Tag Archives: Polo Grounds

The Ol’ Neighborhood Play

Posted on January 19, 2020 by rightoffthebatbook

The pitcher does a little shuffle: By the time the ball’s released his back foot is ten inches in front of the rubber. The ball whizzing toward the batter is loaded with pine-tar or similar foreign-substance; or the ball’s been … Continue reading →

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Great Stadiums (9): Daphne du Maurier Stadium (Oracle Park in San Francisco)

Posted on May 6, 2019 by rightoffthebatbook

Daphne du Maurier wrote “The Birds,” a short story expanded upon by Alfred Hitchcock to a film of eco-psychology that features his greatest special effects, glamorous skulduggery on Mount Rushmore notwithstanding. Oracle Park—Pacific Bell, then SBC; after those corporate-naming auspices … Continue reading →

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Great Stadiums (5): Houston, We Have a Problem

Posted on November 9, 2013 by rightoffthebatbook

The NRG Astrodome, once The Eighth Wonder Of The World in Houston, may (or may not) succumb to the wreckers’ ball, as Ebbets Field did, as the Polo Grounds did, as countless great ballparks have, unless a lot of people … Continue reading →

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We Are the Champions, We Are the Champions, We Are the Champions

Posted on October 29, 2012 by rightoffthebatbook

In the end, it was diminutive Venezuelan Marco Scutaro delivering as ballyhooed Venezuelan Miguel Cabrera struck out without offering a swing. The Giants earned their seventh World Championship, second in three years, as well as second since leaving New York … Continue reading →

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Ruth in Early Retirement

Posted on May 20, 2012 by rightoffthebatbook

Get a good look at that face. It is Babe Ruth, in a WPA photograph from 1936, taken at the Polo Grounds before or during the World Series, September 30. The year after Ruth called it quits was Joe DiMaggio’s … Continue reading →

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Bobby Abreu: The Human Rolling Blackout

Posted on April 10, 2011 by rightoffthebatbook

“News: Abreu went 5-for-5 with two walks in Sunday’s extra-innings loss to the Royals. (Sun Apr 3) “Spin: Despite the monster day at the plate, Abreu came away scoring just one run, on his own homer in the seventh inning, … Continue reading →

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“Willie, Mickey, and the Duke” (and Probably in that Order)

Posted on March 3, 2011 by rightoffthebatbook

The New York Times obituary portrays a self-lacerating Duke Snider. I had no idea. Snider’s career (1947–64) overlapped my early following baseball only on the late side. I therefore had a slight connection to this member of the New York City … Continue reading →

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