_________________________________________________________ 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, TXU1OPSAH, TXU1Z5BTB, TXU2ACJSN. Issue Number 00428 _________________________________________________________ Volume XI, Number 34 Publisher and Author December 17, 2008 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 IN WASHINGTON Amtrak Northeast Corridor Metroliner at Annapolis Junction, December 2008 "Union Station, 25 minutes," a conductor routinely announced while walking through the club car inspecting the passengers, but not observing a famous transparent duo sitting at a side table engaged in one of their favorite pastimes. Lou: "Come on, Abbott! Ante-up, there's still time to play!" Bud: "But, I've already won $200 from you since Philadelphia. Why do you insist on losing your money this way?" Lou: "I've got 25 minutes to win it back and clean your clock! I know you always carry a big bankroll, so deal!" Bud: "You beat me at poker?! In all these years, you haven't learned the first thing about the game. For example, in the last hand you doubled the pot when I had three queens showing. You had nothing on the table. Is that any way to play cards?" Lou: "I was betting on an inside straight." Bud: "As usual, it never happened. In the hand before that, I had three kings up, and once more you doubled. What's the percentage in doing that?" Lou: "Well, it always worked in Paterson." Bud: "You're lucky it's only me you're playing against and not those other fellows in the club car. They aren't from your clubhouse in Paterson! You should be thankful you're losing to me and not them." Lou: "Thankful?! Abbott, I shouldn't be losing at all!" Bud: "Of course, you should, if it's to me! And, that's because I'll wisely spend that same money on things which benefit both of us. Whereas, you'd only waste it!" Lou: "Whata you mean? I'll never see any of my money again once you get your hands on it!" Bud: "Say, that's not entirely fair. For example, you like cigars don't you? Sure, you do! I'll buy a whole box of cigars with my winnings. You like sandwiches? Same thing! And, for cabfare to the Willard Hotel and White House, well that'll be my treat, too! You see, I can be very generous!" Lou: "Yeah, with my money!" Bud: "Well, it was your money! Look, I just won another hand!" Lou: "Hey, Abbott, I remembered something, --we can't smoke, we don't need food, and cabbies see right through us. Even the conductor walked past us more than a dozen times, and he never once asked for our tickets." Bud: "Certainly, that's only to be expected, and it's because we haven't turned on our limited supply of ectoplasm." Lou: "Our ecto-what?" Bud: "You know, Cary Grant and Connie Bennett. Whenever they needed to materialize, the Kirbys turned on their ectoplasm." Lou: "Oh yeah, they were in the original 'Topper' in 1937." Bud: "Yes, that's correct. And, we played apparitions before." Lou: "Appar-what?" Bud: "You know, phantoms, specters, spirits; you know ghosts!" Lou: "Like in some of our movies, --'Hold that Ghost' in 1941, and 'The Time of Their Lives' in 1946." Bud: "Exactly, that's right! Even Shakespeare had ghosts in Hamlet and Julius Caesar. You know, 'Great Caesar's ghost!'" Lou: "Yeah, like the time we met Frankenstein and those other monsters in 1948, the Invisible Man in 1951, and the Mummy in 1955. We were always running into deceased things." Bud: "There, you're getting the picture. I'm impressed you're so good with those dates." Lou: "Well, now we're deceased, I can afford to be revealing. Who cares about years any more? We've got nothing to hide, and nobody can see us anyhow." Bud: "Actually, we're not 'resting in peace' even with this proclamation from General Washington, which is why we're here." Lou: "You mean that a signature from George Washington himself isn't enough to get us into Heaven? We need a higher authority?" Bud: "Of course, by good Faith, and also the current President's counter signature and once obtained then our 'letters of transit' cannot be rescinded or even questioned!" Duo: "'Casa Blanca' in 1942! White House!" Lou: "Abbott, do you still have our transit papers?" Bud: "Naturally, would I trust you with them? I have them here in my bindle made out for Buddie Abbott and Louise Ciullo, and authenticated by Les and Lee Keno at Sotheby's. Dunbar brought it personally to their attention." Lou: "Did they wear their little white gloves?" Bud: "Of course, don't be silly, the letters are historic from 1780 and signed by Washington." "But, instead of talking about prior films while playing cards, don't you think it would be a better idea if we prepared the presentation for the Presidential Pardon in order to end our apparition predicament?" Lou: "Come on, Abbott! We never rehearsed routines before." Bud: "True, not for live acts, that's entirely correct. But, we knew the theater routines cold, and could perform whatever was requested at a moments notice. This isn't the same." Lou: "Hey, there's no difference between yesterday or tomorrow. People are people, and an audience is an audience. We can play anybody or anywhere at anytime." Bud: "Maybe you're right, like Red Barber." Lou: "Hey, he covered those pesky Dodgers!" Bud, "Certainly, but before that he got his big break in radio at Crosley Field. And, before that he had never been inside a major league ballpark let alone broadcast a big time game." Lou: "Yeah? Then, how did he get the job?" Bud: "Red walked right into Crosley's office bold as brass with plenty of confidence. He figured baseball diamonds are the same, --90' between the bases and 60'6" from a pitcher's mound to homeplate. And, it's three strikes per batter with nine innings per game. It's all the same." "All he needed to do for every game was substitute the names of players right off the team rosters." Lou: "Hey, that could be tricky. You know, I'm not so good myself with names, like Who's on first and What's on second." Bud: "Sure, sure, it's true for you, but Crosley never asked that of Red Barber, and he owned the stadium and station." "Sight unseen, Red received a telegram March 4, 1934 inviting him to report to work in Ohio and broadcast at powerhouse WLW for $25 a week. The station was an unrestricted 500,000 watts, and he instantly acquired a huge audience. Yes, that's right, half a million watts located in the heart of the midwest, and WLW was billed as the 'Nation's Station.'" "Barber was never questioned during an interview about teams he had previously covered. He was only on the college level circuit before that in Florida, but knew he could do the job regardless of the location or situation. Confidence!" Lou: "OK, we've got plenty of that! And, we've been to the White House lots of times, and given our performances before many different Presidents. We can handle anything!" Bud: "Yes, that's true. We did 'Who's on First' four times for Franklin Roosevelt including at a White House dinner and another time at a political reception in the Shoreham." "Here, it's your deal," Bud passed the deck of cards to Lou. Lou: "They'd always politely ask for the 'Baseball Routine.'" Bud: "Of course, we were famous for that bit, and I had it copyrighted. They play it continuously at Cooperstown. But, no matter where we went, I'd begin by substituting the name of the hometown team. I'd start with saying something like, 'You know, Lou, they always give ballplayers unusual names. For example, on the Saint Louis team...'" Lou: "Yeah, and then I'd ask you to tell me the names of all the players on the team." Bud: "Yes, that's entirely correct, but not every position!" Lou: "We never ever created a name for the right fielder." Duo: "Babe Ruth!!!" Lou: "For FDR, we had to mention the Senators at the start of the baseball skit." Bud: "But, today it's the Nationals. Washington is no longer in the American League and is a National League town." Lou: "So, do they have to change the slogan? 'First in War, First in Peace, and Last in the National League?'" Bud: "Certainly, it all comes with the territory." Lou: "Wasn't the President involved in the Senator's move?" Bud: "Yes, he was a part owner of the Rangers and brought the Senators to Texas after the 1971 season. But, he was here in April 2005 to welcome the new Nationals." Lou: "Maybe, baseball will be his legacy. 'First in Departing, First in Returning, and 'GTT' Gone to Texas, again.'" Bud: "Show some respect! That's no way to talk about baseball in the nation's capital. Let's get back to our affidavits." Lou: "OK, and am I glad we don't have to testify to Congress." Bud: "Oh, I'm certain we could handle that, too. Did you know I was once Treasurer of the National Theater in downtown DC?" Lou: "Well, if you can take away all of my money on the train, then why not an entire theater every night?!" Bud: "You don't understand. I didn't take anyone's money, but received the receipts, paid the bills, and wrote checks for all the entertainers. This was how I got my start in vaudeville. I saw all the great comedians and performers. Since I paid them, they got to know me, too. The National was where I met Betty in 1918 before the end of World War I." Lou: "Gee, I was just a kid. Well, I must have missed that one, it was just a little before my time." Bud: "Hey, watch your lines! Although we don't have to perform before Congress, we could easily handle any financial testimony." Lou: "Do you really think so?" Bud: "Sure, sure, just like the old 'Fifty Dollar Loan Bit.' Not much different, except we add a few more zeros." Lou: "Huh??? You mean my $50 dollars becomes $50 million?" Bud: "Well, that's not nearly enough to be worth their efforts. Let's make it $50 billion." Lou: "You mean $50 with a 'B' instead of $50 with a 'M'?" Bud: "Yes, that's right a 'B'. Like 'B' as in baseball." Lou: "Or, 'B' as in basketball or Ballentine!" Bud: "Let's not get into that again! In the new 'Fifty Dollar Loan Bit,' the amount becomes $50 billion, a few more zeros." Lou: "Hey, that's a neat trick, you just add some more zeros. I don't know what $1 billion is like let alone fifty billion. And, how am I going to carry around $50 billion to loan you? What would you do with $50 billion? Only the Shah of Iran or King Farouk could even think about $50 billion. And, if I had that much money, you'd probably take it away from me somehow!" Duo: "Poker!" Bud: "This is pretend. We'll just juggle around a few numbers, but on Wall Street and Detroit they do it for real all the time. Let's try it now, and move some decimals." New $50 Billion Loan Bit (re 1941 to 2008) Bud: "Do me a favor, loan me $50 billion." Lou: "Not a penny, I can't." Bud: "Look me in the eye. I'm your buddy. I'm your friend. You can trust me. Why can't you loan me $50 billion?" Lou: "Because all I have is $40 billion!" Bud: "OK, give me $40 billion, and you owe me $10 billion." Lou: "How come I owe you $10 billion?" Bud: "Well, how much did I ask you for?" Lou: "$50 billion." Bud: "And, how much did you give me?" Lou: "$40 billion." Bud: "That's right, so you still owe me $10 billion." Lou: "But, you owe me $40 billion." Bud: "Now, don't go changing the subject." Lou: "I'm not switching any subjects, but you're trying to change my finances." Bud: "Nothing of the kind; this is just a little friendly transaction." Lou: "Come on, give me back the $40 billion you owe me." Bud: "OK, here! I'm giving you back your $40 billion." Lou: "Thanks!" Bud: "Alright, now give me the $10 billion you still owe me; that's only fair." Lou: "OK, but I'm paying you on account." Bud: "On account of what?" Lou: "On account of I don't know how I owe it to you." Bud: "Well, if that's the way you feel about it, this is the last time I'll ask you for the loan of $50 billion." Lou: "Wait a minute, Abbott. How can I loan you $50 billion when all I have now is $30 billion?" Bud: "OK, then give me $30 billion, and then you'll owe me $20 billion." Lou: "Oh, this is getting worse all the time. First I owe you $10 billion, and now I owe you $20 billion." Bud: "Well, why are you running yourself into debt?" Lou: "I'm not running, you're pushing me." Bud: "I can't help it if you can't handle your finances. I do alright with my own money." Lou: "And, you're doing alright with mine, too!" Bud: "Wait a minute, I asked you for the loan of $50 billion, and you gave me $30 billion, so you owe me $20 billion. You see $30 billion and $20 billion is $50 billion." Lou: "No, no, no, $25 billion and $25 billion is $50 billion." Bud: "Alright, then here's the $30 billion you just loaned me. Now give me back the $20 billion you owe me. A fine friend, you won't even loan a pal $50 billion." Lou: "How can I loan you $50 billion when all I got now is only $10 billion?" Bud: "To show you what a pal I am, do you want to double that? You always like to double a bet." Lou: "OK, but on the up-and-up." Bud: "Sure, would I deceive you? Not on your life! Here, pick a number between 1 and 10, and if I guess the number I win, if I don't you win." Lou: "OK, that seems fair. Ready, I got the number." Bud: "Is it odd or even?" Lou: "Even." Bud: "Is it between 1 and 3?" Lou: "Nope." Bud: "Is it between 3 and 5?" Lou: "Nope, again." Bud: "Is it between 5 and 7?" Lou: "Yeah." Bud: "I'm ready! The number is 6." Lou: "Hey, right! How did you do that?" Bud: "Oh, this is done all the time around town. Not with my money, of course, with the taxpayer's money. They don't even notice!" "Union Station, Union Station!" at that moment another voice of substance was heard throughout the club car with an announcement to passengers expecting to disembark for their sundry excursions into the nation's capital. Note: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello starred in nearly forty feature films from 1940 to 1956 which often included vaudeville routines adapted to movie plots, such as, "Fifty Dollar Loan," "Lemon Table," and "Mustard Bit." Such recreations, radio broadcasts, and live stage performances typically were fast-paced slapstick, while this December 2008 parody is more reflective of their movie scenes with descriptive dialogue. Nine of their films had an "In..." theme where the setting influenced the storyline, such as being in the Tropics, Hollywood, Africa, Alaska, or on Mars. There was never an "In Washington" movie, but Abbott worked at the National Theater in 1918 where he met his wife Betty. They also played downtown theaters on the vaudeville circuits. In "The Time of Their Lives," released during 1946, Lou Costello was a colonial ghost with a letter of commendation from General George Washington, and he remained "unsettled" for 166 years until the letter could be rediscovered and authenticated. The script was originally entitled, "The Ghost Steps Out." Because this publication is for women baseball players, names were modified to Buddie Abbott and Louise Ciullo, a derivation of Ciulla who was inducted in 2003 into the NWB Hall of Fame. 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 December 14, 1897 Margaret Chase Smith birthdate, US Congress. December 15, 1900 Christy Mathewson traded to NY Giants. December 16, 1901 Margaret Mead birthdate, anthropologist. December 16, 1951 Mike Flanagan birthdate, MLB pitcher. December 16, 1964 Billy Ripken birthdate, MLB player. December 17, 1903 Wright brothers first flight. December 18, 1886 Ty Cobb birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 18, 1916 Betty Grable birthdate, film actor. December 18, 1930 Bill Skowron birthdate, MLB player. December 19, 1894 Ford Frick birthdate, MLB Commissioner. December 19, 1934 Al Kaline birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 20, 1881 Branch Rickey birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 20, 1888 Fred Merkle birthdate, MLB player. December 20, 1900 Gabby Harnett birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 21, 1912 Josh Gibson birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 21, 1954 Chris Evert birthdate, tennis champion. December 22, 1862 Connie Mack birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 22, 1944 Steve Carlton birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 23, 1942 Jerry Koosman birthdate, MLB player. December 24, 1889 Bill Otis birthdate, MLB player. December 24, 1922 Ava Gardner birthdate, film actor. December 25, 1865 Evangeline Booth birthdate, Salvation Army. December 25, 1855 Pud Galvin birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 25, 1888 First indoor baseball game in Philadelphia. December 25, 1958 Rickey Henderson birthdate, MLB player. December 26, 1837 Morgan Bulkeley birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 26, 1947 Carlton Fisk birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 26, 1954 Susan Butcher birthdate, Iditarod champion. December 27, 1943 Roy White birthdate, MLB player. December 28, 1900 Ted Lyons birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 29, 1937 Mary Tyler Moore birthdate, Emmy Award winner. December 30, 1935 Sandy Koufax birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. December 31, 1870 Tom Connolly birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XI, 2008 Season Publications Number 34, Abbott and Ciullo in Washington, December 17. Number 33, Abbott and Ciullo Meet Ted Williams, November 28. Number 32, Boogie Woogie Bugle Dog of Kompany Bee, November 9. Number 31, Everything's Coming Up Rosie (Weaver), October 21. Number 30, Forever Young (Mel Gibbons), October 14. Number 29, 2008 NWB Hall of Fame Inductions, October 8. Number 28, Melissa Gibbons Article From 2000, October 5. Number 27, Rosie Weaver Article From 2005, October 4. Number 26, 2008 Nominations for Induction (NWB/HoF), October 3. Number 25, Move Over Bobby Thomson, (EWBC final), September 22. Number 24, 2008 NWB Hall of Fame Induction Form, September 4. 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. TXU1OPSAH, TXU1Z5BTB, TXU2ACJSN Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2008 __________________________________________________________