ClimbingSky

Why Baseball, Books, and the Grateful Dead matter

DAILY BLOG

  • The Penguin

    On May 3rd, 1986, Cubs third baseman Ron Cey hit his 300th and 301st home runs and Chicago scores four times in the top of the ninth to beat San Francisco 6-5. Ron Cey played for three teams that are close to my heart: He also played for one team that I have always been ambivalent about:… Read more

  • FRIDAY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Durocher on Willie Mays

    “If somebody came up and hit .450, stole 100 bases, and performed a miracle in the field everyday I’d still look you in the eye and say Willie was better. He could do the five things you have to do to be a superstar: hit, hit with power, run, throw and field. And he had… Read more

  • The Greatest

    On May 1st, 1991, Rickey Henderson surpassed Lou Brock as baseball’s career stolen base leader with his 939th steal as the Oakland Athletics beat the New York Yankees 7-4. I have written a lot about Rickey here because he deserves it. He was that great. Rickey got a bad rap when he broke Lou Brock’s record for Stolen… Read more

  • Thoreau On Literature & Wilderness

    “A poet is, before anything else, a person who is passionately in love with language.”  ~ W.H. Auden Thoreau did not write much memorable poetry. He did however keep a journal that contains some of the best “prose poetry” that has ever been written. In an effort to rekindle my own creative fires, I have… Read more

  • The Rocket

    On April 29th, 1986,  Roger “The Rocket” Clemens set a major league record by striking out 20 as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-1. How great was Roger Clemens? Clemens even won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1986 (an award generally considered for everyday players NOT pitchers!). And yet, like… Read more

  • Hardboiled Coffee Thoughts

    I got up and went to the coffee maker and poured myself half a cup. Steam rose off the dark surface, and I watched the wisps twist and dissipate before I turned back to Missy. “You’re right,” I said. “It took me a few extra years to figure that one out.” “ Why? I thought… Read more

  • Scott Erickson

    On April 27th, 1994, Twins right-hander Scott Erickson no-hit the Brewers 6-0 for Minnesota’s first no-hitter since 1967. Scott Erickson actually pitched more seasons for the Orioles (7) than he did for the Twins (6). But he will always be a Twin in my mind because of his no-hitter and the role he played in the 1991… Read more

  • Conflicted

    On April 26th, 1941, The Chicago Cubs become the first team to install an organ in their stadium. When I was growing up (and training to be a pastor), I thought that the worst part of being in church was having to listen to the organ. My feelings about that have never changed. In fact,… Read more

  • FRIDAY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Wayne Overholser on Why We Don’t Have better Westerns

    “I have often wondered why we don’t have greater Western stories than we do. Great stories are there waiting to be dug out. There are hundreds of people far more worthy than the notorious Billy the Kid (upon whom the spotlight has fallen for years), unknown outside of their home neighborhood, robust people living in… Read more

  • THROWBACK THURSDAY: “The Victor Dog” by James Merrill

    “Throwback Thursdays” at ClimbingSky feature posts I wrote over 15 years for various blogs. This was first posted on February 2, 2011. I do not go to a lot of poetry readings. Seeing poets in person and hearing them read has just never struck me as a way I want to spend a free evening.… Read more