H is for Hammering Hank (Person)

I know this is being published on April 9th, but as I write this it is April 8, 2015.  I just decided that my person would be Henry Aaron  and decided to show a video of him hitting  Home Run 715 that broke Babe Ruth's  home run record.  I just realized that Aaron hit 715 41 years ago today (for me) and yesterday (for you.).  Here is a nice clip of the event from Mlb.com




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G is for Greg

White Sox Homerun hitters from A.J. to Zeke

G is for Greg

Greg "Walk" Walker

Greg Walker played for the White Sox from 1982 to 1990.  His first full season was on the 1983"winning ugly" team that won the AL west that year.  Walker was the hitting coach for the Chi Sox in 2005 when they won the world series

Walker hit all of his 113 career  home runs as a White Sox player.  His 113 is good enough for 17th on the all-time list.  Greg averaged 21 home runs over 162 game season  In 1987 Walker hit 27 home runs this eclipsed his previous best mark of 24 which he achieved back to back in 1984 and 1985.

Walker played first for the Sox and was replaced as an everyday player by Frank Thomas, who was in turn replaced by Paul Konerko, who in turn was replaced by Jose Abreu.  Making the 1B position a stable home run source for the Sox going on 30 years.   For more A to Z blogging click here.

G is for Giraffe Poop (Thing)

In the early months of 1987, one chapter of my life had abruptly come to an end and I was in a holding pattern waiting to see what the next chapter would bring. One Saturday I visited a friend and spent the day with her at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

It was a nice seasonably warm day for late winter.  I remember we spent a lot of time watching my favorite animal the giraffe.  What I remember most about our visit to the giraffe enclosure was watching them poop.

I don't mean to be graphic, or disgusting.  I just found the way they relieve themselves to be so very interesting.  It comes out of the giraffe like a quick rain of pellets that hit the ground very quickly,  The giraffe just does his business while going about his business.

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F is For Frank

White Sox Homerun hitters from A.J. to Zeke

F is for Frank

 Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas

I am listening to Frank Thomas give his 2014 HOF induction speech while I type this.  It is available at A to Z blogging toady by clicking Home School Dad.  I went to Cooperstown last year to see Frank inducted and this speech was the highlight of my time there.    I love it when he lists  so many of his former coaches and his teammates.  He gave his speech with the same exuberance that came with every swing of his bat.  

Thomas hit 448 of his 521 runs when with the  White Sox  from 1990 to 2005.  Thomas is the White Sox all-time HR leader for  the White Sox and hit for a .307 average for the pale hose.  The Big Hurt averaged 36 home runs for every 162 major league games he played.  Frank hit 40 or more homers for the White Sox for 5 different seasons.  His 2 highest totals were 43 in 2000, and 42 in 2003.

Now that Paul Konerko has retired, no current ChiSox player is anywhere near Thomas's prodigious HR numbers.  Record or not Thomas will be long remembered on the South Side of Chicago.  For more A to Z blogging click here.

F is For Frank Thomas (Person)

Last year, my son and I drove to New York to see Frank Thomas be inducted into the baseball hall of fame. It was an awesome experience. I am delighted to share today the video of his acceptance speech. Frank played baseball the right way and his speech really showed his tremendous love for the game and appreciation of his teammates.




I am also posting about Frank at Crazy Uncle Dave's Sport-O-Rama today. Frank hit 441 home runs with the White Sox which puts him first on the White Sox list for all time home runs. Click here to see that post. For more A to Z blogging click here. On a more somber note, on 4/7/12 I blogged about grief as it was the 3 year anniversary of my brother's death.  That time has now doubled and my post from 3 years ago can be found here.

E is for Eddie

White Sox Homerun hitters from A.J. to Zeke

E is for Eddie

William Edward "Eddie" Robinson

I will be the first to tell you, I don't know a lot about Eddie Robinson.  He played 1B for the White Sox from 1950 to 1952.  He Had a cup of coffee with the Indians in 1942 playing in 8 games and 8 getting at bats.  He came back to Indians in 1946 and played in the Majors through 1957.

As of this writing, Robinson is still alive. He is the 21st oldest living major leaguer.  He is  currently 94 years old and his 1315 games is the most played of any of the 25 oldest former players.

Robinson hit 71 of his 172 MLB home runs for the White Sox.  That is the most for any team he played on.  The 71 dingers is enough for 38th on the all time list for the Sox.  Robinson averaged 24 home runs for every 162 major league games he played.   His last 2 seasons on the South Side were his most productive home run years hitting 29 in '51 and 22 in '52.

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