Since tomorrow is May the Forth:
Happy Friday! May the Forth be with you!
~ baseballrebecca
Washington Nationals
Monday Baseball Motivation
Pro Reels via Wikipedia.
“It don’t matter what is going on. It don’t matter what is happening, never stop. Just keep going.”
– Juan Soto
Films on Friday: Skunk Delay
In case you’re missing minor league baseball – this happened a few weeks ago. And it seems somewhat appropriate for Friday the 13th:
Happy Friday!
~ baseballrebecca
Best of the Week: 8/20/2023 – 8/26/2023
CJ Abrams making friends in New York:
https://x.com/nationals/status/1694487395331158476?s=46&t=XVuXbZn1eHFs-yce9KJQdw
Take Meow to the Ballgame
Yesterday’s post about “Bark in the Park” days and the one “Purr in the Park” celebration got me thinking – how many Cat-urday events have there been at baseball stadiums? And how many have actually let you bring your cat?
The Washington Nationals have been hosting “Cat-urday” for several years. This year the event will be held on August 19. However, the Nats’ website makes it clear where actual cats stand on this day: “FANS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BRING CATS TO NATIONALS PARK IN CONNECTION WITH THIS EVENT.”
Despite the Nats’ aversion to cats, several college, Minor League, and summer collegiate baseball teams have welcomed cats at the ballpark. Here’s a brief history of Cat-urdays at the ball park:
- July 2011: The State College Spikes hosted “Purr in the Park;” 12 cats attended. Cats were required to be on leash or in a pet carrier. According to Ben Hill, Minor League blogger, “The night also included the ‘Nine Lives Challenge’, in which two hearty combatants participated in challenges such as the ‘Warm Milk Chug’ and the ‘Kitty Litter Dig.’”
- June 2013: The Wilmington Blue Rocks hosted their first-ever “Cat Appreciation Night” at Frawley Stadium for National Hug Your Cat Day. Cats were invited.
- July 2016: The Lakewood BlueClaws held “CATurday,” featuring cat-themed on field jerseys (see below), songs, movie clips, promotions, and more. Cat owners were required to sign a waiver, have cats in a pet carrier or on leash, and pay for a $2 Paw Pass. The BlueClaws, noted that fans should “use proper judgment when deciding if their cat is able to handle the noise, crowd, and atmosphere that they will encounter at a typical BlueClaws game.”
- May 2017: The Frisco Rough Riders hosed “Take Meow to the Ballgame;” the first 200 cats in attendance received a cat bandana.
- July 2018: The Washington Nationals held their first “Cat-urday,” but fans were not “purr-mitted” to bring their cats to the ballpark.
- July 2019: The Traverse City Pit Spitters, a collegiate summer baseball team, hosted “Purr in the Park;” cats invited.
- July 2019: The Nationals held “Cat-urday,” again noting “FANS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BRING CATS TO NATIONALS PARK IN CONNECTION WITH THIS EVENT.”
- May 2022: Georgia Southern University held their first Purr in the Park where you could bring your cat to the ballgame.
- May 2022: The Bowie Baysox held “Caturday” where fans were allowed to bring their cats to the game as long as they were on leash or in a carrier and had valid rabies tags or paperwork.
- June 2022: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp held their first “Purr in the Park” day to coincide with national “Take Your Cat to Work Day.” Nine cats were in attendance.
- May 2023: The Omaha Storm Chasers held their third annual “Take Meow’t to the Ballgame” Night, cats invited, complete with a third-inning “cat nap” in which the score board displayed videos of sleeping cats.
- June 2023: The Carolina Disco Turkeys, another collegiate summer team, held their second annual “Cat-urday Night Fever” game against, of course, the Unharrie Wampus Cats. Cats were permitted if on leash or in a carrier and the Carolina Panthers superfan, “the Mad Cattah” was on hand to throw out the first pitch.”
- August 2023: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp will hold their second “Purr in the Park” event, noting: “Yes, this is seriously a bring your cat to the game, night! All cats must be on leashes or in cat carriers. Again, this is a real cat day. Cats are allowed at the game!”
2…
Opening Day is just TWO days away!
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Opening Days is just FIVE days away!
8…
Opening Day is in EIGHT days!
Jud Wilson
Ernest Judson “Jud” Wilson was born on February 29, 1896, although his birthdate has also been listed as listed as February 28, 1894, as indicated on his Hall of Fame plaque, and February 29, 1893, which was listed on his World War II draft registration card. According to SABR, Wilson noted in 1939, “These fellows in our league lie too much about their ages.”
Wilson was born in Remington, Virginia, and moved to Washington D.C. when he was a teenager. He served in the Army in World War I as a corporal in Company D of the 417th Service Battalion. After the war, he returned to DC where he played semipro baseball.
In 1922, Wilson was discovered by Scrappy Brown of the Baltimore Black Sox. Wilson eventually signed with the team, whom he played for from 1922 to 1930. During this time he spent at least one winter with the Habana Leones of the Cuban Winter League. While a member of the Black Sox, Wilson earned the nickname “Boojum,” which, according to SABR, which was the sound his line drives made when they hit the outfield walls.
Wilson would go on to play for the Homestead Grays (1931-32, 1940-45), Pittsburgh Crawfords (1932), Philadelphia Stars (1933-39), and New York Cubans (1936). During his career he was the Eastern Colored League batting champion (1927-28) and played on two Negro World Series champion teams (Homestead Grays, 1943 and 1944). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Negro Leagues Committee in 2006 and honored by the Washington Nationals with inclusion the Ring of Honor at Nationals Park in 2010.
Wilson passed away at the age of 69 on June 24, 1963, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
~ baseballrebecca
Meet the Hairstons: From the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues
Jerry Hairston, Sr., was born on this date in 1952. Jerry played in the majors for 14 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1972-77, 1981-89) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1977). His father, brother, and two of his sons also played in the Major Leagues, making them the largest of the three 3-generation MLB families (the Boone and Bell families each had four members in MLB across three generations and the Coleman family had three members in MLB).
The patriarch of the Hairston baseball family was Sam Hairston. Sam was born in Crawford, Mississippi, on January 20, 1920. He began his career in the Negro Leagues, making his professional debut with the Birmingham Black Barons in 1944. He played for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1945 to 1950 before signing with the Chicago White Sox in 1951, making him the first black player on the team. After his playing career, Sam became a minor league instructor and scout. All three of Sam’s sons played baseball. Johnny and Jerry each reached the majors.
Sam’s oldest son, Sam Hairston, Jr., was born in 1943. He played on year in the minors for the Gulf Coast League White Sox in 1966.
John Hairston, was born on August 27, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama. He began his baseball career with the Pioneer League’s Treasure Valley Cubs in Caldwell, Idaho, at the age of 20 in 1965. In 1969, he was called up to the Cubs, appearing in three games that season. John played his final year in the baseball in the minors in 1971 playing for the Birmingham A’s and the Wichita Aeros.
Jerry Hairston, was born on February 16, 1952, also in Birmingham. He began his baseball career with the Gulf Coast White Sox in 1970 at the age of 18 and made his Major League debut on July 26, 1973. He also spent three winters in the Mexican League where he met his wife, Esperanza Arellano. They married in January 1974 at Hector Espino Stadium in Hermosillo.
Sam’s grandchildren were also pretty good at baseball. Johnny’s children, John Hairston, Jr., and Jason Hairston both played in the Minor Leagues. John was born in 1967 and was drafted by the White Sox in 1985 but did not sign. After college he signed with the White Sox and began his career in1989 with the Gulf Coast League White Sox, as Sam Jr. had done 23 years earlier. Jason was also drafted in high school (in the 1994 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles) but instead attended college. He was drafted out of Washington State University in the 1997 draft by the Atlanta Braves. He spent the 1997 and 1998 seasons in the Braves’ minor league system.
Jerry’s children, Jerry Hairston, Jr., and Scott Hairston each saw significant playing time in the Major Leagues. Jerry, born on May 29, 1976, made his MLB debut on September 11, 1998, for the Baltimore Orioles. During his career he played for the Orioles (1998-2004), Cubs (2005-06), Rangers (2006-07), Reds (2008-09), Yankees (2009), Padres (2010), Nationals (2011), Brewers (2011), and Dodgers (2012-13). His brother Scott, was born on May 25, 1980. He made his MLB debut on May 7, 2004, with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His career included stints with the Diamondbacks (2004-07), Padres (2007-09, 2010), A’s (2009), Mets (2011-12), Cubs (2013), and Nationals (2013-14).
What an amazing and inspirational family!
~ baseballrebecca
The Baseball Sociologist 