Author: Shannon Shark @metspolice

Regarded as perhaps the fastest man to ever play the game, stories about Cool Papa Bell’s speed on the basepaths are legendary.  Satchel Paige once said he gave up a hit to Bell and by the time he turned around Bell was already sliding into second base.  While this story may sound outlandish, many other tales of Bell’s speed echo the sentiment (including scoring from first on a bunt against major leaguer Bob Lemon in an exhibition game).

Cool Papa’s talent wasn’t limited to just speed as he consistently batted over .300 and winning a number of Negro League batting titles.

Bell played in the Negro Leagues from 1922 to 1946, ending his career just one year prior to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in the major leagues. 

One of the great all-time Negro League players (as well as one of the best nicknames ever), Cool Papa Bell is easily an Immortal.

For some background on what this is, check out the introduction post here.

Oh man….look I am not awarding this to Jenrry Mejia for being permanently suspended from baseball, so that leaves me with….Sandy Alomar Jr.’s 8 games in 2007?  Nope, no Mets card.  Ken Oberkfell?  Nope.

Josh Smoker won 2 games when he wore this number in September 2016, making him the best 58 in Mets history.

 

It’s good to see that as the 80’s ended the ancient technology of being able to reproduce a tiny NY on a Mets logo still existed.  Also, the Mets seem to have a Core Four before such things were trendy.

Regular followers know that I think Baseball is horribly broken, and have been looking for something to mix things up.

I personally have not missed baseball at all.  Not one bit.  ZE-RO.  Nada.

Why?  Because the version of baseball we were served in the 2010’s was AWFUL.   It was the worst decade for Interesting Moments since the 1930s.  If you are a Cubs fan, congrats.  Everyone else fell asleep.

So for me, I’d just as soon not have the 2020 season at all.  There’s even HBO MAX as of tomorrow in case Netflix, Amazon. Hulu, Disney+, 11 Star Wars movies and 700+ hours of Star Trek couldn’t keep you busy on top of the entire internet, one million podcasts, and BOOKS.  (I just read End Of October, which is not at all about baseball.  Actually baseball is mentioned once I believe).  Maybe I will start Mets Police Book Club.

Anyway…

players bristled at the notion of taking further pay reductions — particularly ones that would affect the highest-paid players (via ESPN)

….but before you go ripping the players, consider that maybe the owners are trying to drive a wedge between the players.  We’ve seen unions break up in other sports.

This news comes just hours after SNY Baseball Insider tweeted

Owners/MLB have had enough talks with the players side to make a proposal that can at least lead to quick dialogue. Apart, but not irresolvable. Those talks continue today, and there’s still no reason to expect anything but agreement and baseball.

— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) May 26, 2020

Oh.

Anyway, I’m happy as a clam (are clams happy) without baseball and discussing old yearbook covers.  Maybe SNY can make even more content around 1986 for me not to watch.

Let’s let this whole thing burn for a year, maybe two – and maybe Baseball can come back with a version of itself that is fan friendly, less expensive, and not a 4 hour slog of relief pitchers.   If not….hey I don’t miss it.  I am not the least bit bored.

57 has only been issued seven times….but there is one who stands far above the rest.  He pitched the greatest game in Mets history, and no it wasn’t that foolish night you guys wrecked his career so we coudl get t-shirts (I hope his foot is better)….it was the penultimate game of 2008 when he took the ball and handed in an awesome performance.