Ron Guidry

Ron Guidry was born August 28, 1950 in Lafayette, Louisiana.  In 1969-1970, he excelled as a left handed pitcher for the University of Southwestern Louisiana baseball team.

Guidry was selected by the New York Yankees on the third round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.  He made his debut with the Yankees on July 25, 1975.

Two years later, Guidry became part of the Yankees starting rotation.  He finished the season with an impressive record of 16 wins and only 7 losses.  Guidry was an important factor in the Yankees winning the 1977 World Series championship.  

On June 17, 1978, Guidry struck out a record 18 California Angels.  His totals that year were an amazing 25 wins and only 3 losses.  Guidry again led the Yankees to a second straight World Series victory.

In his fourteen year baseball career, Guidry won a total of 170 games with 1,778 strikeouts.  He won the Cy Young award as the best pitcher in the American League in 1978.  

Guidry was named to the All-Star game four times.  His number 49 was retired by the New York Yankees.  There is a monument in his honor at Yankee Stadium.  

I think it was the summer of 1993 when my young son Bret and I, along with my friend Joe and his young daughter Regine, took a trip to upstate New York to visit my home town of Oswego plus Cooperstown, the location of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

We were having lunch in a restaurant in Cooperstown when I recognized Ron Guidry at a nearby table.  He was there for a money making autograph signing.  Many patrons were hovering near him. 

As I recall, Regine, who, unlike my son, grew up in a home where professional baseball was not important, asked her father why so many people were interested in this man.  He said she should go ask him.  And she did.

According to my friend Joe, Regine asked Ron, "Are you famous?"  He replied, "I used to be."

Regine returned to our table a few minutes later.  And shortly thereafter, so did Ron Guidry.  Apparently, he was so charmed by Regine (he had two daughters himself) that he wanted to meet the group she came from.

We chatted with Ron Guidry for some minutes.  He mentioned that originally he did not want to be a pitcher, but preferred being an every day ball player.  However, he was told that being a pitcher was his ticket to the major leagues.  It certainly was.  

The Postman Always Rings Twice

The Postman Always Rings Twice is a 1946 American film noir starring Lana Turner, John Garfield, and Cecil Kellaway. It is based on the 1934 novel of the same name by James M. Cain.

Frank (Garfield), a young drifter, sees a "man wanted" sign at a gas station/diner along the highway near Los Angeles.  He responds and is offered a job as an assistant by the owner, Nick (Kellaway), a middle-aged man.

Nick starts to make Frank a hamburger in the diner, but needs to leave to attend a motorist looking to fill his car with gas.  Then a remarkable scene takes place.

While sitting at the diner's lunch counter waiting for the hamburger, Frank hears something rolling on the floor towards him.  He looks down and sees lipstick.  

Frank turns in the direction from whence the lipstick came and sees a beautiful young woman dressed all in white.  It is Cora (Turner), Nick's wife.  

Nick picks up the lipstick and asks, "You drop this?"  Cora responds, "Uh-huh."  Without looking at Frank, she hold out her hand and expects Frank to walk over and place the lipstick in it.

Instead, Frank leans against the counter and holds the lipstick in his hand, waiting for Cora to retrieve it.  Obviously annoyed, Cora walks over, takes the lipstick, returns from where she was, applies the lipstick to her lips, looks at Frank one more time before closing the door behind her, all the while maintaining an icy expression.

After this cold beginning, Frank and Cora start a romantic relationship.  Cora, not in love with Nick, suggests to Frank that divorce is not the answer.  They will wind up with nothing.

While Nick, Cora (driving) and Frank are all together in a car, Frank kills Nick with a blow to his head.  Then Cora and Frank stage an auto accident making it seem as if that was how Nick died.  Frank is also injured.  

The district attorney, a witness to the accident, brings criminal  charges against Cora.  She enters into a plea bargain pleading guilty to manslaughter and receives a suspended sentence.  Frank and Cora have seemingly gotten away with murder.  

In an interesting side bar, Frank and Cora then have to get married as California law at the time prohibited an unrelated couple from living together.  

Later, while Frank is driving, they get into a real car accident and Cora is killed.  Frank is unjustly convicted of murder and is sentenced to be executed.  

While on death row, Frank is visited by the District Attorney, who confronts him with evidence of his involvement in Nick's murder.  He reasons that if he resists his legal fate in Cora's death, he'll only wind up back where he is with a conviction for Nick's murder.  

Frank muses that, just as the postman always rings twice to make sure people receive their mail, fate has ensured that he and Cora have finally paid the price for their crime.  Hollywood during this period had to show that crime didn't pay.  That would change. 

Abraham's Son, Chapter 19

 INT. LONG ISLAND JEWISH HOSPITAL - DAY

ABRAHAM and SARA participate in a natural childbirth class.

EXT. IN FRONT OF ABRAHAM'S HOUSE - DAY

SARA arrives, very pregnant, at ABRAHAM's house.  He carries two suitcases of hers from car.  She'll be staying at his house until the delivery of baby.

ABRAHAM:  Welcome, SARA.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM AT WHITE ROCK BEVERAGES - DAY

Clock shows 4:30 PM on Friday afternoon.  ABRAHAM is there with JANET, PETER and KEN for a meeting.

ABRAHAM:  Excuse me, there's one more thing.  Effective immediately, for personal reasons, I am retiring from White Rock Beverages.

The other three are shocked and start asking many questions.

INT. SARA'S BEDROOM AT ABRAHAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

It's 2 AM.  SARA's in agony with contractions.  ABRAHAM keeps detailed records of them, while trying to be sympathetic.

ABRAHAM:  Okay.  That's it.  Four minutes apart, lasting one minute, for an hour.  We're going to the hospital.  

SARA:  Finally.

SARA changes her clothes.  ABRAHAM is already prepared and carries suitcase for her.  They head out.

EXT. IN FRONT OF ABRAHAM'S HOUSE - NIGHT

ABRAHAM and SARA walk to ABRAHAM's car and enter it.  They drive away.

EXT. PARKING AREA AT LONG ISLAND JEWISH HOSPITAL - NIGHT

ABRAHAM pulls into parking area.  He and SARA get out and walk towards entrance.

INT. RECEPTION AREA INSIDE HOSPITAL - NIGHT

SARA, in pain, and ABRAHAM approach almost deserted reception area.  

ABRAHAM:  Can I get some help for this woman.  She's in labor.  

RECEPTIONIST:  CHARLIE, take this lady up to maternity right away.  I'll take the information from the gentleman.  

CHARLIE, an orderly, takes SARA away in a wheelchair, leaving ABRAHAM at reception.

ABRAHAM:  (calling out) SARA, I'll be with you soon.

INT. MATERNITY WARD LABOR ROOM - NIGHT

ABRAHAM has changed into gown appropriate for delivery room.  He enters labor room where SARA, in greater agony, is alone.

SARA:  (screaming) I'm gonna die.  Do something.

ABRAHAM:  Remember the breathing exercises.

SARA:  Fuck that.

Nurse enters room.

NURSE:  Okay, we're ready for you, SARA.  Let's go.  You, too, Dad.

NURSE takes SARA to delivery room, followed by ABRAHAM. 

INT. DELIVERY ROOM - NIGHT

SARA lies on table with legs spread apart, in agony, surrounded by doctors and nurses giving her instructions as to what to do.  ABRAHAM is like an observer in front of table, with anticipation waits to see his son for first time.  Finally, with great pain to SARA, ISAAC/IKE arrives, at 7 lbs., crying.  IKE is given to nurse who checks him out.  Doctor announces mother and son are doing well.  IKE is taken to nursery, SARA to a private room. 

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - NIGHT

SARA lies in bed, exhausted.  ABRAHAM, excited, is ready to leave for home and rest.  He kisses SARA's forehead.

ABRAHAM:  Get some sleep, SARA.  I'll be back in the morning.  You did great.  We have a beautiful boy.

SARA:  (almost asleep) Yeah.  

INT. NURSERY - DAY

The following morning ABRAHAM holds his son in the nursery, feeling incredible joy.  His dream fulfilled.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

ABRAHAM enters SARA's room, empty except for NURSE.

ABRAHAM;  Where's SARA?

NURSE:  She took off a couple a hours ago.  Left you this note.

NURSE hands him note.  It reads, "Don't look for me.  I'd make a terrible mom.  Love, SARA."

Wrigley Field

William Wrigley, Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 30, 1861.  In 1891, he moved to Chicago, Illinois to go into business for himself.  

Wrigley decided to sell baking powder.  As an incentive, he offered his customers two packages of chewing gum for each can of baking powder they bought.  The chewing gum proved more popular than the baking powder.  

The Wrigley Company began to concentrate on the manufacture and sale of chewing gum. In this business, Wrigley made his name and fortune.

In 1921, Wrigley acquired the Chicago Cubs of the National Baseball League.  The team played its home games at Cubs Park, built on the north side of Chicago in 1914.  The stadium was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927. The stadium was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2020.

On or about 1993, I read stories that the Cubs were considering renovating or replacing Wrigley Field.  I decided to take my son Bret to Chicago to experience this historic edifice.  

Luckily, we had cousins in the windy city where we could stay.  We all went to see the Cubs play baseball at Wrigley Field.  I remember "the friendly confines," the ivy on the outfield walls, fans watching the game from the rooftops across the street and Sammy Sosa playing right field. 

Yesterday, Saturday, July 22, 2023, the Chicago Cubs played a baseball game against their archrival the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field.  Bret returned to Wrigley Field for the first time in thirty years, this time with his wife Pam.

On the first pitch of the game, Cardinal outfielder Lars Nootbaar hit a home run over the left field wall.  St. Louis 1, Chicago 0.  Excellent start.

After playing catch-up for the first half of the game, the Cubs rallied and took the lead 8-6 in the sixth inning.  That was the final score as not much, besides a rain delay, happened in the last third of the game.

As an interesting sidelight, Yan Gomes, the Cub catcher, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.  His family moved to the USA when Gomes was twelve years-old.

Based on the smiling photos my son sent me, he and Pam had a good time at Wrigley Field yesterday.  The Cubs win.  The Cubs win.  

  

Luke Easter

Luke Easter was born August 4, 1915 in Jonestown, Mississippi.  When he was seven years old, his family moved to St. Louis, Missouri. 

Easter was very good at baseball and played for his employer's semi-pro team, the St. Louis Titanium Giants.  After World War II, he signed to play professionally with the Cincinnati Crescents of the Negro National League (NNL).  

In 1947-48, Easter excelled playing for the Homestead Grays also in the NNL.  In 1949, he was signed by the Cleveland Indians of the American League.  Easter played for them for the next six years.  

After he was released by the Indians, Easter signed on with the Buffalo Bisons of the International Baseball League, a minor league franchise.  

One day in the mid-1950s, I was invited by my Aunt Doris and cousin Liz to go with them to a baseball game in Rochester, New York, home of the Red Wings.  They had season tickets right behind the visiting team's dugout.  That day the visiting team was the Buffalo Bisons.

For a moment I was left alone as Aunt Doris and Liz went to buy refreshments.  Luke Easter returned to the dugout after his turn at bat.  Shortly thereafter, the Bisons' equipment manager came out of the dugout and asked me if I wanted Easter's recently cracked bat.  I eagerly said yes.

I had an actual bat used by a former Major League baseball player.  I treasured it...until.  When I was seventeen years-old (1962), I noticed one day that my Luke Easter bat was missing from where I kept it.

My mother admitted that she had donated the damaged bat to a local "rummage sale."  She didn't understand that it was my property nor what was my attachment to it.  

I quickly drove to the sale, but the bat was gone.  Too bad!

On March 29, 1979, Luke Easter was murdered in Cleveland by two robbers.  He was sixty-three years old.  I'll never forget him nor his bat. 

Joel

My eldest brother, Joel David Lasky, was born in Syracuse, NY on June 30, 1932.  Sadly, he died in Dallas, TX on June 30, 2023, just 9 days ago.

Joel  was 13 years and 38 days older than I am.  I missed his bar mitzvah.  

There is a professional photo of the four Lasky boys taken when I was a baby.  I am sitting on Joel's lap.  How beautiful!  

My earliest clear recollection of Joel was in the late summer of 1950 (I was five) when our family of six all piled into our Buick or Cadillac automobile (he sat in front, me in the back as always) for a drive from our home in Oswego, NY to Hanover, NH to drop off Joel as a freshman at Dartmouth College.  He spent the night at the dorm, the rest of us at a nearby hotel.  We returned to Hanover four years later for his graduation.

On that last trip to Dartmouth, Joel introduced me to Lou Turner, captain of the college's football team.  He told Lew I knew everything about sports.  Lew asked me a question I didn't know the answer to.  I hope I didn't disappoint Joel too much.  

Prior to 1950, I vaguely remember Joel occupying the small single bedroom on the second floor of our house at 30 East Oneida Street.  The rest of us three brothers shared a much larger bedroom next to his.  He had privacy, but little space.  We had space, but no privacy.  

Joel returned home for visits during vacation time from college and from his time in the US Air Force after college as an Intelligence Officer in England and New Mexico.  He brought his unique brand of humor to a household badly in need of it.  I very much looked forward to each of his visits.

One example of his humor was when he shoved my brother Paul's bed (with Paul, a deep sleeper, asleep on it) into our bedroom's very large walk-in closet and shutting the door.  Joel, Ted and I laughed when Paul awoke later from inside the closet.

At Christmas vacation 1952 (I was seven), our family of six drove in two separate cars from Oswego to Miami Beach to visit my grandparents.  When we stopped in St. Augustine, FL for dinner, puss was oozing out of my right knee from an infection I got from a wooden sliver as a result of falling on our bathroom floor.

Joel, our mother and I went to the local hospital.  Luckily, penicillin had been discovered and made available some ten years before.  Joel and I were sitting on an examining table when a nurse walked in the room with the biggest hypodermic needle I have ever seen.  

I asked Joel, "Who's that for?"

His classic response was, "Guess!"

Having guessed correctly, I threw a temper tantrum requiring Joel and three others to hold me down for the injection into my buttocks.  End of infection.

My father was not a very communicative man.  In fact, to me he was intimidating.  As a result, I looked to Joel as a role model and father figure.  He did his best, but our time together was very limited. 

When I was fourteen, Joel married Judy Ackerman in Rochester, NY.  I got to wear my first tuxedo and escort my grandmother down the aisle.  

On my sixteenth birthday (1961), Joel and Judy gave me a puppy.  I never had my very own dog before.  I remember a cousin of Judy's had a beautiful cocker spaniel and I mentioned my desire to have a dog.  My mother said no, but she didn't deny me my birthday present.  I named the dog Trixie and we were together for two years until I went to college.  

Later that same year, Joel and Judy made me an uncle for the first time.  Her name is Cindy Quint and she is today a grandmother.

While I was still in high school, Joel encouraged and instructed me on how to lift weights as a form of exercise, something he took up at Dartmouth.  I did it for a short time while he was around, but I was too lazy to continue when he was no longer there.

When I got married (1968) and moved to New York City, Joel and Judy and Cindy lived first in Flushing, Queens and later in Commack Long Island where we often visited.

In Commack, Joel and Judy joined an amateur dramatic club that put on the play, Please Don't Eat The Daises.  He was the director, but at the last minute, had to fill in as the lead character.  Good job!

In 1972, my ex-wife Bonita and I travelled by car across the USA and stopped over one night in Dallas.  We were very impressed and mentioned that to Joel.  Three years later he and his family moved to Dallas.

Over the years, we visited each other on happy occasions: Joel's daughters' and granddaughter's weddings in Dallas, my children's bar mitzvahs and my daughter's wedding in New York.  We got together in Florida for our mother's eightieth birthday party.  After I moved to Brazil, Cristina and I visited Joel and his family in Dallas a number of times.

In December 2014, I started my weekly blog.  Joel was one of my readers.  As he was a professional writer, I was very appreciative when Joel said I wrote well. 

In April of this year, I made a WhatsApp video call to Joel.  We could see and talk to each other directly.  We each recalled the now comical event in the St. Augustine hospital (mentioned above) that occurred seventy years ago.  I told him I loved him.  And now I will forever miss him.           

Them!

 Them! is a 1954 science fiction monster film which stars James Whitmore (The Asphalt Jungle), Edmund Gwenn (Miracle on 34th Street) and James Arness (TV show Gunsmoke).  It is considered one of the best of its genre during the decade of the 1950s.  I remember seeing it at the Oswego Theater when I was a child.

On July 16, 1945, the first experimental atomic bomb was detonated near White Sands, New Mexico.  Three weeks later, another atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, which led to the end of World War II.

Is it possible that the result of the radiation from the first test in New Mexico could affect the size of the ant population in the area?  That is the premise of the film Them!

While on patrol, New Mexico State Policeman Sergeant Peterson (Whitmore) and his partner discover a little girl in shock wandering alone in the desert.  She was part of a family that was on vacation in the area.  The police find their trailer utterly destroyed, but not sure by what.  The little girl's family is missing.

Near the site of the trailer is a general store that was also destroyed in a similar manner.  The owner was found dead.  An autopsy showed a huge amount of formic acid.

As the little girl's father was a FBI agent, the FBI sends Special Agent Graham (Arness) to help the local police with the case.  

"After a strange impression is found in the sand near the trailer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture sends scientist Dr. Harold Medford (Gwenn) to assist with the investigation. Medford exposes the little girl to formic acid fumes, which releases her from her catatonic state; she screams in panic and yells "Them!"."

"Medford finally reveals his theory: a colony of giant ants, mutated by radiation from the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico is responsible for the area's deaths. The US Army orders a helicopter search, and the giant ants' nest is found." 

"Cyanide gas bombs are tossed inside, and Graham and Peterson descend into the nest to check for giant ant survivors. Deep inside, they find evidence that two queens have hatched and escaped to establish new colonies."

Is this the end of human beings as the dominant species on earth?