7 Comments
User's avatar
Bud Simpson's avatar

My dad played baseball in the '30s on various barnstorming teams. He said they always had a player designated to load up a back pocket or a shoe with neutral shoe polish. That guy would get the ball, put a slick on it, and get it back to the mound. Shiners were easy to throw, hard to hit.

I want to see a major league groundskeeper put up with a field covered in tiny bits of styrofoam. She'd wish she hadn't survived.

Expand full comment
Lee Judge's avatar

You're right, those groundskeepers get touchy. Trevor Vance once said he didn't mind baseball brawls, but wished they'd hold them on the dirt.

Expand full comment
Bud Simpson's avatar

I had a photo shoot early in Vance's career with the Royals. A CEO of a KC-based company wanted to be photographed on the pitcher's mound, with the iconic crown scoreboard in the background. The club approved. We made the arrangements, but as we stepped up and out of the visitors' dugout, Vance met us. We told him what we were doing, and he said, "Great! Just stay off the grass."

Expand full comment
bob's avatar

I'd often noticed the pitcher's "wave" prior to throwing a warm-up pitch; thanks for explaining what I was seeing.

Expand full comment
Lee Judge's avatar

Happy to be of service.

Expand full comment
Jen's avatar

I didn't know so much signaling is going on between the players, will watch closely at the next Padres game. Thanks for all the fun facts and as for Dynamite Lady, hmmm. She seems normal.

Expand full comment
Lee Judge's avatar

The players and coaches taught me to look for all this stuff and it makes the game way more entertaining which is why I like to share it with other fans. I saw Allison do her thing in St. Joseph, Missouri at a Jayhawk League game (a summer league for college players) and I thought so she packs her stuff up and drives to another minor league town and does it again the next night?

One of the tougher gigs in show business.

Expand full comment