What's My Line?

[Guest Edgy DC]

This one is for the old guys.

Once upon a time, a true fan knew what his team's players did in the offseason, back when player salaries were low enough that most players who didn't play winter ball had to do something besides work out all winter.

Match the 1966 Met to his off-season job or other biographical detail from the 1966 media guide.

Chris Canniazaro Bill Denehy Jack Fisher Shaun Fitzmaurice Jerry Grote Ed Kranepool Johnny Lewis Al Luplow Tug McGraw Roy McMillan Dennis Ribant Johnny Stephenson

A rancher during off-season. Continues education at Notre Dame in off-season. He's been an assistant basketball coach for the past three seasons at his alma mater, William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS. Joined the U.S. Marines September 23rd after pitching in Pittsburgh the previous night. Spurned a contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Lived in a trailer on Long Island in off-season with wife and child while working in a men's clothing store. Obtained stockbroker's license during the winter. Partner in an a wholesale pizza business. Also an insurance agent. Spent off-season on active duty with the U.S. Army. Wife, Beverly, is a former airline stewardess. Worked as a clothing salesman in offseason. Works as photographic salesman in the off-season. Year-round resident of New York last year, working for a trucking firm in the off-season.

[Guest iramets]

How zis?


Chris Canniazaro Wife, Beverly, is a former airline stewardess.

Bill Denehy Spent off-season on active duty with the U.S. Army.

Jack Fisher Year-round resident of New York last year, working for a trucking firm in the off-season.

Shaun Fitzmaurice Continues education at Notre Dame in off-season.

Jerry Grote Works as photographic salesman in the off-season.

Ed Kranepool Obtained stockbroker's license during the winter.

Johnny Lewis Worked as a clothing salesman in offseason.

Al Luplow Partner in an a wholesale pizza business. Also an insurance agent.

Tug McGraw Joined the U.S. Marines September 23rd after pitching in Pittsburgh the previous night.

Roy McMillan A rancher during off-season.

Dennis Ribant Spurned a contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Lived in a trailer on Long Island in off-season with wife and child while working in a men's clothing store.

Johnny Stephenson He's been an assistant basketball coach for the past three seasons at his alma mater, William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sounds like you're either sporting a media guide or yearbook of your own.

[Guest iramets]

Nope. Good memory, is all. I was guessing on whose wife was Beverly, who had served inthe army (I was left with only Cannizaro and Denehy at the end) and it was a good guess that Shaun Fitzmaurice might have gone to ND (and have been a rookie who didn't have a real job at the time, since I dont remember him playing for the team.) A few more were educated guesses (I vaguely recalled seeing a picture of Johnny Lewis selling clothes) and some were totally solid--McGraw joining the Marines was a snap (he wrote about that extesively in his autobios) and Ed K. worked as a stockbroker for a while, etc. I just read a UMDB memory last week (when Ribant's name came up here--you remember that shutout Yancy Street Gang cited from 1965) from someone who lived in a trailer park next door to Ribant.

The shit I keep stored in my head is pretty incredible, considering that I can't find my painkillers the dentist prescribed on Thursday. Vicodan, where art thou? Oh, Vico-dan!!!

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, then, you get top marks --- 12 for freakin' 12. Next time I don't list the names, and just ask, "Which 1966 Met lived in a trailer on Long Island?"

[Guest iramets]

Danny Erickson knows that answer.

[Frayed Knot]

I would've gone 0-fer-12 on that one.

Try this one which was Ken Davidoff's weekly "Pop Quiz".
He's been running these for at least a year now (I should steal them for a reg feature here) where he asks about a baseball figure who fits into a pop culture trivia question somehow.

Anyway, this week's was:
What memeber of the 1960's Mets appeared in several films with Gene Hackman, often as his stand-in?

[Guest iramets]

That would be Greg Goossen.

[Frayed Knot]

Yes it would

[Guest Edgy DC]

Jerry Grote: photographic salesman.

[Frayed Knot]

btw, Davidoff accepts suggestions for his weekly 'Pop Quiz' - so if you have any tidbits about ballplayers connections to the world of the silver screen or the small screen you can send them along if see if he uses it.