Category: Sherm Lollar (Page 7 of 9)

Chicago White Sox Catcher

Old Sport Shorts: Bear Down #796

January 5, 2019 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Bears are up – not down – although it’s time to “Bear Down.” No one does it better than linebacker Khalil Mack, the “Black and Blue Man” version of a Mack Truck. He has 12.5 quarterback sacks this season, six forced fumbles, and one interception for a touchdown. #52 led the “Monsters of the Midway” defense to an 11-5 record and the NFC North Title. This effort even caused me to buy a new hooded sweatshirt, after many years of frustration. Although the transaction at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport last Sunday morning may have resulted in my credit card being compromised?

I would probably have more confidence in my Bears against the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles tomorrow if the offense was equally effective. The Eagles were fortunate to earn a Wild Card berth after a bit to much off-season bragging. Da’ Bears, on the other hand, haven’t won it since 1985, when I was half as old as I am right now. That was a special year with a sole loss to the Miami Dolphins, who in the process were able to secure their still-standing “Perfect Season” accomplishment of 1972.

I would like to be comfortable with Bear’s quarterback #10 Mitchell Trubisky. I already have a place in my heart for his uniform number thanks to my baseball idol Sherm Lollar of the White Sox. A few weeks ago I also bought a “Sherm Freakin’ Lollar” t-shirt to muster a few yuks out of my fellow baseball card collectors. They know me as the only guy in the world that collects his cards and memorabilia despite the fact that he’s not even a Hall of Famer. My justification is that the cost of collecting is not as high as the super stars, and he was my true connection between baseball and childhood. This was simply the result of the televised 1959 World Series. The White Sox lost to the Dodgers, but Sherm won a fan for life.

Walter Payton of the Bears has a place on my office wall. “Sweetness” was part of that ’85 Bears Championship. When the team finally returned to the elusive Superbowl of 2007, my allegiance was fractured between the Bears and Colts, dating back to another childhood hero Johnny Unitas. I was a Baltimore Colts fan long before I was a Bears Fan, and when they moved to my then hometown of Indianapolis I was a big supporter. I attended training camps, sold advertising in their games, did promotions & commercials with the team, had personal relationships with coaches & players, and was frequently on the sidelines or a suite. Ironically, I had transferred to Decatur, Illinois, home of the original Bears franchise, when they clashed in Superbowl XLI. I could not pick a favorite.

I’m following the Colts game as I write this; fascinated with Andrew Luck’s return and T.Y. Hilton’s resilience. Plus, they have a Mack of their own. The remarkable Colts are also the first team in history to make the NFL Playoffs after a 1-5 start. I just hope that both the Bears and Colts don’t reach the Super Bowl again, even though I don’t want either team to lose. The Bears game tomorrow is on at the same time as the I.U. vs. Michigan basketball game. I will have to split my time watching. Or, I might get stuck going to the King Tut exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The sad thing is that the Bears are finally televised in Portland after weeks of being forced to follow only bits and pieces of their drives on the Red Zone telecasts. It was frustrating that they were having such a great season, and I could never watch them. They may have to last another week just so I can concentrate solely on watching a Bears game this year, as opposed to dividing my afternoon between I.U., King Tut, and The Bears.

I.U. basketball is also having a good season with a deceptive 11-2 record, 3-0 in the BIG. The concern is that their victories have been against the bottom three teams in the conference by narrow margins, along with a thorough thumping against Duke. Tomorrow they will face an undefeated Michigan team that is both leading the BIG Ten and nationally ranked. Indiana doesn’t seem to have the muscle (a.k.a. thugs) to handle the interior. Their next six conference games are on the road against top opponents, so we’ll be fortunate to win even two of those games. By the end of January, I could have a sour impression of this year’s version of the Hoosiers. I’m also worried that I may end up watching much more of the Bears game, if the I.U. team gets off to another bad start. Unfortunately, I could end up turning off the TV all together if either team doesn’t “Bear Down.”

Colts Win! A good Luck and Mack attack prevails!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Un-collecting #727

November 5, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I’ve spent a lifetime collecting memories, souvenirs, keepsakes, and other tokens of remembrance. In many cases, even though I paid for them, they really have no value other than personal. They are all only worth what someone else is willing to pay, even those that might have appreciated in value. My wife collects Broadway posters & programs, Fiesta dinnerware, Limoges, signed cookbooks, silverware, jewelry, magnets, and china. She’s inherited Hummel figurines and antique crystal glassware from her mother. My mother left me a stamp collection and lots of photographs. She also collected sewing thimbles and miniatures, that inspired some of my interests in collecting, whereas my father was not a collector, disturbed by anything resembling clutter. Later in life, he put together a small collection of walking sticks, but kept them neatly organized in a corner of the house.

My neighbor growing-up collected baseball cards and coins, so I became interested in these items. Any hobby can get expensive especially if you’re collecting money, so I limited my enthusiasm to pennies. I have yet to finish a collection of Lincoln head cents dating back to 1909. In the last couple years, I’ve gone back to baseball cards as a retirement project, but I’ve tried to stay away from Hall of Fame players because they logically command the highest prices. I’ve also built collections of cuff-links, ties, and suspenders in keeping with my Dapper Dan business image that I tried to maintain while working. With any type of collecting, it’s all about supply and demand; if something is wanted and there are few in existence then the value increases. Thanks to all those moms that threw out childhood baseball card collections from the 1950’s and 60’s, prices on Mickey Mantle cards, for example, have gone through the roof. In the case of collecting pennies, worth is solely determined by the number of coins that were originally minted and current condition.

I’ve spent time in retirement organizing my collectibles and adding to them, even though I should probably be divesting. My son will be interested in some of my baseball memorabilia, but my extensive Sherm Lollar collection is probably not of interest to anyone. He was my favorite player growing up, a catcher for the Chicago White Sox in the 60’s and early 70’s. He will probably never be a Hall of Fame inductee, even though he was arguably the greatest defensive catcher in history. Cooperstown seems to be reserved for great pitchers and offensive powerhouses that often made good pitching look bad. He was my retirement foyer into collecting baseball cards again since most of his cards and memorabilia are affordable. It gave me a good sense of the variety of cards that were produced over the 17-year span of his playing career followed by several coaching stints. He touched the lives of many HOF members along the way from Yogi Berra to Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson. Who was that Masked Man? (See Post #5) and how to eventually get rid of this collection?

At this stage of life, we should be un-collecting rather than collecting, divesting rather than investing. Otherwise, my heirs are going to be stuck with a bunch of stuff that they don’t want. As I’ve learned, it’s much easier to collect things than to get rid of them. I know our family won’t be interested in items like stamps, magnets, cookbooks, photos, porcelain boxes, and even silver service. They take up a lot of space and are a dime-a-dozen on e-Bay. Ideally, we’d like to find people that value these things as much as we do, but without the joy of collecting throughout the years, they are nothing but a pile of junk. It’s a shame that in as we get older, we finally develop the financial resources to buy things we are passionate about, only to realize that they are items that nobody else wants. As they say, “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure,” well it also goes to prove that one man’s treasures are another man’s junk!

Old Sport Shorts: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly #673

September 25, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It was impossible for all my teams to win yesterday, since the Cubs and White Sox were playing each other. The White Sox season was essentially over Saturday night when the Cubs claimed the Crosstown Cup in addition to gaining even greater odds for post-season play. It was good to get back to the ball park – regardless of the name. As I looked down over the parking lot from the top of Guaranteed Rate Field, I could see the outline of the original Comiskey Park home plate that my baseball hero Sherm Lollar crouched behind for many years. (See Post #5). I also got to see “The Monster” spew fireworks after a White Sox home run, although I had to leave the concession line to watch it. By the way, the lines for food were a big hassle compared to other parks I have visited – it’s too bad that Bill Veeck isn’t still around to fix that problem. He would have been outraged at the lack of efficiency. (See Post #257). It was a flood of memories, and a much needed “W” for the visiting Cubs. The Magic Number is now down to just 5. On the NFL front, my other Chicago favorite, The Mack-revitalized Bears, pulled off a come-from-behind victory over the Arizona Cardinals to somehow lead the NFC North, while the bottom-dwelling Lions upset the evil Patriots. Oh, and the Cleveland Browns finally won a football game. All “Good.”

The “Bad” of weekend sports included the Colts loss to the Eagles and the I.U. defeat by the Michigan State Spartans. In both cases, the “L”was predictable, but I was hoping for the upset. It was a “welcome to the BIG” message to the undefeated Hoosiers, and no-Luck in the Red Zone for the visiting Colts against the defending Super Bowl Champs.

On the “Ugly” side, I should include the 10-4 loss by the Cubs, as White Sox bats prevailed in the Crosstown series opener. I was glad the Sox got one victory, so it was a good ugly. Maybe next year? – as we say good-bye to legendary Chicago broadcaster Hawk Harrelson. Meanwhile, back home in Oregon, the Ducks displayed the crowning jewel of college football ugliness. They managed to blow a comfortable 24-7 half-time lead over favored Stanford. They had the game firmly in hand in the waning seconds, until those hands failed them. A costly fumble allowed the Cardinal to win against the ugly ducklings, a thing of swan-like beauty for the visiting fans in red. I admit to “seeing red” myself as the ball popped loose. OMG!

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is a Clint Eastwood classic. It also best describes my sports-related emotions over the past four or five days. The week ahead is critical, as the MLB Playoff stretch-drive unfolds. I’m worried! The Cubs could raise their ugly heads by squandering a narrow Division lead to the Brewers and then losing the Wildcard spot to the Cardinals. Let’s hope not, but that could be the Ultimate Ugly!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Hobbies revisited #659

September 11, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

I returned to childhood today, spending a couple of hours trading baseball cards with a friend. He lured me to his home with the promise of a unique item involving my baseball hero, Sherman Lollar of the Chicago White Sox. I dropped our two dogs off for grooming and spent time with him, looking through cards and websites for missing pieces of my collection. Baseball cards have become an unexpected retirement hobby, as is also the case with genealogy. In fact, just three years ago, I was worried about finding interesting things to do after I turned 65 and could afford to retire. In retrospect, hiring a therapist was probably unnecessary, but she helped me focus on looking ahead, as I began to “practice for retirement.” (See Poetic Post #8).

Today, I didn’t even think about having lunch. I ran my usual 5k, did some shopping errands, stopped at McDonald’s for a Diet Coke boost, got gas then a haircut, organized the baseball cards that I bought, and before I knew it the doggy spa was calling for pick-up. Two trips downtown were without much hassle and even the drive to Gladstone went quickly. Once I got the dogs home, it was time to put the pre-cooked Austin brisket that we bought in the oven for an hour-and-a-half. Tomorrow, George Morlan Plumbing is coming to install our new tank-less water heater. While they are working in the garage, I’ll do some vacuuming and dusting. “Date Night” is preempted by an American Heart Association Board Meeting that my wife is required to attend. It will give me more time to catch-up on my writing. I have put all my volunteer commitments on hold until I get tired of “my time.” (See Poetic Post #30). The subjects of “retirement practice,” “alone time,” and “redefining days of the week” were key topics when I first started writing this blog. It feels good to reflect back on those early days of retirement, knowing that I can easily keep busy. As the sign on my home office desk emphasizes, “IT’S NOT EASY – pretending to work this hard all day long.” It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

I just watched the Cubs get the “W” and continue to replay episodes of Ozark, searching for a few missing details that I must have overlooked the first time through. I didn’t even have time today to get to the library to pick-up the Ken Burns documentary I have on hold. That will be next week’s project before we head to Chicago. I also got a reminder from our travel agent about a flight change for next year’s 10-day trip to Thailand. Travel planning has obviously been a big part of my retirement gig with 70 nights away from home already this year, and another 20 scheduled before the new year. This will exceed my original 80/20 plan (See Post #323).

I’ve completed 5 items on my list of “67 Things to Do Before I’m 68” with more than 11 months to go. (See Post #642). Plus, I’m still excited to go to the mailbox each day, searching for hidden treasure. Today, it was nothing but junk mail, but yesterday there were 401k updates, travel guides, and packages of baseball cards that I ordered. Each package takes me back to the delivery of my Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, footlocker of army soldiers, and other over-hyped childish premiums that took forever to get here and were often disappointing once they arrived. I ordered a few more coveted items today for my Sherm Lollar memorabilia notebook, and may have found a fellow collector through an on-line trading post. My “card dealer” friend this morning presented me with a 1963 White Sox ticket stub from Sherm Lollar’s last game. It was every bit as exciting to me as a decoder ring delivered by the postman, or the model Edsel that I never got for Christmas, but bought for myself just a few years ago. To each their own, when it comes to collecting and other retirement projects!

Retirement is not without Hassles: Free Fallin’ #623

August 10, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

It was about a year ago that my wife and I traveled to Seattle to see Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at Safeco Field. Even though it wasn’t an up-close-and-personal kind of concert, we were glad we made the trip because two months later he was dead from a drug overdose. It was during this trip that I posed with a sign marking Pier 66 on the waterfront, and used the picture to commemorate the beginning of my 66th year. October 2, 2017, the day his death was officially announced, we went to a Coldplay concert here in Portland where they opened the show by doing Free Fallin’ as a tribute. A week later we were in Santa Monica where another picture was taken in front of the sign marking the end/beginning of Route 66. (See Post #235) Both Route 66 and the song Free Fallin” have been reoccurring themes all year long. As another birthday approaches, I’m now curious what will be the focus of year 67?

Will it center around the year 1967, my Sophomore year of high school? Turkmenistan is country code #67. Should I go there? According to numerologists, “the number 67 is highly focused on creating or maintaining a secure foundation for the family.” Does this mean spending more time in Banister World? (See Post #422). Or should I just randomly go to Post #67 for answers? “Schnauzer of Steroids” is not exactly the deep insight I’m looking for. November 2nd will be the 67th day of my 67th year. Maybe that will be significant? Or, like last year, will it just happen?

Last night, Train did a version of Free Fallin’ and Patrick Monahan appealed to the crowd to “sing-along loud so Tom can hear us.” Last Saturday, we heard a Tom Petty cover band sing it live again. The Killers did a version for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Opening. There are a multitude of “Tributes” being held this year all over the world. I feel like I’m “Free Fallin” out of my 66th year.

“She’s a good girl, loves her mama
Loves Jesus and America too
She’s a good girl, crazy ’bout Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too
It’s a long day, livin’ in Reseda
There’s a freeway, runnin’ through the yard
And I’m a bad boy, cause I don’t even miss her
I’m a bad boy for breakin’ her heart

[Chorus]
And I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
Yeah I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)

[Verse 2]
All the vampires, walkin’ through the valley
Move west down Ventura Boulevard
And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
And the good girls are home with broken hearts

[Chorus]
And I’m free, I’m free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
Yeah I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)

[Verse 3]

I wanna glide down over Mulholland

I wanna write her name in the sky

I’m gonna free fall out into nothin’

Gonna leave this world for awhile

[Chorus]
And I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
Yeah I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
And I’m free, free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
Oh!
Free fallin’
(Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)
And I’m free, oh! free fallin’

I did not get to the other end of Route 66, as planned last month. Although I was in Chicago, I did not get to the intersection of Lake Shore and Jackson where a sign is posted. I did stop in Litchfield, Illinois on way to St. Louis a few months ago for some pictures at their historic museum. (See Post #568). I’ve “gotten my kicks” in Amarillo, TX, Tulsa, OK, and have driven sections through Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri, but never end-to-end. There is a Route 67 that extends 1,560 miles from Presidio, TX to Sabula, Iowa, but not quite as famous. We’ve driven that road near Texarkana and Dallas, but no one has ever written a song about it.

As I leave my 66th year and start my 67th, I reflect back on a great year of music, sports, travel, and discovery. My newest grand daughter, Nora Grace, was born, I’ve created an extensive family tree encompassing newly-uncovered, suspected birth parents, celebrated 17 years of marriage, and continued my running streak. Good health prevails with an optimist outlook for another exciting year of “free-fallin’ freedom” – whatever 67 ultimately delivers?

Old Sport Shorts: Pesky #592

July 8, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

The Come-back Cubs have won two straight come-from-behind, late-inning games from the Reds, while the White Sox lost four straight to the Astros. The Cubs were actually down 7-2 during my baseball card luncheon, but had rallied by the time I got home, after I had prematurely bashed them to my co-collectors. I don’t mind my typical lack of optimism, or being completely wrong, considering the victory – whatever it takes to get the “W!” I took home with me a like-new, vintage 1960’s catcher’s mitt endorsed by Sherm Lollar, as well as some other cool items for my collection. Plus, I added over 200 baseball cards to my collection and a foot-high autographed, cut-out of “Charlie Hustle,” gamblin’ Pete Rose. “Mini-Pete” will have to meet Yadi. (See Post #174) and pose for some photos. I last saw Yadi at last year’s All Star Game in Miami. I’m proud to say that he will be replaced this year as the starting National League catcher by Willson Contreras of the Cubs. Yadi Molina will surely be a Cooperstown inductee, while Sherm Lollar and Pete Rose are both still in the parking lot waiting for the nod. Today’s Cub victory was a result of an extra-inning walk-off WALK!

The Sherm Lollar autographed mitt is on display in my office, next to the 1950’s version of the same glove (See Post # 505). There were some Cubs and White Sox players mixed-in with the batch of 1960 Topps cards that I bought for $1 each, but no players of Hall-of-Fame stature that typically command much higher prices. I also got a copy of the book, The Grand Old Minor League, by Dick Dobbins, who identifies the book “an oral history of the Old Pacific Coast League.” I had my new buddy, 96-year old Vince Paveskovich sign one of the pages, after being introduced to him for the first time by my friend Matt yesterday. He’s as close to a Hall-of-Famer that I’ve ever met. His brother Johnny is known as “Mr. Red Sox,” and the right field foul pole at Fenway Park in Boston is named “Pesky Pole” in his honor. It’s the shortest home run in the Majors, just 302 feet from home plate, although Johnny himself, a contact hitter, only had 17 career home runs (6 at Fenway). He’s a member of the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame, who’s uniform #6 is retired in the exclusive company of Bobby Doerr #1, Joe Cronin #4, Carl Yastrzemski #8, Ted Williams #9, Jim Rice #14, Carlton Fisk #27, and Pedro Martinez #45.

The entire baseball family is from the Portland, Oregon area, but Vince “Pesky” Paveskovich has out-lived siblings Johnny, Tony, Ann, and Millie. Only older sister Catherine, who lives at Maryville Nursing Home and recently celebrated 100-years still apparently survives. Vince now lives at the Regency Park Assisted Living Facility, and greeted Matt and I with open arms. He claims that “we made his day,” but really he made ours. Matt had actually given me the book and “Mini-Pete,” both prizes he had won at the baseball luncheon. He already had a copy of the book, as a serious collector of Pacific League memorabilia, and felt no real connection to the Big Red Machine, so kindly let me keep both. He’s known and visited Vince for years, and I’m glad he took me to finally meet him. I think we’ll go back to honor his upcoming 97th birthday with beer and pizza, especially since it falls the same week as both of ours.

The picture at the top of this post shows Vince and I holding a plaque with a photo of him and Jackie Robinson as displayed in his place of honor at Regency Park. Although his hearing is impaired, his enthusiasm certainly is not. He talked about how the brothers earned their “Pesky” nick-name because of their trouble-making nature that is obviously still part of his spirit. I’m sure he’s quite the character with the care-givers, and that they enjoy his celebrity friendliness. He played four years of baseball and championship hockey at nearby Lincoln High School. He then pitched four years at the University of Portland and two years in the New York Yankees farm system, before returning to his alma mater as head baseball coach. Vince was impressed with the Oregon State Beavers “NATIONAL CHAMPS” t-shirt that I was wearing, having earned it by attending the College World Series last week. It brought back memories of his playing days in Omaha. He was also thrilled that his native Croatia had just beaten Russia in soccer’s World Cup.

Vince chuckled as he told us the story about a black childhood friend, Billy Bell, who went on to be a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II. Bell was shot down over Croatia and only his familiarity with the language that he learned from Vince’s mom (words like apple and bread) ultimately saved him. Rather than executing this black stranger who somehow spoke Croatian, they put him underground and spared his life. His stories like this were charming, but his local influence as a coach, teacher, and administrator for 44-years makes him one of the most beloved sports icons of Portland. It all started when the two brothers were in grade school. Vince was bat boy for the Portland Beavers, while brother Johnny was clubhouse boy. This is why I was thrilled when he signed his autograph next to the Portland Beavers jersey in my book, but I was most impressed that he remembered the name Sherm Lollar and recognized him as a great catcher.

Thanks, Matt for a great day! It will give us all something to talk about at the next Leadership Meeting.

Old Sport Shorts: World Stage #591

July 7, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

Today I’m headed to a baseball card luncheon, where I hope to add a couple of items to the Sherm Lollar collection. My friend Joe is doing a presentation on identifying reproductions and fakes, that can be the scourge of any collector. I have two items in my office that are reproductions, including a glass sign for Comiskey Park tickets and the front page of the Chicago Daily News from September 28, 1920. The headline reads, “EIGHT OF WHITE SOX INDICTED.” It is clearly identified as a re-print on the back, but framed it appears to be original. Both of these where given to me by Joe, who spends his free time at garage sales, antique shows, and estate sales looking for hidden treasure. Being able to identify non-originals is a skill, much like in the art world. When you make a big investment in a collectible, you want to be sure it’s authentic, so Joe is a valuable resource to our baseball card group. Is it real or fake? “Joe will Know.”

Yesterday’s “Leadership Luncheon” was at Buffalo Wild Wings, as usual. However, the place was abnormally packed for the World Cup match between Belgium and Brazil, and the crowd was lively. I was also watching the Cubs lose their fifth straight game to the Reds, a team that has improved dramatically since overcoming a bad start and some management changes earlier this season. The Cubs are currently two games behind the Brewers as the All-Star break approaches, and hold a similar position as to last year in the Central Division standings. (See Post #196). On the positive side, the Cubs infield has performed much better than last year with several All-Star candidates on the slate, including Javier Baez who recently stole home for the second time this season. Kris Bryant continues to be on the disabled list but is still a top vote-getter. Outfielders Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber, and Ben Zobrist have each shown improvement over last year’s “hangover” to start the season. Willson Contreras continues to be a rising star in proving himself to be a world-class catcher.

This morning, television sports are all about the world stage, as the Tour de France gets into gear, and England beat Switzerland to be the first World Cup finalist. I enjoy watching both of these events, but baseball still tends to be my favorite this time of year. Basketball has recently gotten a lot more attention than normal with Lebron James, DeMarcus Cousins, and Carmelo Anthony dominating the headlines. I’m also looking forward to the start of Indiana University basketball this fall. In the meantime, the first sprint to the Stage 1 finish has just begun.

I have not been to a World Cup, Tour de France, NBA All-Star game or even a Super Bowl, but I’ve crossed-off most of the baseball goals off my bucket list these past couple years. Honestly, none of these are a majority priority since they all involve big crowds, ugly fans, and overpriced tickets (that could be fake). “Joe will Know.”

Retirement is not without Hassles: My Life by the alphabet: #586

July 3, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

If I had to describe my life alphabetically, this would be my answer:

A Adam my only son; A- blood type; Albion College Sigma Chi; 5-year Austin resident; Alpha Media President’s Club

B Banister at birth; Burt my dad; Baseball cards; Burger Chef & B.J. Thompson; Blue Blazers; Beardsley Bombers

C Certification with RAB & IAB; mother Cathy; NewsCenter 17; ACBJ Chairman’s Club; Colts; Coverdale Lake

Dee loving wife of now 17 years; Daytona 500 w/grand kids; Detroit Marathon; Diet Coke; George Dickel; Disney

E Eliza, my daughter-in-law; Elkhart High School graduation; Eagle Lake; Ernie Banks; Ford Edsel

F France trips, Future European travel, Final Fours, and World Series Finals

G Gavyn my first and only Grandson; Greek Parthenon visitor

H Homes in Indy, Sarasota, Edwardsburg, Union, Zionsville, Decatur, Austin, and Portland; Hall of Ivy

I Italy, my favorite country to visit; Indiana born Hoosier; Indy 500 team member; Indy Ad Club President

J Johnston name for life at adoption; Judy, my sister’s name; johnstonwrites.com

K Kitties named Marilee, Macey, Dimey, & Frankie; KXL, KINK, KXTG, KUFO, KUPL, KBFF, WE 96.3; Kidney Stones

L Lin Television retirement pension, Love of sports; Sherm Lollar; Lake Decatur; Lookwell Dairy; Limoges Boxes

M Megan & Miranda step-daughters, Granddaughter Maddux; Marriott Rewards; Middlebury Independent; Mustang

N Nora Grace my youngest Granddaughter born this year; North Side Junior High; No Alaska or Maine

O Over 40 years in the media business including agency, radio, digital, newspaper, magazine, & TV

P Politics, religion, & Bobby Knight not to be discussed; Portland current home; Poet; John Purdue Club

Q Quit working last year to retire at 65; Qualified blog writer

R Running Streak of 10 years; FOX 12 Hood to Coast Relayteam; Reggie Miller Pacers fan; Rice Krispies; Roxie

S Schnauzers: Gizmo, Tinker, Tally, and Roxie; States lived: Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Oregon. Sherm Lollar fan.

T Toastmaster’s DTM, TV GM; Travel enthusiast; Toyota Solara; Taylor Univ. Jr. BB camp; Timbers; Top Dog Award

U University of Indiana (IU) diploma; Ukulele player wanna-be

V Viking Cruises to Normandy, Athens, and soon Egypt; Volcano Pizza

W World cruise on bucket list; White Sox, Bears & Cubs; WYEZ, WTRC, WIBC radio; WISH, WLFI, WAND TV

X-Wife Marcia of 27 years

Y is for Yesterday the last book that my favorite author Sue Grafton wrote as part of her alphabet series

Z Zanna my 96-year old Mother-in-Law

Retirement is not without Hassles: It’s a Wrap #568

June 18, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

We wrapped-up our 1,100 mile drive through the Midwest, with a Cubs victory over the Cardinals and a flight out of St. Louis. This included an unexpected stop at the Route 66 museum in Litchfield, Illinois. With my 66th year of life coming to a conclusion in a few short months, this famous road has been an unplanned lure during our travels throughout the country. (See Post #235). Next month, I will get a picture at Lake Shore Dr. and Jackson Street in Chicago where the highway originally started. A Cubs game will also be part of that trip.

Speaking of baseball, Litchfield turns out to be the home town of Chicago White Sox Hall of Fame catcher Ray Schalk, who preceded Sherm Lollar by 25-years behind the plate at Comiskey Park. Both were known for their defense, but Sherm never made it to Cooperstown (yet). Ray made his debut with the Sox on August 11, 1912 and played in the 1919 World Series loss that became known as the “Black Sox Scandal.” He also coached the Chicago Cubs in 1930 & 1931, and served as a scout for the team in 1944, and spent the last 18 years of his career as the baseball coach for the Purdue Boilermakers.

The drive to and from St. Louis passed through Indianapolis, Rochester, Kokomo, and Decatur, Illinois. We stayed two nights with my wife’s sister, one night in a Quality Inn, and 5 nights in a variety of Marriott properties, using a bank of points I received for joining the Marriott Vacation Club. My wife claims that I love my Marriott points more than her, so I wrote this poem to recap our adventure:

Marriott Tour

A week together,

Back Home Again.

It ends with the Cubs,

Who pulled off a win.

Their “Arch rival,”

Didn’t play well.

All that Cardinal red,

Randy and Noelle.

Started and ended,

With nights at The Grand.

Would have rather,

Had our toes in the sand.

Mom business,

Had us on the run.

Errands and Appointments,

Were not much fun.

But there were moments,

Like meeting Cole.

And dinner with friends,

Your fav Dover Sole.

Blasts from the past,

More plans for travel.

Cemetery moments,

Emotions unravel.

A run on the Nickel Plate,

And through the canals.

Food and beer,

With my old pals.

Two Dyer nights,

Plenty of wine.

Murphy’s for steak,

Family time.

Ribs on the grill,

And at the Roadhouse.

Dietary support,

From your Spouse.

Some bad Chinese,

Near the Courtyard Kokomo.

Plus a ton of silver,

In our luggage to stow.

A few surprises,

Along the way.

“Would you give up your pay,

For a view of the Bay?”

Covington Beef House,

The one-hour tower.

Animal Shelter,

Boob-friendly shower.

A room atop Indy,

Then the fall to Fairfield.

The smell of Decatur,

Great friendship its yield.

Dinner at R-Bar,

With Ray as our host.

Just one of many a,

Shared Facebook post.

Kit’s retirement poem,

Talk of Rubberware.

Ninety-three degrees,

Humidity in the air.

Robbies for a nightcap,

Will we ever return again?

And If we do come back,

We’ll book the Residence Inn.

Museum in Litchfield.

Route 66 detour.

In my 66th year,

This road is a lure.

Father’s Day finish,

San Diego’s on our route?

With this Marriott Tour,

The points have run out.

Old Sport Shorts: Gold Glove #505

April 23, 2018 / mikeljohnston1 / 0 Comments

In 1957, sporting goods manufacturer Rawlings worked with Major League Baseball to create an annual Gold Glove Award. Last year was the 50th anniversary of the prestigious defensive award, issued each year by position. The very first award for an catcher was won by Sherman Lollar of the Chicago White Sox. It was the only year where there were not individual position awards in both the National and American Leagues, so Sherm was the sole catcher recipient that year. Other notable 1957 winners included Gil Hodges, Nellie Fox, Willie Mays, Al Kaline, Minnie Minoso, and Bobby Shantz. There were three White Sox players (in bold) out of the nine positions awarded. Historically, the player to earn the most of these awards in a career is Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux with eighteen.

Sherm Lollar went on to win the award two more times as a catcher, but would have won many more if the honor would have been established earlier in his career. Recent Hall of Fame inductee Ivan Rodriguez won 13 Gold Gloves to lead all catchers. Other backstop greats recognized by Rawlings include Johnny Bench with 10 awards, Yadier Molina 8, and Jim Sundberg 6. The catcher position has always fascinated me, even though it was a position that I never played. Sherm Lollar was my favorite player growing up, starting with his World Series appearance in 1959. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been collecting some of his memorabilia that I proudly display in my office. I also wrote several letters to the Golden Era Hall of Fame Committee suggesting that he be considered a Hall of Fame candidate. (See Post #5), especially in light of the fact that that he is one of the top defensive players in the history of the game.

For Christmas this year, my wife bought me a game-worn Sherm Lollar #10 Sox jersey from 1955. (See Post #494). I also have autographs, photos, cards, pins, and a drink cup in honor of his 18-year career as a catcher plus several more years as a baseball coach and manager. I don’t really understand this fascination with a man I never met, but I now joke about having one of the world’s largest collections of his merchandise. It’s really not much of a museum, but you’re certainly welcome to visit it. Today, I just received a 1950’s era Rawlings leather catcher’s glove endorsed by Sherman Lollar that I purchased on e-Bay. I just couldn’t resist displaying it next to the pin-striped, #10 wool jersey and a Hillerich & Bradsby Louisville Slugger bat autographed by Hall of Fame shortstop Luis Aparicio, another of my White Sox idols from the 1959 World Series. They may have lost to the Dodgers, but they won my heart!