congratulations to all.
Paraphrasing and nearly quoting the late broadcaster and “Hall” member, Harry Caray–“As the days wind down to a precious few, one accelerates his appreciation of Stan Musial, not only a great player but also a tremendous person.”
Stan was a mainstay at the “Hall” ceremonies, It is nice they continue, but alas how much time must pass, until the man who passed Stan for most National League hits, namely Pete Rose is allowed?!
In the decisive game 5 of a “quarterfinal” in baseball’s first “tournament” in 1995, ’19 Hall of Fame inductee, Edgar Martinez, slammed the game ending, 2 runs batted in hit.
Earlier in the tilt, a little known pitcher named Mariano Rivera, pitched effectively and seemed to have no fear, despite the pressure.
His team, the Yankees, denied in ’95, won 4 of the next 5 World Series, with ’19 inductee, Rivera a big part of the team.
Rita Rudner, a marvelous performer and comedic stalwart, leads the exceptional cast in her return to the New York City stage, in “Two’s A Crowd” now playing at 59E59 (59 East 59th Street).
Two’s A Crowd written by Rita and her husband, Martin Bergman, who also directs, is a truly humorous, but also relevant, moving look at relationships as the earth does what it does–revolves!
The performance is a great vehicle for Ms. Rudner and her comedy, which has made her a legendary performer. She plays “Wendy Solomon” reeling from husband Gus’ infidelity and due to computer error (of course the hotel is not financially liable), essentially forced to share a room with Tom, played very well by Robert Yacko.
Kelly Holden Bashar and Brian Lohmann, each stand out in multiple roles.
There are eleven songs with music and lyrics by Jason Freddy. Mr. Freddy appears on stage, helping the story along with some smooth guitar playing. The show is produced by Impro Theatre in association with Ritmar Productions, Inc.
A tidbit of the fine writing/Rudner as “Wendy” humor. “I was thinking of taking one of those anger management classes. But when I phoned to inquire about it, the woman who answered the phone was so irritating, I just got …..”
You will only get angry, if you do not see “Two’s A Crowd.” It was a great pleasure seeing the performance, even on a stifling hot day.
Click below for ticket information and the 59E59 website. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 7PM, Saturday at 2PM and 7PM and Sunday at 2PM. The last performance is Sunday August 25th.
The marvelous Rita Rudner, pictured above.
I always enjoyed watching Dick McAuliffe, a member of the 1968 World Series winning, Detroit Tigers’ play baseball.
He was such a solid fielder, playing different infield positions in his career.
McAuliffe, who had a unique batting stance, had 6 hits in the ’68 World Series and 198 home runs in his career.
Dick was an American League All-Star player for three straight seasons (1965-1967).
Fifty years ago today, on Sunday July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong made history walking on the earth’s moon.
Today, amidst stifling heat and with the many questions and few answers fifty years has wrought, I present my post on the 45th anniversary of the occasion on which a (hu)man walked on the moon.
Click below to read it.
- Man on the Moon 45th Anniversary on July 20, 2014
Moon particles, believe, not believe and this great song by R.E.M. called “Man On The Moon.”
Chick Hafey was a member of two World Series winning teams with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1926 and 1931.
Those were the first two Cards’ crowns, they have eleven, second to, but far from the Yankees, who have amassed 27 World Series wins.
Hafey was a tremendous hitter and eventually made the Baseball Hall of Fame, as he was voted in by the veteran’s committee.
I am glad Hafey, who got the first hit in All Star Game history, made the “Hall,” while he was still alive.
Forty two years to the date after a significantly bigger and more disturbing one, last Saturday night, there was a blackout in Manhattan.
I am not a Manhattan resident nor in Manhattan that often, especially not in 1977, yet I was in Manhattan, on the occasion of both power failures.
In ’77, on a bus after World Team Tennis with “not to be,” Adrienne and though broadcaster Bob Wolff put my tape in the Smithsonian along with his great work (interviews with Babe Ruth and Ted Williams), as his best student, it went no further.
That was the case with Adrienne and memories resound of the looting we could see so vividly, as the bus moved on.
Time always does as well, inexorably, and I thought about 42 years, about it being still light and people friendly and helping others last Saturday.
Maybe? We all have to do better, however.
On this hot and humid summer day, please enjoy an episode of the great television show, “What’s My Line” that aired on January 20, 1963.
The mystery guest was the superb actor, Montgomery Clift.
John Charles Daly is the host, while Dorothy Kilgallen, Peter Cook, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf were the panelists.
Enjoy viewing the episode.
Last week, the superb actor, Rip Torn passed away, at the age of 88.
Mr. Torn lived an extraordinary life, overcoming the insidious blacklisting/(Torn said he was greylisted–note the spelling, I can envision Torn in his great television role as “Artie” on “The Larry Sanders Show,” making the distinction amidst the “heaviness”), that permeated Hollywood and this country.
His performances in film include good roles and excellent performances in “The Cincinnati Kid” and the Tennessee Williams penned “Sweet Bird of Youth.”
Torn was married three times, each time to an actress (Ann Wedgeworth, Geraldine Page and Amy Wright, who was with him and married to him when he died. He helped his cousin, the great actress Sissy Spacek start her career.
I cited Torn as “Artie” on ‘The Larry Sanders Show” which starred the late Garry Shandling. He was “Zeb” in two “Men in Black” movies.
Go make some noise in a better place, Mr. Torn and as Will Smith, with him and a star in 2 “Men in Black,” movies, “communicated”— “rip” RIP!”
Rip Torn, pictured above.
Novak Djokovic won a truly great, 5 set match vs another great player, Roger Federer, to capture the Wimbledon Men’s tennis crown.
It is the second straight Wimbledon title for Djokovic, and fifth overall.
Djokovic won all three odd numbered sets, the fifth and final one in an unprecedented, fifth set tiebreaker.
Roger Federer (20), and Rafael Nadal, who lost in a very exciting semi-final match to Federer on Friday past, with 18, are the only two players in tennis history with more major titles than Djokovic, who now has 16.
Novak Djokovic, pictured above.
Simona Halep eased past Serena Williams in straight sets (2) to win her first Wimbledon women’s tennis crown.
It is Ms. Halep’s second major title. She won the French Open title last year.
If Williams, certainly among the greats in women’s tennis history, who had the road “paved” for her in this tournament, (so many top players were ousted and though an 11th seed, Williams was a huge favorite in all her matches until the final and even then, was a 2 to 1 favorite) had prevailed, the hype would have been overwhelming.
I will not go the other way and highly criticize this failure, as I try to keep some perspective, even in the face of the “out of whack,” publicity afforded Williams, Tiger Woods, LeBron James and others.
A nice big picture of Simona Halep, as I concentrate on Halep won and NOT Williams lost.
Andy B Sports 