Dear DPC2;

As you well know your Grandfather is a Chicago Cubs fan but ultimately he is a baseball fan. As such there are non-Cubs that he reveres. Mickey Mantle is one that we covered. But the greatest pitcher in his mind played for the Brooklyn/LA Dodgers. Sandy Koufax had a short career, like Gale Sayers and Bo Jackson, but his greatness in that short time span was timeless. He dominated the National League in such a manner that he made it to Cooperstown even though he only had four great seasons.

• 1963: 25-5, 1.88 ERA, SHO: 11 K’s: 306
• 1964: 19-5, 1.74 ERA, SHO: 7 K’s: 223
• 1965: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, SHO: 8 K’s: 382
• 1966: 27-9, 1.73 ERA, SHO: 5 K’S: 317 ”

Trying to hit him was like trying to drink coffee with a fork.” – Willie Stargell

 Arthritis in his throwing arm shut down his career but in those final four seasons he was the most dominate pitcher in the last half of the 20th Century. He also lead the Dodgers to a pair of world championships, 1963 & 1965.

What Koufax lacked in longevity he made up for in having four-seasons that will never be replicated. All the greater feat when one considers the amount of arm trouble that he was having at towards the end of his career.

Your Grandfather disagrees with my assertion that former Houston Astros pitcher J.R. Richard had a career similar to Koufax. Both pictures found glory in the later chapters of their respective careers and for four-seasons they were both unhittable. Richard’s career is starting to become obscure.

He pitched for the Astros from 1971 to 1980 and had a somewhat pedestrian career mark of 107-71 but from 1976 – 1980 he dominated the National League. Unfortunately he suffered a debilitating stroke in 1980 and his career was over. But four and half seasons he was dominate in a manner rarely seen in MLB.
• 1976: 20-15, 2.75 ERA, SHO: 3, K’s: 214
• 1977: 18-12, 2.97 ERA, SHO: 3, K’s: 214
• 1978: 18-11, 3.11 ERA, SHO: 3, K’s: 303
• 1979: 18-13, 2.71 ERA, SHO: 4, K’s: 313
• 1980: 10-4, 1.90 ERA, SHO:4, K’s 119

At 6’8” he was an imposing pitcher and in the last part of his career he teamed up with Nolan Ryan to form a formidable 1-2 punch. Richard was still developing as a pitcher when his career ended as his walks total were still dropping. From a 151 in 1976, to 98 in 1979. He had just turned 30-years old when he retired and was beginning to mature as a picture.

Like Koufax, it’s difficult to develop conjecture on where Richard’s career would have ended up without the stroke that derailed his promising career. But I can say that he would have been a dominate pitcher and his story would be better known. As opposed to now. Where he has been relegated to the obscure chapters of the baseball history books

Dear DPC2;

It isn’t a given that you will be a sports fan. But if you are I would like to share baseball with you in the same way that my Dad did with me. There is something inherently paternal in the national pastime. I can’t explain why exactly but the movie “Field of Dreams” does a pretty job of it, despite having Kevin Costner.

For each generation there is a certain player that captures the imagination and makes you think that all of the records will be broken and that you are a witness to greatness. You go out of your way to watch him play and even if he isn’t on your favorite team you root for his success because his work could be timeless and you want to remember the moments.

When I was growing up that baseball player was Ken Griffey Jr., a centerfielder for the Seattle Mariners.  He made his debut as a teenager and played alongside his father in 1989. The sky was the limit for him. His swing was perfect. He was quick around the bases and patrolling the outfield of the Kingdome. The game seemed easy for him and his debut baseball card, 1989 Upper Deck number 1, was iconic and I still have one.

“We love Ken Griffey, Jr. because he is everything we would like to be. He’s young, he’s good-looking, he’s got the best smile in the world, and he’s a heroic athlete. He is a shot in the arm for baseball. He is what this game needs right now. He is creating excitement and making headlines just by his presence. There hasn’t been anyone like that since… Reggie Jackson.” – Hall of Fame Outfielder Reggie Jackson

He started quickly in his rookie season of 1989 hitting 16-homeruns while still a teenager. For the five subsequent seasons he hit between 22 and 45 homeruns each year. In 1995 he injured his wrist but he came back and from 1996 to 2000 he averaged 49.8 homeruns. There was a sense that Griffey would surpass Hank Aaron MLB record of 755 career homeruns. His gifts were so immense that it seemed possible that he would go down as an all-time great. Unfortunately his health and by extension his career took a severe hit when he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2000.

You can’t blame the Reds for the downfall of Griffey. Bad luck stung him and from 2001 to 2007 when he played 698 out of a possible 972, meaning that he missed over a season and a half with the Reds.  No longer was he The Chosen One. The one meant to break all the records. Instead he labored through the last half of his career as a shell of his former self. Yes, he ended up hitting 630-homeruns and had a greater career than most of peers but in a way it all seemed lacking. Maybe our expectations were too high. Maybe we shouldn’t have anointed him as the next great thing.

Regardless of reaching imagined goals Griffey was the best baseball player of my youth and the fact that he wasn’t mentioned in the Mitchell Report or never had his name sullied by PED accusations will make his accomplishments all the greater. The modern game has been destroyed by rampant PED use from supposed greats such as Barry Bonds, Manny Ramirez, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez and all the rest. It was reassuring that a player such as Griffey could hit over 600-homeruns naturally.

“He should lead the league in everything. With his combination of speed and power he should win the triple batting crown every year. In fact, he should do anything he wants to do.” – Casey Stengel

He was supposed to be the next Joe DiMaggio. The next great New York Yankee and despite abusing his body Mickey Mantle will go down in history as an all time great. Like Griffey, Mantle made his MLB debut as a teenager and was anointed the next great thing. A rare athlete with speed and power (and a catchy name) he manned centerfield for the Bronx Bombers for 18-seasons, hammered 536 homeruns and won the 1956 Triple Crown but despite all of these great accomplishments it always seemed like he should have done more.

“On two legs, Mickey Mantle would have been the greatest ballplayer who ever lived.” – Nellie Fox

Unfortunately Mantle injured his knee early in his career and spent the rest of it, essentially, on one good leg. Considering the numbers he generated over his career it is a greater accomplishment that he did it with a bad wheel but baseball fans have a tendency towards conjecture and Mantle was an easy target.

A big facet of Mantle’s legend is the fact that manned the key outfield position, centerfield, for those great Yankee teams (where he won 7  World Series), his country boy charm ,(My former supervisor thought he was handsome) and the fact that his father ordained him to be a baseball player by naming him after Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane. He played on the biggest stage and lived large off it.

“(Mickey) Mantle’s greatness was built on power and pain. He exuded the first and endured the second.” – Roy Fitzgerald in the Boston Globe

Sadly Mantle never took care of himself during his career. He never rehabbed his early knee injury and he also liked to stay out late and party until dawn. This lifestyle likely damaged his career and it ultimately cost him life as he died in 1995, at the age of 63, from liver failure.

Your Grandfather is a Chicago Cubs fan but he still holds Mantle dear. In his den there is a 1956 Topps Mantle baseball card on his desk and on the wall there is an autographed picture and a framed jersey of The Mick. For his generation Mantle was the greatest.

When I was a kid he took me to Sacramento to a baseball card show. He wanted me to see Mantle in person. I consider that a very special moment because as I have gotten older I now realize what Mantle meant to a generation of fans

Mickey Mantle: 5’11 195 lbs. Born: 10.20.1931 – Throws: Right Bats: Both  -Centerfield – New York Yankees 1951 – 1968 , Games: 2401 Hits: 2415 HR: 536 RBI: 1509 AVG: .298 OBP: .421 SLG: .557

Ken Griffey Jr.: 6’2” 230 lbs – Born: 11.21.1969 Throws: Left Bats: Left – Centerfield – Seattle Mariners: 1989 – 1999, Cincinnati Reds: 2000 – 2008, Chicago White Sox 2008, 2009 – 20010 Seattle Mariners – Games: 2671 Hits: 2781 HR: 630 RBI: 1836 AVG: .284 OBP: .370 SLG: .538

I have been a sports fan since I was ten-years old and I have been fortunate in that I have had the opportunity to attend games in various stadiums and arenas. I am a west coast guy, I lived in Santa Rosa, CA for 20-years, I attended college in Reno and I have lived in Phoenix for the past five years, and as result of this left coast living a vast majority of the stadiums I have attended are in the Pacific Time Zone.

In time I’d like to venture to the east coast stalwarts like Fenway Park and the New Yankee Stadium but until then I am very satisfied with the place I’ve been and the stadium I’ve seen. Without further adieu, the stadiums and arenas DPC has visited.

1. Wrigley Field: The first game I attended was at the Friendly Confines. I believe I was three-years old at the time. I have no memory of this visit but I’ve been told that Nolan Ryan and the Astros took on the Cubs.
2. Oakland Coliseum: In its original configuration the Coliseum was a good place to check out an A’s game. Sadly Mount Davis ruined it for all of us.
   
3. Candlestick Park: The worst stadium I have ever been to. I took in a Cubs series in July and I had to wear a parka. Bad location, no ambiance, and rude fans.
4. Oakland Arena: I saw one Warriors game there and I have almost no memory of the games besides Steve Kerr nailing a trio of threes for the Spurs.
5. Dodger Stadium: Epitomizes cool, hip L.A. Even with bad seats it’s a great experience.
6. Kibbie Dome: In a Bizarro Life In The DPC I would have attended Idaho and would have frequented this dull arena. Yet another why I am glad that I attended Nevada.
7. Lawlor Events Center: Home of the University of Nevada’s basketball team. Many a good time in the 11,784 seat arena.
8. Mackay Stadium: Home of the Wolf Pack’s football squad and one of the few college stadiums that serves alcohol.
9. Rose Bowl: I attended the 2008 Rose Bowl and saw Illinois get obliterated by USC.
10. L.A. Coliseum: This was a recent trip as I took in the Virginia vs. USC game. Good times in a historically significant venue bad cell phone reception for all AT&T customers. Odd, considering that AT&T is a sponsor of the L.A. Coliseum.
11. Chase Field: It’s always a windless 72 degrees in a building that reminds me of an airplane hangar.
12. University of Phoenix Stadium: A great venue for football, especially in Arizona. I now understand why the Cardinals didn’t draw well when they played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe.No one in their right mind would watch a game, on metal bleachers, in Arizona heat. Well, no one except ASU fans.
13. Jobing.com Arena: Quite possibly the worst name for an arena. I am Career Builder man myself.

Former Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire has admitted to using steroids during his storied career. The former big league stated that the juice was not for homers but was used for health purposes.

“You don’t know that you’ll ever have to talk about the skeleton in your closet on a national level,” McGwire said. “I did this for health purposes. There’s no way I did this for any type of strength use.”

In all honesty this does not come as a shock to DPC and quite frankly I hope that this admission keeps McGwire out of Copperstown. As you can tell I am not a fan of Big Mac. He played for the Cardinals, the Cubs arch nemesis, and in general I found his work to be unbearable. Maybe I wasn’t fooled by Paul Bunyanesque exploits on the diamond.

Once again Jose Canseco was right.

In honor of the 2009 Fall Classic,