New York Giants Nostalgia Night, Part Two

Thursday, July 12, 2007

July 12, 2007

Founder of this organization, Bill Kent, did it again. The attendance at this "schmooze" event, which once started with just 2 Giants fans meeting almost accidentally in a restaurant, has grown to over 50. That's up from 25 participants when I first showed up on April 12.

There is no question that this ad lib crowd has gained in interest for a team that left New York as long ago as 1957. It was worth it for me to make the same trip by train to a misspelled town near Riverdale called Spuyten Duyvil, and then getting private limousine service by Kent himself, to Josepina's Restaurant.

Ellen, Sam, and Isalene

(A few nostalgia guests)

Having graduated to a private room, it was still difficult to catch a few speeches without a microphone, but the evening was enjoyable. Special guest, Cait Murphy, just wrote a successful baseball book called Crazy '08, the story of the last time the Chicago Cubs won a World Series. She considers 1908 as the "greatest year in baseball history", a book which was acclaimed by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. It's easy reading and difficult to put down.

Cait Murphy

As a devoted Cubs rooter and "expert", I have wrongfully predicting their first pennant since 1945, year after year, but you never know if Cait will have to write another book, which could be entitled "Crazy 2008."

Certain guests could not attend, notably Billy Gardner, ex-New York Giants infielder. He is 81 and relaxing in Connecticut. It would be great if Billy can make it in the future along with infielder Darryl Spencer.

Ed Randall, noted baseball commentator for WFAN radio, was present but had to leave early. Ed also runs "Bat for the Cure", a charity he formed to fight Prostate Cancer. He is busy everywhere, but can be heard every Sunday from 9 through 12. It's a great program.

If this unadvertised nostalgia evening continues to gain in popularity, Bill Kent will have to make inquiries as to ballroom space. In he mean time, he is shopping for a portable microphone for the next event, which is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 1. He has already advised me that the equipment is very expensive and the thought of such a purchase is getting him nauseous.

Bill Kent, founder

Bill, congratulations for another delightful evening of nostalgia and laughs!!!

SPECIAL LATE NOTES:

Noted station ESPN commentators made the same announcing error throughout the Cubs-Giants night game the other day. Jason Kendall, catcher for Oakland, was traded to the Cubs, for Rob Bowen and minor league ace, Bill Blevan. BUT.....ESPN said that it was pitcher Sean Marshall who was traded to Oakland. NOT TRUE. The next day, the Cubs proved how silly the mistake was because Marshall started for Chicago.

John Kruk Steve Phillips

On ESPN that same night, John Kruk and former Mets general manager, Steve Phillips, were talking about Barry Bonds. Kruk said that Bonds should play every day if he is able to and if he breaks the home run record, let it be away from San Francisco if necessary. On the other hand, Phillips commented that "it would be in the best interest of baseball" if Bonds were BENCHED as he approached the 755 mark." In other words, if Bonds is one away and the Giants are on the road for TEN games, then Bonds shouldn't play? What kind of nonsense is that? Phillps even intimated that if Bonds tied or broke the home run record on the road, he might be subjected to physical danger. More stupidity. And what about a guy like Bonds affecting the pennant race if a contending team is rooting for SF to beat another contender?

Now I can understand why Phillips is no longer the GM for New York.