_________________________________________________________ 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, and TXU181096. Issue Number 00334 _________________________________________________________ Volume IX, Number 13 Publisher and Author May 25, 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: PLAYING ON ABRAHAM'S SIDE "Woooodstein! Get your sorry butt over here now, pronto!" the fiery editor-in-chief demanded from the doorway of his office across the copy room floor of a national daily. "Circulation is dropping everywhere, and even the venerable Inquirer is being sold. You come up with this? A four year old story, and the lead's really dead! Who cares anymore? Major league baseball won't touch it, never did, afraid to, and it's one of their own!" "Inquirer, sir?" was a breathless and bewildered response. "Yeah, been around since 1829," Nichols broke his planned recriminating rhythm, "third oldest in the nation." "What about us?" another question was planted in a futile attempt to forestall the inevitable reprimand. "The Star?" the editor thought for a moment, and for some reason he glanced at a wall calendar before commenting on an obvious but not often stated fact, "Since October 1852, thereabouts. We even covered the Civil War." "Did you, sir?" a smirky retort was interjected knowing full well the remark was going a bit too far. "I must have missed that one," Nichols mildly chortled, and temporarily loosened his initial authoritative tone, "it was a little before my time." "Don't change the subject!" he snapped back. "As for us, we'll soon be off the racks too, if you ALL don't shape up real fast!" He raised his voice deliberately for the benefit of others, stared around the room, and continued. "I've got this paper to run, and you have plenty of stories to write. And, I expect to see them on interesting topics; not this about a deadman four years ago." "Frozen, sir," a correction was offered, "like broccoli in a Birdseye package waiting to be defrosted. They claim he's not really departed but rather is a 'transhuman.' Sometime in the future he'll be fixed, thawed, and walking around, maybe even playing baseball." "Utter nonsense!" the editor-in-chief Nichols proclaimed, "Dead is dead; always has been, is, and will be. Nobody wakes up from the grave, especially after being beheaded and frozen for years." "No sir, this is cryonics, the wave of the future, where science recreates life," the fledgling reporter indicated and attempted to further explain. "You know the Scopes Monkey Trial in Tennessee. Mencken covered that one for the Sun in 1925. They deliberately staged the teaching of evolution by a substitute teacher John T. Scopes so he would be arrested. As anticipated, the trial resulted in a national debate on evolution." "So, you're going to be like Mencken?" Nichols laughed. "OK, big joke, go on..." Unaffected by the editor's retort, an old tale with a new twist began. "Where evolution attacked the Bible's version of creation regarding our origins, cryonics addresses the conclusion of life. In fact, we can avoid the finality of death because of science. We'll be frozen as transhumans, those of us who want to, and return to life whenever it's technically possible. We become 'Futurenauts,' which is another favorite term in the new world lexicon." "You mean 'Future-nuts'," Nichols wryly muttered under his breath knowing such a comment would be futile at this point. Instead he proposed, "Consider this further, if it was true, for Christianity there would be no resurrection, salvation, forgiveness, and hereafter." "I really hadn't thought about it before in that way, sir." "Many religious people aren't going to like that viewpoint. Only Jesus experienced resurrection for our salvation and forgiveness of transgressions to ensure us a place in the hereafter." Nichols quietly reflected. "This implies," he considered further, "it's poof and we're gone at the end, and there is no soul. Turn out the lights the party's over. There is no afterlife, and science could bring back anyone, defrost the remains of somebody who is frozen like Birdseye, whenever they're capable of doing so, say in about 100 or 200 years. Is that about it?" "I guess so, sir." "Evolution confronted Genesis on the origins of the species," the editor remarked, "but this one goes after Matthew, Luke, and John, as well as Jesus!" He paused momentarily to consider a few biblical passages, and the consequences for other major religions; the billions of Hindus and Buddhist who believe in reincarnation. "What about the souls already in the hereafter," he proposed, "or as in eastern religions those embodied into another life? And, how does this so-called science reinstate those departed into their previously deceased, frozen, and beheaded remains? What if souls can't and don't want to return? Furthermore, in cryonics bodies are frozen at -340F degrees. Have you any idea what happens to human cells at that extreme temperature?" "More importantly," he continued, "there is the little matter of creating the spark of life itself. God's domain! Even if someone doesn't believe in a hereafter, but cryonics instead, how about that neat trick?!" "But, it's not me, sir." The editor laughed and lectured, "Don't internalize any story as if you were engaging in the practice yourself and promoting that interest. Always try to be objective!" He again raised his voice for the benefit of the remainder of the office. With those remarks, Henry Nichols motioned for the discussion to continue inside his office, a less public arena, where he could conduct a more personal conversation. Once in his private domain, he acquired from the bookshelf a copy of the Bible, opened it to Matthew 22:31-32, and remarked, "You sound like the Sadducees who did not believe in heaven." "What, sir?! 'Sad-you' who?" "Sit down and listen!" Nichols snapped and composed himself. "Here it is in Jesus' own words." He found the proper verse. "'And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ~I Am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.~? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.'" "What does all that mean, sir?" "Originally, the passage Jesus quoted was in Exodus when God was defining Himself to Moses by the burning bush in 1450 BC. God invoked the present tense stating, ~I Am,~ in explaining who He was, but at the same time the verse reveals Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob still remain. Where? In heaven, where God intended the righteous to be in the afterlife. Jesus used that verse to demonstrate the existence of heaven." "A reporter," Nichols reminded his charge, "should know the use of tense to reveal information. And, when you interview someone often information is imbedded in the response which was not intended by the initial question. God described who He was to Moses in Exodus 3 in response to his question, but He also revealed something about heaven." "There is more about the nature of heaven in Luke, again from the words of Jesus this time before the Pharisees. In this example, a poor man and rich man passed away with the former arriving before Abraham in heaven, while the latter was in a place of torment. The rich man pleaded to Abraham for some assistance, which could not be provided. This is the reason why in Luke 16:26." "'And besides all this, between us (Abraham and Lazarus in heaven) and you (rich man in perdition) a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'" "Sir, departed souls cannot return?" "Yes, that is the point, there is a great chasm which cannot be crossed. Souls, the spark of life, can't return to their previous form. In the afterlife, their position is eternal, and thus cryonics won't work." "In that passage," Nichols continued, "more information is revealed on the nature of heaven. Consider the disposition of the individuals depicted in the Bible. In the afterlife, people retain their identities, as did Abraham and Lazarus. They are aware and have their senses, as in the case of the rich man who knew he was in torment. There are two options, either heaven or perdition. Finally, one's eternal destiny is fixed according to what is stated in the Bible." "But, what if somebody doesn't believe in the Bible, sir?" "Many do not," Nichols reflected, "when someone mentions anything about Jesus and the Bible, they stop listening." "This concerns the nature of God and the heart of religion. Assume for a moment that cryonics is somehow correct, then God and religion do not exist. There is no resurrection, no salvation, no afterlife, and science rules everything." "What about you, sir?" "The $64,000 question!" Nichols chuckled. "We all face the same final event. There are no exceptions. Most people are afraid of death, because it's something beyond our reality. Abraham is correct, no one returns from the dead. Promises of immortality are among the oldest and persistent hoaxes throughout time. This is just a more recent version, and people afraid of death are likely to believe almost anything and foolishly spend their money. But, nobody can tell them otherwise even on this one inescapable inevitable journey. They will not listen to Jesus, Moses, the Bible, or any of the prophets. However, death is final in our physical form." "For Christians, the afterlife promises many rewards, and the same holds true for Moslems. For Hindus and Buddhist, life continues through reincarnation in another new form. We have something to look forward to, but not as we are..." Nichols replaced the Bible on the bookshelf and somberly commented, "Curious more than fearful, it's the explorer imbedded within, to open that next door and see eternity. Sure, I pray it's on Abraham's side." He returned to his desk and assumed an editorial demeanor. "Drop the religious angle, it's too controversial." "But, sir, it could be important. The previous cryonics CEO and President resigned after being with the firm for less than two years. He is also an elder in his church. Seventh Day Adventists literally believe in the Bible. I'd like to include that in the story, and follow with some of your passages." "All the more reason to drop the issue," Nichols counseled. "Wonder why he even considered the job in the first place? Tell me what else you have on Ted Williams." "Sir, Ben Bradlee, Jr. called twice from Boston." "He's up to something," Nichols concurred, "persistent and resourceful, just like his dad. Still in Cambridge?" "Yes, sir. He was editor of the Boston Globe for 25 years. Now he's writing a definitive book on Ted Williams, devoting full time to it, and has interviewed 600 people, so he said. He wanted again to contact Bobby-Jo, but couldn't..." "I can't divulge that kind of information," he interrupted and Nichols' voice became more subdued. "She said not to, and that's a firm pledge which Ben understands." "Bobby-Jo and Mark do not want to discuss anything related to her father because of legal obligations, uncertainty on publication content, and the topic of her 'daddy' has been difficult for her when he was alive and now afterwards." "Are there other issues?" Nichols changed the subject. "Yes sir, two, Florida museums and Williams sculptures." "One at a time," Nichols leaned back in his chair to listen. "The Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame and Museum moved last month from Hernando to Tropicana Field and reopened April 10. The original building is gorgeous, it won a design award, and opened in February 1994. It contained numerous artifacts and memorabilia, and has a 85 seat auditorium for historic films. Outside there was a 'walk a fame' with engraved reminders of famous baseball players. Ted Williams himself would be there when he could, but attendance dropped after..." "Maybe that'll change once he's defrosted," Nichols laughed. "Unintentionally or deliberately the museum closed. Go on..." "Yes, sir. At Tropicana Field, the museum is in an arcade by the gift shop. Items that didn't fit were put in storage." "What about public access?" Nichols inquired. "Sir, it's limited to when there are home games, and is open two hours before they start and until the last inning." "Museums are important," Nichols reflected, "for public images and for preserving history and retaining culture. The national Mall downtown, for example, the monuments, memorials, museums; everything featured should be uplifting remembrances. What is selected and designed for the Mall should be proper and correct. Unfortunately, there are groups deliberately bent on modifying our images and heros." "Last April," Nichols began a brief aside, "the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery had a preliminary private presentation in the Hall of Presidents. The collection contains portraits of all presidents since Washington. A new portrait of former President Clinton was unveiled which was appropriate. However, for some unprecedented reason, a portrait of Hilary Clinton was also unveiled in the same exhibit. This is highly presumptuous. Private funds were acquired for the portrait, and the curator went along with the charade." "The ceremony and reception was April 24. The exhibit will be open to the public August 19, Bill Clinton's 60th birthday and the Smithsonian's 160th birthday. Coincidence?" "I knew Dillon Ripley when he was Secretary of the Smithsonian, and spent a month in India with him in February 1976. He would never allow his organization to be manipulated in such a manner." "I'm fond of the Smithsonian," Nichols further noted, "it's the keeper and storehouse of America's history for the nation." "And, there's more, this summer the Museum of American History will close two years for 'architectural renovations.' This is slated to be design and not content related. We already know Hilary Clinton has changes in mind for the First Ladies Exhibit to make it more than gowns. There are related concerns about the historical content of the entire building being modified during the renovation process without Congressional awareness and oversight or knowledge of the American people. Many of our images and heros could suddenly disappear. This story is for more than one reporter or newspaper." "Smith 6079!" "Ha! Exactly," Nichols laughed and quoted accompanying lines, "'He who controls the past, controls the future. And, he who controls the present controls the past.' They probably figure that no one will know the difference, remember our history, or take the initiative to challenge the changes." "Ted Williams," Nichols summarized, "is a national icon and American baseball hero, and his image has been diminished. He's frozen in a ghoulish nightmare the practices of which should be investigated. During April, his original museum building was closed with the contents relegated to obscurity. Now, tell me what you have on the sculptures you mentioned." "Sir, you probably saw the news coverage several months ago on the 'death mask,' which was done in poor taste, but the artist boldly claimed it was a tribute to Ted Williams." "Based on my observations," Nichols interjected, "nothing could be further from the truth. His perspective was again revealed with the depiction of Britney Spears giving birth, which also is obscene. But, he claimed that artwork was in support of pro-life. This is not a master artist, but rather a master of deceit, saying one thing and meaning another." "On the other hand, an accomplished sculptor of Williams is Armand LaMontagne," Nichols mentioned. "His highly realistic works include 'On Deck' and 'Swinging Away.' He completed life-size renditions of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Orr, Larry Bird, and many others. LaMontagne rightfully deserves national coverage, but doesn't seek that kind of publicity." Nichols decided to switch subjects, "Now, tell what you know about his cryonics treatment, without anything religious." "Yes, sir. He passed away at 83 years old and succumbed to congestive heart failure and complications from a stroke on July 5, 2002. They flew the remains from the hospital, and immediately treated him for cryonics suspension." "In the Arizona lab, they drained the bodily fluids, severed his head from the torso, slowly lowered the temperature to -340F degrees, and eventually stored the remains in separate stainless steel containers. The process took about two weeks. There are two sources; Arizona Republic, July 12, 2002, and Sports Illustrated, August 13, 2003." Nichols nodded and inquired further, "Now, tell me what you know about the legal aspects of his cryonics placement." "Well, sir, his 1996 will stated cremation with the ashes spread over the Florida Keys along with those of Slugger his Dalmatian. His current condition and placement was based on a hand-written note which he allegedly signed in a hospital November 2, 2000, and subsequent contracts with the cryonics firm in July 2002." "You're right, the December 26, 1996 Last Will and Testament stated a funeral, ceremony, and cremation," Nichols agreed. "The remains were taken before that could occur. Have you seen that other piece of paper?" "Yes, sir, apparently he signed or initialed it, at least there is a signature. Here's a copy of the note." JHW, Claudia, and Dad all agree To be Put into Bio-Stasis after we Die. This is what we want, To be able To be Together in the Future, even it is only a chance. "It doesn't matter if he signed it or not," Nichols stated. "A hand-written will is called a Holographic Will, and that text was written by the son." "Holographic Wills are not valid in Florida according to State Code Section 732.501-502. About twenty states permit Holographic Wills, but Florida does not. In places where they do permit such wills, they must be written entirely by the testator, and immediately incorporated into an existing formal will. This was not done." Nichols continued, "As for contracts with the cryonics firm, the family attorney John Heer reviewed those documents in December 2004. The contracts were signed and dated July 5 and July 26, 2002, which was postmortem." "OK, clean up your story. Write on placement and treatment, include as sidebars the bit about his museums in Florida and LaMontagne's sculptures. Leave religion to the theologians. Now get out of here, I've got a paper to run!" Note: For more information on the condition of Ted Williams, and for examples of artwork by Armand LaMontagne, see this website. http://www.saveted.net This website includes an "Action Agenda" which outlines "Nine Things You Can Do to Help Save Ted Williams." 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 May 24, 1935 First MLB night game, Phillies and Reds. May 25, 1905 Martin Dihigo birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. May 25, 1928 Mary Wells Laurence birthdate, Avis ads. May 25, 1935 Babe Ruth hits 714th homerun. May 25, 1982 Ferguson Jenkins 3,000th strikeout. May 26, 1877 Isadora Duncan birthdate, entertainer. May 26, 1932 Joe Altobelli birthdate, MLB manager. May 27, 1819 Julia Ward Howe birthdate, song writer, authored "Battle Hymn of the Republic." May 27, 1960 First oversized catcher mitt for Hoyt Wilhelm. May 28, 1896 Warren Giles birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. May 28, 1968 American League creates two divisions. May 29, 1922 Supreme Court declares baseball a sport and not a business subject to antitrust laws. May 29, 1990 Rickey Henderson 893 career stolen bases. May 30, 1927 Jimmy Cooney unassisted triple play. May 31, 1927 Johnny Neun unassisted triple play. May 31, 1935 Babe Ruth final at bat with Boston Braves. D. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume IX, 2006 Season Publications Number 13, Playing on Abramham's Side (Williams), May 25. Number 12, Clifford Finds the Easter Bunny, April 14. Number 11, Way to Go Joltin' Jo (Joes and Jo), April 7. Number 10, Alibi Isis Misses Spring Training, March 31. Number 09, Clifford Wears Some Green, March 15. Number 08, Let the Games Begin (1936 Olympics), March 14. Number 07, To Be or Not to Be (Williams), February 24. Number 06, Clifford's Favorite Valentine, February 10. 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, and TXU181096. Copyrights(c), NWB Hall of Fame, 1998-2006 __________________________________________________________