[EveningStar]

SoCal Ping!



Attention Southern Californians

Please ping me with any Southern California related articles. Thank you!

If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.

[Jolla]

Today is the anniversary in 1977 when they retired Walter Alstons number. I went on line to get a photo and found one with Vin looking about 25 years old. Those are great lineups, Sandy Koufax is my LHP on my all ball team.

[Crystal Palace East]

Many do not know, but Reese was really the man who integrated baseball.

Robinson was heatedly opposed by other players, but team owner Branch Rickey wanted him. It wasn’t for any social reasons. Rickey simply wanted more paying fans in the stands, and Robinson was the way to attract Blacks.

When Robinson was introduced, team was ready to walk out, but Reese, an backwoods Kentucky boy, and team Captain, got other players to support Robinson. He saw him as a way to fill the stands, and win games.

That changed baseball... and America

[Cicero]

I saw Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese play in Brooklyn when I was a boy.

[SoConPubbie]

I still remember that season where Kirk Gibson hit that 3-2 2 outs, 9th inning homer to win the first game of the World Series.

It just does not get any better than that!