tagged w/ Pittsburgh Pirates
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As any Yankees fan can tell you, the problem with sky-high expectations is that they leave you with only two possible outcomes: satisfaction or disappointment. If, like me, you feel that a large element of a baseball fan’s joy is the game’s potential to surprise and delight--to give you more than you might reasonably hope
http://vworldnews.blogspot.com/2011/04/why-phillies-will-wont-win-east.htmlAs any Yankees fan can tell you, the problem with sky-high expectations is that they... more
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Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball, which should really be a national holiday. For that one day, fans of every team (even the Pittsburgh Pirates) can dream of their team going deep into the playoffs, and maybe even the World Series.Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball, which should really be a national... more
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The Sundance Film Festival has announced its 2010 Jury Prizes, and James Blagden’s “Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No” was awarded an Honorable Mention in Short Filmmaking. Blagden created an animated short film that tells a hilarious, meandering story about the former major league pitcher Dock Ellis, which leads him to one of his greatest moments in the sport. It provides a magical narration of his infamous no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the San Diego Padres in 1970 while he was “high as a Georgia pie,” or specifically under the influence of LSD. After retiring, he later worked as a drug counselor before passing away last December.
This piece includes a number of colorful illustrations, a video presenting Dock Ellis's first-person account of his infamous no-hitter and the award-winning animated short film.
Please visit my website to view the high-res. color illustrations, and to watch the two amazing videos:
http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/dock-ellis-a-heavenly-flamboyant-psychedelic-comeback/The Sundance Film Festival has announced its 2010 Jury Prizes, and James... more
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I was not born yet when Doc Ellis pitched his final game in 1979, but his place in baseball history will always be known as of spectacularness, flare, and tragedy.
He was known for his flare and enthusiasm in the dugout and on the field.
He pitched the Pirates to a World Series championship in 1970, and was a big piece to the Yankees 1976 World Series trip...
But what he will always be known for was his 1970 LSD induced no hitter against the lowly San Diego Padres of 1972.
Right before the game, at the airport, Dock loaded up and wowed crowd who had no idea the circumstances of his performance.
It wasn't until years later did he reveal the dark truth behind his feat... (like in modern days when David Wells claims he was wild drunk when he threw his perfecto)
His interview describing his feat in detail is up on YouTube.
He spoke openly about racial issues especially in baseball and once told reporters that he wound's start the All Star Game against Vida Blue (in the AL) because MLB would never allow "two soul brothers) to go against each other.
The other great story, fans would murmur remember-whens about was that time in 1974, when Dock Ellis starting a game against the legendary Big Red Machine (a lineup of Cincinnati Reds greats: Pete Rose et al.) and he beaned the first three hitters loading the bases.
He tried to bean cleanup hitter Hall of Famer Tony Perez who ducked every pitch and drew a walk...
He then threw two fastballs at Pete Rose...
Oh those were the times...
We all hear those stories so much, especially the Joe Nuxhall recollection so many times, it's almost like we were actually there for all the excitement.
Dock suffered from heavy alcohol and drug abuse, and it eventually took its toll on him, destroying his liver.
He would later serve as a community, corrections and motivational speaker.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Ellis had no health insurance, but received help paying his medical bills from friends in baseball.
2 years, Bryant Gumbel on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO did an extensive profile on the life and times of Dock Ellis, what his legacy meant to baseball and how he's using lessons from his past demons to give back to the community.
It was truly one of the most touching pieces we had
He held on for as long as he could before passing away last Friday.
His LSD no hitter recollection is even up on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNzMBwq1uqU
Baseball truly lost a great, a maverick, an irreplaceable character.I was not born yet when Doc Ellis pitched his final game in 1979, but his place in... more
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kozeki
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added this
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3 years ago
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Both Andy and Adam Laroche can now try and lead the Pirates in the battle for 4th place in the NL Central.Both Andy and Adam Laroche can now try and lead the Pirates in the battle for 4th... more
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kozeki
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added this
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3 years ago
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For every Red Sox fan who may have been a Red Sox fan before 2003, you may remember this guy as one of the most promising pitching prospects of this past decade before being thrown to Cincinnatti in a that trade for Scott Williamson...
For non Red Sox fans, you may remember him as the guy who gave up back to back to back home runs in the first inning to the Brewers this past September.
Dumatrait just might prove the Red Sox and Reds wrong for abandoning him...For every Red Sox fan who may have been a Red Sox fan before 2003, you may remember... more
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kozeki
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added this
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4 years ago
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