From the Editor’s Desk
This one remains a special baseball memory of mine. Jim Abbott tossed a no-hitter against the Indians on Saturday night, September 4, 1993. A game later, the Yankees headed to Arlington, Texas for a series with the Rangers. My late-brother Bobby and I were in Arlington when they arrived, on one of our annual baseball park tours. We booked a hotel near the ballpark. When they said “close to the park”, they weren’t kidding. Walking into our room, we could see the Yankees taking batting practice, across the way. Later that night, after the game, at the hotel restaurant, we spotted Jim Abbott, fresh off his no-hitter. Abbott had spent the four prior years in So Cal, pitching for the Angels, so we already fans of his before the no-hitter. We sent a beer over to him and raised our glasses, and toasted him and his no-no. A short while later, the waitress brought a couple beers our way, saying that they were from “that guy over there”. “That guy” was Jim Abbott. What a remarkable, inspiring athlete he was.
Another note from our trip to Arlington that year. While at the ballpark for the Rangers-Yankees series, the Ranger’s photographer, was down by the dugout, selling copies of a photo that she had taken a month earlier at the August 4 Rangers-White Sox game. You’ll probably recognize it as the now-famous Nolan Ryan-Robin Ventura dust-up. Of course Bobby and I had to buy an 8×10 for our photo albums, where is remains in all of its glossy goodness.
Here’s a link to the full 6 minute clip, if you are so inclined. See how many of the players that you can identify. The eagle-eyed viewers will no doubt spot multi-sport star Bo Jackson.
Trivia note, Ventura was the only player that Ryan hit with a pitch that year.
Great post! Thanks, Jim!