Another fun entry! It got me to thinking… 1. Either yesterday or the day before I caught just a bit of a game while sitting in a bar. The runner did a flying somersault over the catcher to make it home safe. Pretty impressive move. How often are there such acrobatics in baseball? Do they practice that stuff? 2. What impact has technology had on baseball, whether it be umpire calls or game reviews or training? Just wondering …
When talking to high-level baseball thinkers, I'm never surprised when, for example, they explain the various methods they apply to the art of sliding. Much more than just feet first vs. head first.
When you said "flying somersault," this was the first thing that came to mind. It's a short clip of a player, Chris Coghlan, doing one of the most beautiful things I've seen a baserunner do! I think the risk of practicing this stuff would be far too great due to potential injury, so what you are seeing in these moments are mostly spontaneous, instinctual shows of the players' athleticism, which is not as "on display" as it is in football and basketball, but it's there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3BDn2K6sgo
I plan to bring this story up with more players and ask them about whether playing professional baseball ever gets so routine for them that they could see laying down in the middle of the field to take a nap. I know what I think they'd say, but I also think I underestimate what it means that playing baseball is, for baseball players, their job. Maybe everybody thinks about catching a quick nap at work, including athletes.
What actually is that on Don Zimmer’s neck in that 1959 photo? I enlarged the photo and can’t tell what it is! Is it a dog collar? Ha! Another great issue. I enjoyed the 1920’s glossary too!
So my guess, given it is on his arms too, is that it is a rain coat of some kind? Worn under the uniform? That's the only thing I can think of without getting wildly creative. But I will keep asking around with the history crew until I find the answer...
Another fun entry! It got me to thinking… 1. Either yesterday or the day before I caught just a bit of a game while sitting in a bar. The runner did a flying somersault over the catcher to make it home safe. Pretty impressive move. How often are there such acrobatics in baseball? Do they practice that stuff? 2. What impact has technology had on baseball, whether it be umpire calls or game reviews or training? Just wondering …
When talking to high-level baseball thinkers, I'm never surprised when, for example, they explain the various methods they apply to the art of sliding. Much more than just feet first vs. head first.
You are hereby invited to present a bulleted list of all methods mentioned, which I do hope includes both somersaults and flips.
When you said "flying somersault," this was the first thing that came to mind. It's a short clip of a player, Chris Coghlan, doing one of the most beautiful things I've seen a baserunner do! I think the risk of practicing this stuff would be far too great due to potential injury, so what you are seeing in these moments are mostly spontaneous, instinctual shows of the players' athleticism, which is not as "on display" as it is in football and basketball, but it's there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3BDn2K6sgo
Throwing a player out of a game for sleeping - that is truly a unique story.
I plan to bring this story up with more players and ask them about whether playing professional baseball ever gets so routine for them that they could see laying down in the middle of the field to take a nap. I know what I think they'd say, but I also think I underestimate what it means that playing baseball is, for baseball players, their job. Maybe everybody thinks about catching a quick nap at work, including athletes.
What actually is that on Don Zimmer’s neck in that 1959 photo? I enlarged the photo and can’t tell what it is! Is it a dog collar? Ha! Another great issue. I enjoyed the 1920’s glossary too!
So my guess, given it is on his arms too, is that it is a rain coat of some kind? Worn under the uniform? That's the only thing I can think of without getting wildly creative. But I will keep asking around with the history crew until I find the answer...
Raincoat?? Haha! Boy, that’s risk-averse! Lol 😂