baseball bucket list - Athlon Media Group

Liposuction Night The Mahoning
Valley Scrappers gave one lucky
fan the gift of free liposuction
on “All You Can Eat” Wednesday
in 2009.
Popsicle Night In 2003, the
Bisbee Copper Kings’ gave away
popsicles in their recurring
off-color nod to Ted Williams,
whose head was cryogenically
frozen upon his death in 2002.
BASEBALL BUCKET LIST
If you’re looking for a history lesson and a little sparkle, you can’t go
wrong with a visit to these baseball meccas.
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Since 1939, Cooperstown, N.Y., has been a shrine to all things
baseball. This year’s Hall of Famers ( John
Smoltz, Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson and
Pedro Martinez) will be inducted July 26.
Also check out Diamond Dreams, the
popular exhibit honoring women in baseball, including Dottie Kamenshek and
other Rockford Peaches of League of
Their Own fame.
baseballhall.org/discover/museum
Hank Aaron (left)
and Mickey Mantle
A BASEBALL LIFE
When Sports Illustrated shooter
Ron Modra was Brewers’ team
photographer in the 1970s, he
almost flipped when Hank Aaron
asked him for a ride home.
Modra’s stories and 40 years of
photos—along with essays by
Peter Gammons and other
writers—fill a new, 288-page
book. abaseballlife.com
Louisville Slugger Museum
Home of the World’s Biggest Bat (120 ft.) and Bud’s
Batting Cage, where visitors can take a swing. sluggermuseum.com
Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum
In 2010, the minor league Mobile, Ala. BayBears moved Mobile
native Hank Aaron’s childhood home to the grounds of Hank
Aaron Stadium. hankaaronstadium.com
Visit Parade.com/modra for a
photo gallery and essays.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Some team names like the
Milwaukee Brewers (based in
Wisconsin’s beer capital) are
obvious. But others need a little
explanation.
GO BIG POPPY!
A Salute to Pregnancy Night
In 2013, pregnant fans of the
Brooklyn Cyclones threw out
first pitches and were invited
to run the bases; concession
stands were stocked with
craving-friendly fare like pickles
and ice cream.
“Baseball is a game of
atmosphere and anticipation, punctuated by
moments of brilliance
and excitement.”
–Bob Costas, baseball-loving
broadcaster who’s interviewed
everyone from White Sox fan
President Barack Obama to
Hall of Famers Yogi Berra and
Reggie Jackson
8 | JULY 5, 2015
Whether the year is 1915 or 2015, our favorite players often
have nicknames. Can you match the pet name to the player?
1. The Flyin’ Hawaiian
2. The Captain
3. Shoeless Joe
4. Sultan of Swat
5. Headly
6. The Big Unit
7. The Say Hey Kid
8. Goose
9. Charlie Hustle
10. Mr. October
11. Big Poppy
12. Hammerin’ Hank
13. The Splendid Splinter
Hartford Yard Goats (Conn.) The
former New Britain Rock Cats
got their new name this year
via fan poll. Yard Goats beat out
other just-for-fun names including Praying Mantis, River Hogs
and Whirlybirds.
Hank Aaron
Bruce Bochy
Richard Michael Gossage
Joe Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Derek Jeter
Randy Johnson
Willie Mays
David Ortiz
Pete Rose
Babe Ruth
Shane Victorino
Ted Williams
Houston Astros (Texas) Originally named the Colt .45s, the
team adopted their new moniker
in 1965 to honor Houston’s
“space age capital” status.
Montgomery Biscuits (Ala.)
Slogan: “History in the Baking”
See answers below right
MOVIE MEMORIES
“I’ve tried them all, I really have, and the only
church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out,
is the Church of Baseball.”
—Crash Davis (Kevin Costner),
Bull Durham (1988)
Albuquerque Isotopes (N.M.)
The name originated in an
episode of The Simpsons.
Tell us your favorite baseball story at Parade.com/baseballstories
© PARADE Publications 2015. All rights reserved.
BULL DURHAM © SNAP/ENTERTAINMENT PICTURES/ZUMAPRESS.COM; AARON BY RONALD C. MODRA
Even though some of the major
league’s best players—think
Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins
and this year’s phenom Kris
Bryant of the Cubs—come up
through the minor leagues, the
minors also have some of the
worst promotional ideas for getting fans in the seats. Can you
believe these?
Answers to quiz: 1. Victorino, 2. Jeter,
3. J. Jackson, 4. Ruth, 5. Bochy, 6.Johnson,
7. Mays, 8. Gossage, 9. Rose, 10. R. Jackson, 11. Ortiz, 12. Aaron, 13. Williams
THOSE CRAZY
MINOR LEAGUES