_________________________________________________________ F A M E F O R U M N E W S L E T T E R N A T I O N A L W O M E N 'S B A S E B A L L H A L L O F F A M E National Syndicated Column (contents are protected) Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2007 TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972, TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893, TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149, TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784, TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769, TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU276615, TXU288273, TXU311442, TXU186277, TXU187387. Issue Number 00370 _________________________________________________________ Volume X, Number 13 Publisher and Author April 13, 2007 Richard C. Jaffeson Washington, DC HallFame@usa.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame _________________________________________________________ 2006 NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS NELSON, DOMINGUEZ, TRIOLO SEE THE WEBSITE FOR ALL "HALL OF FAMERS" http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame/albums DIDRIKSON, HOWARD, SCHILLACE, DANCER, FERGUSON, WINTER, WRIGHT, LUKASIK, MILLIKEN, BALLENTINE, GEYER, WALLACE, CIULLA, GUIDACE, MACURIO, SHELDON, BEAUCHAMP, HUDSON, BRENNEMAN, FERENO, SWEENEY TED WILLIAMS WEBSITE http://www.saveted.net _________________________________________________________ A. COLUMN: TALKIN' WITH BAT AND GLOVE From deep inside the editorial room of the new Jergens Journal, high atop midtown Manhattan, "Let's go to press!" "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Coast to Coast" "This coming Sunday, April 15, 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the historic entrance of Number 42 into professional baseball. No one else today can own that number! Why?!" "On that momentous day in 1947, the fearless Dodgers faced the Boston Braves, but the scoreboard outcome was inconsequential." "Arthur Daley of the New York Times reported overall action in that game was 'uneventful.' Only 14,000 Brooklynites attended." "Overeager, his first at bat in early innings, a grounder easily rolled to the opposing shortstop. Later the future superstar and MLB Hall of Famer managed a bunt, thus reaching first base only once that inaugural afternoon. Not an auspicious beginning, but that didn't matter, he was in the game!" "Soon everything dramatically changed on crossing the East River. He conquered the Polo Grounds with his first major league homerun April 18, 1947. For then and there after, there was no stopping on speedy basepaths or with a slugging bat." "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Flash, Los Angeles" "In a new version of Elysian Fields, you are there, this Sunday on April 15, 2007, sixty years later at 5:05 PM PDT the namesake Dodgers now of Los Angeles face the Padres of San Diego." "Previously, for the 50th anniversary with presidential presence, Number 42 was permanently retired from baseball in both leagues." "For the 60th anniversary, as former team owner and son of a Yale first baseman, what will the President do this Sunday? There is still time to decide, and step up to the plate." "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Dateline Washington" "Turning back the clock, President Harry Truman, who attended more baseball games than any other chief executive, 16 while in office, did not participate that April 1947 in Brooklyn. His duties were required at DC's Griffith Stadium for a traditional 'first pitch.' In the Presidential Box were famous war-hardened admirals, generals, faithful Bess Truman, and honorable Sam Rayburn; while a strong Yankees club soundly trounced the hapless hometeam 7-0." "The ambidextrous haberdasher said this on baseball that momentous spring, 'Sports is the only institution we have left where dollars, and pull, and social status don't count. If you've got the ability, you make the team.'" "The sharp-tongued Missourian stood behind those words with action, responsible for Executive Order 9981 regarding the armed forces of the United States, effective July 26, 1948." "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Across the Border" "In Havana's Gran Estadio, who were the New York gamblers in Yankees President Larry MacPhail's private box during spring training 1947?" "Silent for more than sixty years, exclusive to this reporter through the Freedom of Information Act, recently acquired FBI documents reveal the culprits were Memphis Engelberg and Connie Immerman." "In files long disregarded, J. Edgar Hoover was a close friend of former U.S. Senator and then baseball commissioner A.B. Chandler, who had a personal vendetta against Branch Rickey's noble experiment and closely watched Leo Durocher in general. He couldn't touch the Mahatma, but could sock the Lip. And, that he did!" "Well known in April 1947, Durocher threatened to suspend Eddie Stanky, Dixie Walker, and other Brooks who signed a petition against the pending Montreal to Brooklyn trade. When informed of this, at midnight south of the border, Durocher gathered the entire squad and told them point blank, 'I'm the manager of this team, and I say he plays.' He added emphasis, 'I say he can make us rich. If any of you can't use the extra money, I'll see that you're traded.'" "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Back in Brooklyn" "Not all teams favored the entrance of Number 42 in 1947. Players in Saint Louis and Cincinnati threatened to boycott and signed petitions, but to no avail. President of the National League, Ford Frick, from room 1907, nailed that door shut in May, 'If you do this, you will be suspended from the league. We'll go down the line with Robinson...'" "But, earlier in April, Ben Chapman, Phillies manager, orchestrated a barrage of insults from inside the visiting team's dugout at Ebbets." "Their target at first base, who had promised and was under orders not to respond on the field, quietly after the game said this about Chapman, 'I could scarcely believe my ears.' A substitute Brooklyn manager noted, 'At no time in my life have I heard such venom and dugout abuse to match the abuse that Ben sprayed that night.'" "Hmmm, I wonder how 'Leo the Lip' would have handled Chapman?!" "Baseball players are accustom to being called names, generally anything goes during a game. They take it rough and tough, and give it right back. They're notorious to exaggerate anything, and do not hesitate to similarly comment in return. But, a promise was made to Mr. Rickey, to get beyond that no matter what happened or what might be said." "There was no reply from first base, as agreed in this great experiment. Reported later in the New York Daily Mirror, 'With admirable restraint, he ignored the guttersnipe language coming from the Phillies dugout, thus stamping himself as the only gentleman among those involved. He took it, and spoke with his bat and glove.'" "There were two results from that incident. One, it solidified the entire Dodgers team behind Jackie Robinson, there were no differences, an attack on one was an attack on all. They were now united. And, it significantly improved his play, no longer an over-anxious rookie, a good baseball player turned into a great one! "Footnote on File" "Two weeks after the Phillies encounter, in newspaper sports pages across America a photo captioned, 'Chapman adopts a friendly pose with Robinson,' appeared as they both symbolically held the same bat." "Further Footnote" "In July 1949, Robinson testified before Congress, and publicly expressed his sentiments, noting that, 'I can't speak for 15 million people any more than any other person can, but I know that I've got too much invested for my wife and child and myself in the future of this country. I and other Americans of many races and faiths have too much invested in our country's welfare for any of us to ever throw it away." "Tap, tap, click-click-click. Tap, tap, click-click-click..." "Missing from Manhattan" "Since December 10, 1946, missing from his usual place at Table 50 in the Stork Club, who many a night with Walter Winchell would drive the streets of Manhattan until dawn identifying the face of crime preparing stories for listener enjoyment, Damon Runyon departed the scene." "In response to the December 14 broadcast, immediately afterwards generously you contributed $385,000 to 'Arrest Cancer!' Thank you! One hundred percent of current and future donations are directed to research this dreaded disease. The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund appreciates your continued support." "And, now beating the little red hand around the clock, ladies and gentlemen that winds up this week's edition of the Jergens Journal with lotions of love from your faithful correspondent who passes this message along to you from J. Edgar Hoover, 'America's enemies know the vast devastation of cities and people occurring in World War II should never happen again. Future armies will be their civilian warriors embedded within our free nation undermining and destroying society both the will and means to fight. They will attack the spirit of citizen soldiers, undermine industry and commerce, and weaken the cornerstones of our society, --religion, families, and honorable values. Always ask yourself everyday, who is an American?'" Note: This article was partially derived from the style of Walter Winchell (1897-1972) who began as a columnist for the New York Daily Mirror (1929-1963), and made a radio debut in 1930. His Jergens Journal (1932-1955), a 15-minute fast-paced news commentary featured every Sunday night was factual, emotional, and opinionated; it riveted people to their radios. At its peak in the late 1940s, he attracted 50 million listeners, approximately one-third of the population. During 1948, the Jergens Journal outranked Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and Fred Allen. His columns also appeared in more than 2,000 daily newspapers. Later in his career, he narrated the television series "The Untouchables" (1959-1963) effectively describing crime-fighting exploits of Elliott Ness. Winchell was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2004. B. NWB HALL OF FAME PRODUCTS These baseball items are available from the NWB Hall of Fame: new induction poster, commemorative buttons (2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999), personalized magnet locker nametags, t-shirts, caps, knife, and bats. Free commemorative ribbons are also available. The website main page has an order form, and the photo page displays several items. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame C. HISTORIC TIMELINE April 10, 1880 Francis Perkins birthdate, Labor Secretary. April 10, 1897 Ross Youngs birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 10, 1962 Colts (Astros) start expansion team in Houston. April 11, 1961 Angels start as expansion team in Los Angeles. April 11, 1962 Mets start as expansion team in New York. April 12, 1880 Eddie Joss birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 12, 1900 Joe Lapchick birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 12, 1955 Athletics start as transition team in Kansas City. April 12, 1966 Braves start as transition team in Atlanta. April 13, 1953 Braves start as transition team in Milwaukee. April 13, 1969 Expos start as expansion team in Montreal. April 13, 1984 Pete Rose has 4,000 hit. April 14, 1866 Anne Sullivan birthdate, taught Helen Keller. April 14, 1910 President Taft starts first Opening Day. April 14, 1920 Babe Ruth first MLB game with Yankees. April 14, 1941 Pete Rose birthdate, former MLB player. April 14, 2005 First home game of new Washington Nationals. April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson first MLB game with Dodgers. April 15, 1958 First MLB baseball game in California. San Francisco Giants with Los Angeles Dodgers. Giants 8-0 with 23,500 at Seals Stadium. April 16, 1903 Paul Waner birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 16, 1940 Bob Feller pitches Opening Day no-hitter. April 17, 1852 Cap Anson birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 17, 1820 Alexander Cartwright birthdate. April 17, 1976 Mike Schmidt hits 4 homeruns in one game. April 18, 1880 Sam Crawford birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 18, 1923 Yankee Stadium opens. April 19, 1960 Bill Veeck unveils exploding scoreboard. April 19, 1981 Longest game starts, 33 innings, Rochester Red Wings and Pawtucket Red Sox. April 20, 1891 Dave Bancroft birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 20, 1912 Fenway Park opens. April 21, 1887 Joe McCarthy birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 21, 1925 Queen Elizabeth II birthdate. April 22, 1451 Queen Isabella of Spain birthdate. April 22, 1914 Babe Ruth pitches first game, 6-0 shutout, AAA Baltimore Orioles and Buffalo Bisons. April 23, 1900 Jim Bottomley birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 23, 1921 Warren Spahn birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 23, 1954 Hank Aaron hits first home run. April 24, 1901 First American League game. April 24, 1945 A.B. Chandler elected Baseball Commissioner after Kenesaw Mountain Landis. April 25, 1884 Pop Lloyd birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 26, 1900 Hack Wilson birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 26, 1961 Roger Maris hits first home run of 61. April 27, 1896 Rogers Hornsby birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 27, 1959 Sheena Easton birthdate, singer. April 27, 1961 Enos Slaughter birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 28, 1901 White Sox hit 23 singles in one game. April 28, 1941 Ann Margaret birthdate, actor. April 28, 1971 Hank Aaron hits 600th homerun. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume IX, 2007 Season Publications Number 13, Talkin' with Bat and Glove (Robinson), April 13. Number 12, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Fame Forum, April 5. Number 11, High Jinxes and High Hopes in Havana, March 28. Number 10, Clifford's Gigantic Gamer (gloves), March 23. Number 09, Great Caesar's Ghost (Williams), March 15. Number 08, The Night They KO'ed Hemingway, March 9. Number 07, Rumble at Ritchie (boxing), February 27. Number 06, Million Dollar Mermaid (Belles), February 14. Number 05, Clifford's Pennsylvania Pilgrimage, February 1. Number 04, Beisbol Belles Broadcast (training), January 30. Number 03, Liberty Heights Revisited, January 18. Number 02, In Remembrance of President Jerry Ford, January 3. Number 01, That Was the Year That Was, January 1. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame/handouts E. NWB HALL OF FAME PROGRAMS The National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame, an independent not-for-profit organization established September 1998, is situated in suburban Washington, DC. The objective is to recognize achievements of women in regulation baseball. The NWB Hall of Fame offers these programs for participants in regulation baseball with organized leagues. Managers are are encouraged to recommend recognition awards and suggest articles on their teams, players, or events. Applications are available through email and are posted on the website. NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS Nominations for the NWB Hall of Fame are due September 30. Inductions may include four current and one previous players by formal application or candidate statement. NATIONAL MVP AND MANAGER AWARDS MVP player and manager award requests are due December 31. Season nominations should be by a manager or administrator. One MVP player per team may be selected annually. Membership covers transmission of newsletters, announcements, invitations, applications, and access to all website pages. Membership is $9.00 renewed annually, and an application is available on the NWB Hall of Fame website. _________________________________________________________ NATIONAL WOMEN'S BASEBALL HALL OF FAME Richard C. Jaffeson, Executive Director PO Box 15282, Chevy Chase, Maryland 20825 301-847-0102 HallFame@USA.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame "National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame" is a registered trade name with the State of Maryland. MD672265, October 19, 1998. Programs, articles, and contents presented herein are protected under provisions of the U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. Fame Forum registrations are listed below: TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972, TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893, TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149, TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784, TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769, TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU276615, TXU288273, TXU311442, TXU186277, TXU187387. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2007 __________________________________________________________