History Makers--The Picture Of The Day

There is so much Major League Baseball History represented in this one photo from a late season game between The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals played on September 16th, 1963. With two weeks left in the '63 campaign, The Dodgers were holding on to a slim one game lead for the National League Pennant. Yet the outcome of this game (an L.A. Win) played at the soon to be replaced Sportsman's Park in St. Louis is not what is compelling. What is remarkable about this otherwise mundane in-game photo is that all but one person clearly depicted in uniform played a significant historical role in baseball history. And the one that didn't eventually became The Captain of The Washington Senators--and was involved in the best trade the Expansion Nats ever made. The one that brought My Favorite Player Of All-Time!!, Frank Howard, to the Nation's Capital in 1965.

I love this photo for the History Makers depicted. And not all of the sagas they represent are pleasant ones.

Here's why.

Number 11 with his back to the photographer in this shot is none other than Ken McMullen, the heart and some would say, the soul of the Washington Senators from 1965 through early 1970. The team of my youth. McMullen was a good third baseman with good pop in his bat. And when Senators Owner Bob Short traded Ken away for Aurelio Rodriguez and Rick Reichardt to The California Angels--the official dismantling of Washington's Major League Team truly began.

But wait--there is so much more to follow.

Bending over on the mound picking something up is Johnny Roseboro. The very Dodger catcher who replaced Roy Campanella behind the plate in 1958 when Campy was involved in the horrific car accident which paralyzed the three time NL MVP and ended his career. Roseboro would also be involved in the most violent ON-FIELD incident between two players in Major League History. A well known fracas documented in a special television program currently running on the MLB Network. On August 22, 1965 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco--Roseboro was upset with San Francisco Giants Pitcher (and eventual Hall Of Famer) Juan Marichal. Earlier in that game, Marichal had thrown brushback pitches to Dodgers Maury Wills & Ron Fairly. Roseboro wanted his pitcher--eventual Hall Of Famer Sandy Koufax--to throw his pitches directly at Marichal standing at the plate. The gentlemanly Koufax refused. Upset about no retaliation and taking business into his own hands, Roseboro whizzed his return tosses to Sandy RIGHT PAST Juan Marichal's face. Not taking kindly to Roseboro's too close for comfort throws, Marichal, out of nowhere, raised his baseball bat above his head and proceeded to pummel Roseboro's noggin.

Three times Juan Marichal pounded Roseboro's head with his baseball bat, opening up a huge gash that required 14 stitches and started one of the biggest brawls in baseball history. Roseboro survived, played for five more seasons, and ended his career in 1970 as a catcher for The Washington Senators. Marichal was suspended for nine games in 1965 by The National League and fined--what is today--a ludicrously small amount of dollars ($1750) and was banned from playing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for the remainder of that season.

Number 6 standing on the mound is none other than Ron Fairly himself. Roseboro's Dodger Teammate and eventual unwilling participant in The Marichal Beaning. But what is interesting about Fairly is that in 1969 he would be traded by Los Angeles to The Expansion Montreal Expos (now Washington Nationals) for none other than Maury Wills. The other unwilling participant and his one time teammate in The Marichal Beaning Game. Ron Fairly would play 21 seasons in The Major Leagues. Fairly would become the very first player to ever play for both Canadian Franchises (Montreal & Toronto). And be the only player EVER to be an All-Star for The Expos and The Blue Jays.

The Dodger Pitcher on the mound is Johnny Podres. The winning pitcher in Game 7 of The 1955 World Series. The only time The Brooklyn Dodgers won The World's Championship. The most satisfying moment for any Brooklyn Dodger Fan and The Boys Of Summer. A long awaited Series victory over their arch rival in the American League--The New York Yankees.

Number 24 in Dodger Gray Away Wool is Walter Alston. Hall of Fame Manager who led The Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series Championship. Then, led The Los Angeles Dodgers to three more World Series Wins and five total National League Pennants after The Dodgers headed west to Southern California after the 1957 season. Alston would manage The Dodgers Franchise their last four years in Brooklyn and their first 19 in Los Angeles.

The St. Louis Cardinals player wearing Number 21 is Curt Flood, one of the most important figures for player's rights in Baseball History. A Gold Glove Outfielder, Flood was traded by The Cardinals to The Philadelphia Phillies in late 1969. Flood refused to report claiming Baseball's Reserve Clause (which retained a player's right in perpetuity to the team that originally signed them) was tantamount to slavery. When then Commissioner Bowie Kuhn declined to allow Curt Flood Free Agency (an unknown territory for baseball players at that time), Flood filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball and sat out the entire 1970 Season. Eventually, Curt Flood would lose his case 5-3 in The Supreme Court of The United States. But ground had been broken and a new era of rights for baseball players was soon to follow.

Flood would NEVER receive any of the fruits of his hard fought labor war. Yet every single baseball player that followed in his footsteps did. In 1975, The Reserve Clause was struck down for good by Federal Arbitrator Peter Seitz. A new era had begun in Major League Baseball. Higher and Higher salaries for players was just around the corner. To really understand Flood's importance, a must read is the excellent book written by Brad Snyder that covers Flood's plight and life: A Well-Paid Slave.

As for Curt Flood, he would finish his baseball career in 1971 after 13 games with, yes, The Washington Senators. Feeling he was no longer capable of playing and having lost the passion for the sport, Flood skipped out on The Senators and took a flight to Spain--where he stayed for a number years while running a bar in Mallorca. Curt Flood battled alcoholism for a number years before turning his life around. But sadly, died of throat cancer in 1997 at the age of 59. Every single baseball player today owes Curt Flood homage for giving up everything in his life--leading to all the benefits players receive today.

Finally--Ken McMullen, Johnny Roseboro, Ron Fairly, Johnny Podres, Walter Alston and Curt Flood--all pictured in the above photo--won a total of 16 World Series Rings between them. And when this game was played that late September night in 1963--The Great Stan Musial was winding down his illustrious Hall Of Fame Career. He would retire at the end of this season. And just three batters before this picture was taken, "Stan The Man" had cranked out the 475th and FINAL Home Run of his wonderful career off Johnny Podres.

And oh--one more thing. The 1st Baseman for The St. Louis Cardinals this night (but not pictured here) was Bill White. The seven time Gold Glove Award Winner who would become the very first African-American President of The National League in 1989. The highest ranking minority executive in sports--at that time.

History Makers--The Picture Of The Day.

Life Magazine Photo Copyright--Time, Inc. (Photographer--Robert W. Kelley)

Baseball Americana--Treasures From The Library Of Congress

"This book meant a lot to me because of my love of baseball history," stated Frank Ceresi. "I wanted to see the history. I wanted to see it visually. I wanted to see the passion for the game. All of which I was hoping would be in this project and I think it is all included.”

240 pages worth in fact and over 350 images.




Baseball Americana--Treasures From The Library Of Congress--a just released coffee table sized book from Smithsonian Books via Harper Collins Publishing. Three years in the making, Baseball Americana was the brainchild of staff at The Library Of Congress (Harry Katz--Former Head Curator Prints & Photographs, Phil Michel--Manager Library Prints & Photographs Division plus Wilson McBee & Susan Reyburn--editors in The Library's Publishing Office) whom asked local museum consultant, baseball writer and historian--Frank Ceresi--to be involved in their project. Long time readers of Nats320 will recognize Mr. Ceresi's name. When Nationals Park was being constructed, Frank was hired by Our Washington Nationals to acquire, organize and formulate display plans for all the artwork placed throughout The South Capital Street Ballpark. The pictures, paintings, historical facts about the Great Game in The Nation's Capital enjoyed now by thousands during each home game in Washington, D;C.--all of which were first previewed on Nats320 in February, 2008. Mr. Ceresi also acquired and built the display units for the Shirley Povich Artifacts--now at Nationals Park in The Shirley Povich Media Center.


During the final home game of 2009, most of the five co-authors of Baseball Americana were signing copies of their new book in The Stars & Stripes Club. Sohna and I ran into them heading to our seats in Section 218 that day. Interested in the storyline, we all talked for some time. Frank and I agreed we had to get together and chat about the offering more, because this effort is not just about another baseball picture book. Baseball Americana reveals many baseball images not commonly seen. The Library Of Congress stores a copy, many times the originals, of every single copyrighted newspaper, print, photograph, film, book--you name it--ever produced.

Every single one of them.

That's an humongous amount of material. A body of historical proofs not many have indulged themselves into discovering.






Katz, Ceresi, Michel, McBee & Reyburn set out to show the history of baseball in a different light. Not just on the facts about what happened on the field of play--many understand that already--but how Baseball has always reflected American Life. From late in Colonial times, through The Civil War, Post-Reconstruction Period, Segregation, Suffrage, Two World Wars, The Depression-even The Beatles--Baseball has been intertwined in the fabric of America. Only scratching the surface of what The Library Of Congress offers, Baseball Americana gives a nice glimpse into the game's wonderful past while opening up new doors and eyes to what the largest library in the world can offer virtually anyone having the patience to study.

With that, here is the Nats320 interview with Frank Ceresi on the collaborated book Baseball Americana--Treasures From The Library Of Congress:

How did this book come about? (SBF)

“I grew up in this area and I am from this area and I have always loved the Library of Congress. In fact, when I was in high school, my first real research paper I researched at The Library of Congress. And I remember my mom, she was an educator that taught in Fairfax County for 25 years, she said (then), if you are going to do it, you have got to do it right and you should go down to the main reading room in The Jefferson Building of The Library of Congress. I went there and it stuck with me. It was overwhelming because I couldn’t believe I was living around the largest library in the world for rare books, for photographs, for any printed matter. And as time went on, I became kind of prone to that sort of thing. I like to read and write and learn more. Then, I trained as a lawyer. And as the years wore on I melded this other attraction I had to the game of baseball. Several years ago I started to write some articles and whenever I was doing research and wanted to find something arcane—or something you couldn’t find on the internet—I went down to the stacks there (at the Library of Congress).”

“So about three years ago, Harry Katz—who is the former head of Princeton Photographs—knew I loved baseball. He did too. He said: ‘Why don’t you join me and let’s see about writing a book on baseball treasures at The Library of Congress.’ We took the idea to their publishing wing and they were very enthusiastic. Then over the past two years, we did this journey of going down there, discovering and seeing what they had.”




“And let’s be clear, this is not like going to your local library. They have so much sheet music, photographs, rare books, newspapers, film, you name it they have it—that are ripe for things like this. Plus, collections like the Jackie Robinson Papers, Branch Rickey Papers, and Oral History by Fay Vincent on tape. No one had really tried to look at their contents holistically and see what they have there. We couldn’t even do it. It was too overwhelming. So we were able to find a lot of stuff but not as much as is down there.”

So how do you organize to decide what is most important? (SBF)

“That was interesting. We would literally sit around at a table, all five of us, Harry, me, Phil, Wilson and Susan. I was the only one that wasn’t an employee in a sense of The Library of Congress—although Harry is now a consultant—he is not down there permanently. For example, Harry and I would meet. Phil and I would meet. Or Sue and I, or Harry and Sue. We would go in combinations to tackle different areas. We would go into the rare books. We would talk to the head of rare books and just say: ‘Baseball’. And usually they are a fan too, so they will have filed in their head cool stuff and we would tell them what we wanted. Eventually, you start gathering these sorts of things. But you have eluded to it already—this was a real art to then be able to organize and discriminate between what we want and other cool things that we simply couldn’t get in there. We would prioritize, sit around a table, and if everyone felt pretty strong about something and we generally agreed--it went to the editors at Harper Collins and it would get in.”

“We probably met about 15 times around the table (as a group of five), but twice that many times individually or in small groups to just go tackle what was out there. And David Kelley at The Library of Congress was a great help because he is a baseball fan. He was the ‘Go-To Guy’. He’s been there for a couple of decades. So he knew where things were and sent us off in the right direction.”

Still, after you pull all this stuff together, you still have to build a story around it. (SBF)




“Yes, we talked a lot about that. Logically, when you talk about baseball, anything from a narrative to visual, you are going to fall into chronology. That is simply the way it works. It worked nicely for us and was a comfortable fit because I, for example, love 19th Century. The origins of the game. And I really wanted us to focus on that. Well that is a great starting point. Where did the game begin? When did it become the National Pastime? With The Library of Congress being ‘The People’s Library’ for a couple of centuries, the history of our country dovetailed—in a sense—to the history of baseball. So we started at the beginning and went up to the 1980’s. The reason being it usually takes a few decades for artifacts or ephemera to reach the heft or prestige to get into something like The Library of Congress anyway. In probably 10 years, what they have from the 80’s and 90’s will be filled in too.”

“What we also found out was that there was not a lot of battling among us to put things in the book. This team, this group, gets along anyway. It was more like “no brainer stuff”. Yeah, the mental battle for all of us was--and certainly to me at the end—I didn’t know how it was going to work out. How can they (Harper Collins) cleverly design all this stuff? How will this look as a package? And I was so happy with the final piece. Objectively, I couldn’t have hoped for more. This project meant a lot to me because of my love of baseball history. I wanted to see the history. I wanted to see it visually. I wanted to see the passion for the game. All of which I was hoping would be in this project and I think it is all included.”

What was the final overriding decision to put something in the book?

“It was a balance. The image needed to have two things. One, it needed to be a great image. It needed to be a knockout image and it also needed to further the story—representative of the history. Those were the two keys. There is nothing in the book that any one of us felt is a common image—meaning either photo, magazine cover, illustration—something like that.”

Ok then, if I go to Borders Book, Waldenbooks, whatever. There are a litany of large baseball books with pictures and history. Why is Baseball Americana different? (SBF)

“For me, and I have seen a lot. You have seen a lot. In this book you are going to see a lot of things you have never seen before. This book exposes the public to a slice of Our National Pastime that has really never been presented in a visual way—as this book has. For example, these are T-205 cards that came out in 1909. Tinkers, Evers & Chance—we all know that. These cards are beautiful. They are based on paintings, which I found out only because of research at The Library of Congress—were from photographs. All of which are in the files at The Library of Congress. So, that entire set of a couple of hundred cards—now I know—how those cards in 1909 so beautifully evolved.”

The Library of Congress is where anything printed or otherwise is copyrighted goes. (SBF)



"Here are some other examples that stand out because of The Library Of Congress. The entire LOOK (Magazine) collection is there. The entire Jackie Robinson Collection. I would not have known that Dorothea Lange—known for her work during difficult times of the 30’s and 40’s also covered some baseball. It’s all down there. The other thing, and this is important. This book should be considered a window to what's out there. The goal is to get people excited about what is there, but realize this is the tip of the iceberg. So, if they want to learn more about the WPA photos, or the Bain Collection, or the Look Collection, or baseball during World War 2; or baseball in film, or cards from the 1880’s—The Library of Congress has them all.”

“I have seen a lot of stuff, but I have never seen the proof sheets for The Old Judge Cards. Never, and they have eight or nine of them down there. The Library Of Congress is open so anybody from here or from all over the world can see, research, study, learn, preserve and protect all that good stuff on something as important as baseball in history.”

We've sort of touched on this already, but baseball has really reflected American life throughout history—during the Civil War, Segregation, Depression, World War 2, on and on. (SBF)

“This book is exactly what you are stating there. Baseball touches our country’s history like certainly no other sport. Here is another example. I knew about Octavius Catto—African American from the 1860’s. 99% of all historians, even hardcore baseball fan historians—probably don’t know this sad story of an early pioneer of the game that never really got any recognition.”

Why is this book important to you? (SBF)

“It’s very important for institutions and museums and particularly The Library of Congress to educate the public about the history and significance of baseball to our culture. To help, not to promote it, but to preserve it, to educate the young people about what it’s meant to our society. And it takes an institution like that (LOC) to stand behind that and bring it home. Museums have slices, but they don’t have what the The Library Of Congress has!”

So, what should some learn from reading Baseball Americana? (SBF)

"First, the history kind of grabs you. The reason why I give this book high marks is because it touches on everything I could think of in the game. There certainly may be a favorite player of someone that is not there, or things like that. We are limited by a number of photos--but it doesn't take away from the important role that baseball has played in our society. How important baseball is to our culture. How important it is to preserve the purity of the game. And how much the game means to, not only hardcore baseball fans, but to the casual fans—families and kids. I don’t think it is a coincidence that so much of the love of baseball is derived by children following their father’s or their mother’s love. Baseball tends to bind us as a society. It does not divide us into class, race or economic status. It gives us a collective way of enjoying and viewing the sport together. And that's what, I believe, this book represents."

What were the most surprising aspects you learned about the game for the first time? (SBF)



“There were a lot of surprises. The Old Judge Proof Sheet from the 1880’s and seeing the Washington team. I know a lot about the Old Judge Cards from the 1880’s, but I didn’t know there were such things as proof sheets. And it’s so logical. For the tobacco companies to create the cards, they needed to copyright them. And by law, the copyright depository is The Library of Congress. So I was surprised to see these things. Even with my education and background in collectibles, I had never seen them before. You could spend the next two years of your life going to divisions of The Library Of Congress and you are not going to know everything about whatever subject you choose, let alone baseball. They have amassed so much cool stuff that it’s everywhere—advertising, film, letters, people—their life’s work—like the Branch Rickey Papers. And I think Branch Rickey is one of the most important individuals, not just in baseball, but also in the 20th Century. This book gives a taste of what is down there.”

“In fact, James Billington—The Librarian Of Congress—believes they have to just get this stuff out. Let’s get it to where people all over the world can enjoy what we have. And that has been his passion for much of the past three decades. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in the early ‘80’s, so he has been there for nearly thirty years.”

Is it safe to say this book and the effort to get this material out there—as you stated—is a love affair for the people that work at The Library of Congress? (SBF)

“Absolutely, because it can be intimidating to go there. To you and me who have both been here (in D.C.) our entire lifetimes, it’s intimidating. You go to The Jefferson Building and The Madison Building (on Capitol Hill), those are huge buildings, and items are sectioned off—like the newspaper division. My goodness, you could spend two weeks reading newspapers just to find box scores. People have done it for a lifetime. What you have to do is focus. You can’t do it all in one day. I love baseball photographs. So you have to go to Prints & Photographs and find people there to help you as a member of the public. It’s still a hands on institution."

"What has also made me really happy is that the hardcore "sabrites" (SABR) have given nothing but great praise back on the book. I think we told the story the right way and it’s a beautiful book at a time when books like this just aren’t coming out.”

So there really is something for everybody? (SBF)

“Absolutely. That is a good way of putting it.”

With that final answer, my conversation with Frank Ceresi came to a conclusion. The large format book is a comfortable read. One you can pick up, study for while, then get back to later and explore some more. What I found most interesting, and sort of ironic, is the very fact that here is The Library Of Congress playing Gatekeeper to the rich history of baseball--much like The Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum does in Cooperstown--but on a far different level. The largest baseball reference in the world and the Federal Government is holding the keys to the fascinating past of The Great Game--in the very city Major League Baseball thought was undeserving of a Big League Team for over 33 years.

Honestly, that is ironic and why this book is also an important edition for any fan of Baseball. The Library Of Congress--keeping the flame alive for The Great Game--so all can enjoy and re-live history's past.

Available on the shelves in most major bookstores, Baseball Americana is also available online at Amazon.com

If you are interested in doing your own research at The Library Of Congress you can browse the online catalog at loc.gov.

Finally--There a good deal of artifacts covering baseball in the Nation's Capital included in Baseball Americana. A chapter on the 1924 World Series Champion Senators and this factual tidbit in Baseball Americana that again proves how important Washington, D.C. was in the early development of the game's reach throughout these United States.

Frank Ceresi: "1867 is the year The Washington Nationals, as an amateur team, did the first tour of the western United States. An organized baseball team toured the west to kind of sow the seeds of the baseball gospel—two years before professional baseball began (in Cincinnati). This country—all the way out to Missouri—was so enamored with baseball and this team that a very popular song was written called ‘Home Run Polka’ composed by a Mrs. Bodell for The National Baseball Club of Washington, D.C."

Above is the early image from that songbook in the Library Of Congress Catalog.

Images used for this story courtesy of The Baseball Americana Authors, Smithsonian Books and Harper Collins Publishing. Any reproduction or usage strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved.

Getting It Right

Rumor here, hearsay there, people constantly speculate all the time about what Our Washington Nationals will do next. Unsubstantiated information about who will come onboard in the latest House Cleaning by Our New GM. Yet, the scuttlebutt has been wrong nearly every step of the way. What has become clear is that Mike Rizzo does his work thoroughly, and quietly, behind the scenes. No one pushes him to a rushed decision. No rampant gossip spread across any or all media sources will change his way.

Love that. "Riz" is his own guy.

Just look at the official hires today by Our Washington Nationals in Baseball Operations:

Roy Clark--Vice President of Player Personnel.

Johnny DiPuglia--Director of Latin American Operations.

And Doug Harris--Director of Scouting.

No one caught wind of these job hires until a deal was struck. The fact Mr. Rizzo was able to pull in front office talent from The Atlanta Braves (Clark), The Boston Red Sox (DiPuglia) and The Cleveland Indians--via Texas Rangers (Harris) speaks volumes about the respect Our New GM has in the game. There are no retreads here folks. These three all have been successful in their fields. And each brings a new element to finding and harnessing talent for Our Washington Nationals. Having never heard of any of these three beforehand, it's clear their resumes are solid. Aptitude is high on this list, not just flair--always present when Jim Bowden was Our General Manager.

Remember all the babble that Mr. Rizzo was going to be let go, two days before he was given the permanent GM Job in August? How wrong was the mainstream media then? And now, more times than not since Mike Rizzo took charge of Baseball Operation those heard through the gravpevine stories have again been nothing short of fiction. You have to laugh at that stuff because unless you are inside the walls of the Front Office of Our Washington Nationals, you are definitely not in the loop about what's going on.

That's a good thing because instead of the word being out first (as is so important in the media), Sohna and I would just rather see Our Washington Nationals GET IT RIGHT.

Today's Official Press Release depicts a fresh outlook for Our Washington Nationals. A franchise finding it's feet, moving forward, and clearly having enough promise to pull scouting and development front office capability from three of the more established teams in the game. That's respect shown, both for Mike Rizzo and D.C's Major League Franchise.

PS--Personally, we want to wish the best to Dana Brown--leaving Washington as Director of Scouting to become a Special Assistant to The New General Manager of The Toronto Blue Jays. A role which Kris Kline was promoted to in DC to take over for Brown. Few people could have done as good of a job as Scouting Director for The Montreal Expos and Our Washington Nationals under orphan ownership as Dana Brown did. Tirelessly, this man worked under very limited budgets and restraints but still was able to do pretty well in getting Major League Talent to the field for the Montreal/Washington Franchise. Just browse Baseball-Reference.com's Amateur Draft Summaries--especially those guys picked by Other Teams AFTER Montreal/Washington chose their player in each round. You could quibble over a few guys--Andre Ethier was available in the 2nd round of 2003 when Montreal chose Jerry Owens (Outfielder)--but The Florida Marlins chose Logan Kensing right before Ethier was picked by The Oakland Athletics too. And Justin Pedroia was available in the 2nd round of 2004 after The Expos chose catcher Erick San Pedro 11 picks earlier.

The Amateur Draft is a crap shoot and Dana Brown rolled some pretty solid dice for the Montreal/Washington Franchise when not only the house odds, but the league odds were far against him. Good luck in Toronto Dana--Sohna and I hope all your dreams come true.

Finally, today's Official Press Release announcing Washington's three new hirings and one promotion in Baseball Operations.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS ADD ROY CLARK, JOHNNY DiPUGLIA AND DOUG HARRIS TO FRONT OFFICE KRIS KLINE NAMED DIRECTOR OF SCOUTING

The Washington Nationals today named Roy Clark Vice President of Player Personnel, Johnny DiPuglia Director of Latin American Operations and Doug Harris Director of Player Development. The Nationals also promoted Kris Kline to Director of Scouting. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Clark joins the Nationals after an impressive 11-year run as Director of Scouting with the Atlanta Braves. Clark joined the Braves as an area scout in 1989, and he later enjoyed successive stints as Atlanta’s southeast supervisor (1995) and national supervisor (1996-99). His efforts helped the Braves earn Baseball America’s prestigious Organization of the Year award three times (1991, 1996, 2005) and USA Today’s Organization of the Year citation in 1996. Clark sports a World Series ring from the Braves’ 1995 World Championship campaign.

Clark is best known for having procured talents such as catcher Brian McCann, right-handed pitcher Tommy Hanson, right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright, shortstop Yunel Escobar, right-handed pitcher Joey Devine, right-handed pitcher Kevin Millwood, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and outfielder Jeff Francoeur for the Braves. Meanwhile, Braves minor-league outfielder Jason Heyward was recently cited as Baseball America’s 2009 Minor League Player of the Year and is regarded by many as baseball’s top prospect among position players.

DiPuglia joins his fourth big league organization with his Nationals appointment. DiPuglia spent the previous 10 seasons working in the Red Sox scouting department, the last four as Boston’s Latin American Scouting Coordinator. While in that position, he was responsible for coverage in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, Curacao, Nicaragua, Aruba, Columbia, as well as all of Central and South America. He earned World Series rings while with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007.

DiPuglia, who also enjoyed stints with the Giants and Cardinals organizations, signed or had a hand in the signings of shortstop Hanley Ramirez, second baseman Placido Polanco, outfielder Rick Ankiel, right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez and right-handed pitcher Rene Arocha.

Harris carries 20 seasons of baseball experience as a player, amateur scout and professional scout into his new role with the Nationals. He spent last season as a Major League Scout/Advance Scout with Cleveland after a 12-year tenure with Texas in various scouting capacities. Harris played seven professional seasons in three organizations.

Kline earned the Director of Scouting promotion after spending his initial three seasons in Washington as Assistant Scouting Director/National Crosschecker (2009) and Western Crosschecker (2007-08). A scout for 20 seasons, Kline joined the Nationals in the fall of 2006 after spending the previous seven seasons with Arizona, the last three of which were spent as the Diamondbacks’ Western Supervisor. Kline earned a World Series ring in 2001 as the Diamondbacks topped the Yankees in seven games. Before joining the Diamondbacks, Kline worked 10 seasons scouting for the Angels after completing his four-year professional playing career.


Dana Brown Photo--Copyright Nats320--All Rights Reserved

ziMS Foundation Gala Update

"We've now sold over 175 Gala tickets," explained Cheryl Zimmerman. "And we are expecting to meet our goal of selling at least 250 total, possibly as many as 300."

Just three more weeks until The 4th Annual ziMS Foundation Gala & Golf Tournament in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The two day affair that begins on Friday, November 6th with the Gala at The Wyndham Virginia Beach Resort. The social gathering which will include not only a Silent Auction, but a Live Auction as well. Then continues on Saturday, November 7th, with the ever popular golf tournament at the nearby RedWing Lake Golf Course--which has sold out for golfing participants already.

Our Washington Nationals Ryan Zimmerman's Mother contacted Sohna and I to update us on the preparations of this year's event. As she stated: "The golfing foursomes are all filled, but it's not too late to attend the Gala on Friday night by purchasing a ticket."

The $95 Gala Ticket provides entry to The Wyndham Resort event beginning at 6:30PM on November 6th. Included will be two hours of entertainment, hors d'oeuvres and the silent auction, followed immediately at 8:30PM by more entertainment and the live auction--which always involves Ryan Zimmerman himself. The Z-Man looking for bids to assist in his family's personal cause to help find a cure for MS--Multiple Sclerosis.

"We've even have another specially designed surfboard in this year's auction," said Mrs. Zimmerman. "Last year's was so popular, we couldn't pass up an opportunity to have one again."

A special hotel rate at The Wyndham Virginia Beach Resort is available. Click here to go directly to the link.

For Gala Tickets and to download the registration form, click here.

The 4th ziMS Foundation Gala & Golf Tournament is for a good cause.

More complete information can be found here and here.

Picture Of The Day--Jackie Jensen

Most sports fans today would look at this picture and recognize Mickey Mantle right away. The Hall Of Fame Slugger who completed 18 seasons for The New York Yankees. What most folks would not realize is that on April 16th 1953--when this photo was taken at Griffith Stadium on Opening Day in The Nation's Capital--The Washington Senators' Jackie Jensen was just as well known, if not more so, than "The Mick".

Yeah, that's correct. Jensen was a two sport All-American from The University of California at Berkeley. In 1947, he led The Bears to THE first College World Series Baseball Championship ever, defeating Yale in the finals. The very Ivy League Team whose 1st Baseman was George Herbert Walker Bush--the eventual 41st President of The United States.

In 1948--Jackie rushed for over 1000 Yards for Cal's 10-0 Pacific Coast Conference Championship Football Team. A season that ended in defeat on New Years Day, 1949, when Northwestern upset California in The Rose Bowl. Jensen's last season of amateur sport where he finished 4th in the Heisman Trophy Award balloting--losing to soon to be National Football League Hall of Famer--Doak Walker.

Jackie Jensen was a great athlete. And The Washington Senators received a gift when The New York Yankees traded him to Clark Griffith's Team early in the 1952 Season. The Yanks didn't have a spot for him. The Nats did, then The Senators let Jensen get away from them--far too soon.

One year after this photo was taken in 1953, Jensen would reel off six consecutive quality seasons. A half dozen of the finest campaigns comparable to just about any other American League batter playing during the 1950's. Unfortunately for Washington's Fans, those great seasons came with Jackie Jensen donning a Boston Red Sox Jersey.

Using poor judgment to save money and not pay high salaries again--Washington Senators Owner Clark Griffith traded off Jensen in December, 1953--for virtually nothing in return. Another awful swap by Griff's Team that continually contributed to Washington's bottom of the standings finishes in the 1950's.

From 1953 until 1959, Jackie Jensen would drive in 751 runs, 62 more than Mickey Mantle over the exact same time frame. "The Mick" would drive out more home runs (249 to 167) and hit for a higher average (.315 to .282), but each would be named MVP (Mantle twice, Jensen once). And Jackie would even lead The American League in stolen bases in 1954. For five out of six seasons--Jensen drove in at least 112 runs.

112!!

Three times Jackie won the American League RBI Title with a high of 122 when he was named The American League Most Valuable Player in 1958. Mantle only drove in 100 runs one time during the same stretch. Mickey driving home 130 during his MVP Season of 1956.

Jackie Jensen's and Mickey Mantle's early exploits were so intertwined. Both came up in The New York Yankees Farm System. Each were teammates on The Yanks' 1951 Kansas City Blues American Association Team. And they were teammates again in 1951 when The Bronx Bombers won The World Series. Mantle won one Gold Glove during his lifetime, so did Jensen.

They were buddies and this photo vividly depicts that friendship.

But whereas despite all his injuries and off the field activities--Mantle would still enjoy a long and prosperous Major League career, Jensen's life's work in Big League Baseball would come to a near screeching halt after 1959--due to the advent of Plane Travel. The Dodgers and Giants had already moved to California. The American League was one year out from expanding to Los Angeles and moving The Senators to Minnesota. The Houston Colt '45's and New York Mets were on the horizon.

Jet travel was replacing train travel and Jackie Jensen was afraid to fly. He retired before the 1960 season officially wanting to be with his family. Everyone knew better and not even pleas from The Boston Red Sox Owner, Tom Yawkey, (who set up therapy treatments) helped.

Jensen was gone.

Not for good as Jackie would attempt to return for one last season in 1961. But, he was never the same. At 34 years of age, Jackie Jensen officially retired. Then unexpectedly, this great athlete died of a heart attack in Charlottesville, Virginia on July 14, 1982 when was just 55 years old.

Jackie Jensen was a great athlete. The All-American Boy. And for seven seasons in The American League, Old Number 4 in the scorecard was just about as good as they come as a Major League Baseball Player--just not for The Washington Senators.

The Picture Of The Day--Jackie Jensen.

Photo Copyrighted Time Inc.--Life Magazine--All Rights Reserved (Mark Kauffman--photographer)

Remarkable

On the downside of an illustrious, productive and near Hall Of Fame Career--with most of his prime years played in the obscurity of the fading light of The Montreal Expos--nothing could have pleased me more than to watch Vladimir Guerrero stroke the final clutch and eventual game winning two run single against The Boston Red Sox this afternoon at Fenway Park. The last of four key at-bats to a dramatic three run rally in this American League Division Series by The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

An unlikely three game sweep.

A near miracle comeback in the top of the 9th inning that SILENCED The BoSox & Red Sox Nation.

All with two outs and with The Angels' Erick Aybar, Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu ALL being down to their LAST strikes before Guerrero swung away at the first pitch offered by Boston's Closer--Jonathan Papelpon.

This affair was all but over about four times with Game 4 scheduled for tomorrow between these two teams.

Instead, just a remarkable series of events sent The Red Sox home for the season. And The Angels back to Southern California to await the beginning of The American League Championship Series.

Baseball just does not get more exciting or as thrilling as today's series clincher by Los Angeles.

You have to appreciate someone like Vladi that battled his entire career to reach a moment like this. Then, see him finally succeed in the post-season after so much disappointment beforehand.

How satisfying to watch Guerrero's face light up like a kid again.

How pleasing to watch Old Number 27 enjoying the undeniable thrill of the moment.

How delightful to see Vladi receive hugs from not only all his teammates and coaches--but The Angels Owner--Arte Moreno.

Everyone involved with The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim understood the importance of Vladimir Guerrero stroking the series clinching hit today.

Only in baseball can such rich story be woven. Only in The Great Game can a flashback to one's career accomplishments be brought forward and cherished liked Vladimir's were this Sunday in Fenway Park.

Nothing against The Boston Red Sox and their wonderful team, but this afternoon was special at Fenway Park because an aging and once great player (now just merely good) for The Los Angeles Angels had a career defining moment in the post-season. The time when any accomplishment--whether good or bad--is remembered forever (just ask Aaron Boone about that. Or, Bill Buckner).

Vladimir Guerrero had his great moment to remember this October 11th 2009.

Remarkable actually. In fact, the entire top half of the 9th inning after two were out for The Angels was just an incredible series of events. What are the odds of three straight batters facing their final strike and their team's game elimination and each reaching base?

This is exactly why Baseball Is The Greatest Game. No Time Clock to run out. You have to record every single out to win. Boston didn't--until it was too late.

PS--But it does raise the question why in world did Jonathan Papelbon throw a fastball over the middle of the plate to the very batter that will swing and make contact on the same pitch if thrown two feet off the plate? There's the strike zone. And then there is The Vladi Strike Zone. Big Difference. What in the world was Papelbon thinking?

Today's InGame Photos--Michael Dwyer (AP)

Read For The Record

"We’ve found out that one in three kids, when they go to school, have never been read to," said Kathy Hurley, Senior Vice-President Strategic Partnerships for The Pearson Foundation. "And this is going to affect them their entire life. So, we really believe in early literacy."

The "Read For The Record" Program was underway for the 4th consecutive year. National Park again one of the venues this morning to get parents, professionals, servicemen and servicewomen, along with volunteers from all over the world, to read the very same book to pre-schoolers, on the very same day: October 8th, 2009. An awareness opportunity to get the word out that education success begins in a child's early years--not after kindergarten begins.

The goal today to set a new world's record of over 1 million kids and adults reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle.

"'Live to Learn' is our motto," believes Ms. Hurley. "And with our partners we are truly taking that to heart."


Since 2006, Pearson, The USO and United Through Reading have partnered with Jumpstart, to hold group readings throughout the United States. The USO providing facilities, both in country and abroad, which allow serving military personnel to be involved remotely from their stationed bases. Our Washington Nationals supplying the setting and reading volunteers in the Nation's Capital for the third consecutive year.


“The USO decided a couple of years ago that we really wanted to do a big push on literacy for children," stated Steven Missimer, Vice-President Operations Programs & Services USO. "Specifically, military children. A lot of our kids are dealing with separation from their parents who are deployed and this is just another way for them to stay connected because we are also a partner with United Through Reading and that gives our deployed members an opportunity to record a book for their child when they are about to be deployed, or while they are deployed with their units. That book, the DVD, is then packaged up and we send it back home to the families. The spouse can then put it in the DVD player and they can see their Mom or Dad on TV reading the book to them.”

Sally Zoll, CEO--United Through Reading: "So, if you are in a tent in Iraq or Afghanistan, or a ship in The Gulf Of Aden, and you want to read a storybook to your child--we provide the opportunity for you to do just that. What we do is provide opportunities for families that are separated to read aloud together--in order to get that warm loving situation."

"The response has been awesome. In fact, great!" smiled Mr. Missimer.

The Pearson Foundation has raised over $4 Million for Jumpstart and donated over 300,000 books to pre-schoolers. The USO has recorded over 50,000 DVD's for families. And now produces over 3,700 readings by military personnel to their children each month. United Through Reading provides the bond bringing all these worthwhile groups together along with Our Washington Nationals.







Through USO Centers, School Districts, Governments and venues like Nationals Park, Pre-Schoolers were all read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" this day. On South Capitol Street this morning, Team President Stan Kasten lead off the program with introductory remarks, followed a few minutes later by Bettina Deynes (Vice-President of Human Resources for The Nationals) and Brian van de Graaf (Meteorologist from ABC 7) reading the book to the children. Deynes in Spanish, van de Graaf in English.


30 uniformed service members, many representing The United States Air Force, were on hand at Nationals Park today to participate. The children came from Fort Meade in Maryland and The District of Columbia. Other group reading sessions took place this morning in Fairfax County and The City of Alexandria in Virginia, as well as Prince Georges, Anne Arundel & Baltimore Counties in Maryland.







After the reading was completed, the program was far from over. Thanks to Our Washington Nationals Front Office Staff volunteering, baseball skills sessions were taught on the playing field at Nationals Park--hitting off a tee, running the bases, throwing a pitch, and catching a baseball all included. At the same time, three more reading stations were set up in the rotation--two in the outfield and one in the Visitors Dugout.





“Anything centered around reading is worthwhile," concluded Kathy Hurley. "We want to make sure that the kids are going to be successful throughout their lives and early reading is so important. Yes, it’s about literacy, but it’s also about getting the kids outside and learning in a fun atmosphere. And what's more fun than having young kids play on a baseball field and being educated at the same time."


PS--Of course, My Best Friend!! Screech!! was there as well, having a good time with all the kids in attendance.

All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved