The post season this year is one of surprises for us all. I think most assumed that it would be the Yankees vs. the Phillies again, almost taking it for a “gimme.” And when the Yankees came back from 5 runs down to score 5 in the eighth to beat the Rangers 6-5 in the first game of the American League Championship Series it was all over in everyone’s mind. Everyone but the Rangers, that is. We all forgot that most insightful of baseball maxims spoken by Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” And so it wasn’t as first the Yankees then the Phils went down and the Giants who haven’t won a World Series since moving to San Francisco in 1958 and the Rangers who have never been there at all in 50 years of their existence are the unexpected underdogs who will play for all the marbles beginning Wednesday.

I really don’t like the late dates for the World Series that we have now. Baseball is not a November sport. Reggie Jackson wasn’t Mr. November. He was Mr. October. But the elimination of double headers from the regular season play, the additional 8 games added on to the original 154 game season caused by the expansion from 8 team leagues to 10 and now even more teams per league, plus the extra rounds of playoffs to include Wild Card teams who couldn’t even win their division during the regular season plus expansion of the League Championship Series from the best of 5 to the best of 7 just like in the World Series prolongs the season now until we have a Summer game being played out in Autumn weather that is sometimes Winter-like, and we have the boys of Summer playing for the Championship at a time when people’s minds are turning to other more seasonal sports. All for the greed of the owners.

So here we are in a brief hiatus before the World Series even begins, late October, and I thought that a little reminiscing might be in order to help keep our minds tuned to the grand old game and ready once it begins to watch in anticipation to see who ends their long Championship draught, the Giants or the Rangers.

I love the history of baseball with its lore and its legends. There could be books compiled of all the great baseball quotes down through the years, and probably have been. It seems that no sport inspires in such prolific numbers great quotes to be repeated and treasured as baseball does. Yogi Berra was one of the best sources, coming up with such gems as “When you come to the fork in the road take it.” Or “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.” And of course “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Then there is this ultimate Yogi-ism: “Good pitching always stops good hitting and vice versa.”

Baseball is more than a sport. It’s a past time, a life, a religion, a philosophy. It has been noted over and over again for all of these elements bringing their passion to the game. Who can forget the words of Annie Savoy in that all-time greatest baseball movie ever, Bull Durham? “I believe in the church of baseball.” Baseball columnist Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post likewise believes in the church of baseball, saying “Baseball is religion without the mischief.” And so it is.

And of course the great Satchel Paige, one of the all time great baseball philosophers and source of numerous quotes and lore gave us such treasures as “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” Paige was an ageless wonder, pitching his last Major League game in his 60’s. About age, Satchel said “Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter.” And “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” One of his wisest gems of insight into life might be “Ain't no man can avoid being born average, but there ain't no man got to be common.”

Then there are the great moments of baseball history that perhaps have little or no effect on a season or even a game, but stick with us forever simply because they are so unique, wondrous and sometimes hilarious causing them to stick forever in our minds. Like the great Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez serving up a home run ball hit straight away to dead center field and obviously destined for the deep seats frantically trying to wave the ball toward the left field foul line while shouting “Go foul! Go foul!”

Or Herman “Germany” Schaeffer, infielder for the Cubs, Tigers, Senators and Indians in the early days of Major League history who played the game back when money wasn’t the object but just being allowed to play was the games best reward. Schaeffer, though a light hitter, was fleet of foot and a good base runner, stealing 40 bases one season. He was also known for his antics both on the ball field and off. We all know of the famous legend of Babe Ruth pointing his bat toward the bleachers where he intended to hit the ball and then doing so. But how many know of the instance of light hitting Germany Schaeffer pulling much the same stunt but with infinitely more flair back during the dead ball era?

As reported by Davy Jones in “The Glory of Their Times” Schaeffer was called on to pinch hit for the Tigers with two out in the 9th, one runner on and the Tigers down a run. Schaeffer took the occaision to announce himself to the crowd thusly: "Ladies and gentlemen, you are now looking at Herman Schaefer, better known as 'Herman the Great', acknowledged by one and all to be the greatest pinch-hitter in the world. I am now going to hit the ball into the left field bleachers. Thank you." With Chicago White Sox pitcher Doc White serving up on the mound he then proceeded to do just that to win the ball game, then announced to the crowd "Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes this afternoon's performance. I thank you for your kind attention.” According to Jones, that took place on June 24^th, 1906. If the story is true, that was one of only 2 homeruns Schaeffer hit all season. And in fact, he only hit 9 throughout his entire 15 seasons in the big leagues. Sometimes it seems that there are forces involved beyond the abilities of mere mortals to fill in the legends and lore with feats that boggle the mind for their sheer audacity and unlikeliness of ever happening.

Germany Schaeffer was also responsible for one rule change that still stands today because of one of his antics. But there was more to the event than just an antic. He actually had a scheme in mind to rattle the opposition into allowing teammate Tom Milan to score from third. Schaeffer was occupying first and on one pitch took off for second hoping to draw a throw allowing Milan to steal home in a double steal. The catcher held onto the ball however, and so on the next pitch Schaeffer astounded everyone by again taking off but this time in the opposite direction, back toward first! White Sox manager Hugh Duffy came out to argue the play but there was no rule against it during the course of which argument, time not having been called, Schaeffer again broke for second, but this time was caught in a rundown during which Milan finally took off for home but was thrown out. Schaeffer then tried to argue that the Sox had too many men on the field while the game was in play, manager Duffy making 10, but his argument was unsuccessful. But that little escapade led to a rule change and forevermore once a base runner has touched a succeeding base it is an automatic out if he then returns to the previous base.

I love the game of baseball, and for far more than just the game itself. I love its lore, its legends and history. I love its sayings and the great body of words written in its praise and reporting. I love it for the poetry of the game and for the poetry it inspires, perhaps the greatest of all being that of Franklin Pierce Adams in sad lament at seeing his beloved Giants cut down on the base paths in twos by the great double play combo of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance of the Chicago Cubs in his immortal poem “Baseball’s Sad Lexicon,” also known as “Tinker to Evers to Chance.” A gonfalon, by the way, was a pennant as in the pennants won by the League champions.

These are the saddest of possible words:

"Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds,

Tinker and Evers and Chance.

Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble,

Making a Giant hit into a double –

Words that are heavy with nothing but trouble:

"Tinker to Evers to Chance."

Much more could be written in praise of baseball, its players, its legends, its lore, philosophy and religion. But I’ll just close with two more great quotes. This first one is one that is known to no one outside the pages of the website of my old helicopter unit, the 162^nd Assault Helicopter Company. From my old gunner buddy Ron “Too Tall” Erickson, this one may be the greatest unknown baseball quote of all time. “There’s more philosophy in baseball than in a bucket full of old dead Greeks.“

And finally, “I’m ok being the vet. But I’m really just a kid.” Barry Zito, Giants pitcher.

And I feel just like that too.