The Daily Dose/July 15, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
PLAY BALL: Tuesday’s major league All-Star Game generally didn’t interest us any more than it did anyone else, however, the fact Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was the first player ever to start as both a pitcher and a hitter was as moderately interesting as it was historic.
Ohtani even drew comparisons to Babe Ruth – who was an outstanding pitcher before he started hitting home runs – though this really isn’t fair to Ohtani because Ruth never did both for a complete season like Ohtani has done since starting his professional career in Japan in 2013.
Dry, Technical Matter: Ruth was one hell of a pitcher, too, and his name can still be found in the pitching section of the major league record book, the only player who holds major league batting and pitching records. Ruth is tied with Ron Guidry for the American League record for most shutouts by a lefthander in a season (9) and most innings pitched in a World Series game (14).
For The Record: Shotani had a rather modest night Tuesday. He pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and went 0-for-2 as the DH, the rules for the game sensibly changed so Shotani could stay in the game as DH after his inning on the mound.
Running The Numbers: The game drew a TV audience of roughly 8.1 million viewers – about as many Nebraska football fans who tune in to a pre-season special on the incoming crop of long snappers – and was the lowest-rated All-Star Game ever.
The Bottom Line: Shotani is only 27 and has some prime years remaining and if he stays healthy the Ruth comparisons might not end. What will hold baseball fan(s) spellbound, however, is seeing how Angels manage to combine the talents of Shotani and Mike Trout to continue not making the playoffs.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a poignant moment with a guest. Today’s Diary.
It turned out he was mistaking the access code sticker with the other stuff written on the key packet…He pointed to them:
– What are these???
I chuckled to myself because it was rather adorable.
– Oh, sir, that’s your reward club point balance…And that’s your room number.Let me tell you something, that was more than adorable, that was downright poignant because look, ol’ Sparrow’s 55 and, based on current brain activity, it might not be too much longer before that starts happening to me.
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On This Date
The long march to today.
In 1838 – Ralph Waldo Emerson delivers what History refers to as the Divinity School Address to the graduating class of Harvard Divinity School, in addition to local ministers and school professors. A Harvard Divinity School graduate himself, Emerson stated that following one’s moral intuition is better than following religious doctrine and it is not required to believe in the miracles of Jesus. It was a very radical speech for the time, with Emerson surprised at the almost universally negative response it received.
In 1912 – Jim Thorpe of the United States wins the first Olympic decathlon title at the Stockholm Summer Games. Thorpe placed in the top four of all ten events, won four of them and led the overall standings after winning the third event, the shot put. Thorpe was stripped of his medal the following year for accepting expense money to play baseball, however, in 1982 the IOC reinstated the medal. Earlier in the Games, Thorpe had won the pentathlon, a medal that was also rescinded and reinstated.
In 1972 – Luther Ingram is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Best Selling Soul Singles chart – for the second of three consecutive weeks with (If Loving You is Wrong) I Don’t Want To Be Right. The song also peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 and remain’s Ingram’s biggest hit on both charts. In 1979 a version by Barbara Mandrell went to #1 on Billboard’s country chart, making the song one of the few to hit #1 on both the soul and country charts.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
One is constrained to respect the perfection of this world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Address to Harvard Divinity School
7/15/1838
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Ethiopia has won the most Olympic marathon gold medals, with six. Four by men and two by women.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many Americans have won the Olympic decathlon title? – Answer next time!
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