Well, I'm really glad you're still here after 20 years, Mr. Schmuck. I don't comment often on this blog, but I always appreciate your ability to combine wide perspective with concise critique. Seems like most people in this world can only handle one or the other--and never both at once--so, my deep thanks to you.

Also, am I making this up, or did you make a reference to eschatological theology in one of your posts from the Middle East? (I can't find exactly where it was...). Too cool, man, too cool. Where else do you get that kind of commentary in a sports blog? Eschatology and eternal hope are vital to being an Oriole fan!

Anyway, keep in mind that there are probably plenty of us who aren't commenting on each little typo, and are profoundly appreciating the work you're doing--even if we aren't always commenting. Your posts are just a lot more enlightening than their oft-dark undersides!

As for me, I was seven years old when the earthquake hit San Francisco. That was the year that I became a real Oriole fan during that turnaround season. My parents raised me to say "Yankees stink" anytime anyone started talking about baseball; 1989 was the year I claimed Oriole fandom for my own. I bought the baseball cards, memorized the stats, and chewed up the cardboard gum that left a sugary residue on Jeff Ballard's right arm, mid-hurl. I was hooked, and for the first time, I geared up for the World Series.

And then the earthquake happened. People were dying, and houses collapsed on the television screen. It was stunning. The World Series was supposed to be a game, not an introduction to mortality--but there it was, nonetheless. In all the tragedy, hope somehow depended up on the resumption of those games: I needed the World Series to assure me that life could pick itself up again.

For me, I'm not sure that baseball has ever lost that connection to celebrating life amid its brevity. That year, baseball became a liturgical response to mortality, and I've practiced that liturgy ever since... every blooming spring into the deaths of autumn.

That was the year Giamatti died, right? "The game is designed to break your heart." We practice it every year because it's so, so true.

.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks for all that perspective. Very interesting. I had forgotten that was the year of Pete Rose's ban and Giamatti's death. I was one of the last writers to do a sit-down interview with Bart. He was a very interesting guy and a big loss to baseball. He also probably knew what "eschatology" means. I had to look it up, but -- yes -- I did write an entry from the valley of Armageddon.

Very happy you came and stayed. I suffered through the Rimmer and Sher years and you beat them by a mile on the radio, not to mention your column.

..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Thanks Paul, I appreciate the kind words.

I was living in Southern California then, watching the game on TV. I remember Al Michaels switching from play-by-play to news mode. He knew the Bay Area and could identify landmarks as the cameras panned around.

I recall the ballplayers calling their families down from the stands.

I never made that connections that it could have been the "Why Not?" O's there.

BTW, thanks for sticking around.

Glad you came and stayed, Peter. I remember your first column, started off "Yes, this is my real name." Page 3, I believe.

Your insights are always more than sports reporting, which is a welcomed difference from others. I may not always agree with your opinion, but that is what a columnist (or blogger nowadays, I guess) is supposed to do. It is too bad that there seems to be a generation that does not understand that role. I can only imagine the comments if someone like Jim Murray had a nationally-read blog or column through the internet. (For those of you who do not know who Jim Murray was, lets just say he was a long-time LA-based writer that never shied away from a controversial statement.

Keep up the good work, Peter. It is appreciated.

Drama in LA. No more Shaq and Kobe. Frank and Jamie now. Any chance of CS coming back to Bmore? They need him badly.

I was a Freshman in High School. Dulaney High School, Baltimore County.

I remember watching it on TV, and thinking how crazy it was, and how bad it could have been with a full stadium of people.

I think that was the Day I decide moving out west was not in my plans. I will take my chances with "east coast" issues like Hurricanes and Tornados. (not that I want to face those head on either) Random ground shaking is not for me.

I was in the Philippines when the quake hit, and when I heard the news I was in a blind panic for 12 hours until I could finally get through by phone and verify that my wife, living in Oakland was okay. I followed both the A's and Giants then, but we lived 8 minutes from the Colosseum, and tickets were cheap, so that's were I went most of the time. I used to drive on the Cypress to work everyday.
I've lived in a lot of places over the years, but my one and only true love in baseball is the Orioles. I've been a fan since listening to Chuck Thompson on the radio with my dad back in the days when Hank Bauer was the manager.

Senor Schmuck,
You and I followed opposite paths. I'm a B'more native who spent most of his adult life out West, before coming back this way for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with law enforcement agencies, local, state, federal or Interpol.. Just want to say that I'm glad you have stayed back here on the right coast. Your combination of smooth writing, solid reporting, love of the games, and a sense of fun make you one of the best reasons to read the otherwise sadly diminished Sun. Mencken would have liked your ability to handle the booboisie..

I was working in Silicon Valley...a bunch of us ready to go to PJ Mulligans to watch the game...when the shaking started, no big deal. In fact, I stood up in my cube to see the new sales reps from the east coast freak out. The shaking leveled off and instead of fading, took off to another level...SCARY! Folks that had worked together for years would've trampled each other to get out of the building when the aftershocks hit. We did go to Mulligans...earthquakes happened all the time, what a great way to celebrate a bay area world series, right? Mulligans put a 4X4 at the front and back door with hi beams shining in and they were serving beer...then the radio reports started coming in and it was very somber. Hwy 17 buried, overpass collapsed, electricity out, heard later that 2 divers got carried out of the diving pool at my old high school. Took me 1 1/2 hours to go 9 miles to get home cause the lights were out. My friends dad was on the overpass that collapsed 30 minutes before it went down. Unbelievable to have experienced something like that. Can't believe its been 20 years.

And Pete...enjoy reading you...and I don't think you drink the kool-aid.

Wearing a ski mask = I'm so cold I can not make a play.

well i guess the angels have decided to play like a team that might have won 75 games, not the 95 they did.
didn't they have 8 hits in one inning against the O's?

Vlad is about the closest thing to an automatic out for a cleanup hitter as there is.

I remember coming out of the Elton John concert at the Capital Center. I told my girlfriend that I wanted to listen to the world series and tuned in whichever radio station was supposed to be carrying it. I was slightly bewildered as to why the game was not on at 8pm Pacific (it was around 11 here). I was shocked when the newsman came on to indicate that there was a quake that stopped the World Series dead in its tracks.

I was impressed with how Tony LaRussa decided to break the original rotation and go back to Dave Steward and Mike Moore when the series resumed 2 weeks later. I was also amused at how Roger Craig, the Giants manager balked at the idea and told the Comish that LaRussa should be forced to stick with the original #3 and #4 starters for the series. As you recall, the A's swept the Giants and both Stewart and Moore were 2-0 each. They just dominated the Giants.

Ahhh...those were the days that it was fun to be a baseball fan.

Pete, That's why the call it "Charm City." Or is it because of the really friendly young ladies you could meet down on The Block?

http://sportspoof.com/

ARRRGHHH RAVENS!!! ANGRY!!!!

I was only 9, but I vaugely remember seeing the game on TV. Never thought about the O's having the possibility to have been there. Guess I knew they wouldn't get past the A's.

I mostly remember all the mini-series on TV about Earthquake rescues and stuff.