It's baseball season

“FLASH NEWS ALERT...the Braves have just been eliminated from the World Series.”

“Royals to shag foul balls at Yankee Stadium!”

“Brooks and Robbie!

Hall exhibit on display in Philadelphia
02/13/2008 2:32 PM ET
By Andy Jasner / Special to MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Brooks Robinson was in awe as he glanced at the memorabilia aligning the walls of the spectacular exhibit inside the National Constitution Center.
"I could stay in here all day," Robinson said. "Wow, the memories. What memories. This is just the greatest game."

If a Hall of Fame third baseman was taken aback, imagine how the general public will react when this exhibit known as "Baseball As America" is unveiled Friday at 9:30 a.m. ET. The 6,000-square-foot exhibit was put together by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y. The stop in Philadelphia is the 14th along the way, with Boston next on the list. The exhibit will remain at the National Constitution Center until May 11.

Joining Robinson at the special advance screening was Robin Roberts, who amassed 286 wins in a 19-year Hall of Fame career with the Phillies, Orioles, Astros and Cubs, and Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, the 1971 National League Cy Young Award winner who earned 284 victories and a 3.34 ERA over 19 seasons with the Phillies, Cubs, Rangers and Red Sox.

As pitchers and catchers report to their respective teams over the next several days, Robinson couldn't help but get excited about the start of the 2008 season.

"Baseball was my dream, and I grew up living my dream," Robinson said as he pointed to a Jackie Robinson jersey on one of the walls. "I didn't want to do anything else. I remember when Babe Ruth died, I was so upset that I cut out the article and put it in a scrapbook so I wouldn't forget it.

"Now, about one out of 100 kids will play in the pros, so I know how lucky I was to be a professional baseball player. To this day, I love the game. I love watching it. There have been a lot of issues surrounding the sport -- steroid use being talked about now -- but the game always survives and comes back stronger. I can't wait for the season."

The exhibit is divided into seven sections, each of which addresses a series of related ideas and issues that reveal the impact of baseball on American culture. The sections consist of Our National Spirit; Rooting For The Team; Sharing A Common Culture; Ideals And Injustices; Enterprise And Opportunity; Invention And Ingenuity; and Weaving Myths.

Some of the highlights include the Abner Doubleday baseball from baseball's first game in 1839; Norman Rockwell's 1949 painting, "The Three Umpires"; record-setting bats from Ruth's 60th home run in 1927 and Roger Maris' 61st home run in 1961; Shoeless Joe Jackson's shoes; and the most valuable baseball card in the world -- the T206 Honus Wagner.

"From children playing catch for the first time to avid baseball fans, this exhibition, much like the sport itself, will appeal to a wide range of visitors spanning generations, backgrounds and interests," said Joseph Torsella, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center.

Jenkins has been part of this traveling tour in several other cities, including Chicago, Cleveland and Dallas. Jenkins said just being a part of the project has been a wonderful experience.

"I've loved every minute of it," Jenkins said. "It's something I could never get enough of. When you look at all there is in here and the history it represents, well, it's special to have played a small role in it. You see items from the 1800s. That's something. I'm a baseball fan and always have been. I love the game, similar to what Brooks said. Being involved with baseball holds a very special meaning for me."

In addition, there's a special section of the exhibit dedicated to the history of baseball in Philadelphia. There are artifacts from 19th century baseball, the Negro Leagues, Philadelphia A's and the Phillies.

Some of these include a ball from the earliest known inter-Philadelphia game between the Mercantile BBC and the Continentals in 1860; Rube Waddell's glove from defeating Cy Young in 21 innings on July 4, 1905; a Connie Mack Day program from Shibe Park in 1941; the late Richie Ashburn's spikes from 1950; a Phillies 1980 World Series ring; Jimmy Rollins' helmet from his 36-game hitting streak in '05; and Chase Utley's spikes from his 36-game hitting streak in '06.

"There is tremendous history for baseball in the city of Philadelphia," Roberts said. "I'm honored to have played here and to be here as part of this presentation. I'll always have a link to the rich tradition of baseball in this city."”

“Mmmmmmmmmm ... baseball!”

“This just in: Barry Bonds is still unsigned.”

“Hideo Nomo trying out with the Royals. Take some time to think about it first, Hideo!”

“He takes all the time he needs to think between pitches.”

“This just in: Royals not allowed into Yankee Stadium to shag foul balls. New York batboys are better ball players and get higher pay.”

“That's because the batboys are juiced.”

“
            "Baseball been beddy, beddy good to me!"

                      --Chico Escuela
                         (Garrett Morris)

”

“We like to refer to it as "Giambi-ized".”

“
February 19, 2008
A Few Good Plagiarized Lines (Jim Mills)
@ 4:49 pm

If you are a film buff and have been following the steroid hearings on Capitol Hill, I guarantee you are going to get a kick out of the following exchange.

The only problem: This was passed along by the friend of a friend, and its author is unknown to me or the person who sent it to me.

So please, in the spirit of full disclosure and ever mindful of the urrent “plagiarism” flap being played out between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, let’s solve this Internet mystery and give credit where credit is due.

Until then, it is just too good not to share. And, to the purist film buffs, please don’t beat me up over the one small edit I made. This is a family blog. Enjoy.



Clemens: You want answers?

Congressman: I think I’m entitled to them.

Clemens: You want answers?

Congressman: I want the truth!

Clemens: You can’t handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has baseballs. And those balls have to be hit by men with bats. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Congressman? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for steroids and you curse HGH. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that HGH, while illegal, probably sells tickets. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, sells tickets … You don’t want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that mound. You need me on that mound. We use words like ‘fastball,’ ‘slider,’ ‘split-finger’ … we use these words as the backbone to a life spent playing a sport. You use ‘em as a punch line. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and falls asleep to the ‘Sportscenter’ clips I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide them! I’d rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a bat and dig in. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you’re entitled to!

Congressman: Did you order the HGH?

Clemens: (Quietly) I did the job you sent me to do.

Congressman: Did you order the HGH?

Clemens: You’re damn right I did!

”

“ASTERISK!”

“LMAO”

“Roger has a point which could apply to the candydates that cause sleep among voters. You want rating on debates - psychedelicise.”

“God's in his heaven and all's right with the world!

Ahh yes, the game moves from Congressional hearing rooms to the diamond, and Ryan Howard hit a double in his first Grapefruit League at-bat.”

“Newsweek headline:

Hill panel asks Justice Dept. to probe Clemens”

“It's like Specter demanding the videotapes..... not waterboarding tapes.... Football tapes!

You couldn't make this stuff up!”

“Stop snickering over snooty senile senior senators.”

“lol - Clemens is a piece of crap - an arrogant bastard. This is the first time I AGREE with congress investigating a douchebag superstar (and republican to boot).”

“It really is baseball season now.

And the Braves are already in the basement!

Great game last night. Good to see Washington win, but they play the Phils starting this afternoon. Yikes! Stay home Ryan Zimmerman!”

“Lets Go Mets!”

“You forgot one word: Let's go quietly Mets.”

“Time to crank up the old TV. Play Ball!”

“Crap!”

“Let's Go Mets!”

“Yes... quietly.”

“You would think that one thing the Phillies pitchers would know is how to get Rod Barajas out. When did he learn how to play baseball?”

“White Sox back in first place in the suck ass central”

“yay the Rockies FINALLY won a game!

From first to worst!”

“Off to the Money Pit this afternoon to see Cole Hamels pitch. Hope he does better than his last two outings. I'd like to see Junior get his 600th in a 10-1 Phils win. That would be cool.”

“Great game. Not every day you see J-Roll get benched for not running out the ball!

And fans were actually rooting for Junior to hit it out and ruin Cole Hamel's complete game shutout. He came mighty close. We all gave him a deserved standing O. Yes, Philly fans do appreciate greatness.

Not a bad looking young team in those Reds.”

“I really really like Billy (Blown Save) Wagner now.


”

“Look out for the White Sox. Kicking ass and taking names!”

“I think the Giants' Brian Wilson is leading the league in saves (or maybe some kind of save ratio). Who'd a thunk that guy could write all those cool surfing songs, then, years later, become a successful closer in the bigs?”

“Your Mets are going, just like you said. Good to see they offered up Willie at the sacrificial altar. I doubt he'll be out of work for long though.”

“Man, that Conk disappears from the face of the earth when the Muts thrash about like drunken seals.”

“It’s a disgrace the way they let him go. I liked Randolph, but he did have some problems as a manager and I'm not upset they let him go, just the way they did it. He should have been fired at the end of last year. I think he would have benefited greatly had he spent some time managing in the minors first.”

“No manager makes the right call all the time. That's why they get second guessed so much. Lord knows, Charlie Manuel isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. He does have the players on his side though.

I think the Muts problem is more with the players than the manager though. A lot of talent, but they don't pull together. Their egos are larger than their talents. Billy the Rat has been a club house cancer in three cities now. When the players leave the manager twisting in the wind, there is no fix.

I'll always remember Willie's reaction when the team toured the King Museum during the Civil Rights Game in Memphis. I think that experience left a mark.”

“Waves at Geo”

“Royals don't suck as bad this season. They've been playing competitively this season for the most part. Now, will they sell off the young talent?”

“I know Conk, and Billy the Rat did his damnedest to give us a game. What can I say?”