I have been a Nolan Ryan fan for as long as I can remember baseball. My first set of baseball cards were the Topps cards that showed stats from 1974. I read about this strike out phenomenon and was an immediate fan. Baseball drew me by its numbers, and Ryan had ridiculous numbers. In 1974 he started 41 games, completed 26 of them, pitched 332 innings, struck out 367 (less than he had the previous year), but walked over 200 batters. I suppose that may have been why he only placed third in the Cy Young award. Still, he was ripped off. Catfish Hunter? Whatever. I remember living in Little Rock, Arkansas when he was coming to the end of his incredible and long career. One of my life regrets is NOT heading down the highway to see him pitch in Arlington. Ah, well.
Oh, and I loved it when he did commercials a few years later--about aspirin, if I remember right. He was still blurring the ball past batters. A workhorse unlike anything that is on a mound these days.
In recent years, I've been captivated by the numbers and character of Albert Pujols. Though I'm not a Cardinals fan, I've cheered for them because of him. You may already know that I'm first an Indians fan, then a Reds fan (being an Ohio boy). Well, I spread out to the general Midwest after that (and cheer against the Left and East coast teams..... although I do still cheer for former Indians like Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, and Victor Martinez).
So... pulling together these two fan-ness's (totally botched that made up word, eh?), I'm hoping to see the Cardinals and the Rangers in the World Series. If they both make it, I don't think I'll care which one wins. If one of them doesn't, but the other does, I'll have a team to cheer for. If neither does... Brewers versus Detroit? Hmm... nah.
Go Nolan, go Josh Hamilton, and go Pujols.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Indians
Back in 1975 I was introduced to major league baseball. That year, I bought baseball cards, read every single one, and can still tell you that people like Tito Fuentes played second base for the Padres. I ended up with the whole Topps 1974 set, and kept going the next year. My favorite time of year was when those baseball cards began coming out--more reading!
At that time, there were a few Indians who I heard on the radio from night to night. Names like Andre Thornton, Boog Powell, Rick Manning, Duane Kuiper, Don Hood, etc. Lots of those names still stick with me, although I have to go to Baseball Reference to refresh my memory about exactly who was on the team when I began listening. For me, all those early years of Indians baseball run together. I know we had Thornton and Powell, but I think we may not have had them at the same time. Maybe I'll look later.
Meanwhile, the important stuff--the Indians are in first place. Much to the chagrin of the talking heads of baseball, my Cleveland Indians are shockingly leading their division. In fact, they've spent quite a bit of time leading the entire major leagues. A recent dive (lost 5 of 6) dropped them out of that position, but they are still 5 games ahead of Detroit in the weak American Central.
Hey... I just checked, and they still have the best winning percentage in baseball.
Sports are a very superstitious thing. My brothers may curse me for writing about this in the first place--especially if/when the Indians take a major dive. I suspect they will end up above .500, but.... keeping their hands on first place? I'm not a believer yet. Too many disappointments over the years. I was just remembering this morning the time that they blew the World Series back in 1997. Won't forget that in my lifetime, unless they miraculously win once.
Anyway, I am not superstitious. Mostly. I think.
I remember watching one of the Browns vs Broncos games ages ago with my brothers and wife. My wife said something (I don't recall what) about the potential of losing the game. Elway does the drive. Brothers blame wife.
Yeah, that kind of superstition.
What can we say? We are Cleveland fans.
At that time, there were a few Indians who I heard on the radio from night to night. Names like Andre Thornton, Boog Powell, Rick Manning, Duane Kuiper, Don Hood, etc. Lots of those names still stick with me, although I have to go to Baseball Reference to refresh my memory about exactly who was on the team when I began listening. For me, all those early years of Indians baseball run together. I know we had Thornton and Powell, but I think we may not have had them at the same time. Maybe I'll look later.
Meanwhile, the important stuff--the Indians are in first place. Much to the chagrin of the talking heads of baseball, my Cleveland Indians are shockingly leading their division. In fact, they've spent quite a bit of time leading the entire major leagues. A recent dive (lost 5 of 6) dropped them out of that position, but they are still 5 games ahead of Detroit in the weak American Central.
Hey... I just checked, and they still have the best winning percentage in baseball.
Sports are a very superstitious thing. My brothers may curse me for writing about this in the first place--especially if/when the Indians take a major dive. I suspect they will end up above .500, but.... keeping their hands on first place? I'm not a believer yet. Too many disappointments over the years. I was just remembering this morning the time that they blew the World Series back in 1997. Won't forget that in my lifetime, unless they miraculously win once.
Anyway, I am not superstitious. Mostly. I think.
I remember watching one of the Browns vs Broncos games ages ago with my brothers and wife. My wife said something (I don't recall what) about the potential of losing the game. Elway does the drive. Brothers blame wife.
Yeah, that kind of superstition.
What can we say? We are Cleveland fans.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)