Today’s post will not be about Babe Ruth, but he was born on this day in 1895 and I couldn’t think of another title. (After 1,300+ posts the title well is running dry.) I don’t know if it’s still true that he’s the only player in major league history to pitch in at least ten different seasons and have a winning record in every season he pitched. It was true for a long time even if it no longer is.
Not that I give the topic any thought, anymore, but I still think he’s the greatest baseball player of all time. Hall of Famer Stan Musial said, “Ruth has to be the greatest player. He could pitch and bat cleanup in the majors like the star of a high school team.” Of course, the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, American League MVP in 2021, might have something to say about that. Ohtani hit 46 homeruns with a .592 slugging percentage AND posted a 9-2 won-lost record as a pitcher with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130 innings.
In my 20+ years working in major league baseball I always wondered why players who could pitch and hit were not allowed to do so on a regular basis. It would be like having 26 players on the 25-man roster.
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In this article, Harvard medical professor Dr. Stefanos Kales is quoted as, “It’s time to let the young, healthy and anyone who wants to move on from the pandemic to do so.” Kales also wrote, “Covid-19 is not a serious threat, only a nuisance that impedes schooling, work and travel. Once Omicron peaks, subsequent variants are likely to be even more mild. We badly need to allow the general public, particularly the young, to get back to normal life.”
Many health professionals–and I listen to them, not to idiots like those who appear on Roe Jogan podcasts–have long been worried about the lasting psychological effects of shutdowns, mask mandates, travel restrictions and the like. I have no doubt the damn virus is real, that it has infected millions and killed many thousands in this country. I also have no doubt that many in government don’t want the damn virus to subside as it gives them cover to play puppet master for the population at large.
The famous saying that power corrupts has to be amended, in my opinion. I think that almost everyone who seeks power is already corrupt.
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I have written about Everyday Driver before. Todd Deeken and Paul Schmucker produce a lot of automotive content, including a TV show that airs on Motor Trend, among other places. I wish I could listen to their podcast, but my ADD tendencies make sitting in front of a computer and only receiving audio input virtually impossible, certainly for more than just a few minutes.
The last two episodes to air on Motor Trend were about a trip they made from San Francisco to Seattle. One of the important aspects of the trip is that they are driving cars they actually own, as opposed to cars loaned to them by manufacturers or borrowed from their owners. These cars, Todd’s Nissan 300 ZX Turbo and Paul’s Porsche 928, were their inspirations to get into creating automotive content, although these are not the same cars they owned then. (Everyday Driver began in 2007, I believe.)
One running theme is the pushback they have received about driving their 30+ year old “collector cars” so many miles. At one point, Todd Deeken remarks, “If you own a bunch of cars and never drive them, that’s not a triumph that’s a tragedy.” Amen! As regular readers know, I am not a fan of owning de facto museum exhibits.
The Everyday Driver episode that featured a C7 Corvette Carbon 65 edition, a Z06 with fancier trim, was the final push I needed to buy a C7 Z06 of my own. For that I will always be grateful. Maybe one day I’ll “force” myself to listen to an entire podcast.
#BabeRuthSunday
#DrStefanosKales
#EverydayDriver
#somanycarsjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
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Disaffected Musings 
When I covered Towson (State) University baseball for the school newspaper, there was a guy named Chris Nabholz. He pitched in the majors for 6 years going 37-35 with an ERA of under 4.00. He DHed on his off days, blasting home runs and doubles on a regular basis. Probably of the best hitters in the conference. But easily one of the best pitchers in the conference. I understand they said the same about Cal Ripken when he came out of High School.
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Thanks, “BB.” Some scouts had Ripken rated higher as a pitcher than as a shortstop/third baseman out of high school. He was already an established major league player by the time I joined the organization.
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I love this column, not only the car stuff, but everything else. Please keep it coming. Herb Schwartz.
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Thanks, “Herb.”
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Stefanos Kales, M.D. is board certified in Occupational Medicine. That’s like a Hyundai mechanic opining on engines and suspension setup in Formula One race cars IJS.
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Thanks for sharing, Doc. What is your opinion?
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One of my son’s Halloween costumes, many years ago was to dress up as Babe Ruth. A wonderful, decent gentleman towards kids, as well as a baseball player.
I recall Randy Johnson getting some hits with the Diamondbacks as a pitcher. The National League used to have no designated hitter like the American League. I also recall Randy Johnson as the USC pitcher who was a serious threat to my Arizona Wildcats. As a Diamondback in Spring Training, he used to relish pitching against the University of Arizona baseball team when the college boys would get to play against the Majors when the D-Backs did their spring training in Tucson.
The statement about not driving classic cars is tragic reminds me of Julia Child’s quote: “Food is important, if you don’t know how to cook, that is tragic.” Do NOT let some things be tragic in your life.
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Thanks, Philip. Randy Johnson did get a few hits during his career, but he was not a good hitter, even for a pitcher.
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Cars are meant to be driven, to give others a look at those beauties from the past. Even the recent past, soon-to-be collector cars.
I saw several cars at Barrett-Jackson this year with less than 10,000 miles, often much less, that have been in storage since almost new. That’s sad. There may not be normal wear, but there is sure attrition from disuse.
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Thanks, JS. I think cars should be driven because that’s their purpose. I don’t own a “nice” car to impress others, but to enjoy myself. It’s fine, of course, if others like my car, but that’s not my purpose.
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