On baseball

Back in the early 60's when I lived in New York the Mets were an expansion club and the legendary Casey Stengel was their manager. Stengel's Amazin' Mets placed last in a 10-team league four years in a row, a feat they accomplished with such style they became one of the most lovable bands of bumblers to ever take the field.

Always the best part of any Mets game was Stengel's post-game interview. Sam Smith uncovers an example of Casey's unique style in his 1958 appearance before the Senate Antimonopoly Committee (Stengel was manager of the Yankees at the time):

Senator Langer: I want to know whether you intend to keep on monopolizing the world's championship in New York City.

Mr. Stengel: Well, I will tell you, I got a little concerned yesterday in the first three innings when I say the three players I had gotten rid of and I said when I lost nine what am I going to do and when I had a couple of my players. I thought so great of that did not do so good up to the sixth inning I was more confused but I finally had to go and call on a young man in Baltimore that we don't own and the Yankees don't own him, and he is going pretty good, and I would actually have to tell you that I think we are more the Greta Garbo type now from success.

We are being hated I mean, from the ownership and all, we are being hated. Every sport that gets too great or one individual, but if we made 27¢ and it pays to have a winner at home why would you not have a good winner in your own park if you were an owner. That is the result of baseball. An owner gets most of the money at home and it is up to him and his staff to do better or they ought to be discharged. . .

Link: UNDERNEWS