Thanksgiving week is approaching. To Rita and me, this means we are close to the date of the birthday of Joe Reres. On November 27, Joe would have been 97. After Joe died on July 4, I assembled some thoughts about our time together. With Joe’s approaching birthday anniversary, this seems like a good time to share these memories. As you celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, please include a toast to Joe and Barbara.
Lonnie Continue reading
I had plenty of reasons to root for either team in the 2016 World Series. If forced to choose, the tipping point would be that my Mother would have been for the Cubs. In all events, what a great way to finish – extra innings in Game 7! And the Indians have graciously agreed to accept the results of the game.
My dream matchup for the Series remains possible. The Cubs need to finish off the Dodgers at Wrigley this weekend. As I discussed in Hot Stove #25 and #26, my sentiment with the Cubs relates to the obscenely long time since their last World Series win. To give that some personal perspective: My grandparents immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe in 1907. That year and the next, the Cubs won the World Series. Our family has expanded by five additional generations since then (yes, I have great-grandchildren), but the Cubs remain without another World Series title. It’s time. Here is another take based on the opening number of Hamilton: (click here, 3:47).
Before getting into Part Two of that 1908 season, I’ll start with some current news.
Buck’s Bridge: I was out of town last week and so missed the dedication of the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Bridge. When Rita and I came in from the airport Friday night, we were excited to see the sign as we crossed the bridge on our way home. The dedication ceremony was held at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum:
Nerd Alert: This Hot Stove thing grew out of the euphoria of the 2015 World Series. The idea was to supplement my playoff postings for the “serious” baseball fans during the Hot Stove season. Many casual fans also signed on and sometimes the commentary can get a little long for them. As my wife and editor Rita says, I occasionally “get down into the weeds.” Mostly I try to listen to her. Sometimes I just have to be in the weeds. So I have compromised and will do a short version and then take a commercial break for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Then, for the nerds, the long version, which is so long that there will be a Part Two in Hot Stove #26. Think of it this way. You can listen to the hit single (no pun intended) or the long play album. There will be no test.
Rita and I have returned from Cuba and the Telluride Film Festival. My Hot Stove sabbatical is over. If you are a movie fan, my Telluride reviews are on Lonnie’s Jukebox. As for Cuba and getting back to Hot Stove baseball, please read on.
Sabbatical Notice: It is hard to read and write at the same time. I am way behind on my book reading because of Hot Stove and some recent political writing (more on that later in this post). So Hot Stove is going on sabbatical. Rita and I head to Miami on Saturday to catch a cruise ship to Cuba – spending my 75th birthday in Havana. The trip after that will be the Telluride Film Festival over Labor Day Weekend. After Telluride, Hot Stove will return, though not likely reporting on the Royals approaching the playoffs. But I will have some movie reviews and more baseball nostalgia and trivia.
Ken Hill: From Pendergast to Carnahan (Part Three of Three)
I thought that politics might take a sabbatical in 1977 since there were no city, county or state races. But Ken intervened, first with a unique poker party, and then with a new cause.
Ken Hill: From Pendergast to Carnahan (Part Two of Three)
Part One ended with Mike White’s one-vote victory in his county legislative race in 1972. George Lehr was in the middle of his 4-year term as Presiding Judge, and under the new charter, Lehr became the County Executive. When Lehr announced he would run for State Auditor in 1974, the County Executive post was up for grabs.
1974 – Mike White: The field for the County Executive race narrowed to two primary candidates: James P. Aylward, Jr. and Mike White. Both were considered “good government” types and each had run for their first office with CCP support, Jim for county collector in 1970 (succeeding George Lehr) and Mike in 1972 for his county legislative seat. Mike’s one-vote win had given him some notoriety, and the Aylward name was well known in county politics, so much so that I will digress for a moment.
