Frank Viola is the Guy That Fights SkyNet?
No one expected a kid to take on SkyNet and its robotic assassins in The Terminator. Somehow it would be a pitcher who looked 10 years below his age who would lead the charge against robo-umps in baseball.
Set Collecting
Off to the Races in DC
If you need to sum up outfielder Gil Coan in a single word it would be “speed.” Before the Washington Nationals entertained fans with presidential mascots running footraces, one of the city’s predecessor teams was sending Coan out to run laps against track stars. He even raced a horse (and won!) from right field to home plate. Perhaps the fact that he was missing one of his thumbs made him more aerodynamic.
When It Rains It Pours
Sam Zoldak was a big league pitcher whose abilities seemed to be just a hair above average. There’s not a lot to write about when a player shows up and just does his job competently. There are, however, two small items from his story that make me take notice.
1993 Finest: Alex Fernandez
My daughter makes a Pokemon trade, I get flashbacks of trying to understand something new, and the Marlins burn down a pitcher’s arm for the insurance money.
Cards Through Rose Colored Glasses
The world came oh so close to getting a ’52 Topps card with an image of a pitcher wearing sunglasses.
A Kenny Lofton Refractor
How to describe Kenny Lofton’s skill in a brief phrase? He’s an outfielder that can dunk.
The Overlap of John Hamm and St. Louis Baseball
Before St. Louis’ hometown actor played an oblivious himbo on 30 Rock, the city had its own version on the mound with the Veeck-era Browns.
Top Quintile Talent
If you find yourself in the top 1% of your profession, you are almost certainly doing well in your chosen field. Indeed, being ranked in the top 5% likely indicates a similar measure of skill. The top 10, 20, or even 50th percentile may imply some level of success. This does not quite hold true in baseball.
Jazz In the Lineup
Hi De Hi De Ho! The first written use of the word “jazz” was used in describing a baseball game. It’s probably not a coincidence that the swing bands of the 1930s had enough musicians to field a team.