"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 8/20/11

Some good conversation starters for those, shall we say, "aging" baseball fans out there. Do you remember.............

--when $9.50 at a major league game bought you two decent tickets rather than ONE BOTTLE of beer?
--the way John Boccabella was introduced over the P.A. system while playing for the Expos?
--how great it felt when you threw your first curveball with a wiffle ball?
--how uncomfortable your first set of baseball spikes felt?
--the feeling of exhilaration when you were FINALLY able to judge a fly ball?
--Jimmy Qualls?
--your first time having a catch with someone who threw VERY hard--and the stinging sensation involved?
--when Steve Blass mysteriously LOST it?
--Albert "Sparky" Lyle and the huge chaw of tobacco inside his cheek?
--TRYING chewing tobacco for the first time--and becoming incredibly ill?
--Morganna--the "Kissing Bandit?"
--"Fernando-mania?"
--when the Sporting News published EVERY box score from the previous week?
--Herb Washington?
--"Wild Bill" Hagy?
--giving "doubles" of your favorite baseball cards to your best friend?
--when $5.00 could buy you five gallons of gas AND a N.Y. Yankees yearbook?
--your first pouch of "Big League Chew?"
--owning a pair of "flip-up" sunglasses--just because your favorite player did?
--how cool it was owning your own resin bag or batting 'doughnut'?
--when most people stood AND sang the National Anthem at ballparks?
--how much of a "hot dog" Willie Montanez was?
--oiling your first baseball glove--and wondering if it would EVER dry?
--wiping the bubble gum powder off a new pack of baseball cards?
--"Kiner's Korner" after N.Y. Mets telecasts?
--"Reggie" bars?
--reading Ball Four for the first of MANY times?
--Karl Ehrhardt--the "Sign Man of Shea?"
--Jarry Park?
--when Al Kaline REFUSED a raise--saying he didn't perform well-enough the previous year?
--the way Paul Blair glided under a fly ball?
--when you couldn't get a ticket at Camden Yards?
--umpire Dutch Rennert and his LOUD, drawn-out 'strike' call?
--the mustachioed Oakland A's teams of the 70's?
--Boog Powell and Numazawa doing the Miller Lite commercial?
--Burt Hooton's knuckle-curve?
--"Disco Dan" Ford?
--Lindsay Nelson's sports jackets?
--how much Felix Millan used to choke up on the bat?
--John "Blue Moon" Odom?
--the hilarious antics of umpire Ron Luciano?
--how fun it was to watch Jesus Alou pinch-hit?
--"10-Cent Beer Night" in Cleveland?
--putting baseball cards on the spokes of your bike tires in order to make a "motor" sound?
--your first "raspberry" after sliding into a base? (ouch)
--Chief Noc-A-Homa?
--the day Roberto Clemente died?
--the "Mad Hungarian" psyching himself up behind the mound?
--when Clint Hurdle was a "can't miss" prospect?
--just HOW good Steve Carlton was in 1972?
--the Yankees Datsun bullpen car--circa 1972?
--people actually KEEPING SCORE at a major league game?
--just how large a high school baseball diamond appeared compared to your old Little League one?
--Ron Bryant and his teddy bear in San Francisco?
--Tito Fuentes flipping the bat after arriving in the batter's box?
--the smell of jumbo hot pretzels and chestnuts outside the old Yankee Stadium?
--Walt "No Neck" Williams?
--Jane Jarvis playing the "Mexican Hat Dance" during the 7th inning stretch at N.Y. Mets games?
--receiving a bat on "Bat Day" at Yankee Stadium--then cracking it a few days later while trying to use it?
--Mike Marshall's screwball?
--Tug McGraw BEING a "screwball?"
--Dick "Don't Call Me Richie" Allen swinging a 42-ounce bat like it was a toothpick?
--buying the Bridgeport Post and New Haven Register solely for the late box scores?
--the youthful exuberance of one Mark Fidrych?
--wearing baseball pants with a stretch waist for the very first time?
--how EASY Johnny Bench made it look behind the plate?
--how DIFFICULT Dave Kingman made it look playing the outfield?
--Joe Pignatano growing tomatoes in the Mets bullpen at Shea Stadium?
--manager Ralph Houk and his nervous habit of scooping pebbles near his team's dugout?
Finally--how your Mom SOMEHOW managed to get those grass stains out of your dirty baseball uniform?