Recent MLB passings (Bob Shaw, Ray Coleman, Al Pilarcik)

This past week was a sad week for old-time baseball fans as a few more legends have passed on. It is said that celebrity deaths happen in triplicate and three baseball greats passed on this week, each with their link to baseball's history.

Ray Coleman

Former outfielder for the St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox, Ray Coleman passed away September 19th at the age of 88. Coleman served valiantly in World War II from 1943-45 traveling all over the Pacific in the Navy. He would make his debut with the Browns in 1947 and would be witness to both Willard Brown and Hank Thompson joining the team that year, making them only the second and third African-Americans to play in the majors. I had the opportunity to speak with Coleman a few years ago and he spoke proudly of his World War II service.

Al Pilarcik

  Al Pilarcik was an outfielder for the Kansas City Athletic, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox from 1956-1961. He passed away Monday September 20th at the age of 80. 50 years prior to his passing, on September 28, 1960, he caught the last out Ted Williams made in his career. Pilarcik later gladly handed it over to the Hall of Fame. After his playing career was finished, he had tremendous success as a high school teacher and baseball coach at Lake Central High School, earning an induction into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

Bob Shaw

Bob Shaw, a famed member of the 1959 "Go-Go" White Sox, who led the league that year with an astounding .750 win percentage passed away Thursday September 23, 2010 at the age of 77. Shaw pitched a legendary battle in Game 5 of the 1959 World Series where he triumphed over Sandy Koufax in front of 92,000 fans. He would go on to pitch for seven teams during his 11-year major league career, including being traded for the aforementioned Al Pilarcik to the Kansas City Athletics in 1961. He would find success after his baseball career as a real estate investor and an American Legion baseball coach.

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Bobby Valentine to recieve the 4th annual Sports Angels Inspiration Award September 20th

Bobby Valentine

On September 20th Sports Angels will honor Bobby Valentine with the fourth annual Inspiration Award and also recognize corporate honoree Diarmuid Hogan of Global Excess Partners in a gala celebration at the University Club, 1 West 54th Street in New York City. This year's event is hosted by Emmy Award Winning sportscaster Len Berman and NY1's Jessica Abo. Other confirmed guests include former Brooklyn Dodgers Ralph Branca, Joe Pignatano, Yankee great Jeff Nelson and boxer Gerry Cooney. For more information on ordering tickets, visit the Sports Angels website or call the Sports Angels Event office at 212-243-3265.

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Fat Beats closing ceremonies: The end of an era

Outside Fat Beats during the closing ceremonies

This website is normally dedicated to baseball, but I feel as many of you have seen card shops close across the country that you would feel this one.

Labeled "The Last Stop for Hip Hop", Fat Beats served as the mecca for hip hop fans, DJ's and collectors. A legendary fixture in New York City on 6th Avenue, right near the famous West 4th Street basketball courts, hip hop "heads" would often gather to purchase the latest hip hop record and discuss who was next to blow up on the scene.

The inner walls of the store covered with autographed photos and posters of the many artists who graced the store during their record release celebrations. The names on the wall are too many to mention, but it reads like a "Who's Who" of hip hop. On any given day, you could run into a significant artist, DJ or producer who would stop by while they were in New York to see what was new in the "underground". If you wanted a hip hop 12" or CD by an artist large or small, chances are they had it. Customers would often come in with playlists from radio shows such as the Stretch and Bobbito Show or the Halftime Radio show and purchase every single record that was played on the airwaves. The fans demand it and they kept the fiends coming back every week for more. You better have acted quickly though because any record worth its salt didn't stay on the racks too long.

A look at the ceiling of Fat Beats

As digital forms of music began to dominate the market, trends saw a shift away from consumers, especially DJ's buying vinyl records. They now opted for MP3's which worked in their Serato programs that much more neatly held all of their music on a hard drive instead of bulky crates of records. CD sales tanked just as quickly as vinyl and Fat Beats felt the impact of a declining consumer base. Even though it managed to outlast such megastores as Tower Records, it couldn't continue to provide the services of a physical store with the decline in revenue.

This past week had an All-Star lineup of DJ's, MC's and producers performing to celebrate the institution that Fat Beats had become. I attended the closing ceremonies on Saturday September 4, 2010 that included performances by DJ Scratch of EPMD, DJ Spinna, Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul and DJ Premier of Gangstarr. It was fitting that Premier closed out the week-long celebration, as he epitomized the essence of hip hop and vinyl. DJ's across the country immersed themselves in vinyl due to his work and have their crates full of his productions.

DJ Premier rocks the final set at Fat Beats

Its closing represented an end of an era. I had been shopping there since 1999 and I quickly relived the last 11 years of my involvement in radio, DJ'ing and the industry. No longer will there be a central place for "heads" to gather and discuss the culture, find out about local events and take a chance on spending $5 on that artist whose vinyl still remains a go-to record in your crates over a decade later. The chances of another place opening that represented the purity of a culture that roped in my generation to hip-hop is unlikely and it is for that I dedicate this post to Fat Beats. Fat Beats will still remain open online and continue to provide those who thirst for the music an opportunity to get their fix. I don't know how much the current generation will care about its closing, or pine for a hub to replace it, but for many who went through our era of experiencing hip hop emerge, this serves as a reminder that as much as we want to hold on to seasons of the past, the forces of nature will leave us behind as it writes its next chapter. Consider this one closed. RIP Fat Beats.


Caron Wheeler Performing Keep On Movin' At Fat Beats Closing 9/4/10 from Dee Jay on Vimeo.


Caron Wheeler Singing Back To Life at Fat Beats Closing 9/4/10 from Dee Jay on Vimeo.

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Reggie Jackson and his 1986 PSA video against cocaine

A quick search of Youtube unearthed former New York Yankee great and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson appearing in a 1986 public service announcement citing the dangers of using cocaine.

Photo by Rubenstein

The series of PSA's were part of Major League Baseball's cleanup efforts after the 1985 Pittsburgh Drug Trials, where 11 players were suspended for their cocaine use. That list included current New York Mets announcer Keith Hernandez. More detail on the scandal is given in the book "The Pittsburgh Cocaine Seven". While the ad may seem cheesy, Reggie was just trying to kick "the real truth" about cocaine and help MLB refresh its public image.

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Was Nyjer Morgan really wrong for stealing two bases after being hit?

In an act of retaliation for Washington Nationals outfielder Nyjer Morgan separating the shoulder of Florida Marlins catcher Brett Hayes on Tuesday and then stealing two bases while down eleven runs last night, pitcher Chris Volstad threw behind Morgan which ignited a brawl that almost saw Morgan get his head taken off by Gaby Sanchez.

During the commentary, the announcers remarked that Morgan was wrong for stealing two bases while his team was down 11 runs in the 4th inning. I disagree with the commentators in this case. If Morgan can himself into scoring position after being purposely hit by the opposing pitcher, why not do it? There was plenty of baseball to be played in that game and if he could help creep the Nationals towards closing the gap by getting into scoring position, then he should do it. Morgan later scored on a sacrifice fly. The game ended with the Marlins winning 16-10, but how many of us have seen games that appeared to be a blowout and were decided by one run?

Leave a comment if you think Morgan was right or wrong for stealing those two bases after getting hit.

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Cal McLish | Former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher dies at 84

The owner of the longest full name in baseball history, Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish passed away August 26, 2010. He was 84.

Cal McLish

Cal McLish made his debut in 1944 at the tender age of 18 with the Brooklyn Dodgers during World War II straight out of Central High School in Oklahoma City. He missed the subsequent season due to his own military service; however, he later played 15 seasons in the majors with six additional teams, the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago White Sox. He appeared in the 1959 All-Star game where he earned a save, pitching the final two scoreless innings for the victorious American League squad.

After his playing career was finished, he was a major league pitching coach for 16 seasons and then went on to become a scout and an instructor, as recently as 2005 with the Seattle Mariners.

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Former Yankees benefit the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation

Franco Harris, David Cone, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White and Mickey Rivers

The Yankees might have been away in Toronto Monday evening, but the stadium was filled with spirit, the spirit of giving. The Delta 360 Club inside Yankee Stadium played hosted to the Ultimate Yankee Stadium Experience which benefited the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation. The Franciscan Sisters tirelessly devote their lives to help the poor and less fortunate. Supporters that evening were treated to a fabulous tour of Yankee Stadium and the opportunity to mingle with Yankee heroes such as David Cone, Mickey Rivers, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White, Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris and New York Knicks announcer John Andariese. 

The former athletes were more than eager to lend their support to work of the foundation. David Cone expressed his gratitude for being involved with the evening's events. 

“I'm honored to be here, I know they do great work. Any celebrity we can lend that can help sell tickets or raise a little more money is great.” 

Darryl Strawberry shared similar sentiments. 

“I'm excited to be here. I do a lot of charity work myself and I know the importance of what they do. It's for a good cause. Any time you come out it's a blessing to be able to help.” 

John Andariese, the famed Knicks announcer, who is on the board of the foundation, explained how the work of the Sisters with his aunt brought him into the fold. 

“I've had a long relationship with them that goes back about 20 years. My aunt became indigent many years ago. I was desperate to get her settled in a place where she would be comfortable to finish her life out. I started working hard at finding a place where she could live with dignity. I succeeded in doing that, finding a home and hospital in Westchester. She didn't have money, and yet they took care of her on her social security for the last two years of her life. I stayed with the organization after she passed and I am so respectful for these nuns who give their lives to those who have nothing. Today there are 150 nuns around the world giving their lives to this. I am able to get help in the sports world; people like sports and it gathers crowds and helps people to spend some money to do some charity work. That's why we're here tonight.” 

Monday's event was more than an opportunity to tour Yankee Stadium with the legends they watched play on the hallowed grounds, it was an opportunity to assist those who have given their lives to help people in need all around the world. Linda Christian who is the head of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation illuminated the work of the nuns. 

“I hope after tonight people learn about the foundation and the incredible work that the sisters do. The sisters don't sit back here in New York and decide what's good for someone in Senegal or wherever they're at. They go and live amongst the poor and discuss solutions to their problems.” 

With the current economic climate, Christian wanted to assure donors that the foundation prides itself on having transparency with their efforts. 

“If you give me a dollar today as a donation and ask what I did with that dollar, I can tell you what country I sent it to, what program I sent it to and if you give me a week or two, I can call the sister and found out the individual who benefited from that dollar. I think that's very important to philanthropic givers to provide that information. One hundred percent of your donation goes to the programs.” 

Donations to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation can be made by visiting their website, http://www.franciscanfoundation.org/. Christian wanted to leave the supporters with an important message.

“It's beyond religion, we believe in these incredible women working to help the poor, one person at a time.”

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