November 2024 Newsletter
By Gilbert D. Martinez
Dodgers fans still reveling in their favorite team’s World Series triumph, fans of other teams pondering what their favorite teams might do in the off season and a fun trivia quiz involving baseball players and celebrities were among the topics of discussion at the November chapter meeting on Saturday.
Eighteen chapter members and guests met in Southwest Austin to enjoy baseball chatter and Mexican food at Serranos.
Die-hard Dodgers fans Jerry Miller and Mike Harrell (pictured above, Jerry, right) arrived decked out in the latest fashion – 2024 World Series merch.
Jerry also brought a fun quiz about the intersection of baseball and show biz. In a tough contest that was almost too tough to call, Cy Morong edged out another Dodgers fan, Dan Walsh, by one point, 36 to 35 to take top honors. Don Dingee was third with 33 points. Tom Thayer was the only other contestant in the 30s with 30 points. Gary McIntosh placed fifth with 28 points. Jerry brought Dodgers-related memorabilia as prizes.
Take your swing at Jerry’s quiz below (the answers immediately follow the questions) and see if you can top our heavy hitters.
2024 Chapter Predictatron Winners
Raise the Jolly Roger!
By Jim Baker
In what seemed like an inevitable conclusion for most of the season—but actually came within three games of not happening—Mr. Rogers has won the 2024 Hornsby Chapter Predictatron. Is it fitting that someone named Rogers wins it in a chapter named for Rogers Hornsby? Perhaps. He led the way by a good margin for the majority of the season, only to be threatened at the very end by the possibility of a Yankees World Championship. If New York had prevailed, then Mr. Dillon would have eked out the 832-831 victory.
Not only will Mr. Rogers get to take possession of the big trophy, he also successfully defended the naming rights to his division. So, next season, we’ll have the Brian Rogers Division again, joined this time by the Eric Robinson Division. Eric earned this right by way of winning the Raeanne Martinez Division in fairly convincing fashion. Runner-up Mr. Gay made it look closer than it actually was with an impressive postseason run that saw him rise from fifth place all the way to second. (For her part, Ms. Martinez put on a spirited defense of her division, but ended the season in third place.)
These players had the best postseason showings, led by Mr. Walsh, who leveraged this output into a second-place finish in the Rogers Division and the second-best score in the contest entire:
Most points added in the postseason:
40 Dan Walsh
28 Ryan Pollack
28 Scott Gay
28 Jerry Miller
28 Mike Harrell
24 Mike Dillon
24 Jan Larson
Five players correctly named the World Champion back in March:
Scott Gay
Mike Harrell
Jerry Miller
Ryan Pollack
Dan Walsh
Among them, though, only Mr. Walsh foretold a Dodgers-over-Yankees World Series. Mr. Dillon and Mr. Larson correctly predicted a Dodgers-Yankees Series but got the winner wrong.
In the end, we finished with an average score of 781 points each and a median of 785. There was very little difference between the averages of the two divisions, but the top three scorers were in the Brian Rogers Division.
The great thing about Predictatron is that you get to start all over from scratch again next season. 2025 don’t care what you done in 2024. This year’s bottom dweller can easily end up holding the big trophy at our meeting in January of 2026, so see you next year!
Postseason Predictatron Tourney: Ryan Pollack rules the roost
Ryan Pollack thought he had the contest in the bag after Monday night when the Dodgers were leading 3-0. The only way he could lose was if the Yankees made the greatest comeback in World Series history and won the next four games, in which case Mike Dillon would have been our champion. The Yankees gave his confidence a crease by winning Game 4 in convincing fashion. Then, when they jumped all over Jack Flaherty and built a 5-0 lead in Game 5, he really began to wonder if he was going to lose the contest to a miracle.
Instead, the 2024 running of the Hornsby Chapter Postseason Tourney titled back in his direction in a most infamous manner and the Dodgers prevailed 7-6, giving Ryan the title. In so doing, he named six of the seven series correctly, missing only on the Phillies-Mets LDS. He nailed the ALCS perfectly and lost just one point in the NLCS and the World Series. His 37-point showing ties him for sixth all time. He joins the 30-point club for the second time, having scored 35 on his way to a fourth-place finish in 2020. Only 16 players have scored 30 or more points since the contest began in 2007, and that’s in over 250 entries.
Our 2024 runner-up is Mike Harrell, the only player to correctly pick a five-game Dodger win in the World Series (albeit against the Tigers). The other two players who predicted a Los Angeles triumph were Gary McIntosh, who finished third, and Raeanne Martinez, who came in fourth. This is Mike’s first foray into the contest and it was a decided success.
This marks the first title for Ryan. His previous best showing in the standings was in 2017 when he came in second with a score of 27. Among active players (those who have played at least once in the last five seasons), Ryan now also has the best average, coming in at 14.50 per season. Among all players who played in a minimum of three contests, only the late Bill Gilbert (16.70) and the late three-time champion Craig Lukshin (16.13) are better.
With this victory, Ryan’s name is now added to the list of exalted victors.
|
Year |
Champion |
Points |
|
2007 |
Craig Lukshin (1) |
42 |
|
2008 |
Tom Wancho (1) |
37 |
|
2009 |
Dan Walsh |
24 |
|
2010 |
Craig Lukshin (2) |
27 |
|
2011 |
Monte Cely |
28 |
|
2012 |
Jan Larson |
27 |
|
2013 |
Bill Gilbert |
*46* |
|
2014 |
Raeanne Martinez |
-2 |
|
2015 |
Jim Baker (1) |
17 |
|
2016 |
David Skelton |
37 |
|
2017 |
Jim Baker (2) |
44 |
|
2018 |
Jim Baker (3) |
33 |
|
2019 |
Craig Lukshin (3) |
28 |
|
2020 |
Tom Wancho (2) |
42 |
|
2021 |
Gilbert Martinez |
7 |
|
2022 |
David Curtoys |
19 |
|
2023 |
Frank Rechtorovic |
16 |
|
2024 |
Ryan Pollack |
37 |
Cool Baseball Stories: My Trip to the 2024 World Series Games 4 & 5
By Ira Siegel
Upon waking up Sunday morning Oct. 27, after the New York Yankees were down 0-2 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, it became obvious that having lived the thrill of being at Game 6 in 1996 (when the Yankees lost the first two games at home and the Atlanta Braves had three future HOF starting pitchers), I had to go to New York or I’d never forgive myself if they came back to win this Series. Breakfast was quick, airfare and hotel reservations were already made, and StubHub had been scoured the past few days. Tickets were rapidly purchased. It’s what we live for!
After watching Game 3’s loss from my hotel room, things were really going to be difficult…but not impossible. After two trains to get to Yankee Stadium and over a half hour of switchbacks to enter the ballpark, it was an exuberant atmosphere. Freddie Freeman homered in the 1st and L.A. had a 3-0 lead until Anthony Volpe hit a grand slam and Yankee Stadium was rocking. The Dodgers made in 5-4 in the 5th, so it was a nail-biter until the Yankees’ 5-run 8th. My section was high-fiving the last nine outs like we all knew each other. Sinatra was doing a loud and long version of “New York, New York,” accompanied by thousands of exuberant fans, that was heard until entering the subway. I was so glad I was there!
Pandemonium broke out inside Yankee Stadium in Game 5 as they had an early 5-0 lead, Gerrit Cole seemed to be in total command, and getting back to L.A. for Game 6 seemed like a sure thing… but it’s baseball. Cole was huge in picking up his teammates’ two errors but then didn’t cover first. The rest is history. It was a tight game, but they gave it away. They should’ve won both Game 1 (lost due to defensive miscues by Soto and Torres) and Game 5, then flown to California up 3-2, but the Dodgers capitalized on the Yankees’ mistakes.
I’ve now been to four World Series clinchers. I’m a lucky guy. I was at Game 4 of the Big Red Machine’s 1976 sweep of the Yankees. Seeing the Yankees clinch at home in 1996 and in San Diego in 1998 are memories of unbridled joy. 2024 is a lesson in “you can’t win them all,” but I made the right decision that Sunday morning.
(Have a cool baseball story related to something recent you’d like to share with the chapter? Please contact Gilbert D. Martinez for details.)
Call for Submissions
The National Pastime: Baseball in Texas/Oklahoma
Steve West with the Banks-Bragan Chapter in the Dallas/Fort Worth area will be the co-editor of The National Pastime: Baseball in Texas/Oklahoma. He is putting out a call for submissions for the publication.
By Steve West
The 2025 SABR national convention will take place in Dallas/Fort Worth from June 25 to 29, 2025. The 2025 issue of The National Pastime will focus on the region, which includes not only the DFW Metroplex but also North, Central, and West Texas, as well as Oklahoma and perhaps even parts of Louisiana and Arkansas (but not Houston or South Texas). Basically, if it is covered by the Rangers Radio Network, we’re interested.
Texas and Oklahoma have a long history of baseball. The origins of the Texas League go back to 1888, and dozens of professional and semiprofessional leagues have existed over the decades. College baseball leagues have appeared in the records almost as long. The two states have produced hundreds of major leaguers between them, along with their fair share of Hall of Famers (note that articles about well-known players like Mickey Mantle would need to break new ground, not merely reproduce old stories). The Rangers themselves have won three pennants and their first World Series. Former Rangers owner George W. Bush even became president.
As always, everything is bigger in Texas, and we are seeking a mix of topics showcasing the diversity of baseball throughout the region. We’re looking for articles which may feature major, minor, or Negro league baseball, along with college, high school, and more. Research articles could be historical, biographical, or statistical, but please avoid personal narrative.
This issue of The National Pastime will be co-edited by Steve West and Publications Director Cecilia Tan. To submit an article idea or abstract please fill out the form linked here by Dec. 15. Only submissions sent using the online portal will be considered. Authors will be notified of accepted submissions shortly afterwards, with first drafts due no later than Feb. 1, and rewrites (if needed) will be due by April 15, 2025.
Queries should include a paragraph about the topic, an explanation of its importance to the region, a brief description of why you are interested in it, the resources you intend to use, and what of your research is original. Topics should not duplicate previously published work without significantly expanding the research.
The length for TNP articles is 1,500 to 2,500 words – the size of a midterm paper, not a master’s thesis. Please estimate how long you expect your article to be. If you are given a word count limit by the editor, you must stick to it.
For full writers guidelines and details on how to prep your manuscript for submission, click here. Remember that to be published in a SABR journal, your SABR membership must be current.
Next meeting
Join us for the last meeting of the year at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at County Line on the Lake (5204 RM 2222, Austin). A meeting announcement will go out via the chapter list asking for RSVPs in early December.
Also, please make plans to join us for the 19th Annual Bill Gilbert Winter Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Texas State University! Winter meeting coordinator Jerry Miller is working on a fun day filled with baseball memories, presentations and stories. More details to come next month.
Baseball and Show Biz Quiz
By Jerry Miller
Although the gridiron romance of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce has gotten much of the recent ink, baseball too has a history of connections with Hollywood or other parts of the entertainment world. Let’s see how much you know about the intersection of ballpark and celebrity. Quiz total is 40 points.
- An easy one to get you started: which Hall of Famer was married (briefly) to the preeminent Hollywood sex symbol of the day, and the star of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?”
- And for a more recent example, name the likely Cooperstown-bound right-handed pitcher who is Mr. Kate Upton.
- Continuing with the marriage theme, name the Hall of Fame manager from the 40s, 50s, and 60s that was married to actress Larraine Day.
- Turning to offspring, name the recently deceased host of the game show “Hollywood Squares,” and his baseball playing son. (One point each).
- And while we’re at it, name the star relief pitcher who was on the mound for the first World Series clinching win of his franchise, and his son, a modern mega-country music star. (One point each.)
- Speaking of country music, what does singer Garth Brooks have in common, baseball wise, with comedians Billy Crystal and Will Farrell?
- Going back to when baseball teams were owned by individuals rather than conglomerates, name the original owner of the Los Angeles Angels who was known as “The Singing Cowboy.”
- Continuing with the American League West, what singer and comedian once owned the Seattle Mariners, and wrote and performed a famous song about the 1960s-era Dodgers?
- This famous singer was a former part owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. While on tour overseas, he arranged to record Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. His tape – the only complete video of that game – was only recently discovered, and he is alone responsible for our ability to watch the whole game, culminating in Bill Mazeroski’s Series-winning home run.
- Although the Pirates and Cleveland Indians never met in the World Series, this comedian, along with the answer to #9, appeared together in a series of famous “road” movies.
- This first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers was also a member of the NBA champion Boston Celtics, but became more famous for starring in a 1960s TV western series.
- This former infielder played ten years in the major leagues, mostly for the St. Louis Browns, and later starred for 33 years in the soap opera “General Hospital.”
- Match each of the modern-day stars below with their favorite baseball team. (One point each)
Joan Jett Los Angeles Dodgers
Jon Hamm Boston Red Sox
Bryan Cranston Oakland (Sacramento?) A’s
Ben Affleck San Francisco Giants
Colin Hanks St. Louis Cardinals
Denzel Washington Baltimore Orioles
Tom Hanks New York Yankees
- We all know that the late Chadwick Boseman played Jackie Robinson in the movie “42.” Who played Jackie in the 1950 film “The Jackie Robinson Story”?
- We also know that Robert Redford played Roy Hobbs in “The Natural.” But which Hall of Fame pitcher was a high school classmate of Redford’s in Southern California?
- And while we’re at it, which former Rookie of the Year was an “extra” in “The Natural?”
- Match the actor with the real-life baseball player he played. (One point each)
Paul Rudd Lou Gehrig in “Pride of the Yankees”
Dennis Quaid Shoeless Joe Jackson in “Field of Dreams”
Gary Cooper Branch Rickey in “42″
Ray Liotta Ty Cobb in “Cobb”
John Cusack “Moonlight” Graham in “Field of Dreams”
Harrison Ford Art Howe in “Moneyball”
John Goodman Buck Weaver in “Eight Men Out”
Burt Lancaster Moe Berg in “The Catcher Was A Spy”
Phillip Seymour Hoffman Jim Morris in “The Rookie”
Tommy Lee Jones Babe Ruth in “The Babe”
- And finally, match the actor with the fictional ballplayer he played. (One point each).
Kevin Costner Stan Ross in “Mr. 3000″
Charlie Sheen Billy Chapel in “For Love of the Game”
Tom Hanks Nuke LaLoosh in “Bull Durham”
Tim Robbins Jimmy Dugan in “A League of Their Own”
Bernie Mac Mr. Mertle in “The Sandlot”
Tom Selleck Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn in “Major League”
James Earl Jones Jack Elliot in “Mr. Baseball”
ANSWERS
- Joe DiMaggio (married Marilyn Monroe January 1954; she filed for divorce nine months later)
- Justin Verlander
- Leo Durocher
- Peter Marshall and Pete LaCock
- Tug and Tim McGraw
- They all played in major league spring training games.
- Gene Autry
- Danny Kaye
- Bing Crosby
- Bob Hope
- Chuck Connors
- Johnny Beradino (alternate spellings acceptable)
- Jett – Orioles; Hamm – Cardinals; Cranston – Dodgers; Affleck – Red Sox; Colin Hanks – Giants; Washington – Yankees; Tom Hanks – Athletics
- Jackie Robinson (he played himself)
- Don Drysdale, Van Nuys High
- “Super Joe” Charbonneau
- Rudd – Berg; Quaid – Morris; Cooper – Gehrig; Liotta – Jackson; Cusack – Weaver; Ford – Rickey; Goodman – Ruth; Lancaster – Graham; Hoffman – Howe; Jones – Cobb
- Costner – Chapel; Sheen – Vaughn; Hanks – Dugan; Robbins – LaLoosh; Mac – Ross; Selleck – Elliot