With the 2009 baseball season finally coming to a close this past week (Congratulation's Yankees), I thought I'd do a baseball post of likes and dislikes.
First, as much as I love baseball, it's just wrong that the World Series last into November.
My Nine Favorite Players:
1. Mickey Mantle
2. Lou Brock
3. Bob Gibson
4. Barry Bonds
5. John Smoltz
6. Ted Simmons (Travesty that's he's not in the Hall of Fame)
7. Shawon Dunston
8. John Kruk
9. George Brett
I still Hate the DH.
5 Hitters that I loved to Watch:
1. Jack Clark
2. Dick Allen (Used a 44 oz bat, now that's a bat.)
3. Ron Gant
4. Gary Sheffield
5. Bo Jackson
First real baseball memory - 67 World Series - St. Louis beats Red Sox in Seven. Gibson pitches 3 complete games giving up only 3 total runs.
Favorite Broadcasters:
1. Jack Buck - Simply the greatest baseball announcer ever. Was and always will the voice of baseball to me.
2. Skip Caray - grumpy, sarcastic, cynical - loved Skip
3. Joe Morgan - Lot's of people dislike Joe Morgan as an announcer, I like him, think he does a good job. But then Johnny Miller is also my favorite Golf announcer.
Least Favorite Broadcasters:
1. Vin Scully - Never understood the love of Scully, I find him irritating.
2. Harry Caray - One word - Buffoon
3. Joe Buck - As great as his dad was, he's as bad.
There's nothing quite like the feeling of hitting a baseball with a wooden bat, I feel sorry for people who've only known aluminum.
Favorite Baseball Movies:
1. Bull Durham
2. Field of Dreams
3. The Sandlot
4. Bad News Bears
5. Major League
Favorite Teams:
1. Atlanta Braves - WTBS, Ted Turner & Whitey Herzog made the Braves my favorite team. Started watching the Braves in the mid 70's when we got cable, they were horrible (anyone remember Dale Murphy as a catcher) but you could watch almost every game. Became my favorite team in 1981 (more about that below). I wonder if they'll remain my favorite team since they aren't on all the time anymore. I miss Ted Turner.
2. St. Louis Cardinals - I grew up a Cardinal's fan and they were my favorite team until 1981 when they traded Ted Simmons. Hated them after that. Eventually I got over my feelings of betrayal and the slow process of healing began.
Least Favorite Teams:
1. Chicago Cubs - Part of this could be the natural dislike for the cubs from being a Cardinal fan. But I think it's mainly because of the "Lovable Loser", Billy Goat Curse image.
2. Boston Red Sox - I don't like the Green Monster either, come on build a real ball park.
Favorite Baseball Quotes:
People ask me what I do in the winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.
—Rogers Hornsby
Baseball is a ballet without music. Drama without words. A carnival without kewpie dolls.
—Ernie Harwell
Let's Play Two
— Ernie Banks
3 comments:
I lived in Atlanta until I was 8. Dale Murphy was my childhood hero and the Braves were my team. They were horrible... until we moved to Texas in 1989 and suddenly they learned how to play. :)
Good post. I'm already counting down until spring training.
Who the heck is Ted Simmons?
OH Hank, you used to be a friend now you are dead to me.
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