_________________________________________________________ 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, 1998-2006 TXU877085, TXU959430, TXU973266, TXU013972, TXU986753, TXU949885, TXU004037, TXU022893, TXU026161, TXU047111, TXU050230, TXU061149, TXU088068, TXU120937, TXU148132, TXU163784, TXU170668, TXU196853, TXU211917, TXU216769, TXU234252, TXU253116, TXU260664, TXU180346. Issue Number 00326 _________________________________________________________ Volume IX, Number 05 Publisher and Author February 5, 2006 Richard C. Jaffeson Washington, DC HallFame@usa.com http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame _________________________________________________________ 2005 NWB HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS WINTER, BRENNEMAN, SWEENEY, FERENO SEE THE WEBSITE PHOTO PAGES "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: MODELS D29 AND 36D "Oh, we are just two pretty girls from Little Rock, who wound-up over on the wrong side of the tracks. But, the local boys who came to call, didn't seem to mind our place at all, for they only wanted to see us lying on our backs." "Then some gent broke my poor heart in Little Rock, so I up and left all those pieces shattered there. I roamed this land from town to town, when I came to New York then I found, that some people are the same way most everywhere." "One of these days I'm a going back to Little Rock, and find that ole rascal billy who broke my heart. My dream is to punch him in the nose, dressed in my fine and fancy clothes, that'll show him I am the one who is really smart." "Way back in Little Rock, Little Rock, Little Rock!" "Whether little rocks or small rocks, they can't compare to what I've got. Because if square-cut or pear-shape, diamonds are a girl's best friend..." Before the introduction to the next taped song could begin, a gruff deep voice sternly proclaimed, "OK, he'll be ready to see ya in a couple of minutes," to a customer sitting at a small table situated in a secluded back corner of an otherwise crowded popular restaurant in Atlantic City. "You have one hour; it's all anyone gets," he warned and matter-of-factly mentioned. "Hey, that's a catchy tune, but better turn it off. He don't like regular music." "You just heard his former wife and Jane Russell singing the opening number from a 1953 movie," was the explanation, "released the year before they were married. Those words were an unfortunate reflection upon her short life. I'll put in a blank cassette for this interview. I assume he wouldn't mind that?" "Well, that was a little before my time," the voice stated. "I musta missed that one. Blanks are OK, but no music!" He briefly paused and inquisitively re-stated his original thought, "It is a catchy tune. Kinda lively," and asked, "What ya mean 'unfortunate reflection?'" as he stumbled over the reference. "The music is fine," was the reply. "The words represented the way she decided to live and the type of life she found herself thrust into, all of which eventually caught up with her and was finally overwhelming." "You're saying that song is what killed her?" the voice spat. "Not exactly, but it was the perspective regarding physical attributes that she readily misused and they eagerly abused," an explanation was offered but not fully understood. "This type of interplay was mutually acquiesced to willingly, but it was not beneficial especially for her," the explanation continued, "it reflected inappropriate values regarding human behavior. This was the reason why he only allowed a few close friends to be present at her funeral, which consisted of those who truly cared about her as a person not an object." "Yeah, well, that was before my time," the deep voice repeated, while he quickly surveyed the back entrance of the restaurant, and turned his attention to the visitor who began to rise from the secluded table. "Hey, wait a minute. Not so fast, buddy" he pushed the guest back into his seat, "You got the money?" "Of course, right here," a small wallet was produced containing five crisp bills, "that's $5,000 as requested." "You understand this is not for him." the deep voice clarified, "We don't even take a cut. This goes to the Damon Runyon fund, 'cause that guy always treated him proper in what he wrote." "Oh, and another thing," he wanted to emphasize, "there are two topics you better not touch." "And, what might those be?" was the cautious respectful reply, knowing this gatekeeper had to be satisfied or the afternoon would end at that restaurant table. "Don't ask him about the Streak or Marilyn," the voice sternly indicated. "You already got one strike on her with me. Bring 'em up with him, he'll stop talking, and I'll toss you out. We don't give no refunds!" "I have one question regarding the Streak," was the immediate response, "and it concerns his bat." "Maybe I can help. What about it?" "Was it was stolen," the inquiry continued, "the afternoon of June 29 during a double header at Griffith Stadium, which was between games 41 and 42 that year..." "We got it back for him," the voice cut-off the question before it could be completed. "Some kid from Newark grabbed it between the games. Not too smart to lift his bat, and talk about it back in the neighborhood. We learned its whereabouts, arrangements were made, the kid made a penance, and the bat was returned to Yankee Stadium. No harm done." He further lowered his voice, "This was family business, and we handled it proper." This provided an opportunity for the visitor to add a footnote, "I believe it was a D29, somewhat rare." "Dee, whhhut?" the deep voice mumbled. "He used a Louisville Slugger heavy D29," the explanation began. "Only one other Yankee tried the same model, Tommy Henrich, and it served in a pinch until his 'Wonderboy' was returned." "Boy, whhhut?" "You know," as the details continued, "players become attached to and finicky about their bats, it's like an extension of themselves. Sometimes they give them nicknames. In the novel 'The Natural,' Malamud's hero makes his own bat from a tree struck by lightning, and called it Wonderboy. It's like Excalibur." "Exx, whhhut?" "A sword, but let's talk about his bat," the discussion needed to be refocused. "He did special things for his bat. He rubbed it with a soup bone which made it less likely to chip. Often he coated the handle with olive oil and resin and ran a low flame over it, and then sandpapered it slightly so it would be less likely to slip. He once said a bat used for a long time begins to fit a hitter's hand like a glove. But, he also knew his bat was a tool of the trade, not part of his identity. The streak continued uninterrupted even with a temporary substitute." "As for Marilyn," the visitor changed the subject to the other forbidden topic. "I was fascinated about roses on her gravesite. Why did he do that?" "Well, that's something I know about," the deep voice lightened. "I've seen 'em years ago. He had it done for twenty years from 1962 to 1982, six red roses in a vase twice a week delivered to Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles." "Like William Powell and Jean Harlow?" "Hey, that was a lot before my time." "You can't ask him about this," the deep voice continued, "but he always wanted to change her, get her away from bad influences, people who didn't care about her, but only wanted to use her. Her appearance was another commodity, a thing to buy." "Correct," the visitor concurred. "He gave her lots of things, out of kindness and concern with respect. Others gave her things to manipulate and take advantage. There's a major difference." "And, they did it to her," for the first time the voice saddened. "He was suppose to re-marry her before that 'accident' occurred. He never forgot her, that's why the roses, and why he don't wanta talk about it any more." "So, you understand what I initially meant," the visitor suggested. "She accepted a life-style that was self-destructive and contrary to human nature, it eventually ruined her. Not even the great clipper could put her on the right track and give her smooth sailing." "Yeah, I guess so," the deep voice sadly concluded. "Hey, let's go, he must be ready to see you now..." Note: The opening song was adapted from the movie "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" 1953, featuring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. B. NWB HALL OF FAME PRODUCTS These baseball items are available from the NWB Hall of Fame: new induction poster, commemorative buttons (2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, and 1999), personalized magnetic locker nametags, t-shirts, caps, knife, and model bats. The website main page has order information, and the photo page displays most items. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame C. HISTORIC TIMELINE February 3, 1890 Larry MacPhail birthdate, MLB executive. February 3, 1918 Helen Stephens birthdate, 1936 Olympic gold medalist, "World's Fastest Woman." February 4, 1969 Bowie Kuhn elected MLB Commissioner. February 5, 1891 Roger Peckinpaugh birthdate, MLB manager. February 5, 1934 Hank Aaron birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 6, 1895 Babe Ruth birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 7, 1949 Joe DiMaggio signed first $100,000 contract. February 7, 1969 Diana Crump first women jockey at Hialeah. February 8, 1869 Harry Pulliam birthdate, MLB executive. February 8, 1937 Clete Boyer birthdate, MLB player. February 9, 1914 Bill Veeck, birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 9, 1925 Vic Wertz birthdate, MLB player. February 10, 1884 Billy Evans birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 10, 1894 Herb Pennock birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 10, 1898 Judith Anderson birthdate, Emmy award. February 11, 1941 Sammy Ellis birthdate, MLB player. February 12, 1917 Dominic DiMaggio birthdate, MLB player. February 12, 1926 Joe Garagiola birthdate, sports broadcaster. February 13, 1918 Patti Berg birthdate, championship golfer. February 13, 1944 Sal Bando birthdate, MLB executive. February 14, 1913 Mel Allen birthdate, sports broadcaster. February 15, 1820 Susan B. Anthony birthdate. February 15, 1948 Ron Cey birthdate, MLB player. February 16, 1866 Billy Hamilton birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 17, 1908 Red Barber birthdate, sports broadcaster. February 18, 1975 Ila Borders birthdate, professional pitcher. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume IX, 2006 Season Publications Number 05, Models D29 and 36D (Marilyn), February 5. Number 04, Additional Recognition (letter), February 1. Number 03, Breaking Away (DiMaggio), January 20. Number 02, Annie's Big Apple (Runyon), January 10. Number 01, That Was the Year That Was (2005), January 1. http://www.eteamz.com/hallfame/news 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. "National Women's Baseball Hall of Fame" is a Trademark/Servicemark pending with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 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, TXU180346. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2006 __________________________________________________________