Tank McNamara by Bill Hinds for July 11, 2023

Rimshot!

He needs to look up the meaning of unique:

Being without a like or equal; unmatched; unequaled; unparalleled; single in kind or excellence; sole.

I think unique means there’s no one else like him.

Babe Ruth on Twitter, there’s a thougth.

About the 1932 World Series “Called Shot” home run,which Cubs players screamed to their dying days never happened—-saying Ruth would have been “beanballed” if he’d “showed off” by pointing to center field.

It had the desired effect—-the next batter,Lou Gehrig,hit an even longer home run.

The Cubs pitcher,Charley Root,won 201 games in his career—-pitched in 4 different World Series for the Chicago Cubs anddidn’t win a game in any of them.

I have two words, Rogers Hornsby. Wait, wait, Honus Wagner. Wait, wait, Bob Gibson…I could go on. Sandy K…and on and on.

On this date in 1914 Babe Ruth made his MLB debut.

The issue is – Ohtani isn’t doing any one thing that’s unique. He isn’t batting so much better than anyone else. he isn’t slugging vastly better than anyone else (yes, he’s leading in HR but only by 3). He isn’t pitching way above anyone else.

He’s doing them all – and that’s unique for today’s game.

Ruth’s uniqueness wasn’t that he was a really good pitcher who then batted. It was his batting was so beyond anyone else. In 1919, he hit 29 HRs when the 2nd best (Sisler) was 11. 1920, it was Ruth 54, #2 (again Sisler) had 19. Heck, in 1920 his 54 HRs was more than any other team’s TOTAL HRs except Phili (and his own Yankees, of course).

It’s how to catch a rabbit. Unique up on it.

OK, so Ruth and Ohtani are each unique.

I am unique. Just like everybody else.