_________________________________________________________ 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. Issue Number 00363 _________________________________________________________ Volume X, Number 06 Publisher and Author February 16, 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: MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID "What's that award title?" the editor of the Racine Journal quietly expressed disbelief while reviewing a draft story. The reporter carefully repeated the reference once more and spelled the first name, "E-S-T-H-E-R, like in the Bible." "I've never heard of such a thing," the editor bit down hard on the end of an unlit cigar. "Ted Williams, maybe, but he's in the service training naval aviators. Pensacola, I think. Esther Williams belongs in a bathing suit not in a ballpark. Who ever came up with such an idea? Wrigley?" "Mr. Wrigley no longer owns the league," was the explanation, "He wants to keep a closer eye on the Cubs, and sold it to Arthur Meyerhoff before the 1945 season began for a bargain." "Oh, for how much?" "Teams, players, contracts and rights thereof, went for about $10,000, and Meyerhoff is making changes," the reporter noted. "At the end of spring training, there'll be a tournament with the winner receiving the Esther Williams Trophy." "She's a swimmer not a batter," the editor abruptly coughed on the stale well-chewed cigar. "She wouldn't know what to do in a ballpark. She'll put her foot in the bucket every time, and that's the only water she'll see on an infield." "Well, regardless of her mermaid performances," the reporter continued, "in this story I'm predicting our Belles will win the Esther Williams Trophy this spring in Havana. They have enough medals, badges, and buttons to look like an Admiral, and their uniform emblem already states, 'City of Racine.'" "Esther Williams is an Aqua Belle not a Racine Belle," the editor countered. "I saw her first show ever in 'AquaCade' while in San Francisco during 1940 before we were at war. This was a Broadway style musical with swimmers as dancers. Prior to that, Williams won three national championships in swimming with the LA Athletic Club, and she should have gone to the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but it was canceled." "She could have been another Didrikson with all those medals," the cigar chomper continued, "but decided to perform on stage and screen instead. Johnny Weismuller picked her out in a casting line of 75 to be 'AquaBelle #1'. He was the show's star as 'AquaDonis #1,' and Esther Williams' selection to be co-star was made without hesitation." The editor returned to the business at hand, "How come you're so certain our Belles will win?" "It's practically the same team as last year," was the reply. "They won the League Championship and Playoff Championship. Hey, did you miss the headline after the September 16 game?" "Seems to me, I do recall something about that remarkable feat," the editor snidely remarked. "Are there changes this season?" "Sure, the basepaths are longer, pitcher's mound further back, baseball is smaller, and no more underhand throws; but everybody has to play by the same rules." "And, the Belles are also missing Claire Schillace this year," the reporter added. "I mean she got married. She was the best center fielder for four years, and could hit, too. Schillace was the second player in the league signed by Wrigley." "I know," the editor concurred, "I do read other sections of the newspaper. She's moving to Washington, DC to be a teacher in Kensington, MD. Her husband is with the State Department." "But, they won the 1946 championships without Schillace," the reporter reflected. "I expect their success will continue with the 1947 spring training trophy. Nobody can stop the Belles!" "Maybe so, maybe so," the editor speculated, "and when they win that Esther Williams Trophy then you'll have something more to write about the Belles." "You know now I can well imagine why that trophy title fits," the editor reflected further. "For her 1944 starring role in 'Bathing Beauty,' Williams was billed as the epitome of the, 'Athletic All-American Girl,' an image which is also promoted by the league and our Belles. MGM was so thrilled about her success, they built a 90' by 90' swimming pool in Studio 30 for Esther Williams films, and that's her diamond." Note: Esther Williams starred in fifteen major films during her eighteen year movie career, and appeared in a dozen others. Many of these films featured her trademark swimming ballets. More than her "foot was in the bucket," in her major films such as: "Jupiter's Darling," 1955; "Dangerous When Wet," 1953; "Easy to Love," 1953; "Skirts Ahoy," 1952; "Million Dollar Mermaid," 1952; "Pagan Love Song," 1950; "Neptune's Daughter," 1949; "On an Island with You," 1948; "Thrill of Romance," 1945; and "Bathing Beauty," 1944. Only a few films in which Esther Williams starred did not have a precious water scene somewhere. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" could have been one such movie, however director Busby Berkeley managed to include a swimming pool sequence within the film. Williams was not an initial choice for "...Ball Game," and many songs were written by Gene Kelly with Kathryn Grayson in mind. The studio first considered Judy Garland (who was incapacitated), and then June Allyson (who became pregnant). Williams jumped at the chance to star with Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra in a 1900s costume musical, and there was the obligatory swimming scene by Berkeley. The successful Kelly/Sinatra musical trilogy included the films: "Anchors Away," 1945; "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," 1948-49; and "On the Town," 1949. The Racine Belles won the Esther Williams Trophy at spring training 1947 in Havana, Cuba. 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 The 2006 commemorative button (Inductions: Nelson, Dominguez, and Triolo; and Triple Crown: Milliken) is available, and may be ordered from the website or with the form provided below. 2006 NWB/HOF COMMEMORATIVE BUTTON _________________________________ Name _________________________________ Address _________________________________ City,State,Zip []-1 button $2 []-2 " " 3 []-3 " " 4 Print this form. Checks should be payable and sent to: NWB Hall of Fame, PO Box 15282, Chevy Chase, MD 20825 C. HISTORIC TIMELINE 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. February 19, 1941 Mama Cass Elliot birthdate, folk singer. February 20, 1913 Tommy Henrich birthdate, MLB player. February 21, 1903 Tom Yawkey birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame, Red Sox owner from 1933 to 1976. February 22, 1874 Bill Klem birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 22, 1918 Charlie Finley birthdate, MLB executive. February 22, 1934 Sparky Anderson birthdate, MLB manager. February 22, 1975 Drew Barrymore birthdate, actor. February 23, 1929 Elston Howard birthdate, MLB player. February 23, 1960 Demolition begins at Ebbets Field. February 24, 1874 Honus Wagner birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 25, 1922 Rose Bascom birthdate, Cowgirl Hall of Fame. February 25, 1924 Marie Boyd, 156 points at Lonacoming, MD. February 26, 1887 Grover Cleveland Alexander birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. February 26, 1935 Babe Ruth signed with Boston Braves. February 27, 1877 Spike Briggs birthdate, MLB owner. February 27, 1964 April Heinricks birthdate, soccer star. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume IX, 2007 Season Publications 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. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2007 __________________________________________________________