Diamonds For Women

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sat 11/26/11 9:14 am Post subject:

What is truly well deserved and long overdue is a statue of the Splendid Splinter, which has been discussed for years here but not much has come out of me.

Two days ago, I enjoyed Thanksgiving at my friend Len's house. GilHodgesFan, I'm sure you remember the story I posted about him over the summer--the crazy Mets fan. He lives literally across the street from the Splinter's childhood home, on Utah Street.

Well, Bill Swank is still on a campaign, and bless his heart. And the well-known baseball historian is camping out today for the cause.

As the Union-Tribune noted:

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I can understand how frustrating it must be to Bill that the higher-ups won't listen. To not permit a statue for someone like Williams is crazy. Everyone knows who Ted Williams is and to not honor him where he got his baseball start is crazy Exclamation

I really applaud this guy for his unending devotion to his cause and to never giving up. It sounds like he has also gone to great expense towards his dream. I really wish him all the best with this endeavor. Perhaps hearing from the public will finally pursuade the city to do the right thing.

I hope you get a chance to go lend your support DB.

There is a bridge in Indiana with a plaque on it dedicated to Gil Hodges with a space to honor his HOF induction. Hopefully that will get to be filled in next year Smile

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"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

sunnyblue · Posted: Sat 11/26/11 8:25 pm Post subject:

I love Bill Swank. He's a great writer and historian and he sure is a doppelganger for Santa!

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

He really is! I wish I could have seen it, but I had to work all day, myself. Crunch time is here.
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"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 3/30/12 9:03 pm Post subject:

Bob Uecker will get a statue at Miller Park.

From MLB.com:

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I was happy to hear about Uecker's statue. My nephew-to-be was more happy Very Happy

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Wed 8/22/12 2:14 am Post subject:

Orioles Hall of Famer Eddie Murray has been honored with a statue at Camden Yards (note this happened over a week ago; just now got around to posting about it).
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"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

Truly deserving - but what Hall of Famer doesn't deserve a statue at their home stadium?
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Fri 9/21/12 3:40 pm Post subject:

Sorry it's not bigger but I got it off a Facebook page.

Nice--and a salute to you, too, sir.

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

Thanks for posting this picture. Very nice statue and he is so deserving of the honor Smile

_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sat 9/22/12 12:14 pm Post subject:

Almost forgot about this one too.

_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

A great action shot.
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

I agree. Thanks for posting those, Linda. I am surprised at Gil Hodges Fan's comments - all the time we had been talking about this you never said anything - but they are both worthy of being honored.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I did state in a post in August that

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Mon 9/24/12 7:53 am Post subject:

I remember you posting that long before this happened, but think she meant the comments being made about when we were discussing the details back and forth, etc. Your comment was pretty generic.

I do agree about HOFers deserving statues at their home ballpark. Interestingly, in both cases, they are not being honored at the ballparks they played in.

That would be great to see Ron Santo's statue in person.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

It would be but then Gil Hodges fan was just a few feet from Tony Gwynn's and did not even see that one, Rolling Eyes

which still makes me feel bad.

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I feel bad about that also Forloveofthegame Sad

Steve and I didn't do enough exploring on our own once we were at Petco. Perhaps this will make you feel somewhat better - when Steve and I were watching part of the Padres-Dodgers game last night before he went to work 3rd shift he mentioned he really liked Petco. He said he likes it as much as Miller Park which is his favorite, or I should say "was" his favorite Wink

He said Petco was comfortable feeling, he liked the layout, and the architectural design of it.
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

That is nice of him to say but the layout is not what I like about Petco at all. Most Padre fans do not really like the way the park is designed. We would prefer something with fewer gimmicks and more baseball themed. This is not Horton plaza, for goodness sake. The things I like about Petco are the parts that celebrate our history but I guess you never did see any of them. The park itself looks like it could be anywhere.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I liked Petco. I thought the architectural features were interesting but I guess my favorite aside from Dodger Stadium would be Miller Park. I am hoping we can go to another Brewers game next year and also get to Kansas City to see a Royals game.
_________________
"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

My favorite road stadiums are Dodger Stadium & AT&T Park. I know I have posted that before but both of them are just so

With our park the most appropriate touches that really say San Diego to you are on the exterior, as in the styles they brought over from Lane (very little of it actually) - or in the historical sections. To me the ballpark should say something about the city and team involved. But once you get past those things (that you missed) I feel Petco Park could be located anywhere. Other than what I just mentioned, nothing about it really says San Diego to you. With Dodger Stadium you see the location and you know you are in L.A. or at least in SoCal somewhere! There is so much history, even the front office there says it's L.A. With AT&T Park it practically screams San Francisco which is a great city anyway, and there is much of their old history packed in there too. San Diego is a great city, but you would not really know it judging by Petco Park. My husband first joked that Alonzo Horton must have been the architect, Lol. It has grown on me, overall, but there really is not much special about it unless you get into the historic stuff.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

GilHodgesFan · Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 1759 Location: Cedar Rapids Iowa

I am sorry I missed that Sad

I will never forget the scenic view sitting at Dodger Stadium and looking out over the lovely sunset. After seeing games on TV back in the 70's and this year it was so wonderful to see Dodger Stadium in person and see a game there. It is right up there with Miller Park to me. Miller Park is so much more accessible from here though and I like it better than any of the other Midwest stadiums I've been to.
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"If you had a son it would be a great thing for him to grow up to be just like Gil Hodges" -Pee Wee Reese (Brooklyn Dodgers)

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sun 9/30/12 7:02 pm Post subject:

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

Lol! I think I was editing that sentence when the library computer shut down on me. I was going to say they are both just so what you would expect to see for baseball in those cities. They seem to show how nice the settings are for baseball there.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sat 8/10/13 1:46 pm Post subject:

I hate to report on such a vile act, but earlier this week the Jackie Robinson statue in Brooklyn was vandalized. The statue depicts the friendship and support of Jackie's teammate, Pee Wee Reese, during the chaos that was the early days of baseball's integration.

Evil or Very Mad

This sickens me as well as so many other baseball fans who appreciate what the statue symbolized--racial tolerance. That it was defaced with slurs is horrible.
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"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

I heard about that too. That is despicable!
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Sat 9/7/13 12:32 pm Post subject:

The statue of Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan has been unveiled at Great American Ballpark. The second baseman was on hand with his "Big Red Machine" teammates for the occasion, and Cincinnati is celebrating Morgan all weekend long. How appropriate is it that the Dodgers are in town this series? Mad

Little Joe caused the Dodgers plenty of misery during his career. Sad

But, congratulations to him nonetheless. It's well deserved.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

Yes, he was sure a great player. I miss Jpochard posting here. I bet she was thrilled with this.
_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Thu 9/12/13 9:55 pm Post subject:

The Red Sox have announced plans to honor Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski with a statue at Fenway Park, to be unveiled later this month, 30 years after his retirement.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

dodgerblue6 · Posted: Tue 4/22/14 10:10 pm Post subject:

This one is classic, and Cathy, you're probably already heard about it with your Padres playing in Milwaukee this week.

The Brewers are honoring long-time broadcaster/former player Bob Uecker with a statue of a special kind.
_________________
"The Dodgers have always occupied an enormous place in the history of the game. If the Yankees are the most successful team in baseball history, the Dodgers are the most essential. Their legacy is unique."

-Baseball Hall of Fame

forloveofthegame · Joined: 23 Oct 2009 Posts: 7588 Location: San Diego

Oh yes, I would love to see that sometime! I remember those commercials so well. Laughing

_________________
"Baseball is an allegorical play about America, a poetic, complex, and subtle play of courage, fear, good luck, mistakes, patience about fate, and sober self-esteem." - Saul Steinberg