_________________________________________________________ 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 00427 _________________________________________________________ Volume XI, Number 33 Publisher and Author November 28, 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 MEET TED WILLIAMS Thursday Evening October 23, 1941 With his clear compelling crisp vibrant voice, veteran announcer Ken Niles opened the show spelling the name of the team's sponsor, --"CAMEL." Ken: "That's right folks, CAMEL! 'C' stands for Comedy, 'A' for Abbott, 'M' for marvelous, 'E' for energetic, and 'L' for Lou. Put them all together, and what do you get? 'CAMEL!' Experience is the best teacher, so try a Camel." He paused momentarily, "Draw up your favorite chair, and turn up your radio. It's time to get ready for tonight's NBC broadcast starring Buddie Abbott and Louise Ciullo with entirely new routines for your listening enjoyment." "Here they are folks, the queens of comedy, Bud and Lou!" Lou: "Hey, Aaaabbott!" a trademark scream set the tone. "Gee, am I really excited about tonight's show!" Bud: "You're always excited about the show. What's so special about this particular Thursday evening?" Lou: "Well, you know how much I love baseball." Bud: "Certainly, I know, I know! What's extraordinary about that fact? Everybody loves baseball! Go on!" Lou: "And, you know I really love those New York Yankees." Bud: "Yes, that's correct, but almost everyone loves the Yankees. They won the World Series, again. Go on!" Lou: "You see my next most favorite baseball hero second only to Babe Ruth is on tonight, the 'Yankee Clipper.'" Bud: "You mean Joe DiMaggio. Yes, I know that, I read the script this afternoon in rehearsal over at Universal. But, wait a minute, wait a minute, DiMaggio isn't going to like playing second fiddle to what you just said about him compared to Babe Ruth. He's top banana! What if he overheard you saying he's second to Babe Ruth?" Lou: "Babe Ruth isn't playing baseball anymore, right? Babe Ruth is officially retired, right? And, Babe Ruth is already inside Cooperstown, right?" Bud: "Yes, that's all true. He was elected in 1936 the first year there were inductions, and that was just north of the Catskills. Back then there wasn't even a building. You've trooped around the Catskills before." Lou: "Babe Ruth is in, but the Clipper has many more years to play baseball, and possibly match the Bambino. Whenever DiMaggio retires, he'll be inside those Catskills too, and afterwards maybe I could say he was better than Babe Ruth, and he won't be mad at me anymore." "Telegram, telegram for Abbott and Ciullo! Telegram!!!" An actor on cue wearing a Western Union cap shouted into a separate studio microphone. Bud: "Over here, I'll take it!" reading the telegram Bud remarked, "Well, Lou it looks like your worries are over." Lou: "How's that?" Bud: "It says here DiMaggio can't make it tonight because he's home in San Francisco. And, I don't think he heard your rude remarks, or would care about what you just said." "Let me read this telegram to you and our audience, it says: 'Birth announcement , Joseph Paul DiMaggio, Jr. , 23 October 1941 , Future AllStar Yankee fielder , Remaining in SF .'" Lou: "With all the 'stops' no wonder he didn't hear anything." Bud: "Oh, be serious, this is great news! That's right folks, as I just reported, Joe DiMaggio and Dorothy Arnold DiMaggio are proud parents today of their first child." Lou: "Mr. Joltin' Joe certainly did his work." Bud: "Cut out the clowning, this is a wonderful announcement. Can't you be serious for a moment?!" "Folks, this was a tremendous year for baseball, and not to disappoint any listeners about Joe DiMaggio not being here, instead the show's line-up later will feature another great baseball hero who happened to be on the west coast for a fishing trip in San Diego, --Ted Williams." Lou: "Wow! Ted Williams on our show! This is like a kid in a candy shop. First we were talking about Joe DiMaggio, then we're discussing Babe Ruth, and it's on to Ted Williams. He hit .406 this year! Nobody will ever top that again." Bud: "DiMaggo was no slouch either. He hit safely in 56 games, another terrific baseball feat this year. But, tell me Lou, which do you think was a greater achievement, --56 game streak, or .406 season average?" Lou: "Are they listening? Abbott, I'll bet they're listening!" Bud: "Williams might have turned on a car radio while driving to the studio. Don't let that scare you. Tell me what you think. Nobody will punch you in the nose. If anyone gets mad at you, I'll protect you, don't worry that's guaranteed." Lou: "That's what I'm afraid of!" Bud: "Go ahead now, tell me which one was better 56 or .406." Lou: "The Yankees team was the best all last year, so I figure Williams' batting average was the greater feat than DiMaggio's hitting streak." Bud: "Oh, brother this will be interesting. How do you figure? What do their teams have to do with any of this?" Lou: "The Yankees as usual were great this year." Bud: "Yes, they won the World Series in 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, and this season 1941." Lou: "What happened to 1940?" Bud: "Oh, that was the year DiMaggio hurt his knee." Lou: "You're favoring DiMaggio, again. I can see it! I've got nothing against Joe, especially since his wife just had a baby, but Williams had a better year, and I can prove it!" Bud: "OK, OK, I'm waiting to hear your explanation. In fact, we're all waiting to hear why, because the Yankees were better, then Williams' .406 was more exceptional than DiMaggio's 56. Numbers don't lie, what's your story?" Lou: "Everyone knows that the Yankees won 101 games last season, while the Red Soxs had only 84 victories." Bud: "Yeah, so what? Nobody's arguing the Yankees were better. The Yankees won the American League pennant and World Series." Lou: "The Yankees won so much because the entire team was tops, and DiMaggio had more chances at homeplate to hit the ball." "Joe had 541 at bats compared to Williams 456 trips to the plate. With a power hitting team, DiMaggio might have 4-5 times at bat in every game to hit safely and get on base. He only had to hit at least .250 or .200, which is 1 out of 4 or 1 out of 5, to get on base to keep his streak going. But, Williams had to hit well all the time, all season, to keep his .406 average. Because of his team, Williams only averaged 2.96 at bats per game during the 1941 season, while DiMaggio averaged 3.51. So, Williams had to work harder to achieve his record, and that's why it's a greater accomplishment." Bud: "Well, I'm truly amazed Lou, that actually made some sense. You presented a rational cogent defendable argument. Certainly, it appears easier for DiMaggio to keep a streak going with more at bats per game because of his team's overall success." Lou: "How about that?! I don't even know what I'm talking about!" Bud: "But, Lou, you do know a lot about sports. I understand you were quite an athlete when you were growing up in Paterson, NJ." Lou: "Yes, that's right, I was a basketball star, and later played for a semi-pro team. And, one year I won the state foul-shooting championship. I was always good with one-liners." Bud: "Did your school teachers appreciate your precocious condition?" Lou: "My what? I don't think I ever caught that while I was a kid." Bud: "No, I mean your constant comments. Your wisecracks in class." Lou: "Some did, some didn't. But, most didn't have a sense of humor, like Miss Whitehead. I'll never forget her." Bud: "Why is that, Lou?" Lou: "Well, she was the school teacher who made me write 150 times on the blackboard, 'I'm a bad boy.'" Bud: "You probably deserved punishment. What's wrong with that?" Lou: "Because back then I was slim, athletic, and cut my hair short. Bessie Whitehead never figured out I was a girl!" Bud: "Oh, brother!" Lou: "But, Abbott, I will play a basketball star for Bixby College in our next movie, 'Here Come the Co-Eds.' I'll be Daisy Dimple, and I've seen the script. I'll dazzle them at courtside billed as, 'The Greatest Girl Basketball Player Ever.'" Bud: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, I thought that was Ballentine!" Lou: "You mean Valentine?" Bud: "No, I said Ballentine with a 'B,' not Valentine with a 'V.'" Lou: "What's the difference? --Ballentine, Valentine, Pallentine." Bud: "Oh, now you're getting confused. Remember in 'Who's on First' Valentine is the batter that bunts the ball, and Today our catcher throws the ball to Who at first base. Frank Valentine runs to Who in what could become a triple play." Lou: "Oh, let's not start that again." Bud: "Here, let me explain. Ballentine was also a catcher, but not for the Saint Louis Wolves, for the BarnCats in Maryland. She's in the NWB Hall of Fame inducted in 2001. And, before that she was a basketball star for George Washington, as a Colonial she once scored 40 points in one game, a collegiate record which still stands." Lou: "She played for George Washington?! You mean the President? Well, I must have missed that one, it was a little before my time." Bud: "Say, it's almost time for our guest the 'Splendid Splinter.'" Lou: "Who?" Bud: "You know, Ted Williams, --'The Kid,' 'Thumper,' 'Number Nine,' 'Teddy Ballgame;' you know the 'Splendid Splinter.' He has plenty of baseball nicknames, and a few I can't mention from the press." Lou: "Well, why don't they make up their minds!" Bud: "Now I want you to be on your best behavior. Do you promise?" Lou: "Yeah, I promise." Bud: "Don't mention anything about the Yankees or DiMaggio." Lou: "I promise." Bud: "Nothing about Mrs. DiMaggio and the new baby. He gets very temperamental about children, and doesn't yet have any himself." Lou: "OK, OK, but what does he have against kids? Even Babe Ruth loves kids, and I like kids, all kinds of kids. They aren't going to take his head off or something." Bud: "Look just stick to basics. Let him do most of the talking. You can remember that, start with fishing, and you have plenty of fishing routines. Discuss the military, and if we get into a war he wants to be a Marine pilot. I'm told he also enjoyed our movie 'Buck Privates,' and he adores the Andrews Sisters." Lou: "Who doesn't like them? Patty sure can sing, and what curves. Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio couldn't touch them." Bud: "They received Academy Award nominations for their hit songs performed in 'Buck Privates.'" Lou: "Oh, oh, here he comes. Ted Williams just walked into our studio. What should I call him? Look! He's not a Kid any more. How about Mr. Splinter? I don't want him to Thumper me." "And, how would the audience know he is here? I mean we could just say he is here and pretend, because nobody knows his voice. They might see him in a newsreel or in the newspapers; but even at Fenway, or any ballpark, all they see is a little dot out on the field smashing the ball. Any lot extra could dub his voice." Bud: "Well, this is truly the real Ted Williams in person. And, they'll just have to take my word." Lou: "I've been doing that for years, and look where it's got me! I don't even know what to call him." Bud: "Then, why not follow my lead? Ladies and gentlemen of our listening audience around the nation, it's a pleasure to introduce Mr. Ted Williams..." Note: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, in addition to appearing in nearly 40 movies and countless live performances, hosted a radio show from October 9, 1941 to May 5, 1949 on Thursday evenings of which this is a new parody with entirely fresh material entitled, "Abbott and Ciullo Meet Ted Williams." Seven films had a "Meet..." theme when they were paired with characters, such as: Frankenstein, Boris Karloff, Captain Kidd, and the Keystone Kops. The objective was delightful entertainment without serious detailed plots, and audiences of the day appreciated that form of humor. During World War II, people needed to relax and laugh. In addition, the team often would appear at theaters to sell War Bonds, and they personally raised $85 million. On their weekly radio shows, they presented traditional vaudeville routines augmented with quality guest stars. The show was popular consisting of fast-paced slapstick with plays on words. By 1939, John Grant became their writer spinning skits and spoofs for all performances starting with "The Kate Smith Radio Show." There was no evidence Abbott and Costello on stage or radio encountered Ted Williams, thus the open ending for this new November 2008 story. In a 1947 radio episode, Lou was fictionally invited to join the Yankees and temporarily replace Joe DiMaggio in centerfield who was recovering from bone spur surgery. However, the team's favorite baseball player always was Babe Ruth. Since this publication concerns women baseball players, names were modified to Buddie Abbott and Louise Ciullo. The latter is a derivation of Ciulla who was inducted in 2003 into the NWB Hall of Fame. Her baseball hero is Ted Williams. B. SAVING TED WILLIAMS BOOK This publication is a collection of fourteen stories that appeared in this newsletter regarding the disposition of Ted Williams after his passing in 2002. For information, please see the following website, and contact Borders.com to order online (search by author last name). "Saving Ted Williams: Tales of Mystery, Intrigue, and Redemption" by Richard C. Jaffeson 164 pages, April 2005, ISBN: 1-4134-8950-8 http://www.SaveTed.net C. 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 D. HISTORIC TIMELINE November 21, 1934 NY Yankees obtain Joe DiMaggio from SF Seals. November 21, 1956 Don Newcombe receives first Cy Young Award. November 22, 1907 Dick Bartell birthdate, MLB player. November 23, 1940 Luis Tiant birthdate, MLB pitcher. November 24, 1911 Ducky Medwick birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. November 24, 1967 Ben McDonald birthdate, MLB player. November 25, 1914 Joe DiMaggio birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. November 25, 1951 Bucky Dent birthdate, MLB player. November 26, 1797 Sojourner Truth birthdate, abolitionist. November 26, 1866 Hugh Duffy birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. November 26, 1908 Lefty Gomez birthdate, MLB Hall of Fame. November 26, 1975 Fred Lynn receives Rookie and MVP awards. November 27, 1974 Bowie Kuhn suspends George Steinbrenner. November 28, 1870 Heinie Peitz birthdate, MLB catcher. November 29, 1876 Nellie Ross birthdate, directed US Mint. November 29, 1922 Minnie Minoso birthdate, MLB player. November 30, 1962 Bo Jackson birthdate, NFL and MLB player. November 30, 1991 First US women world soccer championship. E. FAME FORUM ISSUES Volume XI, 2008 Season Publications 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 F. 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 __________________________________________________________