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Cheesebeef

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damn... I always like Tom. What a piece of trash.

Oh, and WTF does being a man of faith have to do with being a bigot? Going to church isn’t a get out of jail free card.
 

BC867

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Lucas Giolito of the White Sox throws a no-hitter vs. the Pirates.

Thirteen strikeouts and one (4-pitch) walk.
 

BC867

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Steve reminded us that Friday is the annual Jackie Robinson Day throughout MLB.

Jackie was a very talented guy. In addition to breaking the color barrier, he was a
4-letter man at UCLA -- baseball, basketball, football and track. After graduation,
he was a Lieutenant in the Army.

He broke into professional baseball in 1946, at the age of 27, with the Brooklyn
Dodgers AAA farm team, the Montréal Royals, and was the NL Rookie of the Year
with the Dodgers a season later as a 1B. The following season the Dodgers traded
Eddie Stanky to the Giants and Jackie moved to his natural position at 2B. He was
the NL MVP two seasons later with a batting average of .342 and 37 stolen bases.
The Dodgers won the pennant both seasons.

He also helped lead them to pennants in '52. '53, '55 and '56. And the Dodgers
only Brooklyn World Series championship of 1955. And they finished one game
behind in both '50 and '51. During Jackie's ten seasons, the Dodgers were the
powerhouse of the National League.

In 1953, when Junior Gilliam, a 2B, joined the Dodgers and became Rookie of the
Year, Jackie divided his time between 3B & LF.

He retired after the 1956 season when Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley was trying
to arrange to trade him to the New York Giants. Jackie wanted no part of that!

And, a few years earlier, when they made the movie, "The Jackie Robinson Story",
what Hollywood actor played the lead? Nope, it was Jackie Robinson. Ruby Dee
played his wife Rachel.

I spent the first eight years of my life in Jersey City NJ. My father, who was a NY
Giants fan, used to take me to Jersey City Giants games. ('Sorry, Dad, I became
a Dodgers fan.) Where did Jackie Robinson play his first professional baseball game
with the Montréal Royals? At Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City. I was five. About
the time my Dad starting taking me to the games. So I was probably not at the
first professional game of Jackie Robinson's career. But I was close.

After he retired, Jackie became a Vice President with Chock Full Of Nuts coffee
shop chain. And was on the staff of the moderate Republican governor of New
York, Nelson Rockefeller. As his eyesight was diminishing from diabetes, Jackie's
hair turned very gray.

Todd Walsh just did an interview with his daughter, Sharon, who is getting on in
years. Her hair looks just like his in latter years. I was a contributing member to
Rachel Robinson's Jackie Robinson Foundation for many years.

Jackie Robinson was very special to me, as well as many other people. As attested
to by every Major Leaguer wearing his number 42 on Jackie Robinson Day.
 

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