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Thursday, July 29, 2010

MLB: Gardenhire has an encyclopedia of memories

Or how Sean Forman ruined everything.

The book is closed on Ron Gardenhire, perhaps never to be opened again except for viewing and appreciation; closed without evidence of his brief audience with Mickey Mantle and his meeting with “The Rifleman,” closed without a Tim Lincecum, a Mariano Rivera or even a Joe Mauer. Gardenhire’s baseball encyclopedia is signed, sealed and designated to go to his son.

Even now, when someone younger, stronger and lower on the totem pole totes his baseball luggage, the Twins manager keeps his old MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia, the 1982 edition, at home, making his bags some seven pounds lighter and his practice of collecting autographs in it personally passé.

“The book’s on vacation,” Gardenhire says now.

...A baseball generation has passed since the last entry in the old book. “Now all the guys I missed are retired or coaches,” he said. “If I want to go back and get them, I’ll have to get an updated version.”

There isn’t one, though. And the Internet can’t be signed.

Repoz Posted: July 29, 2010 at 06:28 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: books, history, memorabilia, twins

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1. Sam M. Posted: July 29, 2010 at 06:52 PM (#3602875)

And the Internet can’t be signed.

It's virtually impossible.

2. bunyon Posted: July 29, 2010 at 07:09 PM (#3602916)

Boooo!

3. The Piehole of David Wells, Depends Salesman

Posted: July 29, 2010 at 08:01 PM (#3602977)

There isn’t one, though. And the Internet can’t be signed.

What's wrong with baseball writers? Why does everything they write need to be wistfully poignant? Christ, they write about the present with nostalgia. How is that possible?

4. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: July 29, 2010 at 08:08 PM (#3602985)

For you youngins, an encyclopedia is what we used before wikipedia came out.

5. 'Spos Posted: July 29, 2010 at 11:33 PM (#3603159)

For you youngins, an encyclopedia is what we used before wikipedia came out.

...but how did you edit it, with liquid paper, exacto knives and Letraset?

6. God Posted: July 29, 2010 at 11:41 PM (#3603166)

I'm nostalgic for conversations I had yesterday.

7. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: July 29, 2010 at 11:57 PM (#3603177)

Wow, I never thought I'd see a Kicking and Screaming reference, well, ever.

Ding. Jane dumps me and moves to Prague.

8. The District Attorney Posted: July 30, 2010 at 01:35 AM (#3603218)

If the pizzas don't arrive, I've already made the decision that we will eat Byong Sun.

All right, we're not gonna eat him. But he does look delicious, you have to admit, right? If we had to eat someone?

9. Starlin of the Slipstream (TRHN) Posted: July 30, 2010 at 02:00 AM (#3603223)

Steve Stone just said Wilson Ramos for Capps during the White Sox game. They even flashed a graphic. That doesn't sound right.

10. Cris E Posted: July 30, 2010 at 02:17 AM (#3603229)

MLB Trade Rumors confirms it.

I wonder if they're not sure about Ramos staying healthy, or if Butera is all that or what. Huh.

11. Harry Balsagne's transparent jealousy

Posted: July 30, 2010 at 02:39 AM (#3603235)

I think the long-term plan is still to have Morales be the primary back-up. But Pavano and Butera have recently taken a shine to each other, and Gardenhire has historically taken any excuse to carry three catchers.

Ramos is too good to be a backup catcher. He was basically there to be a trading chip.

I absolutely hate this deal, by the way. Idiotic even if the Twins actually needed relief pitching, which they don't. Eat a bowl of dicks, Bill Smith.

12. Craig in MN Posted: July 30, 2010 at 02:54 AM (#3603247)

It can't be Butera. More likely they have questions in general about how often offensive catcher prospects turn into offensive powerhouse major league catchers. It seems like they usually end up as mediocre first basemen or weak overall catchers. Plus, they have questions about Nathan coming back strong next year, and are losing their next best 3 relievers to free agency after this year. They needed to add a reliever for next year more than this year, but the bullpen can use help this year too, after losing another one to the starting rotation last week. Capps is really a good fit....Ramos is a lot to give up for him, though. If Capps is good, he'll net them a draft pick after next year. If not, it's probably going to look like a poor trade.

13. jwb Posted: July 30, 2010 at 07:13 AM (#3603360)

“Now all the guys I missed are retired or coaches”

I'm picturing Gardenhire and his Big Mac scrambling up into the stands during BP to get, say, Dick Tidrow's autograph. Or maybe hanging out in a visiting team's hotel bar hoping that Rusty Kuntz would show up. These mental images amuse me.

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

MLB: Gardenhire has an encyclopedia of memories

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