_________________________________________________________ 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, 1998-2008 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. Issue Number 00417 _________________________________________________________ Volume XI, Number 23 Publisher and Author August 4, 2008 Richard C. Jaffeson Washington, DC HallFame@usa.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame _________________________________________________________ 2007 NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTION KRIS "LEFTY" RANISZEWSKI 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 TED WILLIAMS WEBSITE http://www.saveted.net _________________________________________________________ A. COLUMN: NINER AT THE PLATE [Brief Verses Sung During the Summer of 2008] "The email outlook wasn't extensive that day, but one indicated two teams planned to play. Flames and BarnCats in a ballgame but where, Langley's reseeded and is Marshall repaired?" "JoAnn broadcast, 'OK, gals there's a change! We'll even up the score from that July game. It's a hidden locale in the Flames backyard, to the covert field we won't travel too far.'" "The teams assembled every clearance checked, umpires chosen and their backgrounds vetted. Sky was clear blue with not a trace of rain, nearby in the palisade the Potomac ran tame." "By the dugout edge JoAnn inspected her crew, Laura's shoulder still sore will have to do. Rosie was steady back to the mound to throw, JoAnn nodded to both the umpires, 'Let's go!'" "Six and one-half innings no one could score, Robin for the Cats closed down the barndoor. Her wicked curve dropped plain out of sight, jumping across the plate from left to right." "Rosie for the Flames was equal to this task, her heater made Cats do nothing but scratch. K's mounted fast by pitchers from all sides, bottom of the last inning it was 0-0, a tie." "The first Flame up hit a lulu to first base, the ball easily snagged at a leisurely pace." "'That's one!' shouted the umpire." "Next poke an infield fly was a piece a cake, Robin calling, 'I got it!', made no mistake." "'That's two!' he concluded again." "Watching all this quietly against the fence, she barely moved with thoughts grew intense. Just meet it, hit the ball, and get on base, now it's her turn Niner walked to the plate." "Robin wasted no time, it came down the pipe, and JoAnn's bat smacked a grounder to right. As speedy as ever she took off like a flash, safe upon first was the winning run at last." "Up next it was Rosie the line-up proclaimed, along third base came a signal not to swing. The orders were to give JoAnn time to steal, by her stance she kept the runner concealed." "The ball came in then Sue started her throw, but already swiftest JoAnn reached her goal." "'Strike one!' shouted the umpire." "Another pitch was planned same as the first, and mission accomplished JoAnn hugged third." "'Strike two!' he concluded again." "No more chances this toss can't be declined, Rosie flashed a grin at the third base line. She addressed her bat for a good solid poke, to end the ballgame when Niner touched home." "Both dugouts were quiet, no sound was heard, Robin shouted 'Time,' to get Rosie unnerved. She told the infield Diane, Renee, and more, about her pitch, and they must stop a score." "JoAnn pulled her socks and adjusted her cap, checking all of her laces, cuffs, and snaps. In 3 seconds, 90 feet seemed like the world, every eye would watch her racing from third." "Robin's fastball came straight to the plate, just as Rosie put her bat out to anticipate. A slow motion grounder rolled towards short, JoAnn was halfway home before it was caught." "The shortstop charged to throw in much hast, danger, danger, homeplate was lost in space. Clouds of dust, a white ball, and Flame red, many directions out-stretched arms and legs." "Before everything settled we heard the call, 'That's game!' a deep throat informed us all." [Epilogue Refrains] "Oh, somewhere within this favored land, not far from where the main CIA stands. Someone may write a make-believe verse, but only one fellow could make it work." "So, if many seek poet Thayer's acclaim, never copyright or even sign your name. When recited quickly walk out the door, let Hopper say it 10,000 times or more." Note: Very loosely based on "Casey at the Bat," by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, June 3, 1888. B. NWB HALL OF FAME PRODUCTS These baseball items are available from the NWB Hall of Fame: commemorative buttons (2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999), t-shirts, caps, and bats. Free commemorative ribbons are available. The website main page has an order form, and the photo page displays several items. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame C. HISTORIC TIMELINE August 1, 1945 Mel Ott hits 500th homerun. August 1, 1957 Glen Gorbous record 445'10" baseball throw. August 1, 1996 US women first Olympic soccer title. August 2, 1938 Dodgers experiment with yellow baseballs. August 2, 1979 Thurman Munson plane accident in Ohio. August 3, 1894 Harry Heilmann birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. August 4, 1985 Tom Seaver wins 300th game. August 5, 1867 Jacob Ruppert birthdate, MLB executive. August 5, 1921 First baseball radio broadcast from KDKA. August 6, 1901 Louella Parsons birthdate, Hearst columnist. August 6, 1981 Satchel Paige at 47 pitches complete game. August 7, 1935 Ada Deer birthdate, Bureau of Indian Affairs. August 7, 1956 Largest International League crowd 57,000. August 8, 1936 Frank Howard birthdate, MLB player and manager. August 9, 1906 Jack Taylor pitches 187th consecutive game. August 9, 1963 Whitney Houston birthdate, Grammy recipient. August 9, 1988 First night game at Wrigley Field. August 10, 1944 Red Barrett 58 pitches complete game. August 10, 1971 Harmon Killebrew hits 500th homerun. August 11, 1929 Babe Ruth hits 500th homerun. August 11, 1970 Jim Bunning wins 100th game in both leagues. August 12, 1859 Katharine Bates birthdate, after climbing Pike's Peak wrote "America the Beautiful." August 12, 1880 Christy Mathewson birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. August 12, 1892 Roy Schalk birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. August 13, 1910 Dodgers and Pirates tie game 8-8. August 13, 1979 Lou Brock 3,000th hit. *August 14, 1863 Ernest Thayer birthdate, "Casey at the Bat." August 14, 1947 Danielle Steele birthdate, author. August 15, 1912 Julia Child birthdate, gourmet chef. August 15, 1859 Charles Comiskey birthdate, White Sox owner. August 15, 1975 Orioles Earl Weaver ejected twice in one day. August 15, 1945 Suzanne Farrell birthdate, ballerina. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XI, 2008 Season Publications Number 23, Niner at the Plate (Casey II), August 4. Number 22, K.C. Higgins at the Bat (Casey), July 31. Number 21, Base Ball To Day, Polo Grounds, July 25. Number 20, Hit the Ball: Act One, Scene One, July 23. Number 19, Batting Beauty (Esther Williams), July 19. Number 18, Playing and Pitching Parodies, July 16. Number 17, Swinging in the Rain (Freed hits), July 14. Number 16, Begin the Ball-Guine (Porter hits), July 11. Number 15, Puttin' on Your Mitts (Berlin hits), July 3. Number 14, 2008 NWB Hall of Fame Induction Form, June 29. Number 13, Judy, Judy, Judy (Johnson), June 12. Number 12, Tales of Narda: The Guessing Game, May 10. Number 11, Clifford Plays Some Hoops (Auerbach), April 21. Number 10, Tales of Narda: Lady with the Light, April 13. Number 09, Tales of Narda: Turning the War Club, April 2. Number 08, Playing for a Higher Authority (Natural), March 22. Number 07, Prayerful Pearl (Janis Joplin), March 14. Number 06, Reigning at Ringside in Ritchie (boxing), March 11. Number 05, Tales of Narda: Origin of the Magic Bat, February 28. Number 04, Clifford's Favorite Store (Ballentine), February 15. Number 03, Bases Loaded, Reel Two, (baseball movies) February 12. Number 02, Bases Loaded Remake (Sunset Boulevard), February 2. Number 01, That Was the Year That Was, January 2. 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, TXU348663, TXU346055. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2008 __________________________________________________________