_________________________________________________________ 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 00411 _________________________________________________________ Volume XI, Number 17 Publisher and Author July 14, 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: SWINGING IN THE RAIN [Fade-in to open field dugouts, late innings of a close Sunday afternoon game, both teams were hitting well, but summer thunderstorms begin to build on the far horizon.] "First sign of lightening, I'll have to call the game," the unpretentious homeplate umpire scanned the rapidly darkening western sky with high billowing clouds which threatened to produce typical heavy July showers. Within minutes it was completely overcast with thick droplets beginning to fall and two innings remaining, but suddenly this first wave rolled past providing a brief reprieve, while a second more ominous battalion materialized in the distance marching in this direction. JoAnn: "OK, you Flames! You heard that, but let's play as hard as ever, and never mind the weather. Looks like we may have a break in the storm." She quickly surveyed the situation. "Make those catches, hit the ball, and run, run, run fast to score! Anything goes! We always need to be productive against those pesky BarnCats." Her team agreed in a customary joyous manner in response to words of encouragement by their eminent manager. [Interlude] "Why are we smiling, and why do we sing? Why is a rain storm as sunny as spring?" "Well, hold the press and read the news, for this issue the one and only is you!" [Refrain 1] "Because we're swinging in the rain, the Flames are singing in the rain. Oh, that feeling being happy again." "We laugh at the sky, so dark there above, it can't do nothing, to the game we love." "Stormy clouds chase, most from homeplate, but come on in rain, put smiles in place." "Swing our best bats, with hardiest whack, unfailing speeds as we round a basepath." "Oh, a happy refrain, Because we're all swinging in the rain, and the Flames are singing in the rain. We're swinging and singing in the rain. We're swinging and singing in the rain." "Oh, la tee da da, la tee tee, da da da. We're swinging and singing in the rain. Oh, la tee da da, la tee tee, da da da." JoAnn: "Well, as long as it doesn't rain too hard or long, we'll continue to play," cautiously noted the Flames leader. "But, lightening is a different matter." "Sure, Jo, sure! We'll listen, because we love this game, and especially appreciate your motivation and dedication. For you, we'd be out there in any weather, because..." [Refrain 2] "We're fit as a fiddle ready to play, and could catch any ball hit my way. We haven't a worry and haven't care, your skills keep us floating on air." "The world's right, my heart's alight, that silver liner, is on cloud niner, going two for two, for it's only you, you're first rate, so I know my fate." "We're fit as a fiddle ready to play, and could catch any ball hit my way. We haven't a worry and haven't care, your skills keep us floating on air." JoAnn: "Shhh, please concentrate on the game. Flames may sing all you want afterwards at the picnic. As for right now, those BarnCats are as unpredictable as the weather." "True, fearless Flames leader," they agreed. "The game is the thing, but a few more liners about beloved niner." [Refrain 3] "All I do is dream of you, the whole night through, with the dawn it goes on, it's only you." "When I awake, three wood names state Claire, Babe, n' JoAnn, too." "On our website frontpage, who's charging that base, it's only you." "All the baseball stories, covering fields of glory, n' JoAnn, too." "If there were more than twenty-four hours a day, whether skies be blue or gray, morning, noon, and night, too, together think what we can do!" [Scene concludes with a final hit and fade-out, the homeplate umpire calls "game," rain begins to heavily fall. Players rapidly pack gear, and many race to cars or a picnic area where the spirit of the Flames continues.] "La tee da da, la tee tee, da da da." Note: Parodies written for this article were significantly modified from songs by Arthur Freed, 1894-1973. Refrain 1: "Singin' in the Rain," 1928. Refrain 2: "Fit as a Fiddle and Ready for Love," 1932. Refrain 3: "All I Do is Dream of You," 1934. Highlighting an illustrious career, many Freed songs were incorporated into the movie "Singin' in the Rain," 1952, produced by Arthur Freed, and directed by and starring Gene Kelly. Three songs noted above and eight others previously by Freed were in his masterpiece. 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 July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth starts first MLB game as Red Sox. July 11, 1985 Nolan Ryan 4,000th strikeout. July 12, 1901 Cy Young wins 300th game. July 13, 1889 Stan Covaleski birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 13, 1903 Ed Delahanty found beneath Niagara Falls. July 13, 1934 Babe Ruth hits 700th homerun. July 13, 1938 Sheila Widnall birthday, Air Force Secretary July 13, 1963 Early Wynn wins 300th game. July 14, 1967 Eddie Mathews hits 500th homerun. July 14, 1968 Hank Aaron hits 500th homerun. July 15, 1876 NL first no-hitter, George Washington Bradley. July 15, 1905 Shirley Povich birthdate, DC sports columnist. July 15, 1952 Walt Dropo 12 consecutive hits in one day. July 16, 1889 Shoeless Joe Jackson birthdate, MLB player. July 16, 1942 Margaret Smith Court birthdate, tennis champion. July 17, 1941 Joe DiMaggio completes 56 game hitting streak. July 17, 1974 Bob Gibson 3,000th strikeout. July 18, 1941 Martha Reeves birthdate, entertainer. July 18, 1970 Willie Mays 3,000th hit. July 18, 1940 Joe Torre birthdate, MLB manager. July 19, 1910 Cy Young wins 500th game. July 19, 1927 Ty Cobb 4,000th hit. July 20, 1858 First baseball admission 50c in Long Island. July 20, 1901 Heinie Manush birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 20, 1933 Nelson Doubleday birthdate, baseball publisher. July 21, 1881 Johnny Evers birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 21, 1973 Hank Aaron 700th homerun. July 22, 1908 Amy Vanderbilt birthdate, etiquette expert. July 22, 1893 Jesse Haines birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 23, 1880 Emma Carr birthdate, Garvon Chemists Medal. July 23, 1925 Lou Gehrig hits first grand slam homerun. July 23, 1936 Don Drysdale birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 24, 1898 Amelia Earhart birthdate, early aviator. July 24, 1911 Addie Joss benefit game at Cleveland. July 25, 1930 Athletics two triple steals in one game. July 25, 1941 Lefty Grove wins 300th game. July 26, 1902 Gracie Allen birthdate, comedian. July 26, 1923 Hoyt Wilhelm birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 27, 1880 Joe Tinker birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 27, 1903 Leo Durocher birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 28, 1889 Bullet Joe Rogan birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 28, 1949 Vida Blue birthdate, MLB pitcher. July 28, 1966 Rachel Sweet birthdate, entertainer. July 28, 1991 Dennis Martinez pitches perfect game. July 29, 1996 Tommy Lasorda retires, MLB manager. July 30, 1890 Casey Stengel birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. July 30, 1968 Ron Hansen unassisted triple play. July 31, 1816 Lydia Bradley birthdate, founded college. July 31, 1932 Municipal Stadium opens in Cleveland. July 31, 1954 Joe Adcock hits 4 homeruns in one game. July 31, 1961 All-Star game 1-1 tie at Fenway Park. July 31, 1990 Nolan Ryan wins 300th game. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XI, 2008 Season Publications 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 __________________________________________________________