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This is What Grassroots Marijuana Law Reform Looks Like; Join Us
Marijuana laws are changing across the nation. They are changing because stakeholders are becoming actively involved in their own liberation by joining groups like NORML, forming NORML chapters, and making their voices heard.
NORML has always relied on the efforts of our regional affiliates – people like you – to personally spread the NORML message to local and state lawmakers. On Saturday, members of one such regional NORML affiliate, the northern Virginia chapter of NORML, presented an articulate, persuasive, and coordinated message to their elected officials: 'It's time to stop arresting responsible adults who consume cannabis.' Their efforts are commendable – and necessary.
As we begin the 2014 state legislative session, a session that promises to be the busiest session for marijuana law reform in our history, it is vital that stakeholders play and active and participatory role in the legislative process. You can do so by joining any one of the dozens of NORML chapters nationwide or by starting your own. You can also do so by regularly logging on to norml.org/act to learn about the latest pending marijuana law reform measures pending in your state. By visiting this page, NORML will also identify your local elected officials and provide you with the tools to contact him or her in support of marijuana law reform. By visiting NORML's facebook page, following NORML on Twitter, and/or by signing up for NORML's newsletter, you will also receive timely e-mail alerts informing you of when legislative hearings and key votes are taking place in your state.
Today, the mainstream media, pundits, and elected officials are all talking about marijuana policy in unprecedented numbers. They are doing so because of people like you. Make your voice heard. Make your voice count. Get active; get NORML!
Posted in : ACTIVISM
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39 Responses to "This is What Grassroots Marijuana Law Reform Looks Like; Join Us"
Really good stuff guys. I love the MIT Engineer standing up and say he's a marijuana user. Putting the right face on this issue is spot-on to progress. Storys of real people is the honest truth that has been largely ignored. My thoughts these days are filled with what I can do toward this effort. Educating myself so as to be the coherent voice of reason is one thing I do. Another is always trying to find the right moment steer the conversation toward this issue and maybe change the misconceptions that have for so long crippled us all. A great mind once said that we must become what we want the world to be. I want the world to be fair, honest, forgiving, and tolerant. Being brave and wise at the same time is something I'm still working on.
He's not the only engineer smoking out there ;). Make the waters safer for us we have a lot to risk coming out, make it safer for us we'll come out and help the cause soon :).
As a Fairfax County resident, I salute these articulate citizens for their passionate eloquence on behalf of a more reasoned, scientific & compassionate approach to this
public health and social justice issue.
Oh! And! Jobs,jobs,jobs.
Anderson Cooper on cnn just had a great report.
Sorry NORML, but with all the incredible excitement surrounding Colorado and Washington and all the other states with legalization on the table this year, a video of a legislative session is a bit of a snoozefest.
like to hook up with local chapter near Milw. wis any suggestions. Thanks
people might not want to out themselves and lose their employment so get more if anonymous like polls and surveys. cameras in public at public events. are private cannabis legalization clubs practice to keep membership private so members keep livelihoods don't lose jobs, business, customers? then after legalization they become grow clubs or whatever.
yeah tv cameras got you placed there in news footage, downtown surveillance cameras, boss, coworkers neighbors, your own kids, whoever notices you go in there. mom got a meeting. politicians need to loosen up and legalize. the polls show it
The voice of reason. Think cannabis.
Unfortunately I am a federal employee who will be fired immediately if I join any protests for marijuana use. I want to join in but don't know how and want to start a NORML chapter in Harrisburg Pa. I am forbidden by contract to join any such demonstration or organization. I will have a job with good pay and retain my beliefs in silence or starve to death with no job but correct beliefs. I fully believe in the right to use marijuana. This society is terribly illogical in its conclusion to allow alcohol use but not marijuana. I am a student of logic. I have never seen such bad logic used.
Once the federal government recognizes that the multi-million dollars that people are using to buy "legal" marijuana, is all cash, they have a duty to respond. Either they crush Colorado or reschedule it so the banks can get their share.
This war on marijuana is America's longest and most expensive war with no end in site.
The definition of stupid is to do the same thing the same way and expect a different result. We need to rethink our priorities and protect people from drugs through education and mental help, not prisons and violence.
What happened to my America that the war on drugs is fought with the very same police that are sworn to protect me? If you want to protect me get me help, educate me, don't throw me in prison.
Follow the money, it's all cash. This is not going to end well if the banks and credit cards don't get involved. When the criminals make a large violent robbery then the government will blame it all on marijuana. We all know it is a situation set up by the feds so they can point their finger and say,"See, we told you marijuana causes crime."
Upon hearing the news of legalized marijuana, grandma predicted that there would be "accidents all over the place". If I ask her what happened, she'll just get mad at me.
This goes much higher than the low level profits of the states and the marijuana industry itself. Looking at the big picture, in order to really legalize pot. The feds are going to have to change a lot of foreign policy's. The feds has used these policies to manipulate foreign officials and I don't think these official's are going to just give up the benefits from this War On Drugs has provided. Not to mention the safe havens for the DEA thugs and they're associates. A lot of people are going to loose money and they're not going to like it.
After legalization of cannabis, if 500-mg H-ot B-urning O-verdose M-onoxide joint $moking is replaced by 25-mg-serving-size long-drawtube one-hitters– which many today fear to be caught owning because of "paraphernalia laws"– violence and shocking accidents that would have stained the name of cannabis can be prevented;
therefore the time to advocate Dosage Moderation Equipment and set up One Hit Head Shops everywhere is NOW in the pre-legalization advocacy stage when we are trying to encourage everyone to look forward to the health and safety advantages of legalization. Please google "long-drawtube one-hitter" for descriptions and illustrations.
Impeach bently,he can't be allowed to override majority of people's vote,he needs to get a life ,if he don't want to smoke marijuana,he don't have to buy any ,how can we allow him to cheat Alabama out of ,much needed revenue,he's to old to be working or hold office,he has to be a health risk at his age anyway,people can't let one idiot overrule majority of people's vote,out with old in with New
Standup Alabamaians,get rid of bently so,we can get the much needed revenue from legal marijuana sales
It's idiot's like him that keep the lotto out of Alabama,much needed revenue also,if u don't want to play lottery,don't buy a ticket,catchup Alabama ,lets get this much needed revenue
MAJORITY RULES ,let's legalize marijuana the lottery this yr. In Alabama& stop losing the much need revenue
Does our votes not count ? Legalize marijuana & the lottery ,we need the revenue bad !
Please! Do not try for recreational legality in Massachusetts. I am a supporter but I believe any effort for recreational in 2016 will be crushed here and will be a great setback. You have to know this state – it was not that long ago that the blue laws were repealed.
[Editor's note: Polling indicates that over 60% of Massachusetts voters support cannabis legalization. With both decriminalization and therapeutic access to cannabis initiatives passing with well over 60%, MA voters want and are ready for legalization as soon as possible.]
@Chris, I agree with the first half of your suggestion. As for lottery, ask yourself why anyone would find that interesting– other than Depression. You pay money, then wait passively to find out if you win– where's the creativity in that?
Legalizing cannabis (if you don't access it because of not wanting to break the law) would make it easier for you to ENJOY handwork or some other pro-active exercise that makes money for you.
As for the State, promoting one-hitters (see above) could help solve a HUGE drain on state resources (medical care for low-income residents with preventable $igarette-related diseases) because they are a cheap DIY alternative for both cannabis and tobacco users instead of deadly rolling papers.
Now that Chris has spoken . . .
If we could get all the top world leaders in one place and pass around the OG it would quickly b legalized
@john h.–
1. I would suggest instead of belaboring the term "recreational" (that means alcohol– wreck-creational, get it?), emphasize Occupational– genius handworkers and inventors– and you will get more respect.
2. Promoting the 25-mg serving size concept (one-hitters) and vaporization will get traction politically because it represents DOING SOMETHING about alleged "dangers" of cannabis which are really caused by heat shock, carbon monoxide and 4221 combustion toxins.
@Gweedo That video gave my soul a boner, Also there is a VA NORML lobbying event in Richmond the 18th and 20th.
Wake up and go regester to vote. I dont know if this is a requirment to join NORML But u shuld be requir to regster and vote if u can. If u cant then thats understandble.
what the DEA doesn't want you to know…
the World Health Organization estimates 2.5 million deaths from alcohol each year, 6 million deaths from tobacco use each year, and ZERO deaths from cannabis use.
There are more fatalities from the TOMATO plant than from cannabis!
>>>john h. says: January 13, 2014 at 12:05 pm Please! Do not try for recreational legality in Massachusetts. I am a supporter but I believe any effort for recreational in 2016 will be crushed here and will be a great setback. You have to know this state – it was not that long ago that the blue laws were repealed<<<
a recent poll from a Boston (FOX25) television station showed support for cannabis legalization at 58%… not too shabby!
One hitter is okay, but realize, you're making non-one-hitters out to be a "less responsible" form of marijuana, like sex without a condom. Also it appeals for respectability, while "douchebags with rights" has been a working formula for the movement so far. Go ahead and tell people that engineers use marijuana for problem solving, but be don't be surprised if you sometimes get a negative reaction to that.
@OH, the definition of a one-hitter is that the crater– or do you call it chamber– is small and narrow enough to vaporize more and burn less– don't you want to save money? (google—>"More Marley, Less Monoxide".)
I just want to say I use to ease pain from my back and bladder complications from blotch surgeries I would rather smoke than pop some pain pill that makes me sleep and mess my head up for days smoking eases the pain without side effects from some pill filled with only a bunch of chemicals cannabis is all natural and god put it on this earth not to hurt but help
Men should be judged by the quality of their work. Not the quality of their pee. My best and most reliable employees have used marijuana.
People should be judged by impartial peers, not eletist legislators building a leadership class through threats and coercion.
Back in the 70's I worked at a federal research center and during that time we found that The tox levels were much, much, lower than the toxic levels of salt, alcohol, nicotine, it , is also lower than the levels of meth, codeine, hydrocodone, have a much, much lower tox level than pot. Later as an E.R. Nurse we would see violent acts caused by alcohol, meth, hydrocodone, and amphetamines. I have never seen a high speed mva's caused by pot. Now drugs like alcohol, and meth we would see many cases every week and often on a nightly basis. I have never seen anyone overdose on marijuana, though I have seen numerous O.D.'s on meth, alcohol, Demerol, hydrocodone, talwin, OxyContin, codeine, Nicotine I have even seen people O.D. On water. Yet you see people going to jail over pot. I have never seen anyone using pot that were violent, abusive, nor have I ever seen anyone who went on to hard drugs just because of pot.
Grateful to be a Norml member.
Let's make sure we can use Cannabis when we need it, and in the form conducive to our environments. To many stupid infraction type laws are keeping us from expressing ourselves; when you want to light up be mindful of the ones around you! Toke, Puff, and Pass that joint..
Go Norml, Go Maryland we need our God given Medicine! Now!
I would like to help the cause in Phoenix who can i contact.
[Editor's note: NORML chapters in AZ.]
What about Project Sam? The anti marijuana organization fighting against you? They want to make it so you cant buy marijuana in a store. You will be forced to get it off the street or risk jail for homegrowing it. They want the police to confiscate, fine and arrest anyone possessing a small amount of marijuana. Thats what the laws will be if Patrick Kennedy and Kevin Sabet gets its way. What is NORML going to do about this? ty
[Editor's note: Project Sam is little more than a virtual front group for anti-tobacco organizations and donors who wrongly think cannabis smoking is as harmful as tobacco. It is currently developing chapters run by drug rehab center owners.
NORML debates representatives from Project SAM anytime, anywhere letting audiences know that Project SAM is championing an unpopular public policy that failed decades ago, is racist in its implementation, is anti-free market and counter to constitutional values held dear by citizens and corporations.
Kevin Sabet's entire anti-marijuana career is marked by pronounced failure as each ensuing year Americans more and more reject his advocacy of the status quo. In fact the more Kevin Sabet shows up in public advocating for the continued prohibition the more the public and elected officials support cannabis legalization.
He must be crying in the corner after hearing President Obama reject Sabet's advocacy for the federal government to clamp down on cannabis consumers and businesses. Instead, Obama and Co. have done the opposite with arrests coming down and allowing greater state autonomy to legalize and tax cannabis sales.
Cannabis law reformers are at times blessed by their opposition and Kevin Sabet has been a blessing to help hasten an end to cannabis prohibition laws for almost 15 years.
Right now in America, it sucks to be an anti-cannabis advocate like Kevin Sabet.
Do something about him? Sabet is a highly disingenuous advocate championing a failed public policy that an ever-shrinking percentage of the population supports. The more he appears in public against pot, the more public supports cannabis legalization. More often than not Project Sam appears in the media only after NORML has referred the media to them for oppositional balance.
Frankly, NORML wishes it could clone Kevin Sabet, he has been that beneficial for ending cannabis prohibition.]
@Editor's Note
I'm glad to hear from the inside. we need more in put to the intelligent comments. Now that I know someone is listening I will make sure my comments are note worthy.
Thanks for all you have done
Oklahoma needs support vote coming up soon
Im so sure that all cannabis users out there who would read about this post will support it! I am not a user nor against marijuana but one thing I believe in is the fact that if it would be used properly, it is more likely to do good than harm. and people can have an optimistic view about it. btw, aside from being a great post, the video is also great! it supports the entire post which helps me cut out the time reading. I have also read another post about this subject here http://www.clary-associates.com/Commercial-Litigation.html and want to share to you people what i found out here!
I do not use marijuana myself. However. It is obvious and outdated that the drug is classified as a schedule 1 narcotic. No one has died from an overdose. Personally, I had rather meet a stoner driving down the road than a drunk. Stoners seem to react a little slower but they seem to drive slower to compensate. We all know it is all about money. The people making it now don't want someone else to get it. Money is the driving force and you are kidding yourself if you think otherwise. Taxpayers deserve a break not people fighting the so called "war on drugs" and the ones selling marijuana. We need to quit putting people in jail for weed. We need the space for thieves and violent offenders. It is past time to make significant changes. If lawmakers do not want to do it, we should elect people who will.
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January 10, 2014


text: Clarice Olson | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information Official Broadway League sites: - sites - broadway.org broadwayleague.com broadwayfanclub.com kidsnightonbroadway.com stagespecs.org tonyawards.com Quick Search For: In This Category: All Show People/Org. Theatre Season Clarice Olson Performer Female Productions ProductionsDate of ProductionsPrincess Flavia[Musical, Operetta, Original] Performer: Clarice Olson [Ensemble]Nov 02, 1925 - Mar 13, 1926 Find out where Clarice Olson and are credited together © 2001-2015, The Broadway League, All Rights Reserved. (Copyright and Disclaimer)

subset: commoncrawl


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Chocco Poppo: Everyone's all time favorite! Creamy milk or dark chocolate over regular or caramel crunchy popcorn.
Chocco Flakes: Delicious combination of rich milk chocolate or dark chocolate and corn flakes formed into a patty or individually coated.
Both are available in a variety of packages including jars, towers and tins at various price ranges.
Browse ChocoPoppo
Browse ChocoFlakes


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Tomorrow morning, cable television network, The CW, is expected to reveal their plans for the Fall season during their "Upfront" conference call. As part of their endeavor to 'retool' their line-up following a ratings slump, USA Today believes the network will be announcing that the Green Arrow TV series, Arrow, will take the 8PM time slot on Wednesdays before Supernatural.
Arrow stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen / Green Arrow, Colin Donnell as Tommy Merlyn, Susanna Thompson as Moira Queen, Katie Cassidy as Dinah "Laurel" Lance, David Ramsey as John Diggle, and many others.
Check back tomorrow for more Arrow news. In the meantime, The CW has released this new promotional image of Stephen Amell with a bow and arrow.


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Social Media Writer/Editor – Deerfield
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Ref#: 40923
We're on the hunt for a freelance corporate social media lead to create web and social content, monitor social channels, and oversee the creation of editorial calendars! The content is focused in dining, travel and entertainment. Job Description Our financial client is in need of a senior level digital/social copywriter and content lead to join …
Catalog Copywriter (pharma/medical) – Mundelein, IL
Location: Mundelein, IL
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Our client in the northwest suburbs is seeking a freelance B2B Catalog Copywriter who can write intros, opening story and fit in with their clients existing style. This is a contract position and our client is looking for someone to start immediately. Under general supervision, our candidate will provide descriptive copy primarily for print and …
Production Artist – West Chicago, IL
Location: West Chicago, IL
Ref#: 40930
Our client in West Chicago, IL needs a skilled contract Production Artist to assist with a variety of design and advertising projects. While design skills are welcome, this is not a design position, but strictly a production job to work with preexisting layouts and take design direction from Art/Creative Directors. The ideal candidate is a …
All digital, marketing, & creative staffing agencies are not created equal.
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text: I just squeezed myself into my 10's. I know some people will wear them that tight just to say they are a size 10 but I was putting lives in danger with the possibility of button fire and the muffin top could feed thousands!!!! Lmao. (I wish I could do that - so much faster than dieting!!!!!)


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Nubby Twiglet: WordPress Database: Back it Up! This couldn't be better timed – a plug-in for one-time or automatically scheduled WP backups. Good luck to anyone who was hacked this week!
Cleavage: Nice Girls and Guys Finish Middle (Class) This reminds me of a lot of people and is a must-read if you are single!
The Oatmeal: 10 Words You Need to Stop Misspelling YES YES YES.
Our Life Upstate: What Breasts Are Really For Spoiler alert: It's both!
PhD in Parenting: Fox News Video on Bedsharing An informative story on co-sleeping deaths with surprising (and yet not really surprising) stats. Crunchy Domestic Goddess elaborates. I personally intend to co-sleep with my baby.
Vogue: Hair Coloring 101 with Leigh Lezark The shade she's using is an exact brand and box color I've used many times. I'll pay for a cut but my hair color is always DIY. Vaseline is a must!
New Beauty: How cutting your hair can help clean up the oil spill "Matter of Trust collects as much as they can of the 300,000 pounds of human hair and dog fur that are cut every day, turning it into innovative rugs and "booms" that naturally sop up oil."
Frappelattes: Having Sushi Today? Learn How to Eat Sushi the Right Way Forgot to link this one up last week! I commit many a sushi faux pas at my fave casual sushi belt but these are tips worth reading if you plan to dine at a fine Japanese restaurant. My own sushi tips: Try everything once, and don't ask for that disgusting orange mayo sauce!
Cupcakes and Cashmere: Watermelon-Lime Popsicles A perfect recipe for the beginning of summer!


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Baylor University offers the joint degree Master of Divinity/Master of Music (M.Div./M.M.) through George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the School of Music. This program in church music provides advanced theological education and graduate education in music for ministers in the field of music.
Students seeking admission to the joint degree program are required to fulfill admission requirements for George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the Baylor University Graduate School. Students must apply and be admitted to each of the programs. Upon commencing Seminary studies, the student may enroll in both programs.
Prospective students will declare their intent to enroll in the joint degree with both George W. Truett Theological Seminary and the Baylor University School of Music. Students will be required to make formal application to each academic unit.
Since both degrees are awarded simultaneously, all requirements in both schools must be completed in order to receive either degree.
|I. Theological Education Core Courses
|60 hours
|Introductory Courses
|9 hours
|Christian Scriptures
|12 hours
|Christian Theology
|15 hours
|Christian Ministry
|24 hours
|II. Music Concentration Courses
|10 hours
|Required Courses
|Select one course from the following:
|III. Theology, Missions, Leadership or Pastoral Studies Elective
|7 hours
|IV. Master of Music Courses
|16 hours
|V. Covenant Group - four semesters
|VI. Satisfactory completion of 200 Lifelong Learning Units.
|Total Master of Divinity Hours
|93 hours
|VII. Ten hours of Master of Divinity credits are accepted toward the Master of Music degree upon the successful completion of the Master of Divinity degree.
|VIII. The Master of Music degree requires an additional 15 hours of Music school courses.
|IX. Satisfactory academic progress
|Total Degree requirements
|108 hours
More information about the M.Div./M.M. is available at the Baylor School of Music website or contact:
Dr. David Music
Director of Graduate Studies, School of Music


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St. Louis (KSDK) -- October 27, 2011 will go down as one of the best World Series baseball games in history and a gut wrenching loss for the Texas Rangers.
USA TODAY baseball writer Bob Nightengale said it ranks right up there with some of the bestWorld Series games ever played, includingthe 1986 World Series between the Mets and Red Sox. The Red Sox were up by two runs in the 10th inningand lostthe game to the Mets.
The Texas Rangers were two strikes away twice from winning the franchise's first World Series title Thursday night, but the Cardinals kept battling back to win it in the 11th inning with David Freese's walk-off home run.
The Cardinals scored in the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th innings, which is the first time in World Series history that has happened.
Busch Stadium was electric and Nightengale said fans were still inside the ballpark 45 minutes after the game ended because theyrefused toleave.
Nightengale said the Cardinals have so much momentum heading into Game 7 Friday night and hethought it must have been hard for theRangers to sleep last night.
Matt Harrison will get thestart for the Rangers. ChrisCarpenter is expected to pitch for the Cardinals onshort rest.


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Narok County is situated in Kenya along the Great Rift Valley. It is named after, Enkare Narok, the river flowing through Narok town. Narok County covers an area of 17,944 sq km and has a population of 850,920. The temperature range is 12 to 28 0C and the average rainfall range of 500 to 1,800 mm per annum.
The Maasai Mara National Park , an important tourist destination, is located in Narok County. It is home to the Great Wildebeest Migration which is one of the "Seven New Wonders of the World". It constitutes 3 constituencies namely: Kilgoris, Narok North and Narok South contituencies. Narok town is the district capital of the Narok County and stands as the major centre of commerce in the county.
As per the UN study/research for the Kenya Vision 2030, Narok County is marked as one of the fundamental counties for the achieving economic pillar. Key contributions are in the tourism sector through the Maasai Mara and the agricultural sector through livestock farming. The main economic activities in Narok County include:
- Mining
Mining activities include gold mining in Lolgorianie and Kilimapesa, quarry and sand harvesting.
Goldplat, one of the world's biggest gold companies — which is also listed at the London Stock Exchange — was awarded the lease to exploit the large gold deposits in the Lolgorien area of the County in november last year.
The firm also discovered richer gold reserves at it Kilimapesa mines in Trans Mara to support commercial exploitation of the precious metal expected to be a key source of wealth for Narok County.The firm has also found gold deposits in an abandoned site, Red Ray, around Kilimapesa mines, which are expected to raise the mineral output to over 285kg per year, worth about Sh1.5 billion
- Crop farming in both commercial and subsistence
The main crops grown in the county are wheat, barley, maize, beans, Irish potatoes and horticultural crops. These crops are grown under rain fed, micro irrigation, and sprinkle and drip irrigation. Maize, wheat, barley and sugarcane are grown as cash crops. Maize and wheat are the highest income earning cash crops in the county.
- Livestock farming
This is practiced For both local and adaptive exotic breeds. Livestock farming in narok contribute 10 % of the country's GDP
- Tourism
This is the largest contributor to the county's economy as it hosts the Maasai Mara National Reserve famously known as the seventh wonder of the world for the annual wildebeest migration. It hosts a number of luxurious hotels, lodges, clubs and camp sites.
Facts About Narok County
Narok County is located on the South Rift Valley on the north of Tanzania, it borders six counties with Nakuru to the North, Bomet, Nyamira and Kisii to the North West, Kajiado to the East and Migori to the West.
Area (Km 2): 17,944
Climate: temperatures range from minimum of 8 to maximum of 28 degrees centigrade. It has two rainy seasons with average rainfall ranging from 500 to 1,800 mm per annum.
Road network:
Bitumen Surface 172 Km
Gravel Surface162Km
Earth Surface205.5 Km
Population of Narok County
Population: 850,920
Density: 47 people per Km2
National Percentage: 2.2%
Population Growth Rate: 3.3%
Age distribution:
0-14 Years53%
15-64 Years45%
over 65 years2%
Government of Narok County
County capital: Narok Town
Number of Constituencies (2010): 3 (Narok North, Narok South and Kilgoris)
Registered Voters: 221,286
National percentage of Registered Voters: 2%
Number of Districts (2009): 4 (Narok North, Narok South, Transmara East, Transmara West/Dikirr)
Number of Local Authorities (2010): 3 (Town Council of Narok, County Council of Narok, County Council of Transmara)
Economy of Narok County
Resources: Natural (Maasai Mara Reserve, Mara River, Arable Land), Financial (CDF, LATF, Collections from Maasai Mara Reserve)
Financial services: 6 Commercial banks, 8 Micro-Finance Institutions
Poverty Level: 12% of population live below the poverty line
Age dependency Ratio: 122.6
Main Economic Activities/industries: Tourism in Maasai Mara, Commercial Farming, Livestock Farming
Main Agricultural products: Wheat, Barley, Maize, Livestock
Social and Cultural activities: Maasai Traditional Practice
Education of Narok County
Pupil to teacher ratio for public schools:33:1
Primary schools 571
Total enrollment 175,409
Enrollment rate
Boys 83%
Girls 73%
Secondaries 61
Total enrollment 13,852
Enrollment rate
Boys 20%
Girls 15%
Youth Polytechnics 8
University College 1
Health in Narok County
Health facilities: Dispensary (84), Health Centres (16), Sub District (1), District (3)
Doctors to Population Ratio: 1:100,953
Infant Mortality Rates: 60 per 1,000 (Rift Valley Province)
Under-Five Mortality Rates: 12 per 1,000 (Rift Valley Province)
Prevalent Diseases: Malaria, foot and mouth, tryponosomiasis, HIV/Aids
Notable Hospitals: Narok District Hospital (155 beds) and Transmara District Hospital (32 Beds Capacity)
Contact Narok County
PO BOX 898 20500 Kenya
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 050-222220/2251
Website: http://www.narok.go.ke


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8655192283529474422015-10-03T22:46:51.976-04:001967 Topps BaseballThe 1967 Topps cards were my starting point for baseball card collecting, and I had completed series 1 to 6 in 1967. The 7th series was not sold in my area, but I was able to obtain all but 5 (Seaver, Carew, Robinson, Wills, John) of those cards at card shows in the early 1980s. In my opinion, this is the best looking series issued by Topps. -- 25-SEP-2009Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-9162600440836319502015-09-22T21:01:00.000-04:002015-10-03T12:57:15.399-04:00Juan Pizarro (#602)Juan Pizarro appeared in the rare 7th series in the 1967 set. I didn't get this card until the 1980s, so for a long time my only Pizarro cards were from 1968 (looking surly, with a hole in his shirt) and 1969 (a capless, big-head shot). I'm impressed that this isn't a capless card, since '67 was his first season with the Pirates.

Pizarro played for 8 teams over 18 years (1957-74). He was primarily a starting pitcher for his first 9 years (seasons spent with the Braves and White Sox). After that he was mostly a reliever (except for his 1971 season with the Cubs).

Juan was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1956, and after a full season in Class-A ball, he split each of the next 3 seasons (57-59) between the Braves and their AAA club. He was a swing man with the Braves, pitching behind Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Joey Jay, and Bob Buhl in the rotation, and closer Don McMahon in the 'pen. Pizarro pitched 1 inning each in the '57 and '58 World Series.

On Dec 15, 1960 the Braves traded Pizarro to the Reds (with pitcher Joey Jay) for SS Roy McMillan. On the same day, the Reds flipped him to the White Sox for 3rd baseman Gene Freese. Juan played for the White Sox from 1961-66, and had his best seasons in 1963 (16 wins) and 1964 (19 wins). He made the all-star team in both seasons.
Juan became a nomad after the 1966 season. Traded to the Pirates for pitcher Wilbur Wood, he lasted with the Bucs until June 1968, when he was purchased by the Red Sox.

In April 1969 he was traded to the Indians with pitcher Dick Ellsworth and 1B-OF Ken Harrelson for catcher Joe Azcue and pitchers Sonny Siebert and Vicente Romo. Later that season he moved on to the Athletics, and to the Angels in early 1970.

Pizarro landed with the Cubs in July 1970, and stayed there for exactly 36 months – the longest stint in the 2nd half of his career. He returned to a starter's role with the Cubs, although he spent part of 1971 and the first half on 1973 in the minors.

Juan played the 2nd half of the '73 season with the Astros, then was released the following spring. He played in the Mexican League in 1974, until the Pirates signed him in late August.

Released after the season, he returned to the Mexican League for the '75 and '76 seasons before retiring. Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-75997618285154883872015-09-19T01:00:00.000-04:002015-09-19T01:13:06.268-04:00Wally Bunker (#585)This is my oldest Wally Bunker card, but not my first. Bunker is one of the four Orioles' cards (along with Brooks Robinson, manager Hank Bauer, and an O's Rookies card featuring Mark Belanger) in the high-numbered 7th series which was not sold in my area in 1967. I got his '68 card (Orioles) and '69 card (Royals) in those years, but it was not until the 1980s that I collected all but 5 of the '67 high-numbers.

The O's #3 starter in 1966, Wally pitched a complete-game shutout in the '66 World Series, but wasn't shown on the post season cards in the 1967 set either. (Paul Blair was featured on the game #3 card.)

Bunker was one of the mid-1960s' pitching phenoms for the Orioles (along with Dave McNally and Jim Palmer). He was signed by the Orioles in 1963, and after going 10-1 with 95 strikeouts in 99 innings in class A ball, he made his major-league debut on Sept 29th.

Wally made the Orioles squad for good in the 1964 pre-season, and was the team's ace as a rookie – winning 19 games and finishing 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting (to the Twins' Tony Oliva).

He followed up his rookie season with two 10-win seasons, and a complete-game shutout of the Dodgers in game #3 in the World Series (sandwiched between Palmer's complete-game shutout in game #2 and McNally's complete-game shutout in game #4).

Wally struggled for the next 2 seasons, as sore arms swept through the O's starting rotation (Bunker, Palmer, McNally). Bunker only won 5 games combined in 67-68, and spent much of '67 in the bullpen, and part of '68 in triple-A. As such, he was left unprotected for the expansion draft following 1968, and was selected (along with Orioles' teammate Moe Drabowsky) by the upstart Kansas City Royals.

Bunker was the Royals' first-ever opening-day starter in 1969, and led the staff with 31 starts, 222 innings, and 12 wins.

Arm troubles cropped up again, leaving him with a 2-11 record in 1970, and led to his release following his final game on 5/26/1971. He played for the Royals' AAA team for the remainder of 1971 and part of 1972 before retiring.

In recent years, Bunker has been a writer and illustrator of childrens' books.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-43727575286175265072014-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:002014-09-25T00:00:07.139-04:00Johnny Edwards (#202)Here is my 220th post on this blog - 5 years to the day after my first post. I first stumbled upon the Google blogging community a day earlier, when I found and commented on this post on the 1969 Topps blog, which was formerly owned by Pack Addict (now known as SociallyAwkwardJellyFish).

I began this 1967 blog on 9/25/2009 with two posts. Three days later I published FIVE posts! Within that first week I also started the 1960s Baseball and 1968 Topps blogs, and a few weeks later, the 1966 Topps blog. The 1970 and 1963 Topps blogs came along about a year after that. In January 2012 I took over the 1969 Topps blog (from Pack Addict), which had been idle for almost 2 years.

Along the way, I have learned something about a lot of these players (especially the pre-1967 players, which was before my card-collecting time as a kid), and also "met" a lot of interesting bloggers, starting with Jim @ The Phillies Room, Paul @ Wrigley Wax, Steve @ White Sox Cards, CommishBob @ 1959 Topps, and Matt @ 1976, 77, 78 Topps, to name but a few.

Anyway, it's been a great 5-year ride.

Johnny Edwards had the distinction of keeping the Reds' catching gear warm for another Johnny (Bench) from 1962 thru Bench's debut in September 1967. Edwards had a 14-year major-league career: 7 seasons with the Reds, 1 with the Cardinals, and 6 with the Astros.

Edwards was signed by the Reds in 1959, and after 2 1/2 seasons as a starting catcher in the minors, he was promoted to the Reds in late-June 1961, and shared the staring assignments with incumbent Jerry Zimmerman (who was also in his rookie season). Johnny hit .364 with 2 doubles in the 1961 World Series.

Zimmerman was traded to the Twins after the season, paving the way for Johnny to become the full-time catcher in 1962. He started 124 games in '62, his first of 6 consecutive seasons as the Reds' #1 catcher. Edwards made the all-star team every season from 1963-65, and won 2 Gold Gloves during that span. The high point in playing time was his 141 starts in 1963, after which he shared the catching load with Don Pavletich (his minor-league teammate in 1961).

Always a top defensive catcher, Johnny put up good offensive numbers until breaking a finger during spring training 1966. Edwards started 84 games that season, with Pavletich starting 46 and Jimmie Coker 30. 1967 was Edwards' last in Cincinnati. He and Pavletich both started 57 games, but Johnny Bench was called up in late August and started 26 of the final 32 games. The Bench Era had started.

Edwards was traded to the Cardinals after the 1967 season for backup catcher Pat Corrales and minor-league infielder (and future manager) Jimy Williams. After one season backing up Tim McCarver (and appearing in the 1968 World Series), Edwards was traded to the Astros (who had lost both their incumbent catchers (John Bateman and Ron Brand) to the Expos in the expansion draft) for pitcher Dave Giusti and catcher Dave Adlesh.

Johnny spent the next 4 seasons (1969-72) as the Astros' #1 catcher. By 1972, ex-Reds teammates Lee May and Tommy Helms joined Edwards in Houston, via the Joe Morgan deal.

Edwards began the 1973 season as the #1 catcher, but by mid-June had given way to 2nd-year catcher Skip Jutze, who played the majority of games in the 2nd half. 1974 was Johnny's final season, and he was relegated to the bench, in favor of ex-Pirates' backstop Milt May.

One of the SABR gurus has rated Edwards as the 2nd-best defensive catcher in baseball history. Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-51934153442377974012014-09-07T17:56:00.000-04:002014-09-07T17:56:05.896-04:00Hey Arnold!After a 3-week absence, Robert over at the $30 a Week Habit blog is resuming his 16-set tournament, where bloggers vote for which set he should complete next. The Final Four is down to the 1959, 1963, 1967, and 1974 sets.

Besides all the reasons given in the previous round, how can you NOT vote for a set with this card?

(I discovered today that this was Earley's only Topps card, despite having played full seasons for the Red Sox from 1962 to 1965.)Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-3827532639358343512014-09-01T00:12:00.000-04:002014-09-01T08:49:03.034-04:00Fred Gladding (#192)Fred Gladding was a relief pitcher from 1961 to 1973. He played his first 7 seasons with the Tigers, and the last 6 with the Astros. In 450 career games, he only made one start. At age 78, he is the oldest living player from the 1966-70 era that I haven't featured on my blogs yet.

Gladding was signed by the Tigers in 1956, and pitched in their farm system from 1956 to 1960, mostly as a starting pitcher. Fred also spent most of the '61 and '62 seasons in the minors, but was used more and more as a reliever.

Fred made his major-league debut in July 1961, making 8 appearances in July and August. He also played 6 games early in 1962 before returning to the minors.

He returned to the Tigers for good in late-July 1963, and manned Detroit's bullpen for the next 4 ½ seasons. Gladding was always behind either Larry Sherry or Terry Fox (or both) until 1967, when he led the team with 12 saves. (Wow, that seems low by today's standards!) He also had a 1.99 ERA that season.

Fred missed out on the Tigers' 1968 championship team, as he was sent to the Astros after the 1967 season to complete an earlier trade for Eddie Mathews.

Gladding missed all but 7 games in 1968, but returned the following season to head up the Astros' bullpen. At age 33, he was the oldest player on the roster, and managed to lead the NL with 29 saves.

Although he never again duplicated his 1969 numbers, he continued to lead the Astros in saves from 1970 to 1972.

Fred began the 1973 season where he left off in '72, but after pitching in 16 games by early June, he spent the 2nd half of the season in the minors, and was released in October.

From Wikipedia:
"Gladding has the distinction of having the lowest non-zero lifetime batting average in major league history. For his career he batted .016 (1 for 63)."Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-24841056066790861282014-08-15T23:30:00.000-04:002014-08-16T21:44:00.436-04:001967 Topps Card Set Vying for the Final FourRobert over at the $30 a Week Habit blog has been running a 16-set tournament, where bloggers vote for which set he should complete next. Last week, the 1969 set fell short by a few votes, so I'm hitting the campaign trail again, this time for the 1967 set.

This set includes the final baseball card for Hall of Fame <s>catcher</s> broadcaster Bob Uecker!

Wait, what? That's not enough for you? I suppose you could continue reading then...

There's also the final card for 76 other players, including Whitey Ford, Curt Simmons, Lou/Lew Burdette, Joe Nuxhall, Smoky Burgess, and Jim Piersall.

The final Topps appearance for Sandy Koufax:

41 future Hall of Famers are in the set, including Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Roberto Clemente, Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Don Drysdale, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, and Eddie Mathews, none of who are in the 1976 set.

THIRTEEN multi-player cards, the most for any year in that era:

In addition to the well-known high-number rookie cards for Tom Seaver and Rod Carew, the set also includes the rookie cards for Chris Short and Maury Wills (both 8-year veterans by then) and Ken Holtzman. Also, there are more than 40 Rookie Stars cards, the most in any set.

Here are some other guys in the set:

.  (That's one heck of a sunrise behind Tony C.!)

Vote now! Don't let Robert have to deal with hanging chads at the last minute.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-78508121396958207362014-08-09T17:51:00.000-04:002014-12-29T16:55:44.249-05:00Vic Davalillo (#69)Vic Davalillo (currently age 78) is one of the 2 oldest living players from 1966 to 1970 that I have not yet featured on one of my blogs. He played for the Indians and five other teams in his 16-year career from 1963 to 1980.

Vic was signed by the Cincinnati Reds in 1958. After 4 seasons in their minor-league organization (mostly as a pitcher), he was purchased by the Cleveland Indians and converted to an outfielder.

After playing in the minors in 1962, Vic made his major-league debut with the Tribe in April 1963, starting every game in center field through June 12th. By that time he was hitting .304 and was a front-runner for AL Rookie of the year, but was hit by a pitch and suffered a broken wrist. He didn't return to the lineup until mid-August, and finished his rookie season with a .292 batting average.

Davalillo was the Indians' starting center fielder for the next two seasons, then shared the position with Chuck Hinton in '66 and '67. Back then, I didn't give Davalillo a second thought (probably because he was on the Cleveland Indians, and not named Sam McDowell), but he was 3rd in AL batting in 1965:

When the Indians acquired Jose Cardenal from the Angels prior to the 1968 season, Vic moved to right field, starting 43 games there until his mid-June trade to the Angels for outfielder Jimmie Hall. Davalillo started 66 games for the Angels, mostly in July and August. By September he was relegated to the bench.

In May 1969, Vic moved on to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Jim Hicks. With Lou Brock, Curt Flood, and Vada Pinson manning the Redbirds' outfield, there was little for Davalillo to do. Even the famous departure of Flood after the '69 season didn't help him, as the Cards acquired Jose Cardenal, who had taken away Vic's playing time in Cleveland 2 years earlier. Davalillo rode the bench for his 1 ½ seasons in St. Louis, made 2 appearances as a relief pitcher, but also began his 2nd career as a go-to pinch-hitter.

In January 1971 he and pitcher Nelson Briles were traded to the Pirates for outfielder Matty Alou and pitcher George Brunet. He also played for the Athletics from August 1973 until his release in May 1974. Vic had played in the '71 World Series with the Pirates, and also in '73 with the A's.

He then played ball in Mexico for the rest of 1974 and also in 1975-77. Normally, Mexico or Japan signals the end of the line for someone's career, but that was not the case for Davalillo.

The Dodgers signed him in August 1977, and was a key pinch-hitter for them for the next 3+ seasons. The Dodgers were well-stocked with pinch-hitters during this time: Davalillo from the left side and Manny Mota (.313 with the Dodgers) from the right side. Vic hit .297 in 158 at-bats for the Dodgers (almost all as a pinch-hitter). Vic hit .333 in both the '77 and '78 World Series.

He was released after the 1979 season, and played part of 1980 back in Mexico before the Dodgers re-signed him in July 1980. After his final release following the 1980 season, he once again played in Mexico for the 1981 season.

Vic's older brother Yo-Yo Davalillo played briefly for the Senators in 1953, and for the Reds' AAA team in Havana from 1955-60.Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-60092700236967441392014-07-27T02:00:00.000-04:002014-08-23T01:26:18.456-04:00Billy Williams (#315)Billy Williams was one of the Cubs' 3 key position players (along with Ernie Banks and Ron Santo) all through the 1960s.

Williams was signed by the Cubs in 1956, and played in the minors for all of 1956-58 and most of 1959 and 1960. Billy made his big-league debut in August 1959, and played in 18 games over the final 2 months of the season. He also appeared in 12 games for the Cubs during late-September 1960.

Billy made the Cubs for good at the start of the 1961 season, and took over the left field duties from the tandem of Ernie Banks (!) and Richie Ashburn. Beginning on June 26th, Williams started the final 100 games in left field. He clubbed 25 homers as a rookie, and won the NL Rookie of the Year award, with 10 of the 16 votes.

He made his first 3 all-star squads early in his career ('62, '64, and '65), another in '68, then two more times late in his career ('72, '73). Williams hit over .300 five times, including a career-high .333 in 1972, which led the National League. He also led the league in runs (137) and hits (205) in 1970.

Billy was the Cubs' regular left fielder from 1961 to 1964, then after 2 seasons in right field he returned to his familiar left field post from 1967 to 1973, although he worked in 19 starts at 1st base in '73. The following season (at age 36) he split his time 60/40 between 1st base and left field.

After the 1974 season, he was traded to the Athletics for pitchers Darold Knowles and Bob Locker, and 2nd base prospect Manny Trillo. Williams spent his final 2 seasons in Oakland as their designated hitter.

In '75 he also started 5 games at 1st base, but was strictly the DH (and occasional pinch-hitter) in 1976. However, he did play 2 innings in left field that season (on August 27th, for old-times' sake I guess). Billy played in the ALCS in 1975, but never made it to the World Series in his 18 seasons.

Williams was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. The Cubs retired his #26 the same year.

Billy was well-known for playing almost every game for 8 to 10 years in the 1960s. I decided to research this to see if it was fact, folklore, or just an impression. From 1962 through 1973, Williams played in 1920 of the Cubs' 1941 games, including 1117 consecutive games from 9/22/63 to 9/2/70.

Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-19787278889234268492014-07-16T13:51:00.000-04:002014-07-26T23:01:50.049-04:00Matty Alou (#10)Matty Alou (the middle of the 3 Alou brothers) played the outfield for 15 seasons, mostly for the Giants and Pirates.

Alou was signed by the Giants in 1957, and played 4 seasons in the minors before making his major-league debut in the final week of the 1960 season, 2 ½ years after his brother Felipe joined the team.

Matty spent the next 4 seasons as the Giants' 5th outfielder, behind Willie Mays, brother Felipe, whichever of Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey wasn't playing 1st base, and the veteran Harvey Kuenn.

After Felipe was traded away following the 1963 season, it looked like things would open up for Matty, but his younger brother Jesus joined the team that year and jumped ahead of him in the outfield mix.

Not until 1965, when Cepeda missed most of the season to injuries and Kuenn moved on did Alou get a starting position. (Actually, he shared left field with Len Gabrielsen, but Matty's time as a backup at the other 2 spots pushed him up to #3 in overall playing time.)

After the 1965 season, he was traded to the Pirates for pitcher Joe Gibbon and catcher Ozzie Virgil. Although Alou batted .310 and .292 in part-time duty in '61 and '62, it wasn't until he got to Pittsburgh that his bat exploded (maybe due to the influence of manager Harry Walker?).

Alou was immediately installed as the Pirates' center fielder, and collected over 575 plate appearances in each of his five seasons with the Pirates. His batting average soared, reaching .342 (NL best), .338 (2nd to Pete Rose), .332, .331, and .297 for those 5 seasons. Alou also made the all-star team in 1968 and 1969, and led the NL in hits (231), doubles (41), and plate appearances (746) in 1969.

Matty's final games as a Pirate were in the 1970 NLCS. With young Al Oliver waiting in the wings, the Pirates dealt Alou while he was at the top of his game, sending him to the Cardinals (with pitcher George Brunet) for pitcher Nelson Briles and outfielder Vic Davalillo prior to the '71 season.

Alou started 144 games for the Cardinals in 1971, dividing his time between center field and 1st base. The following season he was the primary first baseman (while also playing in right field) until his August trade to the Athletics. Matty finished out the rest of that season (including the ALCS and World Series) with Oakland, then was traded to the Yankees in the off-season.

Alou played most of 1973 with the Yankees, sharing the first base and right field starting assignments with his brother Felipe. In September Matty was sold back to the Cardinals, who flipped him to the Padres after the season.

Matty played 48 games for the Padres in 1974 before his release in mid-July. He then played in Japan from 1974 through 1976.

Alou passed away in November 2011 at age 72.Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-55448633262326593072014-07-02T23:06:00.000-04:002014-07-26T23:01:23.779-04:00Orlando Pena (#449)Orlando Pena (age 80) is the oldest living player from his era that I have not yet featured on my blogs. (This card has his birth year as 1935, but Baseball-Reference and Baseball-Almanac have it as 1933.)

He began his professional career in 1955, playing for the unaffiliated Daytona Beach Islanders in the class-D Florida State League for one year before he was acquired by the Cincinnati Reds. After a season in class-B ball, the Reds assigned him to their triple-A team in Havana, Cuba (his home country) for the next 2 years.

He made his major-league debut with 9 games in the final 5 weeks of the 1958 season. Pena played the entire 1959 season with the Reds, and was their #2 man in the bullpen in games and innings pitched, and 2nd in saves.

In 1960, Orlando was back in triple-A for most of 1960. He began the season in Havana, then the Reds moved the team to Jersey City, NJ due to the Cuban embargo. Pena also played 4 games with the Reds in the last half of September.

Pena began the 1961 season back in Jersey City, then was traded to the unaffiliated Toronto Maple Leafs in the triple-A International League in mid-July for pitcher Ken Johnson. After the season, Toronto (and Pena) became part of the Milwaukee Braves' organization.

After spending all of 1961 and most of 1962 in the minors, Orlando was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in August for pitcher (and future umpire) Bill Kunkel.

Pena joined the Athletics and made 12 starts and 1 relief appearance over the final 2 months of the season. Pena was a starter for Kansas City during the '63 and '64 seasons, winning 12 games each season, but leading the AL with 20 losses in 1963.

After moving on to the Tigers in June 1965, Pena reverted back to his role as a reliever. With Detroit, he appeared in 30 games in 1965 and 54 games in 1966, all in relief.

After only 2 appearances, Orlando was sold to the Indians in May 1967 and was the Tribe's closer, pitching in 48 games and collecting a team-high 8 saves.

Pena spent the next 2 seasons in the minors, with the Indians', Pilots', and Royals' organizations. The Royals released him during spring training 1970, and it took until mid-June for him to catch on with another team. He worked out of the Pirates' bullpen for 2 months, until getting his 2nd release of the year in late August.

Orlando played most of 1971 and all of 1972 in the Orioles' farm system. He pitched 5 games for the O's in mid-season 1971, and another 11 games at the start of the 1973 season.

The Cardinals purchased his contract in June 1973, and he pitched 42 games for them in 1973 and another 42 games in 1974, until his trade to the Angels in September.

Pena wrapped up his career with 11 games in 1975. The Angels released him 4 days after his final game in early May.

In 1979 and at age 45, Pena pitched 1 game for the Miami Amigos in the short-lived Inter-American League.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-35642799696890050332014-06-22T20:23:00.001-04:002014-06-25T21:28:52.878-04:00Russ Snyder (#405)A few months ago, I found a page on Baseball-Almanac.com listing the 100 oldest living ex-players. Within the scope of the 1966 to 1970 card sets, the only names listed there were 3 managers. Last week I decided to find out who were the oldest living ex-players from that time period that I haven't yet featured on my blogs.

As best as I can determine, they are pitchers Orlando Pena and Camilo Pascual, and outfielder Russ Snyder (all age 80), 1B-OF Felipe Alou (79), and pitchers Bob Humphreys and Jim Perry (both 78). Nine others are 77, with Fred Gladding, Vic Davalillo, and J.C. Martin turning 78 later this year.

Happy 80th birthday today to Russ Snyder! Russ played outfield for 12 seasons from 1959 to 1970, and is best remembered as the Baltimore Orioles' 4th outfielder from 1961 to 1967.

Snyder was signed by the Yankees in 1953, and played in their farm system through the 1958 season. Three days into the 1959 season, he was part of yet another trade between the Yankees and the Kansas City Athletics.

Snyder made his big-league debut as a pinch-hitter in mid-April 1959, then was sent to the minors. He was recalled in mid-July, and became the Athletics' starting left fielder from late-July to mid-August, before moving over to center field for most of September.

In 1960, Russ was part of a 3-way tandem in right field (along with Hank Bauer and Whitey Herzog) who replaced the departed Roger Maris.

After the 1960 season, Snyder and Herzog were traded to the Orioles for 4 players, including infielder Wayne Causey and catcher Clint Courtney. Except for being limited to 56 games in 1964, Snyder was the Orioles' 4th outfielder and got the most at-bats of the non-regulars every season from 1961 to 1967.

Russ bounced around in his last 3 seasons. Traded to the White Sox with Luis Aparicio for Don Buford and others in November 1967, Snyder was flipped to the Indians in mid-season for outfielder Leon Wagner.

After a year and a half in Cleveland, he played his final season (1970) with the Brewers. Snyder was released by the Brewers during spring training in 1971.Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-28155901574923923862014-06-18T18:42:00.000-04:002014-06-18T18:42:14.499-04:00NL Pitching Leaders (#234, 236, 238)Here are the National League pitching leaders for the 1966 season. These cards made a cameo appearance on my first 1966 blog post.

Sandy Koufax won the pitching triple crown in his final season. Because of his dominance in the early-to-mid 1960s, MLB created a Cy Young Award for each league beginning in 1967, instead of one overall award.

Koufax was the only qualifying starting pitcher with an ERA below 2.00. Joining him is the Astros' Mike Cuellar, who would be traded to the Orioles after 1968, and Juan Marichal. In the relievers' category, Joe Hoerner and Phil Regan both came in under 2.00.

It's Sandy Koufax again! Marichal was joined by his teammate Gaylord Perry in the 20-win club in 1966. Bob Gibson's 21 wins tied with Perry for 3rd place.

Jim Bunning checks in at 2nd place with 252 strikeouts, a whopping 65 behind Koufax. Bunning also finished 4th in ERA and 6th in wins that season. The Pirates' Bob Veale was a regular among the top strikeout artists in the late 1960s. Gibson and Marichal were not far behind in 1966.

Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-55470572547694278582014-06-12T02:30:00.000-04:002014-08-23T01:26:45.093-04:00The 1967 Braves

Here is the Braves' team card. It's the only Topps team card prior to 1968 that included the actual background in the photo.

The Braves began the season with a starting rotation of Denver Lemaster, Ken Johnson, Tony Cloninger, Pat Jarvis, and Dick Kelley. This rotation remained somewhat intact through mid-June, although for various stretches, Johnson and Cloninger missed starts and were replaced by Bob Bruce and Wade Blasingame.

By mid-June, Phil Niekro joined the rotation (replacing Kelley), and those 5 carried on through the rest of the summer, the only change being Clay Carroll replacing Cloninger beginning in early August. Ed Rakow got the extra start now and then when doubleheaders cropped up.

Lemaster led the staff in starts (31) and innings pitched (215) but only managed a 9-9 record. Johnson (the dean at age 34) and Jarvis were the other 2 rotation mainstays, winning 13 and 15 games respectively. The veteran Cloninger missed all of May and only pitched 3 times after July. When he did play, he was ineffective, pitching only 76 innings over 16 starts and compiling a hefty 5.17 ERA.

Niekro began the season as the team's closer, collecting a team-high 9 saves. He joined the rotation in mid-June and started 20 games the rest of the way, fashioning a 11-9 record, with a 1.87 ERA. Others used primarily in relief were Dick Kelley and Clay Carroll, although Kelly started for the first 2 months, while Carroll started for the last 2 months.

Pitchers used strictly in relief were Jay Ritchie and rookie Ramon Hernandez, a Rule 5 pickup from the Angels. Rookie Cecil Upshaw was called up from triple-A in mid-July, and took Niekro's old job as the bullpen hammer.

Veteran Ed Rakow (who hadn't pitched in the majors since 1965) was recalled in mid-July and pitched in 17 games, including 3 spot starts. This was to be his last big-league action. Another guy in his final season was Bob Bruce. The 34-year-old was acquired from the Astros in the off-season for Eddie Mathews, started a few games early-on, and made his last appearance on June 24th. He finished out the season in triple-A.

Wade Blasingame began the season as a reliever and spot starter, then was traded to the Astros on June 15th for Claude Raymond, who had been with the Braves from 1961-63. Raymond relieved in 28 games in the 2nd half. Rookies Ron Reed and Jim Britton made a few appearances in late-September.

Here are the starting eight. Except for Clete Boyer (acquired in the off-season from the Yankees), this group had been together for a while. Joe Torre started 102 games behind the plate, and another 21 at 1st base. Felipe Alou started 83 games at 1st base and 53 in the outfield. Woody Woodward made 114 starts at 2nd base - almost every game except for mid-April to mid-May, and the final 2 weeks. He also started 15 games at shortstop in late September. Denis Menke was the starting shortstop until mid-September.

Boyer started 148 games at the hot corner in his first NL season. Rico Carty, Mack Jones, and Hank Aaron were the primary outfielders. For some reason, they shuffled it up for a dozen games in mid-August, with Jones in left, Aaron in center, and Carty in right. Everyone but the middle infielders hit 15 or more homers, with Aaron (an NL-best 39), Boyer (26), and Torre (20) leading the way.

Here are the bench players, in order of playing time. Tito Francona was purchased from the Phillies in mid-June, and was a pinch-hitter and backup first baseman for the rest of the season. He also started long stretches at 1st base while Alou was backfilling in the outfield. Bob Uecker was acquired from the Phillies for Gene Oliver on June 6th. After starting 19 straight games (with Torre out of the lineup), Ueck settled into the role of knuckleballer Niekro's personal catcher for the remainder of his final season.

Also in his final year (save for 1 game in 1969), Mike de la Hoz was used as a pinch-hitter and occasional starter at 3rd base. He was also the backup 2nd baseman for most of the season. Rookie Felix Millan started most of the games at 2nd base from mid-April to mid-May, then was sent down until September. He reclaimed the starting job in the season's final 2 weeks.

Gary Geiger was the team's 5th outfielder (behind Alou) and played mostly in center field. Seeing his first major-league action since 1962, Orlando "Marty" Martinez was the Braves' backup shortstop and emergency catcher. Veteran Gene Oliver was used sparingly by the Braves prior to his 6/6 trade to the Phillies. Charlie Lau was also in his final season. Strictly a pinch-hitter in his last 2 seasons, he was purchased from the Orioles on 5/31.

And the cup-of-coffee guys: Dave Nicholson was acquired in the Eddie Mathews trade, and spent the season in the minors. He played 10 games in a September recall. It would be his last big-league action (although he also had a card in the 1969 set). Another September callup was rookie shortstop Remy Hermoso, who would later surface with the 1969 Expos and 1974 Indians. Also given a brief September look-see were outfielders Cito Gaston and Mike Lum. Gaston would not return to the majors until 1969, with the expansion Padres.

Ty Cline played in 10 games (mostly as a pinch-hitter), then was sold to the Giants in late May. Why does Jim Beauchamp have a card? He was in the minors for all of 1966, and only played 4 games with the Braves in early 1967, before returning to the sticks. George Stone pitched a combined 7 innings over 2 games in late September. 1961 AL Rookie of the Year Don Schwall pitched 2/3 of an inning on April 12th for the Braves, then 6 games in the minors in his final pro season.

Denis Menke and Tony Cloninger were featured on the Braves' multi-player card. Both had off-years in 1967. Billy Hitchcock took over the Braves with 51 games remaining in 1966, and was fired with 3 games remaining in 1967. The Braves responded by losing their final 3 games. Charles Vaughn did not play for the Braves in 1967.

25-man roster analysis:

Transactions from the end of the 1966 season to the end of 1967:

Oct 1966 - Released 2nd baseman Frank Bolling.

10/13/66 - Released catcher Ed Sadowski.
10/13/66 - Traded pitchers Dan Schneider and Tom Dukes, and 2B Wesley Bales to the Astros for Ed Pacheco, John Hoffman, and Gene Ratliff.

11/19/66 - Traded outfielder Ethan Blackaby to the Angels for catcher Del Bates.

11/28/66 - LOST PITCHER TED ABERNATHY IN THE RULE 5 DRAFT to the Reds.
11/28/66 - Selected Ramon Hernandez from the Angels in the rule 5 draft.
11/28/66 - Selected Orlando Martinez from the Twins in the rule 5 draft.

11/29/66 - Traded pitcher Chi-Chi Olivo and outfielder Bill Robinson to the Yankees for Clete Boyer.

12/02/66 - Released pitcher Joey Jay.

12/07/66 - Traded catcher Chris Cannizzaro and 1B John Herrnstein to the Red Sox for pitchers Julio Navarro and Ed Rakow.

12/31/66 - Traded 3B Eddie Mathews, pitcher Arnold Umbach, and a player to be named (2B Sandy Alomar 2/25) to the Astros for pitcher Bob Bruce and outfielder Dave Nicholson.

Jan 1967 - Signed Angel Hermoso as a free agent.

05/31/67 - Sold Ty Cline to the Giants.
05/31/67 - Purchased Charlie Lau from the Orioles.

06/01/67 - Sold 2B Marv Breeding to the Astros.

06/06/67 - Traded Gene Oliver to the Phillies for Bob Uecker.

06/12/67 - Purchased Tito Francona from the Phillies.

06/15/67 - Traded Wade Blasingame to the Astros for Claude Raymond.

06/20/67 - Released Don Schwall.

10/06/67 - Released Bob Uecker.

10/08/67 - Traded Denny Lemaster and Denis Menke to the Astros for SS Sonny Jackson and 1B Chuck Harrison.

10/10/67 - Traded Mack Jones, Jay Ritchie, and Jim Beauchamp to the Reds for 1B/3B Deron Johnson.

11/27/67 - Released Charlie Lau.

11/28/67 - Lost Ramon Hernandez to the Cubs in the rule 5 draft.
11/28/67 - Selected outfielder Sandy Valdespino from the Twins in the rule 5 draft.

12/07/67 - Traded 3B Bobby Cox to the Yankees for catcher Bob Tillman and pitcher Dale Roberts.

. Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-79526226519868741352014-05-31T16:00:00.001-04:002014-05-31T21:08:55.082-04:00Hoyt Wilhelm (#422)Hoyt Wilhelm was one of the all-time great relief pitchers in baseball. He pitched in 1070 games, while only starting 72 games (mostly between 1958-60). He was best known as a knuckleball pitcher, which contributed to his long career. He finished his career with the most wins as a reliever (124), and was the first pitcher to reach 200 saves and 1000 games.

Wilhelm began his minor-league career in 1942 at age 20. After one season in class-D ball, he missed the next 3 years while in military service during World War II. He returned from the war to pitch another 6 seasons in the minors, the first two with the same class-D team from 1942, before working his way up to the triple-A level.

Wilhelm finally made the New York Giants in 1952 at age 30. In his rookie season, he compiled a 15-3 record (all in relief), and led the NL in winning percentage, ERA (2.43), and games (71). He finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting to Brooklyn's Joe Black.

In 1953, he again led the league in games pitched (68), and made his first all-star team. Wilhelm continued to head up the Giants' bullpen through the 1956 season.

Hoyt was traded to the Cardinals before the 1957 season for Whitey Lockman. He pitched in 40 games for the Cards, then was claimed off waivers by the Indians in the final weeks of the season. Wilhelm remained with the Indians for most of 1958, primarily relieving but making a few starts as well.

In August he was claimed by the Orioles. Wilhelm pitched for the Orioles from August 1958 through the 1962 season. 1959 was his only season as a full-time starting pitcher. He compiled a 15-11 record that season, along with posting a league-best 2.19 ERA and making his 2nd all-star team. While an Oriole, he also made the '61 and '62 all-star squads.

In January 1963, Hoyt (at age 40) was traded to the White Sox (along with shortstop Ron Hansen, 3rd baseman Pete Ward, and outfielder Dave Nicholson) for shortstop Luis Aparicio and outfielder Al Smith. Except for 3 random starts in 1963, Wilhelm switched back to being a reliever for the remainder of his career. He pitched the next 6 seasons for Chicago, and posted an ERA under 2.00 in each of his last 5 seasons with the Sox.

After the 1968 season, Wilhelm was drafted by the expansion Kansas City Royals, but quickly traded to the Angels for OF/C Ed Kirkpatrick. That September, California shipped him (and pitcher Bob Priddy) to the Braves for outfield prospect Mickey Rivers.

Hoyt pitched for the Braves for the remainder 1969 and most of 1970, until he was claimed by the Cubs late in 1970. After the season, Chicago traded him back to the Braves, essentially renting him for their failed stretch run against the Pirates.

Wilhelm began the 1971 season with the Braves, but with an ERA of 15.43 after 3 games, and at age 48, he was released on June 29th. Two weeks later the Dodgers picked him up, and used him in 25 games between mid-1971 and July 10, 1972. He was released 2 weeks later, 5 days before his FIFTIETH birthday.

Wilhelm was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

He passed away in August 2002 at age 80.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-61296290335340998782014-05-20T21:43:00.000-04:002014-05-20T21:43:32.265-04:00Jim Ray Hart (#220)Jim Ray Hart played 3B/LF for the Giants from 1963 to 1973, and was their #3 power source behind Willie McCovey and Willie Mays during his best seasons (1964-68).

Hart was signed by the Giants in 1960, and played in their farm system from 1960 to 1963. He was primarily a 3rd baseman, but played only shortstop and outfield in 1961. In 1963, Hart was called up to the Giants twice: he started both games of a doubleheader on July 7th, and also started 5 consecutive games in mid-July.

Jim made the Giants' squad at the start of the 1964 season. He took over the starting 3rd base job from veteran Jim Davenport, who had been the team's regular 3rd-sacker from 1958 to 1963. As a rookie, Hart started 145 games at third, banged 31 homers, and collected 81 RBI along with posting a .286 batting average. That was good enough to finish a distant 2nd in the NL Rookie of the Year voting (garnering 1 vote to Dick Allen's 18 votes).

From 1964 to 1966, Hart remained the regular 3rd baseman, starting 145, 141, and 137 games over that 3-year span. Although his home runs dipped to 23 in 1965, he bounced back with 33 the following season. Jim also made his only all-star roster in 1966.

In 1967, his defensive short-comings came to a head. Although Hart began and ended the season at the hot corner, during July and August he was moved out to left field (forcing Jesus Alou to co-exist in right field with Ollie Brown) while the Giants worked out the veteran Davenport and rookie Bobby Etheridge at 3rd base. The defensive shuffling didn't affect his bat, as he finished with more than 90 RBI for the 3rd consecutive season, while clubbing 29 homers.

His career began to wane in 1968. Jim split his time between his 2 positions that season, then only started 71 of his 95 games in 1969 – surprising since the Giants had lost outfielders Alou and Brown in the expansion draft.

Hart continued to lose playing time over the next several seasons, and spent the first half of the 1970 and 1971 seasons, and most of 1972 in the minors. He began 1973 with the Giants, but after 1 game was sold to the Yankees. Now in the AL, Hart was able to DH (which he did for 104 games). The Yankees assigned him to the minors in 1974, then released him in early June.

Jim played in Mexico for the remainder of 1974, and all of '75 and '76.
Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-78147068467994810332014-05-13T22:31:00.004-04:002014-05-21T23:32:25.799-04:00Phil Roof (#129)This was one of the first cards I remember getting in 1967. As card #129, this was in the 2nd series, issued about the time I began collecting baseball cards (May 1967).

I remember that the first time I saw this card, I asked my brother if the "Athletics" were maybe a minor-league team, because I hadn't heard of that team before. (Most likely, because the Athletics were not found on one of the baseball jackets my brother and I had back in the day.)

Phil Roof was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1959, and played in their farm system for 6 seasons (1959-64). During that 6-year span, his only big-league action with the Braves was 1 game in April 1961, and 1 game in May 1964.

After the 1964 season, the Braves traded him to the Angels for pitcher Dan Osinski. Roof played in the majors for the entire 1965 season, but only lasted with the Angels until mid-June.

After only playing 9 games as Bob Rodgers' backup, Phil was shipped to the Indians for outfielder Bubba Morton. He finished out the season with Cleveland, mostly as a pinch-hitter and 3rd-string catcher.

In December 1965, Roof was traded to the Kansas City Athletics (with outfield prospect Joe Rudi) [I learned something new today!] for veteran outfielder Jim Landis. Phil became the Athletics' regular backstop for 1966 (119 starts) and 1967 (107 starts).

He missed most of the 1968 season due to a torn shoulder muscle, and was replaced by Jim Pagliaroni and Dave Duncan. Phil returned to the starting job in 1969, starting 83 games behind the plate (to Duncan's 40).

Prior to the 1970 season, Roof was traded to the Brewers with pitchers Lew Krausse and Ken Sanders, and outfielder Mike Hershberger, for 1st baseman Don Mincher and utility infielder Ron Clark. Roof was the team's #1 catcher in 1970, but after losing that spot in May 1971, he was traded to the Twins in July.

Roof then spent 5 seasons as the Twins' backup catcher. (In 1974, he didn't play in his first game until June 4th!) In August 1976 he moved on to the White Sox, playing in a few games with Chicago that season, and 3 games for the Blue Jays in 1977.

After his playing career, Roof was a bullpen coach for several teams from the late 1970s to early 1990s. He later managed in the Twins' farm system for 16 seasons, until retiring in 2005.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-65114611202573090782014-04-26T20:20:00.003-04:002014-04-26T20:23:32.144-04:00Vada Pinson (#550)Here is Vada Pinson's 1967 card – a high-number card that I didn't get until the 1980s, well after I had his '68 and '69 cards. Only a few months ago did I realize that there is a piece of tape on the top edge.

Pinson was signed by the Reds in 1956, and played 3 seasons in the minors as an outfielder. He also pitched in 3 games. Pinson made his major-league debut in April 1958, at age 19. He began the season as the Reds' starting right fielder, but was sent back to the minors in mid-May, where he remained until September.

Vada was the team's starting center fielder for the next 10 years, and played in 154 or more games each season from 1959-67. In both 1959 and 1960, he led the NL in plate appearances (over 700), at-bats, and doubles (47, 37), and made the all-star team twice. He also led the league in runs scored in 1959 with 131. Pinson also led the NL in hits in '61 (208) and '63 (204), and in triples in '63 (14) and '67 (13).

After his long run in Cincinnati, Pinson was traded to the Cardinals in October 1968 for outfielder Bobby Tolan and pitcher Wayne Granger. He replaced the retired Roger Maris in right field, then moved on to the Indians (in exchange for outfielder Jose Cardenal) after only one season in St. Louis.

Vada spent 2 seasons in the city by the lake as their starting right fielder ('70) and center fielder ('71), then he was on the move again. This time he was traded to the Angels for his old Reds' teammate Alex Johnson. (Wow, the similarities between Pinson's later career and Johnson are eerie. They both played for the Reds, Cardinals, Indians, and Angels, and both players moved around frequently.)

Pinson played for the Angels during the 1972 and 1973 seasons, where he was their primary left fielder but also started a few dozen games at the other 2 spots.

Vada played right field for the Royals in '74 and '75, then was released in December 1975. The Brewers signed him in January 1976 but released him 4 days before the start of the season, ending his 18-year career.

Pinson finished with a .286 career average, 256 home runs, 1169 RBI, and (surprisingly) only 1 Gold Glove (1961).

After his playing career ended, he was a coach for the Mariners (1977–80, 1982–83), White Sox (1981), Tigers (1985–91), and Marlins (1993–94).

He passed away in October 1995 after suffering a stroke, at age 57.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-5134932942126874722014-04-09T23:59:00.000-04:002015-10-03T22:46:52.013-04:00Sam McDowell (#295)After being bumped 5 times (for Al Dark, Red Schoendienst, and 3 opening-day posts), Sam McDowell finally gets his turn.

"Sudden" Sam McDowell was a hard-throwing strikeout artist who pitched for 15 seasons from 1961 to 1975, the first 11 seasons with the Cleveland Indians.

McDowell was signed by the Indians in 1960, and after one season in class-D ball, he jumped to triple-A in 1961. Sam made his major-league debut in 1961, pitching one game on September 15th.

In 1962, he played 25 games with the Indians, but spent most of June and July back in triple-A. McDowell was in the Indians rotation for most of '63 and '64, except for a stint in AAA from July '63 to May '64.

Topps re-used the same photo in the 1969 set:

1965 was the beginning of a 6-year stretch where Sam was a dominant pitcher in the American League. He led the AL in strikeouts every season from '65 to '70, except for 1967, when he finished 10 strikeouts behind Jim Lonborg. Sam was also the ERA leader in 1965 (2.18), and won 17 games that season. He also won 18 in 1969 and 20 in 1970, and was a 6-time all-star.

After the 1971 season, McDowell was traded to the Giants for pitcher Gaylord Perry and shortstop Frank Duffy. After starting for the Giants in 1972, he worked out of the bullpen in 1973 until he was sold to the Yankees in early June.

Sam started for the Yankees for the remainder of that season, but was back in the 'pen in 1974. Released after the season, he hooked on with the Pirates for his final season in 1975. After 14 appearances, he was released in late June, ending his career.

During his final 4 seasons, he never came close to the success he had with the Indians.

If a picture is worth 1000 words, what are 5 pictures worth?

(He missed the top spot in 1967 by 10 strikeouts)

McDowell also hobnobbed with the ERA leaders from time to time:

Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-24880459979839889482014-04-02T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-05T01:52:56.324-04:00It's Opening Day! - AL startersI'm wrapping up this 3-post Opening Day exercise with a look at the American League opening day starters in 1967. The teams are shown in order of their 1967 finish.

The only "Hey! Where's so-and-so?" moments here are the absence of Tigers' left fielder Willie Horton, and the Athletics' rookie center field phenom Rick Monday. Rick started 105 games in center as a rookie, but none until game #10.

Except for Jose Tartabull, the other seven were the AL champs' regular position players. Rookie Reggie Smith started the first 6 games at 2nd base before moving out to center field.

With last year's shortstop Dick McAuliffe moving over to play 2nd base, the Tigers had their choice of 2 weak-hitting shortstops (Dick Tracewski, Ray Oyler), and gave the opening day nod to the Weasel. Also, Gates Brown was the opening day left fielder? Where's Willie Horton? If not him, then where's Mickey Stanley?

Rookie phenom Rod Carew started 131 games at 2nd base in 1967 (even while missing 17 straight games in early August), pushing Cesar Tovar to center field.

The big surprise here is that 3rd-string catcher Jerry McNertney got the opening-day nod. I would have thought rookie Duane Josephson was behind the dish.

The Angels' opening-day lineup included the newly-acquired Don Mincher and Jimmie Hall, both coming from Minnesota in exchange for pitcher Dean Chance. Rick Reichart was a fixture in left field, and Jose Cardenal and Hall were the best of the SEVEN other outfielders on the Angels' roster.

Doug Camilli was the opening-day catcher? Where was Paul Casanova? Frank Howard is listed as 6'-7" and 255 lb. That must have been a scary sight watching him lumbering around in left field!

This opening-day starting 8 remained intact from the 1966 World Series champions.

This is pretty much the lineup I would have expected. The Indians didn't have a viable 2nd baseman for the first half of the season, so Gus Gil was no worse than the other available options.

The Yankees lineup is as I would have expected, except at shortstop. John Kennedy was acquired from the Dodgers one week before the season opener, and started the first 24 games at short, before Ruben Amaro took over for the remainder of the season. Due to his limited mobility, Mickey Mantle swapped positions with Joe Pepitone in '67 and '68.

The big surprise here is in left and center fields. I thought Joe Rudi wasn't due for another year? Also, first-ever #1 overall draft pick (in 1965) Rick Monday rode the bench for the first 8 games. After 2 starts in left field, he assumed the center field job on April 23rd.

Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-17641685269531392522014-04-01T17:00:00.000-04:002014-04-01T17:00:13.270-04:00It's Opening Day! - NL startersContinuing with the theme of the previous post, here are the opening day starting eight for each NL team, in order of the each team's 1967 finish.

Unlike the starting pitchers in the last post, I made no attempt to guess who the starters were here. (Too many players!)

Conspicuous by their absence are Dodgers' centerfielder Willie Davis, Phillies' 1st baseman Bill White, Cubs' catcher Randy Hundley, Mets' 1st baseman Ed Kranepool, and to a lesser extent, Giants' rightfielder Ollie Brown and Astros' leftfielder Ron Davis.

I know that White was injured, and I would have to assume the same for Willie Davis. Maybe the others as well.

No surprises here. These were the starting 8 all year, all the way to winning the World Series.

I would have suspected that Ollie Brown was the right fielder, instead of Henderson.

Dick Bertell? This veteran didn't even have a card in the 1967 set. I would have assumed Randy Hundley would be the opening day starter, since he was the Topps All-Rookie catcher in 1966.

This is a solid group of starters, who, if I recall correctly, spent the first 2/3 of the 1967 season in first place. Rookie 1st baseman Lee May wasn't the starter until later.

Bill White missed the first month of the season due to injury, so super-sub Tony Taylor filled in at 1st base.

No surprises here, although I would have guessed Jerry May or Jim Pagliaroni was behind the plate, instead of Gonder.

These 8 Braves were the season-long regulars, although Woodward shared 2nd base with rookie Felix Millan.

The league-leader of interchangeable parts doesn't disappoint! The absence of center fielder Willie Davis moves Parker from 1B to CF, Fairly from RF to 1B, Lou Johnson from LF to RF, with Bob Bailey inserted into left field.

Veteran ex-Braves' 3rd baseman Eddie Mathews was the Astros' primary 1st baseman in 1967, while rookie Aaron Pointer (on his only card) was the left fielder for the first week or so, until Ron Davis took over.

I was surprised to see that regular right fielder Ron Swoboda was the opening-day 1st baseman instead of Ed Kranepool. Cleon Jones slid over to right field, with rookie Don Bosch in center.

 Next post: AL starting eightJim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-2692280854586288762014-03-31T22:02:00.000-04:002014-04-01T01:05:50.272-04:00It's Opening Day!Here are the opening day starting pitchers (for 1967, that is), in order of the teams' 1967 finish. (Senior Circuit first, natcherly!)

Before I looked these up in Baseball-Reference.com, I wrote down who I thought was each team's opening day starter. I was right on 13 of 20 (not so difficult, because most teams had an undisputed #1 ace).

The biggest shock was that Don Drysdale was not the Dodgers' opening-day starter. That honor went to Bob Miller (who would not have been among the first 4 names I picked). Drysdale started game #4.

Only slightly less surprising was the White Sox starting John Buzhardt on opening day. (What, were Gary Peters and Joel Horlen given the day off to go fishing up in Green Bay?)

So here are the opening day pitchers:

I was four-for-four with this first group.

I was right on Bunning and Veale, but I guessed Tony Cloninger for the Braves. And who would have thunk Bob Miller would start ahead of Don Drysdale (my guess), Claude Osteen, or Don Sutton?

I picked Larry Dierker, because I always forget that Cuellar was on the Astros then. Knowing Tom Seaver wouldn't be the opening day starter as a rookie, I guessed Jack Fisher. Fisher/Cardwell is a toss-up. I was right on Lonborg and McLain.

I guessed correctly on Jim Kaat, and on George Brunet (which was a completely lucky guess, because to me, all the Angels' pitchers in 1967 were non-descript). Buzhardt was a complete surprise, as I guessed Gary Peters (and Joel Horlen would have been my backup). For the Senators, I figured it would be either Camilo Pascual or Phil Ortega.

Some great opening-day starters here at the bottom of the barrel! (Well, the first 3 anyway). I correctly guessed all but Nash, assuming Catfish Hunter was the opening-day starter.

The next 2 posts will be the opening-day eight for each NL and AL team.

Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-47395042057530928582014-03-14T23:15:00.000-04:002014-03-15T01:44:28.031-04:00Red Schoendienst (#512)Continuing the theme from the last post, today we have 91-year-old Albert "Red" Schoendienst, a baseball lifer, first as a player for several teams from 1942 to 1963, then as a manager and coach for the Cardinals since his retirement as a player.

Red was signed by the Cardinals in 1942, and was a shortstop in their farm system from 1942-44. He made the Cardinals at the start of 1945, and was the team's regular left fielder during his rookie season. He also led the league with 26 stolen bases that year.

From 1946 to 1956 Red was the Cardinals' 2nd baseman. He was also their lead-off hitter for his first 4 seasons, before dropping to the #2 slot for the duration of his Cardinals' tenure. He led the NL with 43 doubles in 1950, and made the all-star team every season from 1946-55 (except for 1947). He also played in the 1946 World Series.

Red began the 1956 as the 2nd baseman, then was traded to the New York Giants in mid-June for shortstop Al Dark (who we just looked at in the last post). Seven other players were involved in the deal, including outfielder Jackie Brandt going to the Giants.

A year and a day later, Red moved on to the Milwaukee Braves in exchange for 3 players, including Bobby Thomson, slugger of 1951's "Shot Heard 'Round the World". He manned the 2nd base post for the Braves in '57 and '58, and the team played the Yankees in the World Series both years, winning it in 1957. Schoendienst hit .278 and .300 in those two post-seasons.

Red missed almost the entire 1959 season with tuberculosis. He returned at the start of 1960, and started most games through July 1st. The Cardinals started Chuck Cottier in the 2nd game of the doubleheader that day, and stuck with him for the rest of the season, relegating Schoendienst to the bench for the rest of the season. He was released in October.

The Cardinals picked him up during spring training in 1961, and used him as coach and part-time player for the next 3 seasons. His final game as a player was in July 1963.

After the Cardinals' 1964 World Series victory, manager Johnny Keane resigned to manage the Yankees, and Schoendienst was elevated to manager. The team went to the World Series in '67 and '68, winning in 1967. Red continued to manage the Cards through the 1976 season, then coached for the Athletics from 1977-78.

Red returned to the Cardinals in 1979, as a coach and later a special advisor to the GM. He also managed the team for a few dozen games at the end of the 1980 and 1990 seasons.

Schoendienst was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1989 by the Veterans Committee. Soon afterwards, the Cardinals retired his #2 uniform.Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-20513379975789347912014-03-08T03:00:00.000-05:002014-03-08T03:16:38.247-05:00Al Dark (#389)Last week, I was browsing the Baseball-Almanac.com site, and came across a list of the 100 oldest living ex-players. (The oldest name I recognized was Alex Monchak (age 97), who was a major-league coach for manager Chuck Tanner's teams in the 1970s and '80s.)

Also on the list are Al Dark, Sam Mele, and Red Schoendienst. Although they are #39, #41, and #53 on the list, they are the only three who had cards in the 1967 Topps set. Dark and Mele are both 92, while Schoendienst is 91. As such, I have moved Al and Red to the top of the to-be-blogged schedule.

This card shows Al wearing the white cap that was worn by the Athletics' coaching staff, while the players wore green caps. Dark's nickname was "Blackie". Give him an unfiltered cigarette, and it looks like Blackie would fit right in on an old Western movie, chasing down Clint Eastwood.

Alvin Dark was a shortstop (and later 3rd baseman) for several teams including the Boston Braves (1946, 48-49), New York Giants (1950-56), Cardinals (1956-58), and Cubs (1958-59), before wrapping up his playing career in 1960 as a sub for the Phillies and Milwaukee Braves.

Dark played in the minors only during the 1947 season, then was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1948, and led the league with 41 doubles in 1951. He was his team's starting shortstop from 1948-57, and 3rd baseman from 1958-59).

Dark began his major-league managing career immediately after retiring as a player. He managed the Giants for 4 seasons (1961-64), including a trip to the 1962 World Series.

Al managed the Athletics during their final 2 seasons in Kansas City (1966-67), then moved on to the Indians (1968-71). He returned to the Athletics for the 1974-75 seasons, winning the World Series in 1974.

Dark wrapped up his managing career in 1977 with the Padres.Jim from Downingtownhttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-5094995813537580162014-02-27T20:49:00.000-05:002014-02-28T09:20:43.447-05:00Ron Perranoski (#197)Here is relief pitcher Ron Perranoski, shown on his last card as an LA Dodger. After the 1967 season, he was traded to the Twins with catcher John Roseboro and pitcher Bob Miller for pitcher Mudcat Grant and shortstop Zoilo Versalles.

(This deal looks like a steal for the Twins. Versalles was the 1965 AL MVP, but was a bust in his one season with the Dodgers. After 1968, he was lost (read: unloaded) to the expansion Padres. Even the Padres didn't keep him – he was flipped to the Indians for a career minor-leaguer before the '69 season. Grant only pitched one season for the Dodgers, while the 3 new Twins each had several productive seasons in Minnesota.)

After pitching for Michigan State University (where one of his teammates was Dick Radatz), Ron was signed by the Cubs in 1958. He spent 2 seasons as a starting pitcher in their farm system, then was traded to the Dodgers in April 1960 for infielder Don Zimmer.

After a season on the Dodgers' farm, Perranoski made his major-league debut in April 1961. During his 7 seasons in LA, he led the league in appearances 3 times ('62, '63, '67). In 1963, his 16-3 record gave him a league-leading .842 winning percentage. He also had a career-low 1.63 ERA that season.

Ron led the Dodgers in saves every season from 1962 to 1965, and again in 1967. He also pitched in the World Series in '63, '65, and '66.

After his trade to Minnesota, Perranoski continued to perform well. Pitching behind veteran Al Worthington in 1968, he then became the Twins' closer in '69 and '70, leading the team in saves both years. Ron also pitched in the ALCS in 1969 and 1970.

On July 30th, 1971 he was claimed off waivers by the Tigers, and pitched the rest of that season and the 1st half of 1972 in Detroit, before getting his release exactly one year later.

A week later (August 7th) the Dodgers picked him up for the remainder of the 1972 season. Perranoski finished his career by pitching for the Angels in 1973. He was released in October 1973, although he hadn't pitched since mid-June.

Perranoski pitched in 737 games over his 13-year career, all in relief except for 1 game during his rookie season.

After his playing career, he was the Dodgers' minor-league pitching instructor from 1973-80, and their major-league pitching coach from 1981-94. Since then, he has held various positions for the rival Giants.

Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-865519228352947442.post-36317816586728006042014-02-16T12:14:00.002-05:002014-02-16T12:54:38.098-05:00Norm Cash (#540)Norm Cash was the Tigers' slugging 1st baseman for 15 years from 1960 to 1974. In 1961, he led the AL in hits and batting average.

Cash was signed by the White Sox in 1955, and played 2 seasons for their class D Waterloo (Iowa) White Hawks in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (also known as the III, Three-I, or Three-Eye League).

Norm missed the 1957 season while in military service, then split the 1958 season between the White Sox and their AAA team in Indianapolis.

After a full season with the Sox in 1959, Cash was traded to the Indians (with 3B-OF Bubba Phillips and catcher Johnny Romano) for outfielder Minnie Minoso, catcher Dick Brown, and pitchers Don Ferrarese and Jake Striker.

Norm had no time to get settled, as Cleveland flipped him to the Tigers a week before the 1960 opener for 3rd baseman Steve Demeter, who would spend 19 years in the minors while only playing 15 games in the majors. WHAT A STEAL FOR THE TIGERS!

While Demeter's major-league career was over on May 6, 1960, Cash went on to play 15 seasons as the Tigers' starting 1st baseman. His 193 hits and .361 batting average led the AL in 1961. He also threw in 41 homers and 132 RBI that season.

Cash hit 30 or more homers in '61, '62, '65, '66, and '71, and was an all-star in '61, '66, '70, and '71. He also hit .385 with 5 RBI in the 1968 World Series, and hit .267 vs. Oakland in the 1972 ALCS.

Midway through his final 1974 season, he split the 1st base duties with long-time Tigers' catcher Bill Freehan.

Cash never wore a batting helmet during his career, having been grandfathered-in after helmets became mandatory in 1971.

After retirement, he played a few seasons of professional softball, and later broadcast Tigers' games.

Cash drowned in northern Lake Michigan on October 12, 1986 at age 51, after slipping off a dock on Beaver Island and hitting his head.Jim from Downingtownhttp://email@example.com


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OGDENSBURG With expenses rising and showing no signs of abating, the city has created an employee committee to help figure out ways to cut health insurance costs for city workers.
City Manager John M. Pinkerton and eight other city employees met for the first time last week to begin dealing with a growing problem.
Were working collaboratively to try and mitigate the cost increases, he said Tuesday.
The city is self-insured. The citys bill for health care coverage for its 516 current and retired employees and their dependents in January and February came to $638,071.72.
That two-month total represents 24.08 percent of the $2,650,267 health insurance budget for this year, and reflects a monthly average bill of $319,035.86. March health insurance costs have not yet been calculated.
The citys health care budgets have often exceeded projections in recent years, with the rising cost of prescription drugs a notable factor.
Last year, according to the city comptrollers office, the total bill was $2,652,387.51, exceeding the budgeted $2,500,068 by $152,320
Mr. Pinkerton said the employee committees agenda of items for discussion includes prescription drug costs and wellness programs.
Were looking at different options, he said.
In addition to the city manager, the other committee members are: City Comptroller Philip A. Cosmo; Coralee Barrett, Mr. Pinkertons secretary; Assistant Fire Chief Ronald D. Bouchard; Police Detective Sgt. Robert H. Wescott; Police Patrolman Mark T. Kearns; Patrick McCarthy of the Public Works Department; Matt R. Denner of the Parks and Recreation Department; and Julie Frazier-Gebo of the Ogdensburg Public Library and Frederic Remington Art Museum.
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