_________________________________________________________ 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, 1998-2009 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, TXU348663, TXU346055, TXU1OPSAH, TXU1Z5BTB, TXU2ACJSN, TXU34SIZX. Issue Number 00435 _________________________________________________________ Volume XII, Number 06 Publisher and Author April 30, 2009 Richard C. Jaffeson Washington, DC HallFame@usa.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame _________________________________________________________ 2008 NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS MELISSA GIBBONS AND ROSIE WEAVER 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, NELSON, DOMINGUEZ, TRIOLO, RANISZEWSKI, GIBBONS, WEAVER TED WILLIAMS WEBSITE http://www.saveted.net _________________________________________________________ A. COLUMN: ABBOTT AND CIULLO SEEK ESTHER WILLIAMS After completing a quick hour on a cool April afternoon at the Rocky Gorge batting cages in suburban Washington, our revitalized duo commenced a return trip downtown in their unconventional form of alternative transportation. They bounced along the original Columbia Pike while the parallel major highway sustained much higher speeds and traffic volumes in which they could not safely contend. In training to make the fast approaching season opener in May with the perennial league-leading Virginia Flames, Louise Ciullo took batting practice at the range while long-time comedy partner Buddie Abbott feigned interest and offered some cursory remarks. Bud: "Now you see Lou, you weren't that bad with a bat. Rusty, indeed! Ha! You smacked several shots straight over the fence. Those Flames will grab you in a second, and they should be very lucky to have you as a teammate. After all, they wouldn't want you instead to become one of those pesky BarnCats. Believe me at homeplate there's absolutely nothing you have to worry about." Lou: "Abbott, do you really think so? I'm not so sure." Bud: "Yes, why of course! Confidence is just the thing! Everyone knows hitting is 75% of a player's value to any baseball team. Need I recall, who taught you?!" Lou: "Babe Ruth, of course. He was our baseball hero. In Paterson as a kid, I'd watched every game he played." Bud: "Sure, correct, that's right, that's the ticket. And, you know Lou hitting is pretty much like swimming, once someone is taught properly they'll never forget. It really doesn't matter whether you jump in a pool or step up to the plate, instinctively you'll know exactly what to do. You got it from the top banana." Lou: "Yeah, everything I know about playing ball came from him. He'll always be my baseball idol, especially hitting the ball. He never put his foot-in-the-bucket. Babe Ruth was the world's very, very best!" Bud: "And, he liked hot dogs, too!" Duo: "With mustard!!!" Bud: "Well, no one can argue Babe Ruth was not the best. Millions of Americans admired him. You saw him in action, and you'll always possess what you learned, --his ideas, words, and deeds are with you no matter what happens or where you play." Lou: "Wow! Something like the Almighty!" Bud: "Well, he certainly was great as the Sultan of Swat on the diamond, but he wasn't exactly divine all the time. Ruth was more like us in vaudeville. We could perform our routines on any stage anywhere at the drop of a hat. Of course, you know why don't you?" Lou: "Because, we knew our routines cold." Bud: "Precisely, and in the early days we would practice and practice, and sometimes perform those routines a dozen times a day at various theaters throughout New York for one live audience after another. Practice makes perfect. Later, with that experience, we never needed to rehearse." Lou: "This is why we went to the cages for more practice. It's been 50 years since I held a bat in my hands." Bud: "It's like swimming, pool or plate is all the same." Lou: "Yeah, and it sure was nice of that fellow to turn the machines on automatic. Those baseballs kept right on coming instead of only nine in a row. Zing, zing, zing!" Bud: "Of course, naturally, that attendant recognized who we were or are. He was being polite. Besides, this time of day, we were the only customers." Lou: "And, it was a good thing he didn't think we were the Blues Brothers, or sisters, or something." "But, Abbott, now I want the truth with all those baseballs zinging around so fast in the cage it was kind of hard for me to be swinging and watching at the same time. I had to concentrate on that mechanical pitching arm, but you could see everything. How did I really do? Any suggestions?" Bud: "Look, Lou this was only one hour, and I'm no expert, but I believe you did fine in the batting cage." Lou: "You're just saying that to be kind to me." Bud: "Would I do that? Not on your life. But, it's your fielding I'm worried about. There aren't fielding cages." Lou: "We could play catch!" Bud: "Oh no, not me brother, and risk hurting my hands?!" Lou: "Where am I going to find a good fielding coach this time of year?" Bud: "True, the major league season already began. Maybe, if this was the middle of winter it would be different." Lou: "And, our best baseball hero, and my batting mentor, has been long gone for more than 60 years." Bud: "After Babe Ruth, you always admired Ted Williams." Lou: "Yeah, he was some hitter. Remember the 1941 season? Nobody will ever do that again, and DiMaggio was good that year too, but like I said before Williams' feat was better." Bud: "Teddy Ballgame passed away in July 2002. He was 83, but had sharp eyesight. He could have watched your moves." Lou: "2002? Close, but no cigar." Bud: "Let's see who else we could ask. We'll make a list." Lou: "Betty Hutton!" Bud: "True, she always played athletic roles at Paramount. Shelldrake briefly thought of making a Joe Gillis script 'Bases Loaded' into a movie for her, but he didn't buy it." Lou: "But, we had Mamie Van Doren at Universal! Wooo, wooo!" Bud: "Wait a minute, wait a minute! What does she have to do with baseball or sports of any kind? She was cheesecake on the cover and inside Esquire not in sports magazines!" Lou: "It makes sense, it makes sense! Remember Bo Belinsky?!" Bud: "There's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time." Lou: "Yeah, with the same name as the President's new dog." Bud: "The new dog's name represents the President's initials, 'B.O.,' a reverse inside joke. As for right now, he won't use the middle initial in public like FDR, or JFK, or LBJ, or MLK. When Chief Justice Roberts recited it fully as required during the Oath of Office, BHO nearly fell off the podium." Lou: "Belinsky didn't have to speak. His arm did the talking." Bud: "Yes, that's right, I recall he once pitched a no-hitter." Lou: "Yeah, back in 1962 for the Angels against the Orioles on a Saturday night, May 5th." Bud: "Don't tell me you were there?!" Lou: "Well, it was a little after my time, but Cary Grant and Doris Day were at that game, and congratulated Bo afterwards. A dugout photo made all the papers, and later Walter Winchell interviewed him." Bud: "OK, OK, but how does that connect with Mamie Van Doren?" Lou: "Well, Joe DiMaggio had Marilyn Monroe, and Bo Belinsky had Mamie Van Doren. Wooo, wooo!" Bud: "Wait a minute, wait a minute. Belinsky was not as good as DiMaggio. How can you make such a comparison?" Lou: "And, Van Doren was never as good as Monroe!" Bud: "Be polite! OK, so who's next on your list?" Lou: "How about Joe E. Brown?!" Bud: "Hey, that's right, he always loved baseball ever since the Dodgers moved to the west coast." Lou: "And, before that in Brooklyn, too!" Bud: "He announced some Dodgers games in the Coliseum. And, that's how he got a part in Billy Wilder's 'Some Like It Hot.'" Lou: "Joe E. Brown auditioned at a game? Wilder wasn't doing a baseball movie, it was about an all-girl band and a massacre on Valentine's Day; that's with a 'V' not a 'B.' Don't forget Marilyn Monroe was in that picture, too. Wooo, wooo!" Bud: "Hey, enough, enough of that; you've seen plenty of pretty women before on stage and back stage. Apparently, Joe E. Brown hadn't in 'Some Like It Hot.'" "Brown got the movie part because he was announcing Opening Day at the Coliseum in 1959 long after his retirement from cinema. The Dodgers arrived in LA for the 1958 season, and for a while had no other place else to play ball. The following year Wilder was in the stands one afternoon watching the opening game, and casting that same week at the studio for his forthcoming movie. When he heard Brown over the speakers, he immediately commented, 'That's our guy, that's the guy!'" Lou: "'Well, nobody's perfect!'" Bud: "Izzy Diamond wrote that, and Brown was Osgood Fielding III in that classic comedy." Lou: "Fielding?!" Bud: "I'm not going to touch that line. Who's next?" Lou: "How about Yogi Berra? Any catcher is the only defensive player who sees the entire game. Yogi could help me field, and he lives near Paterson. We should go talk with him, and I could use a haircut, too. This is getting kinda long." Bud: "True, but we can't drive this contraption to New Jersey. How about another former all-star catcher somewhat closer?" Lou: "Ballentine! It starts with a 'B,' and so does Berra!" Bud: "There you go again always imposing yourself! Didn't we just see her?! We need someone else who also knows fielding." Lou: [melodiously] "'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'" Bud: "This is no time for your singing or going to a ballgame. This is serious business! You need some fielding instruction." Lou: [melodiously] "'Take Me Out to the Ballgame.'" Bud: "Look, I'm not going to warn you again. We need ideas and names. Stop singing and start thinking!" Lou: "I am, I am! Esther Williams could certainly teach me to be a great infielder!" Bud: "Well, for once you're right! Sure, she knows everything there is to know about playing baseball." Lou: "She taught Gene Kelly not to put his foot-in-the-bucket, and he didn't wanta listen." Bud: "True, true! She owned and managed the World Champion Wolves during spring training in that movie." Lou: "Wolves was also the name of our team in 'Who's on First.'" Bud: "Most of the time, except when we performed in Washington for FDR. Esther Williams also had a great infield combination." Lou: "Better than Tinker to Evers to Chance?" Bud: "Better since she played with O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg. They could field, sing, and dance." Lou: "Wow! Triple threats!" Bud: "I should say so! They were Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Jules Munshin. You recall Jules from Minsky's!" Lou: "Sure, he was a show-stopper, just like us. And, in 'Ballgame' Busby Berkeley did the arrangements. More 'B's!' What a winning team! Well, we gotta go see Esther Williams, 'that's our guy!'" Bud: "Remember that scene after instructing Gene Kelly in batting practice where she is walking off the infield along the third base line and catches a fly ball barehanded?" Lou: "Yeah, and Frank Sinatra said, 'Wow, what a catch! Gosh, a lady ballplayer.' Gee, I could of had that part." Bud: "Well, Esther Williams is as lively, lovely, and as athletic as ever, and I understand her son Kimball handles her arrangements." Lou: "Age doesn't matter, it's what you think that counts." Bud: "Remember our routine about 'You're 40 and She's 10?'" Lou: "Sure, we did that thousands of times on stage, and a great rendition was featured in 'Buck Privates.'" Bud: "Well, you were always older than Esther, and me too, since I was born in 1895. But, we're revitalized. Let's do it now. Are you ready...?" Bud: "Suppose you fell in love with a young girl who's only 10 years old and you're 40 years of age." Lou: "Abbott, that couldn't happen; it would be illegal." Bud: "I said let's 'suppose.' This is just hypothetical, like in the movies." "Consider this Lou, if she is only 10 and you're 40, then she's 1/4 your age." Lou: "OK, OK, all the more reason for me to stay away." Bud: "But, wait, in 5 years, she's 15 and now you're 45, and she's only 1/3 as old as you." Lou: "You're still getting me into trouble. She's 15! I'm not Charlie Chaplin. What about the Hays Office?" Bud: "Don't take this so seriously! It's hypothetical!" Lou: "Hypothetical? I don't even know what that means?" Bud: "Let's get back to business. You keep on waiting and waiting 15 more years, then by the time she reaches 30 you're 60, and now she's only 1/2 your age." Lou: "She's catching up with me; one-quarter, one-third, and then only one-half." Bud: "Exactly my point. Here's the question, how long will it take for you and her to be the same age?" Lou: "Since we've been revitalized, and I passed away the first time in 1959, she is already ahead of me." Bud: "Not Esther Williams, she's always 'forever young.'" Lou: "Not like Mel Gibson!" Bud: "What about Ted Williams? He's also into cryonics." Lou: "Cry-ing-out what? Another new word!" Bud: "Well, that is, Ted Williams was frozen by his son. He could wait for us, but it wasn't by his own choice." "Right now we can't wait. We have just enough time to fly to California before the weekend, get your training from Esther, and return for the Flames. Lou, turn this contraption around and drive to BWI Marshall Airport!" Note: This is a continuation of a series of several new recreated articles: "Abbott and Ciullo Visit the Batting Cages," April 9, 2009; "Abbott and Ciullo at Spring Training," March 26, 2009; "Abbott and Ciullo Celebrate George's Birthday," February 22, 2009; "Abbott and Ciullo in Washington," December 17, 2008; and "Abbott and Ciullo Meet Ted Williams," November 28, 2008. "You're 40 and She's 10" was a lively fast-paced vaudeville filler employed by many teams. Abbott and Costello performed a classic version in "Buck Privates," 1941; also in "The Noose Hangs High," 1948; and John Grant cleverly adapted it to an Ozark theme in "Comin' Round the Mountain," 1951. The comedy duo's names featured in these articles were changed to Buddie Abbott and Louise Ciullo (derived from Ciulla, NWB Hall of Fame in 2003). "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," 1949 featured the all-star cast noted above starring Esther Williams as Wolves owner K.C. Higgins. At MGM, "Ballgame" was produced by Arthur Freed and was directed by Busby Berkeley. During her film career, Williams received top billing in 15 major movies, and also appeared in dozens of others. Most of her career for 14 years was in productions with MGM. Articles in Fame Forum on Esther Williams included the following: "Batting Beauty," July 19, 2008; "Million Dollar Mermaid," February 16, 2007; and "O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg," March 16, 2001. The author's uncle, Benjamin B. Jaffeson, 1916-2007, was a cinematographer (special effects) at MGM. B. NWB HALL OF FAME PRODUCTS These baseball items are available from the NWB Hall of Fame: commemorative buttons (2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999), t-shirts, caps, and bats. Also, free commemorative ribbons are available. The website homepage has an order form, and the photo page displays several items. C. HISTORIC TIMELINE April 29, 1876 First National League extra innings game. Boston and Hartford in 10 innings. April 29, 1934 Luis Aparicio birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. April 29, 1981 Steve Carlton strikes out 3,000th batter. April 29, 1986 Roger Clemens strikes out 20 in 9 innings. April 30, 1903 NY Highlanders (Yankees) win home opener with Washington Senators. April 30, 1922 Charles Robertson pitches perfect game. April 30, 1961 Willie Mays hits 4 homeruns in one game. May 1, 1991 Nolan Ryan pitches 7th no-hitter. May 1, 1991 Rickey Henderson 939th steal surpasses Brock. May 2, 1887 Eddie Collins birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. May 2, 1917 James Vaughn and Fred Toney pitch no-hitters. May 2, 1939 Lou Gehrig streak ends at 2,130 games. May 2, 1945 Bianca Jagger birthdate, entertainer. May 2, 1954 Stan Musial hits 5 homeruns in one game. May 3, 1936 Joe DiMaggio first game with Yankees. May 4, 1947 Theda Skocpal birthdate, social scientist. May 4, 1975 MLB 1,000,000th run by Bob Watson. May 5, 1883 Chief Bender birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. May 5, 1904 Cy Young pitches first perfect game. May 5, 1912 Alice Faye birthdate, entertainer. May 5, 1978 Peter Rose has 3,000th hit. May 6, 1915 Babe Ruth first MLB homerun. May 6, 1931 Willie Mays birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood 20 strikeouts in 9 innings. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XII, 2009 Season Publications Number 06, Abbott and Ciullo Seek Esther Williams, April 30. Number 05, Abbott and Ciullo Visit the Batting Cages, April 9. Number 04, Abbott and Ciullo at Spring Training, March 26. Number 03, Abbott and Ciullo Celebrate George's Birthday, February 22. Number 02, Commemorative NWB Hall of Fame Buttons, February 20. Number 01, That Was the Year That Was, January 2. 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. _________________________________________________________ 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, TXU348663, TXU346055, TXU1OPSAH, TXU1Z5BTB, TXU2ACJSN, TXU34SIZX. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2009 __________________________________________________________