Marathon shutout by Sacramento-born pitcher is one for the record books

Marathon shutout by Sacramento-born pitcher is one for the record books

By Carlos Alcalá


The record has not been broken – and perhaps cannot be.

One hundred years ago today, a young Sacramentan threw the longest shutout by a single pitcher in professional baseball history: 24 innings.

Clarence Henley's 1-0 victory for the San Francisco Seals was, one San Francisco paper said, "the most spectacular game of baseball ever played on the Pacific Coast."

The modern professional is considered strong if he pitches a complete game.

A Texas college pitcher went 13 innings last month, but critics heaped scorn on his coach for allowing it.

Henley pitched nearly twice as many innings, maintaining enough control to strike out six while giving up nine hits and walking only one of the dozens of Oakland Oaks batters he faced.

Clarence "Cack" Henley was born in Sacramento in 1885 and grew up in a brick house that still stands on 13th Street.

His father, Oscar Henley, was a brick mason and built the Henley home about 1880. It is the oldest brick home in Sacramento.

Clarence Henley entered the Pacific Coast League in 1905. He was so tall and thin that he was immediately nicknamed "Slivers."

He threw so hard that it was said the Seals' catcher kept a piece of beefsteak in his glove to cushion the impact of the ball.

Henley had two 30-win seasons, though the feat was easier then because teams played more than 200 games per season, thanks to balmy West Coast weather. (Today's major league teams play 162 games in a season.)

His control was storied, and over the course of his career, he struck out twice as many men as he walked.

His long shutout, though, was a product of the times.

Back then, "pitchers generally started and finished their games," said Marshall Wright, a Massachusetts historian of the minor leagues. "They were expected to do it, and they did."

For today's hurler, said Alan O'Connor, a Sacramento baseball historian, "a good outing's five innings, six innings. It's different."

The players then didn't have year-round training, nor did they have designer steroids.

"Drinking was the only substance abuse," said Wright, "and it wasn't minor."

Once, a group of gamblers got the idea to fix a Seals game by getting Henley drunk, San Francisco Examiner sportswriter Abe Kemp recalled in a 1953 column.

The plan was to bet big that Henley would lose and ensure it by buying him as much nickel beer as he would drink.

He drank a lot.

The gamblers and Henley boozed all night, downing $10 in beer. He was still standing.

They ferried him to the ballpark, Kemp wrote, and "smiled knowingly as he zig-zagged toward the clubhouse in centerfield." Then they made their bets.

Henley wobbled at the start of the game but grew stronger as the game wore on.

He pitched 12 innings of shutout ball that day, and won when he himself homered.

Sheryl Pinto, Henley's granddaughter, still lives in the brick house in Sacramento's Colonial Heights neighborhood where Clarence and his wife, Emily, lived. Clarence Henley built it, Pinto said.

She has held onto photos and clippings her grandmother saved, including this one about the fabled 24-inning game:

"And Henley," the story reads. "Well, he pitched as he never did before. He twirled as clean and great a game as was ever witnessed anywhere.

"You might think that's romancing a bit. Not on your life. If you think a pitcher, no matter how famous, pitched a better game where bat and ball held sway, then you had better tell it to Sweeney," the writer concluded, emphasizing with that old phrase that he would never believe it.

Oaks pitcher Jim Wiggs also shone. He pitched 23 shutout innings before losing.

"Henley's control was far better," William Slattery wrote in the San Francisco Call newspaper, "the tall San Francisco slabster walking only one man, while Wiggs passed six.

"That was with a hard-to-please umpire, according to the Chronicle. "The ball had to cut the plate in the middle to be called a strike."

The two pitchers scattered 20 hits, with several scoring threats eliminated only by dramatic double plays.

June 21- Shitty Batting Practice

I wasn't there, but I hear that it was a real downer at the yard this week. 9 guys showed up, due to the June holidays, and the SQ game the day before (we might want to limit our Saturday games, or just Sat for the Giants....)and then there was another permit snafu, that forced the batters to disband after 4 pm.

No highlights, but i hear Bob got HBP during practice, so it wasn't a total loss of a day (thanks for the steaks, Bob!)

Lets gird up our loins for this weekend and make it a occasion worth remembering.

S. Paige

The philosophy of the MBC game

If there is one certain in life, it is that nothing is certain. I was planning to write an entire entry of circular logic, but I don;t think I have it in me. I will try my best though. The game this week, at West Sunset was a perfect example of how we can be so sure of a game's outcome, that we forget that anything can and always will happen.

We had 18, perfect. We had one of the most beautiful days on record, we had a fan (Stella), and we had a dry but immaculate field. It seemed that a lot of people were hobbled with injuries, knees and hips, and backs and ankles all were twinged with early high vacation living. The way the two teams fell out, it looked like a massacre in the making. If I was a betting man, I might have laid the family fortune on Satch's team. Good thing I only wager on losing poker hands. As a starting lineup, with a one legged Greg on the mound, we had Mitch, Lattig, Satch, Bob, Rick, Adam, Gaspar, Vinay, and the new guy Chad. That is a lot of power, speed and experience to contend with.

This is not to say that Greg's team was not riddled with some talent, but there is no good reason that Lattig, Mitch, and Rick should ever be allowed on the same team. We racked up 4 runs out of the gate, and then we started to slow up for fear of ruining the vibe in the first inning. Big mistake. Satch had missed a week, and started for the visitors, and the arm was feeling good, but Greg's team came right back at me, with a shit load of comebackers (most of which I got a glove on, and ended up screwing up the play) and bloops, and drives, and it was tied up after 1. And I kept making the pitches I wanted to, and to their immense credit, those warriors fought them off and put them in the holes. We had some through the legs and double play potentials that were booted away, which never helps. And a special thanks to Mitch, without whom, I might still be out there pitching, if he hadn't reeled in some long bombs the home squad sent his way.

Back and forth it went through the innings, and when one team had a quick inning, the other did too. 6-4, 8-4, 8-7, flopped 10-8. Then we had that damn 6 out/ 4 error inning that steals all Satch's reserves, and next thing you know it was 14-10. I limped from the field, humbled again, and let Lattig finish the job. Tony had come in for the home squad and shut us down, our once mighty and formidable team shaking their heads in disbelief. And all on a beautiful day.

Shows to go you can't never tell what's gonna happen in between the lines.

Highlights:

* Nick Kinsey, who had at least a couple of extra base hits on the day

* Greg, who managed to pitch through the pain, and lead his team to victory

* Cagle for his pop, and solid defensive infielding

* Tony for timely hitting, pitching and defense

* Vivek, who I got to hit ground balls all day (except for the big fly) and yet continued to get on base somehow

* John, for catching and calling a great game, throwing a man out at 2nd, and with some great hitting

* JT, for a good stretch at first, and some hitting of his own

* Paul, for showing up after being gone for a year or so, hitting and tracking down balls in the sun

* Nick Smith, for the shutter-buggedness, grunts and playing center all day, when we knew he hated it, and still tracked down two of Satch's flies to deep center....

* Mitch.

* Gaspar getting a man of his own at 2nd.

* Bob HBP count, +1, I missed it, but it sounded good. Keep up the good work, Bob!

* We should have paid more attention to how we do our lineup insertions.


A special event of interest, as mentioned, most of us were playing with some sort of malady, which is not uncommon. However, Tony's knee was hurting (although he somehow was ok to pitch two innings later on....) so we allowed a pinch runner. Nick Smith was subbing at 1st base, and so, while commiserating on the bag, the glove was passed, and Tony took the sack, and Nick became the runner. Haven't seen that one before. Score it how you will.


I shouldn't be this sore, but it was a long weekend

S. Paige.


PS:

We can officially start the MBC recruiting drive for Cason Abell Bhatia, he's almost three weeks old now, so I figure less than 8 years until he can be offered a starting position.

Photos from the Park

JUNE 7TH "IT WAS BETTER THAN BATTING PRACTICE

So, our resident photographer, Nick Smith took some great pics for us, and here is the first one that is of your guest summarist, Mike Gaspar with the review of the June 7th game at West Sunset, take it away Mr. Gaspar:

Contrary to what one would think, summertime often means less players show up to the ballgames. As was the case on Sunday. At first it looked real bad. We might have
been resigned to batting practice. Ugh. But lucky for us some late arrivals brought our grand total to 13.

So we improvised. 6 on 7 with a lot of borrowing. We immediately decided to make it a 7 inning affair. A wise decision indeed.

Johnny B. took the hill for the home team and after a shaky start (not much help from the defense) settled into a nice rhythm. Sean the lefty took the bump for visitors and did a great job as well. In the end it was a see-saw affair. the home team was down by a few runs and stranded the tying run at third when the game ended. All agreed we were glad it did not go extras.

Highlights:

* Joe's blast that hit the right center wall on the fly

* Bob NOT getting hit by a pitch for a change (we'll change that, don't worry Bob)

* Having fun outside on a nice day

* The drinking crew was back in force in the parking lot

Who knows maybe this week we'll have 14 ! (We better, even if I have to recruit the drunkards in the parking lot, so if you are reading this, get your ass out to the field this Sunday)

Thanks for the review Mike, Satch will definitely be there!

S. Paige

Players Profile #11 and 12- Dave Johnson and Richard Baluyut

So the Satch ignored his own advice about taking it light on the vices, and drank some liquor tonight. Its Wednesday for gods sake, and I tried to be good, but goddammit, sometimes a man just has to let the demons out. It seemed like a good time to talk about Dave and Richard, and not just because they used to keep me company at the 500 Club on Thursday nights (Open til 2, serving the finest in hipsters, junkies and mission rats). Dave and Richard were a team, I can barely remember a time when they didn't play together, or at least arrive together. They probably deserve their own separate page, but fuck em, they moved to New York just when we had a chance to really break this MBC thing open.


Anyway, Richard and Dave were playing before I showed up, and I quickly figured out that they were two forces to be reckoned with. Dave was a competitor, in one of the first games that I pitched more than the last inning, i remember Dave swinging a bat, while I warmed, up, talking shit, and telling his teammates that "This guy ain't shit." I smiled at him, cuz we were friends, he did not smile back. That's Dave. Serious man. The passion was great, and anyone who was at his final game will tell you that he was very sad to leave the MBC.








Richard may have been more sedated, but by no means less competitive. My vision of Richard continues to be him warming up on the mound with a cigarette drooping from his mouth, his hat placed high on his head, is long, black hair heading in ten ways. That cigarette would stay behind the mound, and sometimes he would get it, sometimes he would leave it for the other pitcher to find. Richard had back surgery, and three weeks later he was back out at the game, not just present, but catching and pitching, much to the chagrin of those who thought he might collapse and never walk again with each pitch.

Dave and Richard were stalwarts in that they could both field any position, and do it well, and it often was that they were the center of one team, and challenged all others to join their cause, or face the thunder. It worked out nicely for the balance of the teams, because both could catch and pitch, play infield and outfield, hit and run.

So a few years ago, they moved to NY, and started the East Coast version of the MBC. From what I hear, they have had some luck in getting quality people out, but the vibe and hours are not the same. They play on Saturday, at 9 in the morning, in Central Park. Dave lugs the equipment down and hopes that enough people show up to make it worth it. I have this awful vision of Dave carrying baseball equipment on to the subway, and seething as he make his long ride. I know he drives, and hopefully it is still the El Camino, but I can't shake the idea of Dave, buried in duffel bags and being harassed on the subway. And from what I hear, more often than not, people flake out. When you have the the years of participation that we do, and the weather, you can make do, but in NY you have a limited window of nice days, when it is not snowing or so hot and humid that no one can stand it.



Richard introduced me to a poker game in SF that was great for a while, and he was a good player, calm in the moment, and willing to bluff his nuts off for the right pot. We had us some great times, and some awful times, but such is the nature of poker and I am grateful. Dave became a regular at the 500 for a time, and I would play Misfits and Link Wray songs for him on the box, and we would talk Pittsburgh, where he hailed from, and I had had a family connection (Yinz want ta ga daaawntawn, enat?)

When they left, a piece of the MBC went with them. I still have a hope that one day we can form a team of players to go to the East coast, meet up with Richard and Dave, Pete and Peter, Ezra, and the rest, tour up to Cooperstown, play a few games and check out the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the very least, it would be a great story.


Time to hit the sack


S. Paige

Player Profile #10- Mike Gaspar

Mike is one of the most stand up guys I have ever met, and that goes well beyond the baseball diamond. He is pleasant to be around, cheerful, and honest. He rides his bike to games when he can, another thing I respect about him, and he is often the quiet difference in a win or a loss. Gaspar has been coming out since before I came to the game, and in my opinion he gets the Most Improved player award for the MBC.

Mike can play every position, except pitcher, but then again he hasn't been given the chance so who knows. He tracks down fly balls, he knocks down grounders, and he does it all with a utilitarian ease. He is dependable behind the dish, calls a fair game, although every once in awhile he can squeeze a pitcher. He can catch 9 is he needs to, and won't complain. He has played in San Quentin a number of times, and wrote up the last visit for the blog (see SQ 5/23 game).

The Gaspar shift has been instituted in the MBC to combat Mike's ability to hit to the opposite field, but it seems even with the knowledge of where he will hit it, he still manages to drop them in. Any new guy who comes out is directed, much to his confusion, to play way in at left when he steps to the dish. And just when you think you have him played perfectly, he drives one up the middle, or even to right.

It is Mike's demeanor that really makes him stand out though, he is easy to talk to, fun to be around, and plays the game like he loves it. It is always a difficult choice on whether to be on Mike's team or opposing him, because he is great as both a teammate and a opposing player. Mike is also one of the few left that actually lives in the Mission, giving us the street cred.

Mike hails from Ohio, and follows the Indians like a true fan; I have found that not only are there a lot of people in SF who come from Ohio, but they all seem to be genuinely decent people. And you can't forget that the Ohio state flag is a baseball pennant....

In any case, it is a pleasure to play with Mike, for he truly embodies the Mission Baseball Club spirit.

S. Paige

A Muggy Foggy Game

Frankly, I thought we were going to have to recruit the old Chinese guy that raids the trash for recycling treasures this week, but ol' Satch was pleasantly surprised by the 17 we had out in the Sunset this week. And a hell of a game was played, a real see-saw battle, with strong pitching, solid and not so solid defense, and all on a day when it looked like we were going to get rainy batting practice.

Satch went the distance for the home squad, Sean started for the visitors. Sean pitched a hell of a game, and had about five or six great plays off the mound. He kept it lively all around the dish, and managed a bunch of strong K's.

For throwing the full 9, I felt like Satch did alright, in fact it seems like I struck out 8 or 9 batsmen myself, with the odd come backer, some soft, some screaming. My life flashed before my eyes after I threw a 3-2 challenge fastball to Lattig, and he ripped it back into my chest. I had enough reaction left in me to get my glove in between me and the ball (thanks for not taking my head off, Mike)

The visitors jumped all over us in the first, and our offense couldn't hit out of wet paper bag for the first three or four innings. Sean kept us off balance, and when we got hits, we could never back them up, we stranded a lot.

Somewhere along the way, Satch got on base, stole second, stole third, and Adam drove in our first run of the game with a towering shot to left. We got one more, and suddenly we were in the game. A few innings later we took the lead on some timely hitting from Vinay, Joe and Gaspar, and for the first time in the game, fortune seemed to be shining on us. Some lucky breaks here and there, and it was the top of the 9th, with us up 5-3.

Then the roof caved in.

A bloop single started a error rally, and before we knew it, we couldn't catch a ball or get an out to save our lives. By the time it was all over, it was 8-5. We limped off the field, and went down meekly in the 9th, with Lattig nailing the coffin shut.

A note on losing. Baseball is one of the best sports to learn how to lose properly. If you think about it, a successful hitter in the big leagues is someone who still fails 7 out of ten times. So you have to get used to failing, it is a important part of the game. As Earl Weaver said, (paraphrasing a bit), "You gotta give the other guy his chance, there's no clock to run out, no plays to run to stall for time, that's why [baseball] is the greatest sport ever." We had our opportunities, Lord knows we did....but the team that prevailed today was the team that maximized some of their opportunities. And I salute them for it.

I would like to say that this attitude helps to soothe the burn of being close to a CG win, and not being able to pull it out. And it does.....mostly....

Luckily, I ain't in this for the glory or the statistics.

Thanks to everyone to made it out, and hopefully Greg and Tony will be back next week. I will have to get the byline from someone else, if anyone is feeling up to the literary challenge.

Highlights:

* Sean, a hell of a game on the mound and in the box, great battle in the later inning

* Lattig, for proving me the dumbest decision maker for the day, in sending him to the visitors team

* Mike and John for catching the whole game

* Chad and Dan, our resident new guys, for making some great catches, and even a hit here and there.

* Lori Bhatia for showing up one day past her due date to support the team ( too bad the kid didn't start his appearance on the baseball diamond, now that would be a MBC story to tell)

* Our other fans, Mrs. Paige included, who braved the foggy day to cheer us on

* The random beerfest in the parking lot before the game, don't know who those guys were, but they looked like they were ready to party

* Bob and John Carey, who didn't make it out, due to Little League team making the playoffs

* The return of Scott and our once a month man, Stoner

* Nick Kinsey, for taking a risk on a pass ball, to steal home, we almost had him, and I think that run pretty much ruined our team's wavering hopes

* The West Sunset field was in immaculate condition


Well, in the end, a great game was played, and another Sunday was in the books. In to June we charge, ready to brave another summer in the fog.

Don't look back, something may be gaining on ya,

S. Paige

San Quentin Pirates Game, 5/23/09

And now, our man from the Mission, and resident Indians fan, Mike Gaspar:

well it was time for another match-up between mission baseball club
and the inmates of San Quentin. in this game we were going against the
pirates.

we all met in the parking lot and were happy to at least escape
the fog and cold of san francisco. there were eight of us all told.
(sq is always willing to lend a player or two) in true mission style
we just pieced together a lineup as we waited to get checked in.
fortunately we had some versatile talent on hand and felt pretty good
about our chances. we got checked in record time and after a twenty
minute warm up it was time to play ball.

things started off well for the m.b.c. as we had runners on first and
third with only one out. but a base running blunder by yours truly led
to a double play and snuffed out a would be rally.

Noah took the bump for our side and after a walk and a couple of
bloops the pirates had tallied two runs. but as he would do later, Noah
came up with a key strike out to leave a couple of pirates on base.

the top of the second was our big inning. in truth it was our only
inning. we got a runner to third but alas he was cut down at the plate.
but we still had some fight in us and manged to load the bases. and
a great at bat by our guest player, mike, led to a walk and plated our
first run. the next batter grounded a seventeen hopper up the middle
and a couple of more runs scored. two more base hits followed and
before the third out was recorded we had scored six runs.

but the pirates were able to slowly but surely come back. no major
rallies. just a run here and a run there. some walks a couple of
bloops, but within a couple innings the scored was tied.

meanwhile the m.b.c. bats went a little cold and this, coupled with
the fact that the pirates defense tightened up caused the momentum to shift.
after pitching a gutsy four innings, johnny came into relieve noah.
again the pirates managed to put some crooked numbers (their bats started
to heat up) and before we knew it, it was 11-6 favor of the pirates.

m.b.c. managed a few more threats but to no avail. soon enough we ran
out of playing time and the game was called after seven innings. all
told we were pretty proud of our effort. we only had three or four
errors, our pitchers, though often in trouble, made some great pitches when
they needed them to prevent a blow out. in addition we had some good
determined at bats. just couldn't get the "big hit" when we needed it.
and i think i can speak for the entire squad when i say there was no
place i would have rather been that afternoon. next game is 6-20 against
the pirates and we sure could use a few power hitters. chris, mitch,
mike l. you guys out there?
one last thing. as usual the sq players were very happy to have us there
and i think we even made them sweat it out a little

Bay to Breakers on a Sunny Day

Well the title says all you need to know about how hard it was to get to the field on Sunday. The upshot was that it was a beautiful day, warm, slight ocean breeze, the Sunset field was well cared for, and we barely scraped a game out of 14 who braved the traffic.

Satch started for the home squad, after taking some resbit for the shoulder, and threw 7, on the light side. Johnny was all the visitors needed, going the distance plus a little extra. After the first inning the score was 5-1, visitors, and I was wondering why it was that my knuckleball was working so well, and yet I couldn't get anyone out with it. I have learned not to try and find logic in the hiccuping butterfly though. Johnny was masterful as usual, shutting down our rallys, and working the counts.

We got a lot of chances to bat, being 7-7, which was good, but in the hot sun, sometimes you would rather have a chance to sit down, which none of us really got to do. The score fluctuated, it was 6-3, then it was 9-5, then it was 11-6, then 11-8. I skulked off the mound and Rojas took over, and shut down the offense. We battled back in the 9th and found ourselves tied up. Extra innings! Hooray. Usually its a good thing, but we were all pretty tired. Johnny's squad small balled a run, on our decision to get the outs, and that ended up being it, with a runner on third, and two outs, Kvoriak ripped a no doubter to left center. Our happiness was short lived as Ralph (newguy) was playing the long ball perfectly, snared it, and thus the visitors were victorious.

Highlights

* Ralph and the other new guy, who had never played with us, for showing up and saving us from Havana 6.

* Johnny, another CG win, you have to be leading the league in these.

* Greg, Bob and John for catching the game on a sweaty hot day

* Mitch, for another stellar defensive game, along with timely hitting (check that shoulder)

* Satch stole three bases....

* The defense for making plays when it counted

* Our lone fan, a lady friend of Nero's, for being vaguely interested

* Rojas and Vivek, who had some great timely hitting, and yet, always seemed to be in the position of stranding a runner on third

* The Krakatoa rally, it worked, maybe for only a run, but it worked dammit.


See you in a few, somebody pay attention next week and fill me in.

S. Paige

A day in the Golden Gate

The sun was out, we were charged up with missing the game last week, and the parking was not that terrible, or so I heard. We got 19, and those energetic few took the field and established the home team. From the get go, it seemed a little skewed. There was a lot of power and glove men that seemed to be on the visitors, of which yours truly was a part. But it was a team of camaraderie, and we have been proved vastly wrong before when we thought the teams were mismatched, so we gave it a go.

By the end of the third inning, there were grumbles and hems and haws. The score was 11-1, the only run coming from Mitch, who in addition to recording more than half of his teams outs, also legged out a double, stole third, and then came home on a sacrifice. The Jameson kid was on the hill for us, and his mom was in the stands, so there was no letting up on his end. Will hurled his best for the home team, but never got a break, and frankly, faced a lineup that didn't have too many weak spots. Gaspar was more vocal about the inequities and our team agreed, so after the 5th, we brought in two new pitchers, flipped the teams, and started over.

Lo and behold, those who grumbled found themselves leading 5-1. Johnny corralled our team in hitting-wise, and their bats started to come alive against Noah, who had his first loss in a couple of months. The final was 6-3, we stopped after the 6th due to the weariness of the players, and the general feeling that we had played enough. Plus some of us had wives and family in the stands that were cold and wanted to go home.

So a wingding of a game (s), but I am glad that it ended well. A brief note on our game. When and if a game becomes lopsided, lets all try our best to be good sportsmen and not steal bases or take the extra base, or score from second on a single with a 10 run lead. Remember, the guys you fuck over this week, could be your team members next week. It's not a case of giving up, it's a case of not being a dick.

Highlights:

* The Booze Battery doing it again.

* Our larger than average cheering section

* Mitch's extra effort, reading the outfielders and taking the extra base

* Gaspar for staying vocal until he got results, but also having the faith in his team to not want to trade anyone

* Nick Smith, for being the team shutterbug, hope they came out well.

* The defense of the home/visitor team, for sharpening up and locking us down

* Bob, for making it from Treasure Island in time, and sticking around for 20 minutes after he was ready to go home

* The wooden "Pete" bat, which I taped up and got three hits out of

On a sad note, we bid a fond farewell to two of the stalwarts that have been with us. The Hose and the Redline both broke on Sunday, doing what they did best, getting hits. We will never forget....

This Sunday is Bay To Breakers, so you East Bayers may want to take the extra time, and go around the city. See you in the Sunset.

S. Paige

*

Player Profile #9- Mitchell Burnham

This is Mitch.





















This is Mitch too. You see how he looks like he is pissed off. That's because he is a competitor. His nickname in high school was Grouchy.














Mitch can do pretty much anything. He is what we refer to as a 5-tool player. In the real way. When we actually mean it, and we aren't just trying to impress somebody when we are drunk and blabbing about how we play hardball and softball sucks. He can hit, with power, plays center field to the point that we could probably play with just him out there, is still blessed with speed and he'll slide like Pete Rose if has to, arm that can pitch, throw down to second or stop a runner from advancing, and has fire in his belly to rival the greats.

Not to be too distracted by his baseball skills, Mitch also keeps to a lively social agenda, parties like a rock star, still manages to get to work at 6 am everyday. So, what's that, 9 tool player. And he's a great guy, 10, good sense of humor, 11, and he can grow a sweet beard, 12.

Mitch has been said to be the essential difference in a lot of our games, as you might see from past posts; the Mitch factor can make or break your team. There are certain combinations of players that will not be tolerated, for fear of a complete one sided disaster. Let's put it this way, you get put into the position of choosing up the teams and you get Lattig and Mitch for your team, you're also gonna get at least two of the three guys in corduroys and chucktaylors who we dragged into the game and the stewbum (if his Royal Gate haze allows him).

Mitch is a Davis boy, which is probably another reason that I like him, us Northern California kids understand carbon copy dyed blonds with big asses, small town hicks and valley shitkickers.

If I keep up this love parade I might make him uncomfortable, so let me just say, that it's a pleasure to see him on the diamond.

S. Paige


PS.

Mitch, I know that fulfilling relationships are great, but it's important that you keep participating in some of the other things that you enjoy doing ( like hitting the shit out of a ball and legging out a triple, and making a sliding catch and throwing your helmet). Take it from me, it keeps you interesting, and that's good when you are stuck at some dinner party on a Sunday night....trust me on this one.....

May 3rd.

It rained all week, and the fog and wet made it impossible to play a real game.

We walked out with our heads up this time....

So, after the ugliness that was the last SQ game, we had a simple plan of what we wanted to accomplish. We were gonna score a run, goddammit, and after that, it was all gravy. The gametime changed from 4 to 5, which robbed us of some daylight, and then the usual problems of waiting around the parking lot ensued. I think it is a bad idea to go into SQ during the shift change, cuz everyone is all edgy and stiff, you would think they worked in a prison or something.

Anyway, the hardass at the second gate wouldn't let Adam in with an expired license, so we pleaded for a while knowing it wasn't going to do any good, and then left our MBC brother at the door, and headed in 8 strong (sorry Adam, get that thing renewed....) A bunch of student teachers were leaving while we were coming in, and one asked if we were intimidated about pitching inside to the team. And the answer, NO. Its part of the game, and the SQ Giants are one of the most stand up, quality hardballers I have ever played against, and they understand that you can't give away a side of the plate cuz you are scared about hitting someone. And since most of them look like they could strike a match in the palm of their hand, the prospect of accidentally hurting someone isn't really worrisome.

The yard was pretty deserted when we got there, and we were 30 minutes late, and the Giants still hadn't gotten their equipment, apparently the "Man" had screwed with the mealtimes, and yard times, due to some sort of non-issue. I don't know how long any of us would last having people tell us when to eat or sleep....Anyway, we warmed up quick and got the game going. We took Noel, a bencher from the Giants, who played right for us, got our first hit, and also was involved in a difficult play at third. He argued, we shut up.

Stretch was pitching for the SQ, since the Saturday game had been canceled, and we called on Johnny Bartlett to once again weave his spell over the convicts. He did a bang up job, a few twists and turns aside, and in the third we actually scored a run, and all of us relaxed. It was a 2-1 game for another inning, then they scored a few more, then we got another one (although we had to plead with the scoreboard to put it up there). Then it was 6-2, and we started to fear that we might be into another long game, but with two on, Chris Powell stepped up and crushed a ball over the left center field, into the guard office. It bounced off the wall and then back over the fence, so those of us on base thought it was still a live ball, so I was chugging as hard as I could towards home, and didn't get to enjoy the moment. 6-5, a real game, the tension on the Giants was palpable, they suddenly realized we had the skills to take this one from them.

We held them for an inning, stranding a guy at third with a failed squeeze play. Stretch suddenly beared down and our offense came to a halt. Their response, small ball. Two perfect bunts cleared the way to our downfall. The men on were in scoring position, when a foul ball was hit down the third baseline. Johnny fielded it, clearly in foul territory. No one called the ball fair or foul. The batter was confused, I was confused, Johnny was confused. The umpires conferred and then told the batter it was a ground rule double. So, it went from foul ball, to ambiguous single, to ground rule double. We might have complained, but we knew better. Then came the flood of gorks, and suddenly it was 11-5, and everyone relaxed. The light was gone, the Giants had 15 minutes to be back in their cells, and we stopped the game in the 7th. We got a little time to talk while there was an alert in the prison, and Stretch presented Chris with his home run ball, apparently the first of the season.

Walking out we felt like a real team, and I bet all of us felt like we had won the game, despite the score. We challenged the Giants, and made them sweat for once, a hard thing to do when you are facing a bunch of lifers. If we had gotten Adam in, who knows how it might have turned out.

Highlights:

* The home run, of course.

* A great defensive game, especially in the outfield to reel in the Giants bats.

* The only really bad baserunning mistake was Noel, who technically isn't on our team. We gotta work on our baserunning.

* Making their defense work, and reaping the benefits in errors, or as we call them MBC hits.

* The pickoff when we needed an out.

* The pitchout that almost was. Since they steal every base they can, it was a smart move.

* Johnny and Greg keeping the Giants uneasy

* Everyone who caught a ball when we needed an out, a welcome change from the last game.


So, the next game scheduled is against the Pirates, who the coach seems to think we will walk all over. In any case, sign up now.


Pray for sun and wind to dry the field for Sunday

S. Paige

A Windy Day, a Bumpy Field, and Uneven Game

When we play at Balboa, usually we get the Cop field, so named because the police station is directly behind, and we are greeted to the sound of the officers racking their 12 gauges as the shift changes at 5 pm. Not exactly soothing, but better than hassling us.

This Sunday we played the other field, nicknamed Camp Swampy, due to it's lack of drainage after a rain, and the general poor infield character. We had 21 players which was nice, and the game ended up being pretty close, 16-14, I believe, but somehow, the teams seemed skewed. Certainly, each team was resplendent with some talent, but the home squad seemed as though they were a little more grounded, let say.

As SQ looms ahead on Weds, and my week off made me more sore somehow, Satch threw 5 innings and called it a game. Noah took over and proved his shrewdness, and made more of a confident hurler than yours truly. A bitter taste was in my mouth for most of the game, not something I particularly enjoy, and its hard to place my finger on why exactly. Somedays, you are jealous of the other team, because they are playing like a team, or they seem to be having more fun than you, or maybe its just because they have Mitch in the outfield. Greg commanded the bump for the home squad, and did what he does best. Although I must say, I kind of owned him. Lattig came in to finish off, something we don't see as often as we would like.

The uneven start of the game might have had something to do with it, we had a half dozen fly ball outs that didn't get caught, the whole team got the case of the dropsies, dribblers that got by people, and through the first four innings our team had about three baserunners. Meanwhile, the score was entering the 9-1 region. We traded for another outfielder, Stoner, which helped, and our bats started to perk up, before being beaten down once again.

The Mitch factor was defintely the biggest difference, Greg could start walking off the field the second the ball was hit to center field.

Maybe Camp Swampy is on top of a Indian burial ground, in any case its just bad news. It has been scene to broken noses, twisted ankles, a spiking, and stolen equipment. Next week, we have a later start than usual, 4 pm, so maybe that will change things.

Sorry if this post is not the usual fanfare, but as the man said, Sometimes you eat the bar, sometimes the bar, well, he eats you.

Highlights:

* The end of Lattig's 1.000 OBP, stopped at 15-15. Pretty amazing. And I must say that I threw the best 3 pitch combination I have ever thrown at him to snap it.

* Mitch. Sometimes it's just not fair.

* Warren? Noah's new guy, who singlehandedly gave our team hope, by clubbing not 1 but 2 homeruns, 7 rbis, and caught the last few innings with aplomb.

* The return of Richie. Take care of that frame, stay off the skateboard for awhile.

* I got one over Mitch's head. Camp Swampy is good for wind carry. And I started my own OBP streak with a 5-5.

* Nobody took a bad hop to the face, although I took a groin shot on a 2nd base throwdown

* Our team getting the outs when we really needed them

* The home team, for agreeing to 16, when it could have been 23

* Sean, for his midgame pants switcheroo, apprently the Shotwell pants are bad juju, and combined with Swampy, perhaps dangerous.

See you in the Q, for those lively few that can get off early on a Wedsnesday to entertain some felons. Otherwise, Sunday, you know where and when.

S. Paige

PS

I got a update from Bob, John Carey had his first official homerun, a rake to right, and missed hitting the cycle by not getting a single. So, from now on, we might have to start bribing John to play with us. Either than or work out a free agency contract so that the MB club is not thrown into civil turmoil as we fight to land him in our lineup.

A Sweltering Day in the Park

Unfortunately, ol' Satch was roped into matrimonial social duties on Sunday, and had to miss the game in the GGP. My heart was with the team, but my ass was where I was told to be. I must say, however, that the Bernal Heights backyard BBQ and chilled wine were exquisite. The guest summary this week is provided by one Mike Lattig, who is a natural prosist and witty to boot.....

The Game:

Big turnout at Big Rec on the hottest day of the year. 22 ballplayers overall by the time Ryan showed up in the 2nd. Lots of new faces and a game that seemed as long as it was hot... So none of us minded sitting out a couple. On to the game...

After an orderly top half of the first, the home squad quickly jumped on Lefty Sean for a few early runs. Some blamed his short, three-inning outing on the Shotwell pants and lack of Elephant Ears (dangerous to change up tradition, although somewhere the baseball fashion police are probably sighing with relief)... Others surmise a little bit of tired arm combined with tired outfielders is what got him. Either way, he was followed to the mound by another lefty, Brian, who didn’t fare much better. He blamed that on the Bocce Ball and red wine from earlier in the day (wait until Bay to Breakers). Then another lefty (newcomer Rob) came on to see if he could stymie the home 9, once again with mixed results. The revolving door of runners was finally stalled in the 9th by the lone righty and most surprising pitching appearance of the day, as Vivek took his maiden turn on the bump, throwing strikes and getting outs (Nice work Vivek, how did the curve ball fare? Next week I'll show you the forkball...)

At the end of the day, those four were no match for one man—Noah. He once again kept the opposing squad baffled for nine innings (which in that heat was a monstrous feat) with his patented mix of well placed fastballs, change of speed and late movement. Combined with a defense that all seemed to be playing their natural positions (sure-hands Bartlett at 3rd, the Hose at short, Nick at first and Greg behind the dish), it was too much for the visitors to handle and the home team cruised to victory.

At the end of 9 grueling 90-degree innings, the home-squad prevailed 15-7. (or somewhere in that neighborhood. We had stopped counting somewhere around the 6th)

Some additional highlights:

* Mitch absolutely smashing two balls into/over Left Center. Then being humble as always about it.

* Multiple double plays for the home squad, off a combo of line drives with runners in motion and the traditional 6-4-3 route.

* The emergence of Gaspar as a power threat thanks to a new leg kick he picked up from the WBC. Others may soon follow suit...

Next week promises to cool off, and it will be interesting to see if turnout cools off with it... If you all are half the players you claim to be, we’ll once again be locked and loaded with two full squads. And I imagine old Satch will be back on the bump, this time with his good heat...


Just so I don't feel so bad, here's an addendum from Kvoriak, who also missed the game:

I was playing kickety-kick ball with 5 through 7 year olds at Malcolm X Elem. in Oakland.

I went 4 for 4 with 3 homeruns. Those kids are even worse than you guys.

See y'all soon I hope.

So that is how she fell out this week. If you have additional highlights/ lowlights, let me know and I will add them on. Anyone want to play a game today, the weather is right and I am temporarily unemployed....?

S. Paige

A weekend of Baseball

In the past weekend, the MBC played two games, that had a total run count of 41….impressive, even if one of them we didn’t score any runs.

Yes, I am ashamed to say that our inaugural game against the SQ Giants was a shutout. And a blowout. The bitch of it is that going in we were all loose, good feelings, not a whole lot of tension, had some strong aspects to the team. And the first couple innings we were right in there. Had a doubling off play to snuff a rally, yours truly hit a leadoff double. Had some good plays in the outfield. Then, in true MBC style, the wheels came off the whole thing, the vehicle crashed into the ravine and caught on fire. 11 runs in one inning. And I take credit for some of those, the SQ hitters were a very hungry bunch, and they have some new additions that play real well. But there were probably about 8 errors in the inning too..…Heartbreaking ones that looked like double plays or flyball outs that then turned into scoring opportunities.

Stretch threw the whole game, and he has lost some of his fastball capability, but the guy is 46, and probably weighs 160 pounds, so kudos to him. His curve is still working, and he has a great defense behind him. The main problem for us is that we were hitting like a bunch of handicapped grandmothers. I started for the MBC, lasted 4 innings, did a pretty pisspoor job, and then Johnny came in and shut the Giants down. It was amazing. Brian came in for the final inning and did a great job. Brian also was 3-3 and got some congrats from Stretch himself. Definitely MVP. Too bad it’s MVP of our shitfest.

Yet, I think I can say that we all had a good time. The Giants, and all the guys on the yard were their usual congenial selves. Guys kept telling us how to beat the Giants, we discussed the paradox about being the Mission baseball team without actually playing in the Mission. One guy, Kee, sat with us for the latter part of the game. He played last year, but he is involved in getting his AA degree and volunteering so he couldn’t play this year. Positive! He even knew my professor who volunteers at SQ for a community education program. It was hard to believe that he has a life sentence. He told me the worst part about SQ is that you don’t have to just do your time, you have to babysit your roommate, because any infraction, they blame you for being there. As if prison didn’t suck already. I think Kee is featured in the Bad Boys of Summer, which I haven’t seen yet, but would like to. NICK KINSEY YOU ARE ON NOTICE FOR NOT RETURNING THE DVD. OTHERS ARE WAITING.

One poor inmate actually believed in us enough to bet a case of Top ramen that we could score at least one run. Poor bastard, we got to find out who he was, and get some money into his commissary account. It’s not his fault we hit like the Blind Boys of Alabama baseball team.

So, after the shellacking, we got to talk to the guys, catch up, we have some more possible dates to go in, who knows we might become the preferred visitor team? The Generals to their Globetrotters….

Easter Sunday. If ever there was a day to do something other than celebrate a holiday. Fitting I guess, since most of consider the game our church service. We got 17 out which was nice, including a Ryan and his lil’ guy, a friend of Lattig’s and two new guys who showed up to bail us out. We were light in pitchers, so I threw again, but real light. Greg wanted to throw, so it was another classic show down. Surprisingly, the heavy ball was working, and we amounted a healthy lead through the first few. Then a few more. Early indications of a blowout began to show, by the time it was 12-5. But the beauty of the MBC game, is that anything is possible, and no lead is safe. I gave up the pearl in the 6th to Dennis, who favors bare legs as a pitching distraction and throws every 6 weeks or so. Whatever the case, the home squad came alive, and before you knew it, runs were mounting up. Our defense had a few problems, but I think at one point Greg’s team had 5 extra base hits in a row. Pretty damn impressive. Lattig started to shut the door on our team offensively, and then Ryan came in to break our will. It worked, and in the bottom of the 9th, still behind by 4 runs, the home team girded up their loins and bats and won the game, 17-16. Phew….

Highlights

* The late surge and team spirit of the home squad.

* Left handed shortstop turning a double play.

* John Carey, having one of the higher fielding percentages for the game, as well as some solid hits (we gotta work on your home stealing, though)

* Almost nailed a soccer player with one of my hits

* Vinay’s snares in left field, impressive, most impressive.

* Bob, hitting the shit out of the ball all day (and passing out steaks)

* The two knuckleballs I threw to Tony, sick and sicker.

* Lattig’s buddy, who started off rough at the plate, and hit a towering double by the end of the day

* John, Bob, Ryan and Greg for catching a long game.

Too bad we don't get paid for this, it would be the sweet life.

S. Paige

Player Profile #8- Robert Carey

(So the only picture I have of Bob is this one, he is the man behind the mask. I know there has to be a better one, so somebody send one to me....)

By now you have all heard me talk about Bob, he is one of the most stalwart warriors we have in the club. Before I even get into his baseball skills, the first thing is Bob is the reason we aren't praying every Sunday to find an open field. Like Nick Smith, Bob has his shit together just a tad more than everyone else, and it shows. He is the club accountant, the club organizer, and though he probably would prefer a different term, he IS the team dad. He organizes the Fourth of July double header, along with the email for the weekly games. If Bob ever leaves our little thing, I fear the wake of disorganization and chaos that might follow.

Bob is a classic ball player, dug in and full of hardball spirit. He always comes to the field in full uniform, with a trunk full of gear, ready to play any position or cure any ailment. You wanna know how Bob rolls? Red Man chew, maple bats, and metal spikes. You got a problem with that?

Pitching to Bob is always a crap shoot. Once he's in the box, he ain't moving. He might turn slightly, but if you throw an inside pitch, there is a good chance that Bob is gonna wear it rather than get out of the way. And he seems alright with that. I think secretly, he likes it, as long as it doesn't hit him in the spine....But when Bob gets a hold of one, it's a thing of beauty, the crack of a wooden bat, the compact swing, and the shit talking that you get when he saunters up the baseline are all part of his glory.

Bob's catching is what keeps us in business as well, he prefers not to catch the whole game, but he will do it if needs be. He is a rock behind the dish, ready to plunge headfirst into the gear in pursuit of a foul ball. As a pitcher it is sometimes fortuitous to get Bob catching in the latter parts of a game, as the strike zone will get larger as he gets sorer, or if he needs to get home by a certain time.

Bob can play any position, first is usually his preferred if he isn't catching. Bob was unfortuately part of one of the uglier incidents we had in MBC lore. While playing at Balboa, Johnny hit one directly into the sinking sun. Bob was in center field, didn't have to move, had a bead on it, then it crossed the sun, and hit him square in the nose. Have you ever heard someone punch a side of beef? That's what it sounded like. I heard it from the infield. We rarely have real injuries, so this was pretty traumatic. The nose was broken, but everything else seemed to be alright. I think Bob took a week off, and then he was back the following week, bragging about his blackeyes. Never complained about it. That's a tough guy, I get hit in the side, and I'm whining and taking pictures for it for the blog....

Bob's a good guy. Ornery and set in his ways, yes, but he's got a heart of gold. He loves the game, and he has passed that love to his son, John, who has been coming out to the field since he could walk. John got his debut last year, at the tender age of 9, 10???? and proved himself more than capable of playing with the big guys, not only is he faster than all of us (he must get that from his mom's side of the family), but he plays a thinking man's game rather than the Cro-Magnon version most popular with our fellas. He is also blessed with natural ability and a great arm. John is a great kid, a spitting image of the old man, in gait and attitude, and it's nice to see two generations enjoying a common interest.

One final great thing about Bob, he has started his own grass fed beef company, Brandon Natural Beef. If you are a beef person, you have got to try some, I have utilized Bob's services for a couple of parties so far, and the reviews are always the same, AWESOME. And if you are a good customer, he might throw a extra strip steak in...His website is:

http://brandonnaturalbeef.com/

Bob, we all salute you. Thank you for your years of service dealing with the ineptitude of the Parks and Rec people, resupplying us with baseballs, letting us use your sweet bats, and most of all, for just being who you are. It wouldn't be MBC without a full spectrum of characters, and you are one mighty character.

S. Paige

Redux at the Marina, only Sunnier, Warmer.

It is almost not possible to sum up the game we had yesterday, as I am wary of using the word perfect. But screw it, it was pretty damn perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, the lightest of breezes wafting the spring honeysuckle in the air, the field once again in immaculate condition. The fear as we warmed up was not that we would be short, but that we would have 28 people show up. Luckily we topped out at 20, which was enough to let us all relax for a inning here and there.

Sean, the crafty southpaw, started for the visitors and quickly got everyone’s attention by striking out four or five in the first two innings. I got a hit on blind luck alone, plus a bonus ricochet off the pitching rubber. Yours truly started again for the home squad, with Greg behind the dish, hoping to nail down our repertoire in preparation for the San Quentin game this weekend. For the first time in a long while, Satch went with the full wind up, and it is surprising how it affects the pitches, both in velocity and control.

The first half of the game was a nail biter, 1-1 through the first five. The defense really helped out for both teams, and Sean had a few more K’s to add, as did I. We finally scored one more run, to take the lead in the 7th and Rojas took over to finish out the game. And what a finish, Tony was masterful, the sidearm changeup was moving, the fast ball was zipping. With our new found confidence, we racked up a few more runs. Johnny Bartlett came in for long relief for the visitors and kept the game lively. We got to the 9th, Tony got the groundballs we needed and the game was over…or not. We ended up playing two extras, since we had another hour and a half of daylight, and the flesh was willing. We brought in our own lefty, Brian to finish it up, and he did so, with a little excitement. The visitors threatened comeback, and suddenly it was 5-4, with Danger all around.

Like a solid team should be, we never broke a sweat, backed each other up, and the game was ours. However, on a day like yesterday, I think we all felt like winners.

Highlights

* Sean, Tony, Johnny and Satch, Brian, who all looked excellent on the mound

* The return of Stoner, who finagled his way out to a game, despite being in the throes of proud new papahood (Congrats Matt!)

* Twice, Lattig?

* The Rojas relief and triple, right handed, after bitching about not ever getting a chance to hit that side.

* Baseball is a balance, so: Is the squeeze on, Rojas? Rojas, why are you thinking about stealing home with no outs? And in this association, Tony, we drop our bats at the plate; we don’t throw them into the ball’s pathway on the trip down to first….

* Bob, stroking one to left, and talking shit up the line, my kind of hit….

* I am reinstating my request for a fence. Or not letting people play at 399. Best feeling hit of the year and it’s an easy out.

* The visiting team for squashing at least three scoring chances with great plays at the plate (two involving the infamous Tony Rojas).

* The 4-6-3 error put out near the end of the game. That’s how you back up a team mate! Thanks for the scoop Nick.

* Kinsey, Will, Brian, B. Cagle, Bob, Bhatia’s for all having solid line drive days at the plate.

San Quentin here we come, so don’t forget, no phones, civilian clothes, or tobacco ( it’s a felony now).

S. Paige

Player Profile #7- Peter Van Schaik

First off, let me say that I miss Peter. A lot. Peter was another of the original 17 Reasons guys. 17 reasons was the big sign that used to stand above 17th street and Mission, and was the Coit tower for the original ball clubbers.

But I miss Peter. Did I say that already? Before Satch showed up on this motley scene of players, Peter hurt his shoulder, and had relegated himself to second base for all times because the throw from anywhere else was not going to have any style or English on it. But he could nail that second base throw like nobody's business. And his defense was awesome, he had awesome range, and he could knock something down and look balanced while he was doing it. We had some good times as a double play combination. By official baseball etiquette, I nor any other 6'6" player, should ever be allowed to play shortstop. But I do. And by the way, I do just fine. Its a ground ball, I can do that. But Peter and I could used to have some really good conversations (which bothered Greg) but he was supposed to be focused on pitching.

Man, I miss Peter. For a man of moderate stature, he used to hit the piss out of the ball. He used a huge bat, and he had one of the quicker swings I have ever seen. He could hit it anywhere, and it always looked like he knew exactly what he was doing the whole time. He had one weakness, a weakness for doubles. I wish I could say I made that up, but I stole it from the Baseball series...And he could talk shit about it, in a funny way, and then back it up with action. You gotta respect that.

You know who liked the Yankees? This guy Peter, that used to play with us. He sat on a throne of fandom that only true Yankees fans can, his theory was no matter how bad the Yankees were, who had the most championships? Who ruled decades of time in the MLB? Yup, those guys. But he wasn't a dick about it. So there was that. The first time I played, Peter was out there, scrapping, dodging, weaving and burning rope, which I was happy to see. Good that someone else still kept alive the old traditions of the national pastime. I like traditions.

Whatever happened to that guy Peter? Oh yeah, so he moved to South America, and then Connecticut. You know, the usual story. He's got two kids and a great wife, which are all awesome, well, I met two of them, and they were. He's an actor too, and he grows a hell of a mustache. Rumors swirl sometimes about a visit. Haven't been able to nail down a visual, but he's probably floating out there somewhere. I hope to see him again one day. He knows where and when we play.

What's that smell?


S. Paige