Home Run Derby

So President Obama is a big fan of the Chicago White Sox.  

Or so he tells and shows us.  Over and Over.

Like last night during the All-Star game when he wore his White Sox jacket to throw out the first pitch (not so sure I liked that) and told Joe Buck and Tim “Corpse” McCarver he was a fan of the White Sox.

Not to mention a few times on the campaign trail last spring, summer, and fall.  And an interview on ESPN where he took a few digs at Cub fans.

But if he’s such a big White Sox fan, why doesn’t he know the name of their home stadium? 

Case in point:  President Obama referred the White Sox’ ballpark as ”Cominskey Field” during an interview on MLB TV with Bob Costas.  It used to be called Comiskey Park.

Roll Video …

http://www.dailymotion.com/videox9vh4r 

“I do think that there’s a different quality to what used to be Cominskey Field vs. Wrigley”

Oh boy.  That’s like calling the Cubs’ stadium “Wrigley Park” instead of “The World’s Largest Outdoor Bar.”   A White Sox fan would rip a new backside into any Cub fan who did that.

Even if he had said “Cominskey Park”, I could see it as a slip of the tongue.  But Cominskey FIELD?   Obama moved to Chicago in 1985.  Back when the old Comiskey Park was still around. 

Teleprompter comment in 3 … 2 … 1 …

Back in college, I knew someone who landed a gig working on the Wrigley Field grounds crew. 

He used to always tell me how much work went on after the game to clean up after the crowd because there would literally be tons of trash to sweep up. 

Especially out in the bleachers.

Millions of peanut shells, thousands of cups and wrappers, gallons of spilled beer and soda, half eaten food, vomit-soaked shirts (ewww – but real), beaten-up Cardinals fans, you name it. 

And things I won’t mention at this family-based website.  Oh what the heck  …. soiled prophylactics.

Anyone else wonder if seeing all that trash will keep people from naming their kids after Wrigley Field?

I had no reason to disbelieve him … but I never realized it was this bad.  Here’s some pics of the cleanup effort.

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This might be the ultimate Father’s Day gift for the Mets fan who has everything. 

Or maybe somone who just REALLY hated Shea Stadium.

Available right now on eBay … is the wrecking ball that brought down Shea Stadium.

All for the low starting bid of $35,000.  At three tons, that’s only $5.83 a pound!  What a Bargain!!  Mind you – they only take Paypal.  So that huge bag of pennies you’ve been saving since you were 3 years old … not gonna cut it.

Now HRD is a big fan of stadium demolitions (lots of videos right here) … but these hard economic times might be the wrong time to peddle an expensive (yet one of a kind) piece of sports memorabilia like this.  So I wonder who the target market might be.

Chipper Jones’ son Shea probably doesn’t want it. 

The Philly Phanatic springs to mind.  That guy’s loaded. 

Maybe Conan O’Brien … he’s made lots of fun of Mr. Met over the years.  And he’s got a brand new budget for the Tonight Show.

But personally, I bet  Ron Santo buys it.  Yeah, Santo probably has the coin and the desire to own the thing that finally eliminated his annual trip to his persoanl Hell on Earth … Shea Stadium.

H/T:  Sporting News

Here’s a Chicago Tribune picture of proud parents Brian and Lauren Clark, showing off their bundle of joy …
Addison N. Clark

Awwww, how cute. 
Wait a minute … what was that name?  Addison N. Clark?   As in Addison and Clark – the streets around Wrigley Field?  

I’ve never understood Cub fans who name their children after Wrigley Field.  Yet they continue to do so.  Naming your dog Wrigley, I can see that.  But your child? 

ADDISON N. CLARK – Born 12/19/2008 to Brian and Lauren Clark of Plainfield, Ilinois.  Full name – Addison Nicole Clark.

 Somehow father Brian got this name approved by his Lauren and her family of White Sox Fans from the South Side of Chicago.  In unrelated news, the Chicago White Sox have officially asked that family to turn in their White Sox caps.

Here’s some more kids named after the Friendly Confines …

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St Louis has fired the first salvo of 2009 in the annual Cubs – Cardinals rivalry. 

Written in the snow outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis …

Photo Credit:  STL TODAY

I’m a Cub fan,  but I will admit – that’s simply beautiful. 
Well played St. Louis.  Your move, Wrigley.

Here’s a collection of ballparks in the snow.

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I’m buried with work this morning … so here’s what you should see around the Baseball Blogosphere …

• Big League Stew has some leg tattoos of Pete Rose and Mickey Mantle you need to see.
• Not Qualified for Comment has a great cartoon about the Legend of Mark Derosa
• David Pinto over at Baseball Musings attended a Q and A last night featuring Joba Chamberlain and Jon Lester.
• Biz of Baseball has renderings of the proposed Marlins stadium. 
• UmpBump has pictures of Hideki Okajima’s wife, Yuka.
• Dugout Central thinks that Washington Nationals’ GM Jim Bowden is the worst executive in MLB
• And Fanhouse has declared the 2009 Texas Rangers to be the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays

Pinch hitters is HRD’s link dump – if you have something you think should be here, drop us a line.

President George W. Bush has always been a big fan of baseball.  And I suppose that means he can’t be that bad of a guy.

He’s always had a pretty impressive baseball pedigree.

• Bush played Little League baseball as a child – and is the only US President to have played Little League … more on that later.
• Bush had collected over 250 autographed baseballs while governor of Texas (probably way more now). 
• Bush’s great uncle was one of the original owners of the New York Mets … which may have inspired W to own a ballclub of his own.
• Bush was the former owner of the Texas Rangers and helped get a new stadium for the Rangers.

And quotes like this display that it’s not all for show …

“I don’t know how I fell in love with baseball, I just loved to play it. Everyone who loves baseball can remember the first time he saw the inside of a real major league park with real big-league players. It stays with you forever – the greenness of the grass, the sight of major leaguers in uniform, the sound of a big-league swing meeting a big-league pitch.”

“I never dreamed about being President, I wanted to be Willie Mays.

That man gets it.  About baseball, anyway.

So it was no surprise that he would be a familiar face at baseball games throughout his Presidency.  And now, on his last day as President of the United States … let’s look back at where Bush has been …

April 6, 2001 – Miller Park, Milwaukee, WI

President Bush and Baseball commissioner Bud Selig threw out the ceremonial first pitches at the Milwaukee Brewers’ brand-new Miller Park. 

Have there ever been two more disliked CEO’s together on a pitcher’s mound?

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Well with the temperature at Home Run Derby headquarters currently at -7 degrees (wind chill of -29) and not expected to rise above zero for the next 27 hours … I was trying to stay warm by thinking about baseball.

Crack of the Bat, lush green grass, hot August sun, an ice cold beer, and a Kosher dog with grilled onions doused with the Stadium Mustard my brother in law sent me (hey Mike, I need more) and another ice cold beer.  That warmed me up for a while …

And then I accidentally clicked on Wrigley Field’s Webcam and saw this disturbing sight …

Singing at the Winter Classic may be all done, but it’s still winter at Wrigley.  And I got to wondering what the other MLB playgrounds look like in the snow and cold.   Let’s find out.

Staying at Wrigley, it looks like Harry Caray and Ernie Banks are keeping a quiet and chilly sentry along Addison Street.

Anyone else afraid of how cold it will be when if the Cubs do ever win the World Series? I hope I’m retired and living in Green Valley, Arizona by then.

Heading South, as in the South Side of Chicago … when last we saw US Cellular Field, it was in the midst of a “Blackout.” Now it’s in the middle of a “White-Out.”
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Now that the seasons of the New York Yankees and the New York Mets are over … and their stadiums are being demolished, apparently homes in the greater metropolitan area are being infested by swarms of displaced vermin …

No, not Rats. Or even Cats. It’s worse than that.

Imagine waking up and finding Yankees Fans and Mets Fans in your home …

From Atom.com