As a baseball fan, I read such articles with fascination. However, those in my lifetime bring back unpleasant memories. Why would I dwell on such things?
Verducci says it "reminds us just how great an institution baseball is, for it has survived these." Yeah, maybe so. But reading them doesn't make me think, "Gosh, baseball's great!"
Rather, it reminds me that baseball is made up of flawed humans. Some make tragic mistakes. Some show a lack of concern for others. None of the items on the list show sportsmanship.
While he alludes to Phillies owner Bill Cox being banned from baseball for betting on his team, that incident doesn't make the list. Pete Rose's being banned for betting on the Reds does make the list (number 7).
I might take issue with the order in which he put some of the items. Number one, for instance.
Commissioner Kenesaw Landis in 1942 announces there is no policy, official or otherwise, barring blacks from baseball.The supporting story behind retells the story that Landis colluded with NL president Ford Frick to make sure Bill Veeck couldn't buy the Phillies and hire Negro League players in 1943, and helped direct the sale to Cox instead. While the story was accepted as gospel for years, there are enough questions to cause -- in my mind, at least -- doubt about it.
Frick, for instance, put down a protest by St. Louis Cardinals players regarding Jackie Robinson's playing. Also, Baseball Digest reports Cox was a thorn in the side of Frick, suggesting to me that Frick wouldn't have supported Cox if he hadn't been the highest bidder for the Phillies.
So, I'm not so sure about the accuracy of number one. My personal choice would be number 5: The Steroid Era.
This chapter of baseball's disgrace isn't complete. And the fact it's still going on suggests that steroids may be overlooked ... for certain players, at least. And to me, that's baseball's biggest disgrace.
Bet on baseball ... on your own team ... and be banned for life. Use drugs ... get in the Hall of Fame.
If that's not a disgrace, I don't know what is.
Cross-posted at Baseball-Fans
Drugs and Steroids are like the ugle step child, there not mentioned and all bad behavoir is overlooked.
ReplyDeleteLook at Strawberry and Doc Gooden, they are a true disgrace to the game yet they are revered as hero's in the game. They are drug-addicts, nothing more nothing less.
Look at Barry Bonds, add his name to the disgrace to baseball list. All his accomplishments are looked at as flawed because who knows if he or the steroids did what he did. Mr Weenie keeps saying he was a great player before the steroids, he could have done alot but having done the streoids flaws his entire career.
Yet players like Kirby Puckett (one of my favorite players, a true player) are just about ignored.
He said "embarrasssing moments" and then provided only one thing that could be described as a momemnt -- The Pirate Parrot being wired by the FBI
ReplyDeleteThe rest are not "embarrassing" but shames. Scandals. Really bad things that in some cases went on for decades.
His title is wrong. I expected the times OF caught the ball for Out No. 2 and threw it in the stands -- thinking there were three outs
Instead of some light salad for summer, we got this wretched gruel.
Racism is not an "embarrassing moment"
An essay condemning racism is welcome, but please, don't label it "embarrassing moments"
The ball bouncing off Jose Canseco's noggin is an embarrassing moment. Keeping Satchel Paige out of the bigs until he was 42 was a tragedy
Ok, the ball going through *crap, brain freeze* (red sox guy) legs, now THAT is embarassing.
ReplyDeleteBill Buckner, I knew it would come to me.
ReplyDelete