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I really do not know who, if anyone, will break Roger Maris' single season home run record during in 1998. Heck, I am having a tough time selecting the correct lottery numbers and purchasing the correct stocks and mutual funds.
But whether or not anyone surpasses the coveted 61 milestone, the real winner is the game of baseball. Attendance is up throughout the league. The Cardinals have sold almost 3 million tickets for the season, including three recent sellouts at Busch against the last place Pittsburgh Pirates. Even a fellow WGNU Talk Show Host (who prides himself on being a Sports Knowledge Zero) asked me "what did McGwire do today?"
Yes, it seems that fans are finally focusing back on the game itself rather than the knuckleheads who run the game or the knuckleheads who play the game. Baseball is indeed God's most perfect game. Once again the game proved its resiliency with this latest renaissance.
Four years and one week ago, baseball faced its toughest test. It was that period when the game's work stoppage (strike or lockout, depending whose side you're on) began, canceling the remainder of the season. This stoppage accomplished something that even Adolph Hitler could not do; cancel the World Series.
Yet the game came back the following spring. Fans were skeptical. The paying public did not immediately return to the stadiums in droves, as the baseball brass predicted. Skepticism and bitterness remain. Baseball was not fun anymore to many fans. Baseball became real life and no longer was fantasy land.
Then in September, 1995, the game got a jump start when Cal Ripken, Jr. achieved the impossible; shattering Lou Gehrig's consecutive games played streak. Fans throughout the fruited plain watched in their living rooms on that chilly September evening in Baltimore as Ripken eclipsed Gehrig. We all tuned in as the sign on warehouse beyond the Camden Yards right field wall displayed the number 2131. We all smiled as #8 made the victory lap that night giving the Oriole fans high five's, low five's, kisses and hugs.
A sign in the stands that night said: "Thanks, Cal, for saving the game".
Then in 1996 baseball enjoyed the resurgence of the New York Yankees to power, in 1997 a five year old expansion team won the World Series, and of course, the great Home Run chase of 1998.
Once again, the game survived.
Perhaps this Field of Dreams mentality is some what corny, but think of the alternatives; corporate downsizing, political scandals, military action, roller coaster stock market.
Don't get me wrong, there are still plenty of forces in place trying to tear the game down
With the Internet, All-Sports Talk Radio, and Cable Television, following baseball in the 1990's is certainly much different than following the game in the 1960's. There are more outlets to get information, both good and bad. Generally bad news has more appeal than good news.
In 1996, we saw Roberto Alomar spit in the face of an umpire. In 1997, we saw the Florida Marlins win a World Series Championship only to see the team be dismantled piece by piece before Christmas Day. This year the problems of Albert Belle, the selling of bogus Mark McGwire memorabilia, and fights between Seattle players are well documented.
Back in April, I wrote in this space that the Major League Baseball Players Association and the Major League Owners are still sparring with each other. In a piece entitled "The Hatfields and Mc Coys are at it again", terse language and implied threats on both sides were reported during the first week of the regular season.
But yet, despite all these forces, the game continues to survive. If you ask most fans today about baseball today, your responses would be: "both Mc Gwire and Sosa with upper-40 home run totals", " the Yankees 60+ games over .500", and "a virtual tie in the National League Wild Card Race".
It's been a long road since August 12,1994; both bumpy and enjoyable.
The remainder of the ride will probably be the same.
If you are clairvoyant and you know how the Home Run Race will end, please keep it to yourself. Like a good movie, I would prefer not knowing the ending.
On the other hand, if your talent can provide you next week's PowerBall numbers, you can e-mail me here at this web site!!!
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