Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–March 23

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Mike Smith (1868)
Gavvy Cravath (1881)
Cy Slapnicka (1886)
Ray Kremer (1893)
Johnny Moore (1902)
Johnny Logan (1927)
Jim Lemon (1928)
Lee May (1943)
George Scott (1944)
Pat Bourque (1947)
Lanny Frattare (1948)
Bo Diaz (1953)
Mrs. A (1954)
Mike Remlinger (1966)
Chris Turner (1969)
Ramon Ortiz (1973)
Mark Buehrle (1979)

Cy Slapnicka was a long-time scout.  Players he is credited with signing include Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau, and Herb Score.  Somehow, "Cy Slapnicka" just sounds like a name a baseball scout should have.

Lanny Frattare was a radio broadcaster for the Pirates from 1976-2008.

Happy birthday to my Hall of Fame wife.

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Friday Music Day

FMD: March 22, 2012

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Apropos of nothing (other than listening yesterday): Is Fog's "Pneumonia" the best song to come out of Minneapolis since Purple Rain (and disallowing any later Prince)? Listen and decide for yourself (Lyrics contain profanities):
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WavKots-bK0
"The casserole was good and the drives were so nice. Welcome to the worst part of your life."
I'd also entertain notions that "Check Fraud" (vocal version) and "What-A-Day Day" by the same artist could be nominated, but by gum does that turntable solo kick ass and flip genres. Basically, it's a Neil Young-type ballad with record scratches for drums and guitar solo. I saw Broder play this once at First Ave, after I had become familiar with the album. I was mesmerized.

Keeping Track

Happy Birthday–March 22

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Jack Boyle (1866)
Ernie Quigley (1880)
Goldie Holt (1902)
Bob Elson (1904)
Marv Owen (1906)
Billy Goodman (1926)
Al Schroll (1932)
Gene Oliver (1935)
Frank Pulli (1935)
Dick Ellsworth (1940)
Ron Wojciak (1943)
Jake Brown (1948)
Eddie Bane (1952)
Bob Costas (1952)
Eric Rasmussen (1952)
Scott Bradley (1960)
Matt Sinatro (1960)
Rich Monteleone (1963)
Glenallen Hill (1965)
Sean Berry (1966)
Ramon Martinez (1968)
Cory Lidle (1972)
Mike Morse (1982)
Ike Davis (1987)

Ernie Quigley was a National League umpire for twenty-six years and then became the NL supervisor of umpires.

Goldie Holt is credited with teaching Charlie Hough to throw the knuckleball.

Bob Elson was a baseball broadcaster for over thirty years, mostly in Chicago.

Frank Pulli was a National League umpire from 1972-1999.

Ron Wojciak helped the Minnesota Golden Gophers win the College World Series in 1964 and played in the Twins’ farm system in 1965.  He passed away from lung cancer in 1966.

Jake Brown was drafted by Minnesota in the thirty-third round in 1967, but he did not sign.

Scott Bradley was drafted by Minnesota in the twelfth round in 1978, but he did not sign.

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Miscellaneous

2013 NCAA Tournament Proper – Day 1

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I don't have to work until Saturday morning, so today I'm stuffing my face, drinking cheap beer, and watching the NCAA Tournament all day. I haven't watched any college basketball this year, but much like the NFL, the spectacle of the Tourney/Super Bowl drags me in. If you wish to join me in discussion, here's the place. If college basketball isn't your thing, that's cool too, just please don't come in here and harsh everyone's mellow.

Remodeled basement. Same half-baked taste.