ClimbingSky

Why Baseball, Books, and the Grateful Dead matter

Oakland

  • Catfish Hunter

    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

  • 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

  • The End of an Era

    On April 28, 2024, the last Opening Day game for the Oakland Athletics took place between the then Oakland A’s and the Cleveland Guardians . I have been lucky enough to be in person for a few moments of Baseball History. All of them have been joyful occasions with the exception of this one, the Read more

  • Rickey

    Last week, a text from my friend Bob alerted me to the sad and surprising news that Rickey Henderson, “The Man of Steal,” was dead just a few days short of his 66th birthday. Here is my post from earlier this year occasioned by the death of another G.O.A.T. Read more

  • Just a Memory

    This March 28th (Opening Day 2024), I made my first visit to Oakland Coliseum, the soon-to-be-former home now of two of my childhood teams. I say soon-to-be-former, because at the end of this baseball season, the Oakland Athletics– like my beloved Oakland Raiders before them– will cease to be anything but a memory. When Al Read more

  • Why Not the Giants (or 49ERS)?

    Though my parents were San Francisco Giants fans (as well as 49ers fans), I never really was a fan of either team. For some reason, I rooted for the Oakland Raiders, the Baltimore Orioles, and the New York Mets. Then once the Athletics moved to Oakland in 1968, they naturally became my American League team. Read more