May 2025
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On May 20th, 1984, 26,731 baseball fans under the teflon sky of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome got to witness history: the first of 354 career victories by the greatest pitcher of all time.5-4. Over his Hall-of-Fame worthy career, Clemens had a ..649 Winning Percentage (24-13) against the Minnesota Twins, my local nine. The only Read more
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“Like a touch of bourbon—or some coffee?” “Coffee, please.” So we had what I had asked for, and chewed things around a while. Since he knew something about Fay’s background, I didn’t object when he started in—but some of it hurt. Her father had been a shack-town drunk and bootlegger and a few other things. Read more
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Yesterday I mentioned an upcoming July trip to Chicago to see the Cubs and the White Sox play. In a couple of weeks, Sue and I will be heading to Wichita to catch the Twins AA Farm Team, the Wichita Wind Surge (and maybe the Kansas City Royals on the way back). I have been Read more
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On May 17th, 1979, with the wind really blowing out at Wrigley, the Phillies defeat the Cubs in a wild ten-inning slugfest 23-22. Dave Kingman had three home runs and six RBI for the Cubs while teammate Bill Buckner had a grand slam and seven RBI. Mike Schmidt’s two home runs included the game-winner in the tenth inning. The eleven home Read more
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The review also had an immense though less calculable effect upon the sensibility of the author. Upon Keats the effect is notorious; also upon the sensitive Tennyson. Not only did he alter his poems at the reviewer’s bidding, but actually contemplated emigration; and was thrown, according to one biographer, into such despair by the hostility Read more
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Throwback Thursdays” at ClimbingSky feature posts I wrote over 15 year period for various blogs. This was first posted on May 25, 2016 Summer has returned to the North Country with days of green and growing trees and grass. Mornings are filled with the songs of birds. At night, we go to sleep to a Read more
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On May 14th, 1961, Chuck Hinton played his first Major League game. I share a last name with 4 players who played in the Major Leagues: Charles “Chuck” Hinton was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina on May 3, 1934. He played outfield for Washington and then Cleveland. His best season was 1962 when he Read more
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On May 13th, 1965, future Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter pitched in his first Major League game for the then, Kansas City Athletics. I have read in a few places over the years that by some sabrmetrics Catfish Hunter does not really belong in the Hall of Fame. That is, of course, cow Read more
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He looked over at the light burning in the Coffee Shop and knew it would soon open for business. That gave him the idea. “What time does it open?” he asked. “At seven,” she said, following his glance. “What time is the coffee ready?” “About a quarter of.” She sighed. “Which means it’s almost time Read more
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On May 10th, 1967, Hank Aaron hit the only inside the park homer of his career. In the 8th inning with Jim Bunning pitching, Aaron hit a drive to deep centerfield and beat the relay home. So for those scoring at home, of his 755 home runs, only this one did not clear the fence. The Read more
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