£1.00 / $2.00 1 The SABR(UK) Number 3

Examiner November 1993

THE JOURNAL OF THE BOBBY THOMSON CHAPTER OF THE SOCIETY FOR AMERICAN RESEARCH (UK) SABR GOES LOCAL ! On September 4 the Bobby Netherlands. Yes, our friend last time. This might be a good Thomson Chapter of SABR(UK) Laurens De Jongs once again place to mention our debt of grati- staged a triumphant return to the showed his devotion by travelling tude to the Kings of Clerkenwell Kings of Clerkenwell pub to hold across the Dutch Channel to min- governor, John Eichler. Without its first local meeting. The call did gle with fellow fanatics, this time his cooperation this meeting could not go out far and wide, and the bringing a friend, Guus Mater . never have taken place; his hos- meeting was appropriately inti- Actually, the attendance was one pitality was always first-rate. Af- mate and informal. The crowd short. A reporter from the Associ- terwards Mike played selections started gathering about 2 for a 3 ated Press was sent to visit the from interviews that he had con- o'clock meeting. Earlycomers meeting to do a piece on it and ducted with Hall of Famers Ted were treated to a spectacle; sur- send it through the wires through- Williams, Hank Greenberg, Luke real things seem to happen when- out the U.S. - but he got lost and Appling, and . An- ever SABR members gather. The couldn't find the place. Frankly, I other video, "When It was a Game", last time we met, in Manchester, don't blame him. I found trying to was played. This incredible video a monster warehouse party was find the Kings so exasperating that consists of color home movies of just starting. This time we had a I came very close to giving up. And baseball in the 30's, 40's, and wedding start just outside our so we all missed our chance for 50's. All in all, a good time was door. The pub is directly opposite quick fame. had by all. This makes the hat the St. Peter and Paul Church The meeting itself was infor- trick of meetings SABR(UK) has (what is this - did they have to mally organized, so there's not too had this year; may we do even merge because of budget cuts?). much to report. The Editor read better in 1994! So while we were standing around excerpts from a letter from Nor- - Martin Hoerchner watching the latest baseball game man Macht, covered elsewhere in from Sky partaking of our land- the Examiner. In the place of lord's hospitality, and generally having formal presentations, we EDITOR'S NOTE: chatting about The Game, women had a forum in which members Welcome to the second edi- with hats from Ascot were traips- could opine over some strongly- tion of the SABR(UK) Examiner. ing about in gowns from "Gone held baseball subject. The sub- We've aleady made a few im- With The Wind". I half expected ject that got the most attention provements over the last issue, one to call out for Ashley. Just was whether Reggie Jackson like the ability to print pictures before the meeting was going to should be in the Hall of Fame. and graphics. In the next issue of start, an ambulance pulled up in Opinions of Reggie ranged from an the Examiner we're going for pho- front of the church. We never overrated hotdog to one of the tographs. The next publication found out if it was the groom fak- most exciting characters since we are planning to send out is our ing an attack or the bride's father . We put on a tape of version of the Baseball Research fainting dead away. I think it this year's All-Star Game and Journal, with articles directly re- might have been one of these broke for the bar. Laurens De lated to the history of baseball in women tripping up in her stilleto Jongs, our world traveller, told us both Britain in the U.S. Look for heels and gathered-tightly- of his visit to San Diego for the '93 that early in the New Year. Any- around-the-ankles Bill Blass SABR Convention, and informed one interested in writing some- creation. us of some up-and-coming Dutch thing please contact us. We've So the meeting starts. We players in the Majors. Then we already got some fascinating stuff, are represented by 15 SABR'ites, broke for the kitchen, and were but we can always use more. So not only from London, but from treated to more of the chili and/or get thinking! Birmingham, Manchester, and the lasagne selection that we loved 2 VIEW FROM THE CHAIR by Mike Ross An cor- We discussed the idea of pub- ball champions, under the aus- respondent attempted to at- lishing a seperate research jour- pices of A.G. Spalding. Its loss tend the SABR local chapter nal with scholarly works submit- signifies - and was concurrent ted to us for the Examiner; other- with - the demise of baseball in meeting in London at the wise the size of the pieces would the UK. If some latter-day Indi- Kings of Clerkenwell but was over-extend the Examiner, which ana Jones (or your normal in- unable to locate us. Joseph really is a newsletter. ... The short trepid SABR member) can man- White later phoned the piece by Geraint Johnes and Bob age to unearth the Spalding tro- SABR(UK) HQ and in a three- Thornton included in this issue is phy and - who knows? - decipher intended to be a seminal research some acient runes from a time way conference call lasting item, hopefully to ignite activity, when baseball was actually a 30 minutes obtained enough thus making Great Britain worthy drawing card in Great Britain, it data from Treasurer Andy of becoming (or, having become) could signify a new beginning for Parkes to send a report of "these SABR'd Isles". baseball research in this country. events surrrounding the Yours, I received word from the Mid- Mike Ross meeting out on the AP wire, lands of the discovery of a scrap- which is reproduced on page book compiled by Joseph Wright, who is alleged to be a relation of 8. The report was picked up by TIPS FOR AUTHORS various papers including the local George Wright, and Akron, Ohio Beacon-Journal, and who is credited with being "the Mark Alvarez, Director of was spotted by Charles Kirkwood, Father of Baseball". There is men- SABR Publications, has put to- a professor of economics at Akron tion of a hitherto undocumented gether a few suggestions for those U. (is there an Akron U.?) Kirkwood baseball mission which journeyed interested in writing for SABR, contacted us from Birmingham from the USA last century and whether in the Examiner, the (England) where he was about to played the Middlesborough Pio- Baseball Research Journal, or start a retirement programme, neers who laid claim to being the some other publication. These teaching at the local university. best team in Britain. Further are contained in two handouts, He phoned us and asked if he scrapbook items, from which I have which offer hints such as: 1. Be could join SABR ... and so another yet to see more than fifteen pages, yourself ... 2. Have a point ... 3. little facet has been added to the were promised. At the time I was Answer a question, don't confirm SABR(UK) diamond. If any of you about to confer on the transfer of a prejudice ... 4. Pare extraneous are planning to gather up there in more of these valuable documents, material away ruthlessly .. 5. Don't the mid-boonies, for baseball pur- the gentleman in question, a Mr strain for a lead paragraph - it will poses don't forget to invite Charles Marshall, was rushed to hospital emerge ... 6. Imagine you're writ- (tel 0384 378275). for surgery. Since then he has ing a letter to a friend ... 7. Rewrite been incommunicado. I leave you - your first draft is just that ... 8. As for increasing the profile to supply the subtext to this tale. Stop when you've said what you of baseball in Great Britain: just Meanwhile, I am sending out a need to say ... 9. Expect to be as Mt Everest increases the pro- research request for information edited ... The full text can be ob- file of mountains by simply being on Joseph Wright and the Pio- tained by writing Mark at SABR or there, we with our love for base- neers, circa 1892, and the Ameri- the SABR(UK) Examiner. As a ball increase its profile. What can Baseball mission. last thought, it is recommended makes Everest significant is that that people wishing to do research she has been scaled; likewise we Then of course there is the should first contact Patrick must scale the heights by, in fact, quest for the Holy Grail of British Carroll, the Chair of the Historical digging down into and research- Baseball which disappeared close Committee - he might be able to ing the vast wealth of historical to sixty years ago in Liverpool. help you. data available in the UK. The golden trophy was originally presented to the national base- OFFICERS AND GENTLEMEN

Chairman: Mike Ross, 2 Maida Avenue, Suite B, Little Venice, London W2 1TF (Tel: 071 723 9848; Fax: 071 266 3166) Secretary: Patrick Morley, Spring Cottage, The Batch, Hill Road, Sandford, Bristol BS19 5RH (Tel: 0934 822781) Treasurer: Andy Parkes, 84 Hillingdon Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8PJ (Tel and Fax: 061 865 2952) Assistant Treasurer: Hugh Robinson, 567 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester M32 8JQ (Tel: 061 864 1250) Chairman of British Baseball Historical Committee: Patrick Carroll, 10 Court Barton, Crewkerne, Somerset TA18 7HP (Tel: 0460 74183) Publications Editor: Martin Hoerchner, 48 Mildmay Road, London N1 4NG (Tel: 071 254 3492) 3

THIS SABR'D ISLE by Martin Hoerchner This royal throne of kings, this SABR'd isle, masquerading as a major-league wouldn't have taken place and This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, team. Ask any Philadelphia A's Atlanta wouldn't have won the This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, fan; when Mack broke up the team division. this England. after the 1932 season, they didn't win a pennant for forty years. I I must say I enjoyed my trip This is how the greatest Brit- don't know too many southern to California in July - I was able to ish poet, William Shakespeare, Californians that patient; usually see a grand total of one ball game. described his homeland. By this you have to be from Chicago. Of course I went to Candlestick: we know that SABR had members Despite what you might hear, my in the British Isles as far back as It's been a strange year in wife and I damn near died of sun- the 16th century. This kernel was baseball, and not all for the best. stroke. They have made quite a unearthed in a copy of the Com- To cap off a miserable year for the few changes in the park, aiming to plete Works of William Shake- Mets, Vince Coleman is in bad make it more user-friendly. It was speare that I bought in a discount trouble for throwing an explosive an exciting time, about the time book store in Bridlington for £3.99 device into a crowd of Dodger fans. the Giants were riding their crest, - see, research can be simple. It Bad judgement, Vince. Perhaps before the Fall. The previous week however misprints the first line as that devouring tarp spreader they had beat the Phillies 3 out of "this scepter'd Isle", which makes scarred him emotionally. A base- 4, and averaged more than 10 no sense at all. Anyway, since I ball strike had been threatened runs a game. Now the Phillies was barred from using my Shake- for Labor Day - I must have missed were coming into Candlestick, speare quotation as the title of the it. Jim Abbott pitches a no-hitter bent on revenge. The Giants had newsletter, I am using it as the and gives up his taken 2 out of 3, and the Sunday title of my column for the SABR first grand slam. 's game would decide whether San Examiner. I don't really have a record-breaking career ended with Francisco would take the series format; I think this might be the not with a bang but with a whim- decisively, or just split. We en- first and only "stream of conscious- per. Are people going to mew joyed booing the Phillies, but we ness" baseball column; thus tak- about his election to the Hall be- secretly liked them because they ing inspiration from James Joyce cause of his low won-lost percent- were good fun. They are the 90's as well as Shakespeare. age? The A's cellar finish makes reincarnation of the Gas House them the first team to go from top Gang. As took his So let's get from the litera- to bottom since their 1915 coun- position, the left field bleacher ture section to the Sports pages. terparts. They are thinking of bums bowed to him à la Wayne's This should be the last year of the replacing the field at Royals Sta- World "we're not worthy". The current format of divisions and dium (excuse me, Kauffman Sta- Giants led all the way. Royce playoffs; until fairly recently I was dium - the owner died) with natu- Clayton hit a (his third totally against the new plan, be- ral grass - W.P. Kinsella would be of the year), and this damn fog ing at heart a baseball tradition- thrilled. And Mr. Royals an- horn goes off. First blood, great alist. I think baseball should still nounces his retirement, which jubilation. Bonds hit another be played in flannel uniforms in means 1998 should have two sure- home run (#29) and the left field parks like Ebbets Field. But the fire inductees. Street and Smith bleachers went crazy along with new plan would leave the Giants usually has the best baseball an- everyone else. Later I read that in a four-team division, sharing nual: this year's preview predicted the pitcher complained that he with the Dodgers and the power- the Mets to win the National took too long in his home run trot. house teams San Diego and Colo- League East with the Phillies in That's Barry for you. I think Matt rado. That way the Dodgers and the cellar. Steinbrenner's at it Williams got a triple - he may not Giants can fight tusk to tusk again; he wants New York City to be the best ever, but he's the best throughout eternity with nary a build him a new stadium, maybe Williams since Ted. After it was disturbance. This year Colorado in . I wonder if even all over, my wife said "I really felt was spared a cellar finish by the Steinie would care to be known as sorry for the Phillies. Everyone basement sale of the best of the the Man Who Destroyed the House was booing them". Yes, but with Padre's players. In fact, thanks to That Ruth Built. If he's deter- respect. the Padres and Mets, this is the mined to move to Manhattan, I first expansion year where all new can suggest some real estate un- With 1993 into the waste bin teams avoided the cellar. Of course der Coogan's Bluff. Does baseball of baseball seasons, watch for the Charlie Finley had to pipe in and need a Commissioner or what? postmortems and analyses com- support the Padre's fire sale - and We don't need the kind of Com- ing soon to a baseball column probably the ghost of missioner that would re-admit near you. In the meantime, try to would approve. But I think the Steinbrenner and keep out Pete keep a brave face during these fans in San Diego deserve more Rose, but if we had an active one, baseballless winter months. than to have a minor-league team maybe the farce at San Diego 4 SABR EUROPE ? Norman Macht, the SABR Treasurer, writes ... by Patrick Morley I chanced to be in the SABR Since SABR(UK) was formed drew a larger crowd than had ever office in Cleveland when Mike Ross only this January it's performed attended a game. called on Friday last. Since I told membership wonders. Accord- him I was intending to write to ing to the SABR Bulletin, we've Since I have access to a fairly you, I decided I'd better hop to it. almost trebled our membership, good sized list of taped interviews First of all, thanks for the SABR something no other branch has of oldtime players, if there are any Examiner. Whatever you call it, even remotely approached inspite that you might wish to include in a you are far ahead of all other SABR of a big drive for new members. possible presentation at a future regionals who as far as I know do The list of Where SABR Mem- meeting, let me know and I will try not put out any publication, by bers Live in the September issue to put something of interest to- any equivocal or unequivocal has us down for 26 members this gether with some excerpts from a name. I enjoyed every line of it. year compared with only eight in few of them. I shall not forget the 1992. Those figures don't tally meeting in the Clerkenwell Pub, Of course I delighted to serve precisely with ours but they do and hope to return for an encore - as godfather or honorary presi- convey what we've been able to providing the movement to open dent of your SABR chapter, and achieve. We now have more mem- the pubs to kiddies does not go stand ready to provide any sug- bers than 15 American states through. I heard one chap on the gestions or help you request. Do and far more - surprisingly - than radio say "It is impossible to hold a not hesitate to consider me your Mexico, which as you all know is civilized conversation with any- personal conduit to the board or a great baseball country. In fact, one under 16 on the premises. the office in Cleveland for any- we only have one less member One's own children are bearable - thing you need. than Japan, another nation of just. But someone else's - never." fantastic baseball enthusiasts. The mention of Les Mann on All this from a country where Hoist a Guinness for me at page 3 of the Examiner brought to baseball isn't taken in the least your next meeting. [Editors note: mind that I had once interviewed bit seriously by the media and is we did.] Joe Oeschger (a great name for a totally ignored by the populace at trivia question) and Les Mann was large. Sincerely, his roommate and figured in the The official SABR list in- Norman L Macht story. I had written it for a maga- cludes thirteen members on the zine that folded, but published a Continent. There are three each book of all the baseball stories in France and Switzerland, two they had not gotten around to each in Germany and in the publishing. So I thought I'd copy SWAP SHOP Netherlands(including our friend it and send it to you for printing in Mike Ross has informed us Laurens De Jong, who has twice an issue of the Examiner or circu- that he has a selection of ballpark travelled to our meetings), and late it in some other way. Some models for sale. These are a steal one each in the Czech Republic, other notes on Mann: He was one at £10 plus £1.50 p&p. Both old Italy, and Sweden. If we thought of many players who jumped to and new ballparks are available - we were out on a limb, how much the Feds for the money in 1915, Old Comiskey, New Comiskey, Ti- more isolated are they? Shouldn't and led that league with 19 tri- ger Stadium, Ebbets Field, Polo we perhaps embrace them in our ples. With the pennant-winning Grounds, Yankee Stadium, and own steadily growing branch and Cubs in 1918, he led a player Shea Stadium. The perfect Christ- keep them in touch with what's revolt for better shares of the Se- mas gift for the baseball fanatic. going on in the world of SABR. ries money. In three seasons with Also, Andy Parkes has copies That, incidentally, would give us the Cardinals he hit .328, .347 of the interview that Norman Macht the chance to call ourselves, and .371. He was the guy pitcher conducted with Bobby Thomson, grandly, SABR Europe? As they Phil Douglas of the Giants wrote prior to his visiting us in January. say, today the United Kingdom, to in 1922 offering to throw a The two-hour cassette tape is avail- tomorrow Europe ... game for a fee. Douglas was ban- able from Andy for £5.00. Own a Seriously, though, folks, ished from baseball. Later Mann bit of history! He also has copies of what do you think? Interest in formed the National Amateur the photograph Bobby Thomson baseball is growing all over the Baseball Association and, as you signed for the Chapter - £3.50 for Continent. The Russians are par- mentioned, in 1936 persuaded an A3 sized photo. Mike also has ticularly keen, surely fertile the Olympic Committee to add copies of this picture, if it's more ground for a membership drive. baseball as an exhibition event. convenient. Both Andy's and Let us know whether you would Two American teams puzzled a Mike's address and phone num- like to suggest to SABR HQ that throng of Germans, and the game bers are on page 2. Proceeds go to we should take our lonely Euro- the Chapter. pean brethren into the fold. 5 international matches have been In the early 1930's, Freddie Baseball - Made in held at such illustrious venues as Fish, of Grange Albion, scored a Britain the Cardiff Arms Park and total of eleven 'homers' in eleven Everton's football stadium. More consecutive 'at bats'. Seven of -Wherein a claim is put recently crowds have diminished these were scored in a single game forward that baseball is not somewhat, but it is still common - against the unfortunate Pill Har- for 2000 spectators to attend the riers. as American as apple pie. international games between Eng- land and Wales. More recently, Terry 'Slog- Baseball is the national game ger' Slocombe became a legend of America, right? Well, sort of. The rules of British baseball with his big hitting style. During The odd - and still relatively little differ in detail from the American a baseball career which lasted 37 appreciated - fact is that baseball version. Most notably, a run is years up to 1986, Slogger won was invented in England. scored for each base reached by a eight international caps for Wales. batter. The equivalent of home In the 1959 International, he Jane Austen wrote about run is therefore a 'four'. Each time scored a record 43 runs. baseball in the late eighteenth consists of eleven players. An century. The heroine of her book, inning is complete when all eleven Other international baseball Northanger Abbey, spent much of players are out. The game ends players have achieved greater fame her youth playing the for their feats in other sport- game. By that time, ing arenas. David Bishop the ancient game of The Middlesborough Pioneers terrorised British baseball in the 1890's. See "View From the Chair", pg 2. and Mark Ring have, dur- rounders had already ing the last decade, played started to be known both baseball and rugby as 'baseball' in Eng- union at international level land. There is pub- for Wales. Graham lished evidence that Vearncombe was a goal- 'baseball' was a term keeper for Cardiff City and in common use in Brit- for the Welsh international ain as early as 1748. soccer team, and also played baseball for Wales The game of during the fiftes. baseball was taken to America by John On a few occasions, Chadwick, a native of the British and American southwest England, in versions of baseball have 1772. Ever since, the linked hands on the same American and British park. During the early versions of the sport 1920's, Grange Albion have continued to de- played the crew of an Ameri- velop along separate can ship at the American lines. Various attempts have, when both sides have batted for game one evening, and the British however, been made to introduce two innings. Despite these simi- game the following night. Unfor- the American version to Britain. larities with cricket, the game is tunately, no record survives of the This is how Derby County's soc- much closer to American baseball scores, but what price the mod- cer ground came to be known as in style. ern-day Penylan against the Mets? the Baseball Ground after its con- struction in 1889. Around that British baseball has, over the It is true that the original time several soccer clubs, includ- years, generated its own heroes British game of baseball does not ing Aston Villa and Leyton Orient and stories of great feats. In the pack the crowds into the stadia as as well as Derby, were also in- early part of this century, 'Buzzer' do the superstars across the pond. volved in American baseball. Heaven, playing for Grangetown, But it would be a pity if the do- masterminded an amazing 'quad- mestic game, truer as it is to the But the indigenous British ruple play'. As catcher, he touched roots of the sport, were to be ne- version of the sport has main- out the batsman who had swung glected completely by the new tained a strong following only in and missed the ball. The ball baseball media. British baseball two areas - Merseyside and south- then flew from home to second, is an entertaining game with a east Wales. Local leagues are back home, and then finally to long history. It is an indispensa- organised in both areas and an third base, to dismiss a total of ble part of the cultures of two of annual international match has four batsmen with one ball. Surely our great cities. Go watch some! been played since 1908. Crowds a myth! of up to 16,000 have attended - Geraint Johnes, Bob Thornton these games in the past, and the 6 time I have lugged a monstrous 's hit record and it was a Baseball In A reel-to-reel tape recorder from Reds game. During the "commer- Parched Land California to London; it has a four cial" break they said it was the hour tape capacity on slow speed. Armed Forces Network. I was How a baseball addict I set the timer to tape throughout overjoyed. Only later did I find out satisfies his craving in the the night, and wake up the next that it came in on a lamentably British Isles morning anxious to get the out- weak signal from Germany; this October 15, 1986 - The New come. I discover that I had left the was in the North of England in the York Mets and the Houston Astros tape recorder on fast speed; only middle of the night and it sounded are locked in the longest post- the beginning of the game is taped. fine to me. On my flight back to season game in history; it won't I have to phone home to get the the States, the pilot announces be decided until the 16th innning, result. that Rose had just surpassed when the Mets score three runs. Cobb. The Astros came back with two, October 17, 1989 - Finally, but Kevin Bass struck out with live baseball on television comes AFN has always been my two on. All throughout America, to Britain! The first Bay Area main source of baseball "over eyes are glued to television sets as World Series prompts me to splash here"; it certainly has been the ears are to radios; individuals, out on a satellite system - all the most consistent. It is, however, game parties, sports bars watch games will be shown live on far from perfect. First of all, it's each pitch. In a chilly flat in Screensport (with Mike Ross do- radio, not television. You'll never Stamford Hill, the game goes on ing the color). The A's score two see a team's snappy new home past 1 a.m., 2 a.m., 3 a.m. I am quick victories. Game Three will uniforms, or see the incredible taping the game off the U.S. Armed be the first in San Francisco. I April sunshine in California. An- Forces Network, a feeble radio sig- tune in at 1:15 a.m. to find the other thing is that the signal is too nal coming in from Germany that entire area devastated by a 7.1 damn weak. I'll never understand you can only receive once the sun earthquake. They pick up the why they don't have an AFN sta- sets, and then with varying feed from CBS, the U.S. network tion in Britain. You can only pick strength. My alarm rings once carrying the games. I watch for up AFN after dark, which varies more; my wife makes grumpy hours, entranced by the images of according to season. In the height noises; I put the sound on low and destruction. When I crawl into of summer you can't get reception hear that the game is still going bed at 4 a.m., my wife asks me until past 9. And just lately they'd on; I flip the 2-hour cassette tape how the game went. had a Spanish station broadcast (hour each side) over in the radio/ right next to it - sometimes over, cassette recorder running by the It hasn't been easy, keeping with them howling a soccer match bed; and set the alarm clock for an track of baseball in Britain. I'll and trilling their R's as your hour hence; and then both my never forget the first time I made favorite pitcher delivers. And you'll wife and I try to fall asleep for contact with U.S. baseball in Brit- never be able to choose (or even another hour. This scenario is ain. I had spent the day driving know) what game they're going to repeated three or four times - I from London to Bridlington with a broadcast. If you have a favorite can't remember. It was a long woman who would become my team, chances are 14-1 against game. wife, to visit a woman who would hearing your team. They also become my mother-in-law. We have this annoying habit of pre- October 12, 1986 - The An- had stopped and visited some empting baseball for almost any- gels are one out away from their ancient churches on the way up; thing: an address from the Presi- first pennant. Donnie Moore gets I was delighted with their dent, the Country Music Corral, two strikes on , moldiness. That night I had a and SummerSlam 93 - not to men- and the Angels are one strike away. dream that a translucent woman tion football, basketball, and This game's on at a decent hour - in a wedding dress was holding hockey. Having said that, they I listen on a Saturday evening. my hand. This startled me awake. did most admirably in covering I've always liked the Angels, and I Whether this was a portent from the National League West pen- keep my wife updated with the the future, or my future wife send- nant race, even to the point of pre- details. The signal fades as Moore ing her ka to put something in my empting the NFL. But most im- delivers... head, I'll never know. I had trou- portantly I think, baseball over ble falling asleep, so I listened to AFN just doesn't have the feel of October 13, 1987 - St. Louis my transistor radio. I was dialing BBH (Baseball Back Home). In- is on the bubble in Game 6 of the through the stations, when I come stead of those wonderful beer and NLCS vs the Giants. The only run across the unmistakable sounds pickup truck commercials, you in this game on either side is of baseball. It was a game - it get snappy jingles on eating foods scored when Candy Maldonado didn't take me long to figure out from all the major food groups, loses a pop fly in the lights. This that it was a live game. This was and reminders to clean your car evens the series; the Cardinals go September 1985, during the time thoroughly when you ship it back on to win it the next day. By this that Pete Rose was edging up on home after your tour of duty. You 7 do, however, get Ken Allen. He ago. In the middle of the night been all that interested in the Sky may never make it to the majors they broadcast a game from Sports Game Of the Week, or (civvie style), but his depth of Wrigley Field, with Harry Caray Pontel for that matter, is that I knowledge of professional sports announcing. During the U.S. com- have been able to follow baseball and their relationship to the me- mercial break they talked to play- in a better way. Before Sky Sports dia makes him a joy to listen to. ers about different types of pitches, picked up baseball, I thought that Because he is broadcasting on a detailed explanation of baseball the end of TV baseball in Britain non-commercial station, he has strategy - it was very well done. I was here. A life without visual to freedom to offer strong and con- got excited and phoned Channel baseball is of course unthinkable, troversial comments on the run- 4 on Monday, and they told me it so I purchased a multi-standard ning of baseball that other an- was a one-off thing. Oh well. VCR that would play games taped nouncers couldn't get away with. in the States. It has been my But the moment the last out is Of course Screensport wasn't pride and joy. I get games from my scored, they cut to The Golden destined to last - it was free. They favorite team sent from home - Age of Radio, or All Things Con- kept threatening to charge us, diligently taped and posted by my sidered. Immediately. No post- and I gladly would have paid for mother. The lag time is roughly mortems. No 's corner. baseball. But it never happened. what it is in Sky Sports and Pontel, No postgame interviews. No out- This year came the announce- plus I get the added bonus of fielder popping his gum and drawl- ment that Screensport and always having my team, and hav- ing, "Well, I think it was a good Eurosport had "merged". I phoned ing the original commercials, news ball game..." No sports talk. You to ask them if this was the same spots, and weather from back don't even get final stats. Just thing as when Sky and BSB home. By the time I get the tape I public service spots. It's just a bit "merged". It was. I had to phone aleady know the outcome of the soulless. It's just not the same. Paris to get the news - "no base- game: I don't think anything will ball". Screensport simply ceased ever replace live baseball. But I should be grateful to to exist and Eurosport changed AFN, because it's immediate. not a whit. Things looked dire To get my daily fix of Base- Baseball is an everyday thing, and when Sky Sports stepped in. In ball, I set my timer to audio tape a "Game of the Week" just don't July they started broadcasting a an hour of the AFN broadcast. I cut it. But any TV is better than weekly two-hour game with a set it for 2:30 each morning - no TV. Televised Baseball in Brit- promise to broadcast the World sometimes you get baseball, some- ain has a sketchy history. The Series live. Sound familiar? This times you get wrestling. And every first time I saw baseball on TV in is a subscription service whereas morning you can keep up-to-date Britain was a summary of the Screensport was free, but it was with scores by using page 162 of 1986 World Series (sorry, Mike) in worth it. So I went and ordered all ITV's teletext. This isn't always a broadcast on ITV very late at the Sky channels, and today I am accurate, and sometime they do night about a fortnight after the a happier and more contented ridiculous things like showing fact. The next year they had a person. Chicago beating Chicago (and it's baseball show on for an hour at 3 not the 1906 World Series) or Mon- a.m. It used black and white I must admit I haven't treal losing to two seperate teams photos and jazz music for its open- watched the Sky Sports weekly in one day. Well, I suppose it is ing, and usually spent the first game regularly. First, we had a possible...Despite its drawbacks, ten minutes explaining the rules problem getting our satellite dish it's close to immediate. On No- of the game. It was about as good installed. We were told that we vember 15 CNN will start its tele- as it sounds. I think they had needed to get a new dish, as our text service; hopefully they'll take these shows on and off for a cou- old one did not support a decoder. baseball a bit more seriously. ple of years - but it wasn't until Okay, fine, no problem. But as Screensport started broadcasting soon as we said this, the people in One fine day, for the first in 1989 did we get a World Series the flat above us immediately dis- time in their current city, my team shown live. They have shown appeared - on holiday? family will win the World Series. People every one live since then. troubles? suicide pact? We didn't will be shouting, laughing, crying. Screensport started out with two know, they were just gone. So Tears will be shed and babies will different two-hour games a week, what's the point? Roof access. be conceived. A millisecond later, both in prime time - they were They couldn't get up to the roof to I'll be sitting alone by my radio, in simply games, without a lot of change dishes. It took almost a the middle of some awful rainy local embellishment, edited down month before we could get the October night. I'll be trying to to two hours. They were emi- dish installed. We never did get a tune in a crackly signal coming nently watchable, but the number satisfactory explanation for their from a faraway land, trying to share soon dwindled to one. If they have disappearance. I guess it's just in the joy of the moment. No way, ever shown a regular-season game none of our business. man! I'll be there, dude! live I missed it, but Channel 4 showed a live game a few years The main reason I haven't - Martin Hoerchner 8 the two world wars. "The first a British resident since 1959. Joseph White's team I played for had been formed "We've had some letters suggest- AP Story shortly after the war near where I ing there's quite a lot out there Herein is the text of the lived", Parkes said. "The huge that can be researched". Ross amount of American servicemen noted the British claim that base- story that gave SABR(UK) in the area had created interest in ball is a version of the schoolyard worldwide publicity: the game. I saw them in the park game of rounders, one of the theo- London(AP) - Andy Parkes as a young boy. The first baseball ries the group is sure to explore never saw Reggie Jackson play. paper I read would have been old and debate. But the baseball fan from Man- copies of the ." chester, England, has no short- There's also plenty to talk age of opinions about Mr. Octo- Today, it's a little easier for about on the modern British base- ber's recent election to the Hall of Parkes to follow the majors, al- ball scene, but there the news is Fame. "I'm not overly impressed though a weekly baseball series not as pleasant. A bitter split with Jackson", said Parkes, argu- on the national television station within the British Baseball Fed- ing his case at a recent meeting of Channel Four was scrapped after eration two years ago led to sev- SABR(UK). "There was a lot of a brief run a few years ago. Euro- eral of its best teams breaking hype with Jackson. He sort of pean editions of American news- away to form a rival league. Nei- talked his way into the Hall of papers provide scores and ther league has more than a token Fame. He struck out a lot. He standings, and satellite television following on the national sporting batted only .262. A lot greater channels show an occasional scene, and teams play their games players than he are in the Hall of game. Next month, Parkes is look- in public parks in front of a hand- Fame". "I disagree, Andy", came ing forward to seeing some live ful of fans. In addition, the BBF the response from American jour- action, when minor-league play- lost its major sponsor in the later nalist Mike Ross. "I think Jackson ers from the Boston Red Sox and 1980s. "There is a chance of rec- deserves it". New York Mets organizations play onciliation now", Ross said of the a two-game series at the Oval rival groups. "That would help Intense discussions are cricket ground. There are also quite a bit". standard fare at meetings of the plans to bring two major-league Society for American Baseball Re- teams to the legendary Lord's STAT CHAT search, or SABR. The society cricket stadium next year. Who were the 10 best teams of claims more than 6,500 members all time, plus one? Here is what the in the United States, but this chap- "We're trying to raise the pro- record book says, ranked according ter meeting at a London pub is the file of baseball in England", said to won-loss percentage: first outside North America. The Parkes, the chapter's treasurer. Bobby Thomson Chapter, named "The other three sports got the 1. 1880 Chicago (NL) after the Scottish-born hero of the jump on us. Football's been com- 67-17 .798 1951 New York Giants, boasts 35 ing over here for several years, 2. 1876 Chicago (NL) members in its first year of exist- and basketball is coming this fall, 52-14 .788 ence. There are a half dozen or so and hockey's coming this week- 3. 1885 Chicago (NL) transplanted Americans in the end. Baseball's behind. They 87-25 .777 group, but the rest are native Brit- dropped us on Channel Four, but 4. 1906 Chicago (NL) ons. "It was always difficult being we want to show there's a lot of 116-36 .763 a baseball fan", said Parkes, 52, interest out there". 5. 1885 New York (NL) who played for a local team in 85-27 .759 Stretford in the 1960's. "The only In addition to its efforts to 6. 1884 Providence (NL) way to keep up at all was to tune promote the same, the chapter's 84-28 .750 in to AFN (Armed Forces Radio other objective is to explore base- 7. 1902 Pittsburgh (NL) Network). I did that for many ball's rich but little-known his- 103-36 .741 years, more than I care to count. tory in Britain. Parkes, who has 8. 1886 Chicago (NL) I've listened to every World Series been to three SABR conventions 90-34 .726 since 1961 on the radio." in the United States, usually draws 9. 1909 Pittsburgh (NL) incredulous looks when he men- 110-42 .724 Which means that while tions the sport's British heritage. 10. 1954 Cleveland (AL) Parkes didn't see Jackson's three "People in America can't believe 111-43 .721 home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 there's a history of baseball in 11. 1927 New York (AL) World Series, he certainly heard England", Parkes said. "It's been 110-44 .714 them, live on a crackly radio sig- played for over 100 years". "A nal at about 5 am. Like many great deal of the evolution of base- Of course, the list was extended to British baseball fans, Parkes got ball came in England, before it 11 to include the 1927 Yankees. interested in the game during its was invented in America", agreed They are widely regarded as the spurt of popularity surrounding Ross, the chapter's president and best team ever, but maybe only for those with a 20th-century bias.