[Jimbob]

1869 "Red Stockings"

1888 "Reds"

When I was a 10-year-old boy my dad took me to my first pro baseball game. The Cincinnati Redlegs played the Chicago Cubs. I remember being in awe of actually seeing big Ted Kluszewski standing there at first base. And Johnny Temple at second. And Gus Bell out in Center Field. In a nutshell, I was just in awe. The Cubs won the game, but I didn't care. I got to SEE the Redlegs with my own little eyes!

The Cincinnati Reds name has flopped around like froglegs in a frying pan over the years. The original "Red Stockings" name was shortened to just "Reds" in 1881. Then, in the McCarthy era of panic over Communism, the Reds changed to the "Redlegs" in 1953. Things had simmered down by 1959 (Khrushchev had gone to Disneyland, after all) and the "Redlegs" of my youth became the "Reds" once again. And now you know.

But the team I loved best was the era of the "Big Red Machine," from 1970 to 1976. Lord have mercy, what a team they were! "Sparky Anderson" - their fiery manager. Johnny Bench - catcher, Tony Perez - first base, Joe Morgan - second base, Dave Concepcion - shortstop, Pete Rose ("Charlie Hustle") - third base, Ken Griffey - Right Field, Cesar Geronimo - Center Field, George Foster - Left Field. The pitching staff was equally amazing with starter Jack Billingham and Reliever Pedro Borbon standing out in my memory. Ah, the Big Red Machine. Those were the days!

Here's the link to the "Red Stockings" story: On this day in history, March 15, 1869, Cincinnati Red Stockings become first professional baseball team

Reds Manager "Sparky" Anderson

 

[pwd72s]

Ahhh, baseball! A sport steeped in history that the NFL will never have. It's also a game that statisticians love. Thanks for this bit of the history, Jimbob. And today, steeped in history, you have your Cleveland....er...Guardians?

 

[39Tudor]

Sparky Anderson was a great coach and The Big Red Machine was formed when all the stars aligned just right to make a great organization.

Sparky also did a great job when he landed in Detroit! The 84 Tigers was another time when the stars aligned perfectly!

 

[Jimbob]

Ahhh, baseball! A sport steeped in history that the NFL will never have. It's also a game that statisticians love. Thanks for this bit of the history, Jimbob. And today, steeped in history, you have your Cleveland....er...Guardians?

Hard to get behind a team with a nerdy, prissy, wokey name like that. Makes me want to barf chunks!

 

[Jimbob]

After looking closely at the old pictures of the 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings and 1888 Reds, it hit me. Nobody --- not one soul --- had even the hint of a smile. When you think about it, NOBODY had a smile in any of those old 19th Century pictures. There are many taken of Abraham Lincoln, but have you ever seen a single one of him smiling?

So... what's up with that? Were people so dejected and sad back then that no one ever smiled?

 

[pwd72s]

Trying to look tough and serious. It is kind of weird...smile for high school senior pics, but never for some others. All depends on what the photo will be used for? Damned it I know...but a good observation there.

 

[Jimbob]

Trying to look tough and serious. It is kind of weird...smile for high school senior pics, but never for some others. All depends on what the photo will be used for? Damned it I know...but a good observation there.

So, you mean there were Brandons and Corn Pops back then? C'mon, man!

 

[pwd72s]

So, you mean there were Brandons and Corn Pops back then? C'mon, man!

Yep.
A later thought I had was that it might be a gender thing as well...the girls smiling, the guys looking serious.

 

[Jimbob]

One of the best revenge shootings ever!

This is, hands down, one of best western movie shootout scenes I've ever seen. Kevin Costner in "Open Range." Enjoy!

 

[Jimbob]

This just in!

I got a call from the dermatologist a bit ago and he gave me the bad news. The sore on my nose (that resulted from a biopsy being done in Aug. 2021 from another dermatologist) turned out to be cancerous, after a second biopsy was done at the VA. It's called a squamous cell carcinoma. Sooooo, now I wait for the VA to call me (in about a week) to set up an appt. with an outside dermatologist. What he will do is called "Mohs surgery, that involves removing one layer of skin at a time, screening it for cancer, then going on to a second layer and screening it, until they get to a layer that is cancer-free. Depending on how deep they go will determine what they'll do next. If it's not deep at all, they may just let it heal on its own. If it's very deep (and hideous looking), they may send me to a plastic surgeon. Whatever it takes, the guy at the VA assured me that I'll end up my old handsome self.

I will keep you posted.

 

[TwoStangWmn]

This just in!

I got a call from the dermatologist a bit ago and he gave me the bad news. The sore on my nose (that resulted from a biopsy being done in Aug. 2021 from another dermatologist) turned out to be cancerous, after a second biopsy was done at the VA. It's called a squamous cell carcinoma. Sooooo, now I wait for the VA to call me (in about a week) to set up an appt. with an outside dermatologist. What he will do is called "Mohs surgery, that involves removing one layer of skin at a time, screening it for cancer, then going on to a second layer and screening it, unto they get to a layer that is cancer-free. Depending on how deep they go will determine what they'll do next. If it's not deep at all, they may just let it heal on its own. If it's very deep (and hideous looking), they may send me to a plastic surgeon. Whatever it takes, the guy at the VA assured me that I'll end up my old handsome self.

I will keep you posted.

View attachment 92371

So sorry to hear this Jim. I too have had melanoma removed but mine was on my leg.

 

[pwd72s]

Plastic surgery??? Nose??? You sure about that? If it gets that far, do you get to make the design? If so, maybe consider a silver one? I always thought the one Lee Marvin wore in "paint your wagon" looked striking.

Seriously, hope it all goes well.

 

[39Tudor]

Jimbob,
Sorry to hear this but it is good that you caught it before it turned to something worse.
My father is very light complected so he has had this done before on his ear. They managed to get most of it with surgery and then used radiation to finish the job. Cancer free for 15 years now.
I’ll say a few extra prayers for your speedy recovery!

 

[Jimbob]

Jimbob,
Sorry to hear this but it is good that you caught it before it turned to something worse.
My father is very light complected so he has had this done before on his ear. They managed to get most of it with surgery and then used radiation to finish the job. Cancer free for 15 years now.
I’ll say a few extra prayers for your speedy recovery!

Sorry, Jerry. The bottom part of this post was meant for Vicki. I messed up. That said, thank you for your concern and well-wishing. Glad to hear things worked out for your dad. Again, thank you!

‐-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If yours was a melanoma it was different than what I have. I have a carcinoma and the doctors all say it's not to worry about. They simply remove all the cancerous tissue, patch me up and I'll be good as new. They may have to slap some Bondo in the crater on my nose, sand it down and repaint it. But, other than that --- badda bing, badda boom, I'm outta there! Thanks for the well-wishing! Glad to hear yours is staying away. Take care! --JB

 

[39Tudor]

Dad’s was carcinoma as well.
I think they did radiation because the could not trim all of it out of his ear.
Anyway, dad goes in every 4 month for a check up and mostly they just freeze a bunch of spots on his face and he is good to go.
Our current battle with y dad is keeping his blood pressure within reasonable numbers.
Been into the doctor once last week and again last Monday adjusting medicine dosage to get things under control. The fun never stops!

 

[39Tudor]

So Paul might like this……….
I have been in the process of cleaning out my parents house since we moved them to an assisted living facility. Been finding lots of dads military stuff and we found a receipt where he shipped two pool cues back to his parents in 1954. Well, in the back of a closet leaning in a dark corner we’re two walking sticks , or so I thought. I’ll let the photos do the talking.

 

[pwd72s]

Jerry, Those walking stick cues get discussed on a pool site I visit from time to time. Usually in a thread started by someone who found the site, inquiring about value. The cue collector guys there are usually nice and let the poster down gently when telling him they have no real value other than sentimental. By all means, hang on to them for nostalgia's sake.

Your Dad must have shipped them from Korea? Maybe an Asian country? Many were sold to tourists...Jimbob may have seen similar in Vietnam? Value? Your dad may have paid more than their worth when he paid for the shipping.

Thank your dad for his service for me, will you? And here's hoping they can find the right meds for blood pressure control.

 

[39Tudor]

Yes, they were purchased and shipped from Korea. I have the form he filled out to ship them home. My guess is being on active duty, shipping must have been reasonable.

I also have the receipt for the china he bought in Japan while on leave in 1954. The china was sent home to his mother. That set of china now is in the care of my daughter now. Dad wanted his only granddaughter to have it.

I will probably give a walking stick to each of my kids to remember their grandpa.

 

[pwd72s]

Good for you Jerry. And if your kids ever wish to take up pool, I could give a few entry level brand names for them to check out. The shipping receipt should stay with one of the cues, a copy with the other. The older you get, it's the memories that are more important that the stuff...

 

[Jimbob]

For some strange reason, I thought this might be a good song to post...