Thin Lizzy For St. Patty's Day

Thin Lizzy is the perfect band for St. Patty's Day. And "Cowboy Song" is the perfect song for a day like today.

Thin Lizzy reminds me of the late, great Gingers Ale House on Grace and Western in Chicago. It was across the street from an old condo. The owner of the bar, a great Irish bloke, was a huge Lizzy fan. Funny, I would go in there and sample an Irish beverage, while all the Irish natives used to drink Bud. Never figured that out.ASN

Ginger's Ale House

Sparky Anderson Teaches Management

Sparky Anderson once said this about managing: "I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with the Boston Braves and Mets?"

And:  "My idea of managing is giving the ball to Tom Seaver and sitting down and watching him work."

And: "We averaged 96 wins my nine years in Cincinnati. We had Bench, Rose, Morgan, Perez, Foster, Griffey, Concepcion and Geronimo. Imagine what I could have done if they (the Reds front office) had given me some players!"

There were other quotes. Many, many others.

Harry Caray to have another toast

Harry Caray Gone but Not Really Gone.

Here's the info on the 15th Annual Toast to Harry:

15th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray (Harry Caray's Tavern, Navy Pier)

15TH ANNUAL WORLDWIDE TOAST TO HARRY CARAY
The Year of the Fan
WHAT: Celebrities and Cubs fans lead the Toast to legendary broadcaster Harry Caray
WHERE: Harry Caray's Tavern, Navy Pier | 600 East Grand Avenue
WHEN: Thursday, February 28, 2013
Toast Time 5:30pm CST
WLS AM Radio's Roe and Roeper Show live broadcast 4pm-6pm CST
(CHICAGO) Join us on Thursday, February 28, 2013 from anywhere in the world for the 15th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray. As is the tradition every year on or around Harry's birthday, fans around the world will raise a Budweiser or other beverage in his memory. The legendary Hall of Fame announcer considered himself, first and foremost, a fan. His genuine love for the Cubs, the fans and the game of baseball was one of his most endearing qualities. To celebrate Harry's love for the fans, this year's Toast is The Year of the Fan.
WIN THE ULTIMATE FAN EXPERIENCE
In keeping with The Year of the Fan theme, Harry Caray's will be rewarding the biggest Cubs fan with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Spring Training in Las Vegas which includes:
• 4 hours of gambling alongside Kerry Wood!
• Roundtrip airfare for 2 from Chicago to Las Vegas
• 4 day/3 night stay at a Caesar's property*
• 2 tickets to Cubs v. Rangers (3/16 and 3/17)
• Car service to and from the Las Vegas airport
*3 day/2 nights if at Caesar's Palace
The prize will be awarded to the fan who receives the most votes on facebook.com/HarryCaraysNavyPier for the post describing why he/she is the Ultimate Cubs Fan. The winner will also lead this year's Toast alongside the celebrity Toastmasters. Certain restrictions apply.
 
TOAST DAY
Harry Caray's Tavern, Navy Pier will be this year's Official Toast Headquarters. Toast-day activities include:
• WLS AM Radio's Roe and Roeper Show will broadcast live from 4pm-6pm CST.
• "Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks, Tom Ricketts, Billy Corgan, Dutchie Caray and other celebrities will lead the toast to Harry live from Harry's at 5:30pm CST.
• Fireworks Show over Lake Michigan at 6:00pm.
Those unable to join in the Toast Day festivities at Harry's can visit facebook.com/ToastToHarry to find other official Toast locations where fans will be raising a glass to Harry on February 28th! If you can't make it, just raise a glass to Harry at 7pm your time anywhere in the world and tweet your toast using hashtag #ToastToHarry!
HERE'S TO HARRY!

Harry Caray and Butch Macguire

Over the years, more than five million fans from all 50 states and over 100 countries have joined in the annual toast to the legendary Harry Caray. Harry estimated that he consumed over 73,000 Budweisers and 300,000 alcoholic beverages during his lifetime. The Toast has been featured on countless television shows and newspapers from The Today Show to Good Morning America to the LA Times to the front page of the New York Times. Numerous celebrities have joined in the tribute over the years, including President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, James Denton, Bonnie Hunt, Randy Jackson, Jeremy Piven, John Cusack, Karen Allen, Jim Belushi, Robert Conrad, William Petersen, Frank Caliendo, Jeff Garlin, Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna, Timothy Hutton, Linda Fiorentino, Steven Soderberg, Brian Williams, Katie Couric, Bob Costas, Keith Olbermann, Bill Weir, Bill Kurtis, Eddie Veder, Billy Corgan, Cheap Trick, Max Weinberg, Tom Ricketts, Marv Levy, John McDonough, Kerry Wood, Ryan Dempster, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Kittle, Richard Dent, Patrick Kane, Bobby Hull, Otis Wilson and Brian Urlacher. 

 

 

Johnny Bench is 65 today ... born Dec. 7, 1947

The best catcher in the history of baseball, Johnny Bench, was born 65 years ago in Oklahoma City, OK. He hit .293/45/148 in 1970. I was a kid, and I just remember thinking, wow, there isn't a better player on the planet ... and he plays for the Reds. That '70 season was great all-around.

His 45 dingers led the NL. Only two other players had 40 homers that year - Billy Williams and Tony Perez. Bench's 148 ribbies led the league ... Williams and Perez tied for second with 129. For you geeks out there, Bench was 7.1 wins above replacement, Perez was 6.8. Three players tied at 6.2 for third ... Willie McCovey and Billy Williams being two of them.

The other? ... The legendary Billy Grabarkewitz, who, frankly, your old uncle PK doesn't even remember. Anyway, here's a cool Johnny Bench Topps 1970 poster.

Roy McMillan Born July 17, 1929

Roy McMillan

Roy McMillan was a 16-year player in the big leagues. He played for the Reds throughout the 1950s. He was what shortstops were before Cal Ripken Jr.: 175-pound fielders who didn't hit much. McMillan was a two-time All-Star for the Redlegs, and he was on the cover of SI in 1957. He had nothing, as far as I understand, to do with Clare Booth Luce.

Sean Casey Day ... The Mayor of Cincinnati

Sean Casey, three-time All-Star first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds in the late 90s and the 00s, turns 38 today. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame with Dan Driessen, the Reds first sacker who replaced Tony Perez in the mid-1970s. Casey said, "When I put on that '21' jersey everyday, it was for each and every one of you. I played my heart out because I love this city. When 'Cincinnati' was written across my chest, I never took it lightly . . . You are the greatest fans in major league baseball. Thank you so much!"

Here are the two speeches, from Dan and Casey.

Tony Perez ... The Big Dog ... Turns 70!

My favorite player when I was growing up was Tony Perez of the Big Red Machine. Well, Tony turned 70 yesterday. Here is his rookie card (I think ... he had a few with the word "rookie" in them).

He was a third baseman when he came up to the big leagues. The Reds had a first baseman, though it wasn't Lee May. The Reds first baseman in 1965 was Gordy Coleman, who helped lead Cincy to an NL Pennant in 1961.

Here's the back of The Big Dog's Topps card in 1974: