I apologize for being so late in responding, but wanted to add a story. I cannot contribute in a meaninful way to the majority of the conversation on this topic, but wanted to add one story that is one of the few actual memories I have of Grandpa Birchard. Grandpa loved baseball and it was constantly on his TV. I happened to be at their house watching baseball with him when Pete Rose got his record breaking 4,192nd hit. The date was 9/11/85. It will be an enduring moment in sports history and to have that be one of the few memories I have of Grandpa is really cool for me.
Cool pic and story. This is a perfect example of why this blog is so cool. I won't forget this story. And do you know who gave Pete Rose the name "Charlie Hustle"? Incidentally, I believe he should be in the HOF. Do you?
ReplyDeleteCould not agree more. People are always trying to make pro baseballsomething it never was.The Babe and many other greats had warts too. Some were downright phycopaths. I know the blacksoxs scandle was a black eye on the game but with modern news technology it would be hard to duplicate today. After the Stinbrener 'ban from baseball' and subsequent reinstatement, it seems that such bans have more to do with influence than keeping the game clean. Rose was one of the best. It's hard to watch any player slide headfirst into second without thinking of him. He belongs in Coopertown.
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