Remembering Jack Buck, born 24 August 1924.

photo: Jack Buck speaking at Busch Stadium, 17 September 2001

“You can't get a job without experience and you can't get experience until you have a job. Once you solve that problem you are home free.” —thus spoke the golden voice of Jack Buck, born 21 August 1924. It is likely he did not apprehend how precisely he drew back the curtain upon the authentic and paradoxical nature of a duplicitous nation and its evil people. Decades before Trump’s rise to power in the now-former United States, long before the carefully maintained façade began to crumble and the malice, together with the wilful ignorance, became so nakedly conspicuous, Buck had already distilled the dilemma into a single, resonant observation. No matter, scarcely a soul could rival him in the craft of baseball play-by-play. The world could use a voice of his timbre and integrity once more. —Arthur Newhook, 21 August 2025.

Copyright 2025, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 on X-TWITTER, and @FloydEtcetera on FACEBOOK. BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. REDDIT - https://www.reddit.com/r/EchoOfADistantTime/new/. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Born #OTD 1934: remembering the great Roger Maris on what would have been his 90th birthday

Topps 1963

Roger Maris is arguably the most glaring omission from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. While some folks today may believe he had only one standout season (1961), Maris was, in fact, a seven-time All-Star, a back-to-back AL MVP in 1960 and 1961, and a Gold Glove winner. He is most famous for breaking Major League Baseball’s single-season home run record with 61 in 1961. Although this record has since been surpassed in the National League (McGwire, Sosa, Bonds), it is worth noting that no American League player exceeded this total until Aaron Judge hit 62 in 2022. Maris was also instrumental in the Yankees’ World Series victories in 1961 and 1962, as well as in the St. Louis Cardinals' seven-game triumph in the 1967 World Series, where he hit .385 and recorded seven RBIs. While he may not have displayed the consistent brilliance of players like Mickey Mantle or Willie Mays, it is absurd for the Hall to not recognise his historical significance. Maris made history, and he remains a household name decades after he departed this ruthless and unappreciative world.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Quotables 21 August 2024: Jack Buck reflects on the beauty of baseball

Photo: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The golden voice of the St. Louis Cardinals would have turned 100 years old today:

‘It's such a beautiful sport, with no politics involved, no color, no class. Only as a youngster can you play and as a pro can you win. The game has kept me young, involved and excited and for me to be up here with gems of baseball’.

Quote via https://www.azquotes.com/quote/700285

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

Fare thee well, Orlando Cepeda

Topps 1968

The 1967 NL MVP departs at age 86. Orlando Cepeda did grace the rosters of six Major League franchises, most famously the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals. In the twilight of his career, he did become the first designated hitter in Boston Red Sox history during the 1973 season, when that role was first introduced. The 1958 National League Rookie of the Year, and eleven times an All-Star. His 46 home runs in 1961 led the National League, although this feat was overshadowed by Roger Maris’ 61 home runs for the New York Yankees in the American League. One of the first and undeniably greatest stars of Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball, may Orlando Cepeda rest in eternal peace.

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.

R.I.P. Whitey Herzog

Ronald C. Modra/Getty Images

A fond farewell to the esteemed manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 1980 to 1990, Whitey Herzog, who has passed away at the age of 92. Just two weeks ago, he graced the Cardinals’ home opener, though too frail to join the other Hall of Famers on the field. A true Cardinal until the very end, Herzog ranks third all-time in wins as a St. Louis manager, behind only Tony La Russa and Red Schoendienst. Under his leadership, the team achieved a magnificent World Series victory in 1982 and secured two additional pennants in 1985 and 1987. In 2010, he rightfully earned his place in Cooperstown, an honour that was long overdue. Whitey Herzog will be warmly remembered for years to come. Thank you for your life, good sir. {Reuters 4/16}

Copyright 2024, Arthur Newhook. @Sunking278 and @FloydEtcetera on X, and at the same handles on FACEBOOK. MASTODON - @ArthurNewhook@mastodon.world, BLUESKY - @arthurnewhook.bsky.social, and @arthurnewhook on POST. DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED at https://tinyurl.com/ArthurNewhook.