Dear People,
Congratz to all on last week's subtly sublime 12-6 exercise in mellifluous and tender competitive comraderie. Looking back over the official game records, I can only note with awe that we played 5 and 1/2 scoreless innings, suggesting that we have begun to produce our own crop of pitchers who will soon join Cy Young and Sandy Koufax among history's greatest hurlers. I get teary-eyed thinking about the implications of it all, perhaps because we're still such humble folk.
As you know, next Saturday the 18th is the 57th anniversary of the day that Cleveland pitchers Al Smith (identical twin second cousin of the noted 1928 Democratic Presidential nominee) and Jim Bagby Jr. finally put an end to Joe DiMaggio's sort of impressive 56 game hitting streak. You may think this was no big deal, but at the time this streak was so mesmerizing that few Americans noticed when Hitler invaded Russia. In any case, DiMaggio when on to an honorable career as Marilyn Monroe's husband and the designer behind Mr. Coffee, but Smith and Bagby Jr. have been largely forgotten. Personally, I can not stand back and watch Smith and Bagby's names sink further into oblivion, the Pete Bests of a thankless nation. Therefore, there will be another game this Saturday, July 18th at 5PM at Codorneices filed, if I get the minimum number of commits by this Friday morning.
This is not the time to disrespect the pivotal 11th tier giants of athletic history. Make that commit; Do it for Al Smith and Jim Bagby Jr., two pitchers whose simple desire to say "enough is enough" is an inspiration to us all...Ray
PS: I will be in China from July 27th to August 22nd, so my ability to organize these games will be somewhat impaired. I will have access to AOL in Hong Kong and thus could put together one match on August 7th in the park next to Kwoloon Harbor near Wendy's parent's house, but I cannot be responsible for flights or accommodations. As an alternative, I am happy to delegate the organizational joys of this noble endeavor to any and all volunteers...