Dan Gould

There seems to be two pieces of received wisdom about Hank, both established a long time after the fact: Miles hated him; His time in Europe was a failure with few gigs to speak of. I think reality wasn't nearly as stark.

Yeah I called him a great player and was a little surprised to see that for his career his OPS+ was exactly 100. meaning that he was exactly league average. He didn't get on base that much, and didn't have enough pop to hit many homers, but damn, 2700+ hits is nothing to sneeze at. And he was a doubles machine in his prime, and nearly impossible to strikeout his entire career (never K'd 40 times in a season, never struck out three times in a game - ever. Even Tony Gwynn had that happen once). So he wasn't much for the walk - strikeout - homer outcome of today, but I'll take Billy Buck in his prime any day of the week. I bet if he'd come to Boston straight from the Dodgers we'd be talking about the death of a Hall of Famer - he surely could have reached 3000 hits peppering the ball off the Monster from age 27 to 33, instead of 34-37.

https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-legend-bill-buckner-dies-at-age-69-from-dementia-per-report-175409047.html I'd say too soon but I had no idea he suffered from dementia, so actually glad to know that whatever he endured, its over now. Great ballplayer. And while many cursed him for years after '86, when I finally opened the champagne bottle I had been working on while Game 6 fell apart, me and my neighbor drank a toast to Billy Buck - the Red Sox wouldn't have gotten where they did without him that year.

Got the entire series at a Sam's Club for like $20 years ago have never opened it up ... seeing episodes in syndication I always thought the first year was the weakest, by far. Then again Crystal Bernard ...

I think we're going to enjoy watching Vladi Jr play this game for a long time.

Jeez there's that damn turtleneck again.

I think this is the issue. And I am sure that it is political, though not in the sense that healthcare or tax policy is political but in the same sense that the efforts to get Wynton his Pulitzer was political.

No reason to be surprised Roy was dapper then, too.

Thanks Mark - I can't ever recall knowing that Roy Brooks had such trouble ... could I have put it out of my mind? I really don't think so. I am hesitant to read those two linked articles but I feel like I have to.

Happy Trails to Koji Uehara, a starter who never wanted to be a reliever and had a magical 2013 season when he was forced into the role of closer for the eventual world champions. He announced his retirement today. Loved that guy ...

Maybe this was supposed to be on the down low? I just discovered Chuck don't show his b-day on his member page, looks like he did that after 2014 which is the last birthday greeting post I can find via google. Anyway like it or not Chuck HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! And an extra one on behalf of Paul:

I can't figure out the ads I see for implants that are a one day process. My plan is not to outlive my teeth. Going swimmingly so far. And I rarely smile so who cares about gaps?

Thanks Mike I kind of figured that would probably be the info listed as that is what the youtube poster listed.

Can you look up Frank Fat Man Humphries? Percy supposedly performed with him after Betty and before Doggett, and now I actually have a connection between Humphries and Mays - both recorded for Abbey Records. There are two singles, Birmingham Bounce and Doby at the Bat (Herbie Nichols by the way on piano, supposedly!) that are actually on a comp. I had my eye on but I don't have proof that Percy is the tenor. Thanks!

Thanks - so the last three are unissued, except for the fact that Lord, or your version, never caught up to the 2004 Delmark issue of United recordings which adds a take of Mays' Haze and issues Old Mill Stream. Guess I will start looking for the Abbey recording.

Boy it gets more confused. The Delmark comp lists November 4 1949 as recording date for the United tracks, and another online source gives the same for the Regal 78. So ... same session, right? But I also see a mention online that United Records didn't come into existence until 1951. So were all tracks for Regal, but Regal appears to have issued one 78 only while they had the recordings, and then United purchased them and issued others sometime in the 50s? Did the entire session consist of: Mays' Haze Takes 1 and 2 Old Mill Stream Slow Rock (omit vocal) ?

OK now curious about Betty Mays because she employed Percy, his first gig. And what a group she had - Cecil Payne, JJ and Kai, Gil Coggins on piano along with Percy. So I landed a copy of her 78 on Regal - Mays' Haze with an instrumental, Slow Rock, on the flip. Now I've found a copy of Yes Indeed! Women Vocalists on United, issued by Delmark when they got a hold of the United vaults. Credits verify the same band with Percy (and on clarinet which I am not hearing either in the ensembles or solos), also has a 1949 recording date like the Regal 78. So there are three tracks on the Delmark issue - two takes of Mays Haze (neither notated as unissued) and an 'unissued' take of Old Mill Stream. So now I am wondering - did Mays record Mays Haze three times, twice for United and again for Regal? Did Regal lease it from United or vice versa? Track times are slightly off but I am going to closely compare solos. And, are there any other known recordings of Ms Mays and her Swingtet featuring Percy France? As always, thanks in advance! Edit to say: United Take 2 is definitely issued Regal track. And interestingly, I have to say Percy sounds better on the new-to-me take 1. If anyone can indicate session order for Betty Mays on United/Regal I'd appreciate it!

I thought Ian Kinsler was used up last year, basically being worthless despite moving to a park that should have done wonders for his swing (and getting a ring for it). Yet he gets a two year deal in San Diego, continues to show the tank is empty, and when he lucks into a hanger and hits a home run, curses out (vigorously) the home town fans. What an ass. https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2019/05/17/ian-kinsler-shouted-f-bombs-at-the-hometown-fans/

I've got a general contractor who is an arrogant m-f. Would hate to share a meal with him. Why is it that blue collar people are supposed to be humble?

Yes got that one. Thanks to all ...

How many of these teams were expected to do anything? Washington is the big surprise but it seems to me the rest were supposed to suck, and thru 1/4 of the season, they do. Oh and there is the A's, was last season a fluke? I am not even sure what they did with the roster but its pretty bad so far.

and now he goes under the knife. At least that's not another all-star the Yankees will add to a division leading roster in July.

No idea I am afraid Mike was only told that there were "possible" dates in Europe. He did a black and blue date in the 70s led by Oliver jackson but not sure if all were recorded in France or not? Thanks!