Who Am I? & The Dedication & Re-creation of Butterball Field

[batmagadanleadoff]

Edgy MD wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: The slugger depicted on the front page of the newspaper above did not know it at the time, but by the time he joined the Mets organization, he had already played his final major league game. That's Glenn Davis, laughing about how phallic it is when the swoosh penetrates the loop in the Y.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: His major league career consisted of just 63 innings pitched, none of them with the Mets. He's Toppless and as far as I know, was never even photographed by The Man From Topps. Still, we're bringing him back for your quizzing pleasure.

... bringing back yesterday's unsolved quiz.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: His major league career consisted of just 63 innings pitched, none of them with the Mets. He's Toppless and as far as I know, was never even photographed by The Man From Topps. Still, we're bringing him back for your quizzing pleasure. ... bringing back yesterday's unsolved quiz.

He was a one year wonder. No. Make that a One Year Wonder.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: His major league career consisted of just 63 innings pitched, none of them with the Mets. He's Toppless and as far as I know, was never even photographed by The Man From Topps. Still, we're bringing him back for your quizzing pleasure. ... bringing back yesterday's unsolved quiz. He was a one year wonder. No. Make that a One Year Wonder.

Jesus Christ! I said I was bringing him back ferchrissakes.

[Zvon]

batmagadanleadoff wrote:

I know that guys face but not his name, I think. That don't help here. But for the record I know that guys face!

Yo, I was coloring a Westrum and dewatermarking a Seaver and I notice that both these pics are taken in the same little corner of the world, what, 5, 6 years apart? Same tree back there. Whoever that is up there, he might be in the same corner, different angle, can't tell. Don't see that section of fence that juts out. Trees don't seem to line up right.

[batmagadanleadoff]

But what about the structure coming out of the top of Seaver's head? Wait? Are you saying that just the Westrum and Seaver shots might be from the same location, or all three shots, including the unknown Met that I was bringing back, like I already said so?

[batmagadanleadoff]

The fence in the Westrum background is two square sections high. Not sure if I can tell in the Seaver shot.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: But what about the structure coming out of the top of Seaver's head?

It might not be visible from the Westrum angle. Wes is standing much closer to the foul line.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I know that guys face but not his name, I think. That don't help here. But for the record I know that guys face! Yo, I was coloring a Westrum and dewatermarking a Seaver and I notice that both these pics are taken in the same little corner of the world, what, 5, 6 years apart? Same tree back there. Whoever that is up there, he might be in the same corner, different angle, can't tell. Don't see that section of fence that juts out. Trees don't seem to line up right.

I now agree. Wes and Tom are standing in the same area of the Mets Spring Training complex. So is Bill Sudakis (below): The street-light over Sudakis's left shoulder is the giveaway. I think there's a good chance that the pitcher I was bringing back also posed in that same area, but before the cage-like structure was built.



Plus, you could tell from the Sudakis photo that the object coming out of Seaver's head is a wooden telephone pole.

[Edgy MD]

Sudakis has a shine on his shoes that Seaver lacks. Pro's pro my ass.

[Zvon]

I now agree. Wes and Tom are standing in the same area of the Mets Spring Training complex. So is Bill Sudakis (below): The street-light over Sudakis's left shoulder is the giveaway. I think there's a good chance that the pitcher I was bringing back also posed in that same area, but before the cage-like structure was built. Plus, you could tell from the Sudakis photo that the object coming out of Seaver's head is a wooden telephone pole.

"Bring back" seems to be a clue that means a lot. But I don't get it. I know his face though!
Swing him around to the foul line and maybe those trees line up. I'm thinking close, a field over?

The Sudakis is a keeper.

[Zvon]

whoops, didnt include the guy.

I think we all know who this is. But what in the name of all that is orange and blue is with that Dodger uni? I don't think I've ever seen this exact piping on their jersey before.


I won't break with tradition but I will talk about the game here. Okay, I get it, you got guts Zack. Too many pitches Mr Wheeler.

Nice throw out by d'!

[batmagadanleadoff]

Zvon wrote: whoops, didnt include the guy. I think we all know who this is. But what in the name of all that is orange and blue is with that Dodger uni? I don't think I've ever seen this exact piping on their jersey before. I won't break with tradition but I will talk about the game here. Okay, I get it, you got guts Zack. Too many pitches Mr Wheeler. Nice throw out by d'!

That's the Dodgers one year only 1971 road uniform, with one stripe running along the top of each shoulder.

[Zvon]

It looks both bush and retro. Then. And now.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Zvon wrote: "Bring back" seems to be a clue that means a lot. But I don't get it. I know his face though!

I'm gonna call him "B.B." from now on. For "Bring Back".

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Zvon wrote: "Bring back" seems to be a clue that means a lot. But I don't get it. I know his face though! I'm gonna call him "B.B." from now on. For "Bring Back".

I'm bringing back this quiz.

BB was the winning pitcher in the Mets first win ever.

[batmagadanleadoff]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: Zvon wrote: "Bring back" seems to be a clue that means a lot. But I don't get it. I know his face though! I'm gonna call him "B.B." from now on. For "Bring Back". I'm bringing back this quiz. BB was the winning pitcher in the Mets first win ever.

His name rhymes with Cobb Snots.

[G-Fafif]

Bring Back Butterball Botz!!!!

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Bring Back Butterball Botz!!!!

What the hell took you so long?

[batmagadanleadoff]

Bring Back Butterball Botz!!!! What the hell took you so long?

From Bob's Custom Cards:

[G-Fafif]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: G-Fafif wrote: Bring Back Butterball Botz!!!! What the hell took you so long?

The "bring back" thing actually threw me at first, like we had him in the minors, traded him, got him back, gave him one of those spring tryouts...and then the Bobby Valentine photo sent me in another direction altogether, like he was a throw-in to the deal that sent B.B. to the Angels.

Plus, let's face it, he doesn't look so Butterballish.

[batmagadanleadoff]

[G-Fafif]

Lenny Shecter's version:

When the Mets returned to the Polo Grounds to play the Cardinals on Opening Day [1963], the fans were already in mid-season form. One of their banners read: "BRING BACK BUTTERBALL BOTZ."

Botz, Shecter also noted, "was so bad Dawes Hamilt could hit line drives off him."

[batmagadanleadoff]

Lenny Shecter's version: When the Mets returned to the Polo Grounds to play the Cardinals on Opening Day [1963], the fans were already in mid-season form. One of their banners read: "BRING BACK BUTTERBALL BOTZ." Botz, Shecter also noted, "was so bad Dawes Hamilt could hit line drives off him."

I love that book.

[Zvon]

Bob "Butterball" Botz. I shan't ever forget.

[batmagadanleadoff]

G-Fafif wrote: Lenny Shecter's version: When the Mets returned to the Polo Grounds to play the Cardinals on Opening Day [1963], the fans were already in mid-season form. One of their banners read: "BRING BACK BUTTERBALL BOTZ." Botz, Shecter also noted, "was so bad Dawes Hamilt could hit line drives off him."

Shecter's version, in which a fan banner is the medium for the slogan, is the more familiar version. I tried surfing for that version, but could not find it, so I went with Isaac's tale instead. Did you type your post from Shecter's book?

[G-Fafif]

Lenny Shecter's version: When the Mets returned to the Polo Grounds to play the Cardinals on Opening Day [1963], the fans were already in mid-season form. One of their banners read: "BRING BACK BUTTERBALL BOTZ." Botz, Shecter also noted, "was so bad Dawes Hamilt could hit line drives off him." Shecter's version, in which a fan banner is the medium for the slogan, is the more familiar version. I tried surfing for that version, but could not find it, so I went with Isaac's tale instead. Did you type your post from Shecter's book?

Yup.

Maybe they both had it. People yell and write LET'S GO METS.

[Zvon]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: BB was the winning pitcher in the Mets first win ever.

So this was a spring training game? He did not make the database, no MLB time. Gimme some stats I'll make a card for him front and back.

I have to look more at Bobw's work. I only found my way there recently. He might be the best.

[batmagadanleadoff]

This one-time Met and San Diego Rule V pick never got to play for the Padres. He then landed in Pittsburgh -- traded in exchange for the expansion team's future all-star catcher, Chris Cannizzaro. Cannizaro was once a Met, too, by the way. And even appeared on a baseball card as a Met. And continued to appear on a baseball card as a Met even when he wasn't a Met anymore by a good many years. But that's a whole 'nuther story by itself and this post isn't really supposed to be about Chris Cannizzaro. The man in the Padres uniform above didn't get to play for the Pirates, just like he didn't get to play for the Padres. And then he ran out teams that were interested in him. But The Man From Topps couldn't resist shooting anything in those original snazzy Padres unis.

[Zvon]

I found something. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=botzbo01


I know his face. That gap toothed smile. But not the name.