Bill Mazeroski Was So Much More Than His Game Winning HR in the 1960 World Series

 

Bill Mazeroski, best remembered for hitting a game winning HR in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, passed away yesterday at the age of 89.

Mazeroski's death comes only a week after that of his longtime Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Elroy Face. With Mazeroski's passing, pitcher Vernon Law and outfielder Bob Skinner are the last living members of that 1960 World Series champion Pirates team which upended the powerhouse New York Yankees against all odds.

Yet Mazeroski was sometimes maligned for that HR with some mistakenly believing it was the only reason he was elected by the Veterans Committee into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mazeroski was the greatest second baseman in the NL from late 1950s into the late 1960s winning 8 Gold Gloves at the position between 1958 and 1967. While his offensive production was modest with a lifetime batting average of .260 with 138 HR and 853 RBI over 2163 career games. His 2016 career hits as a second baseman puts him at 22nd on the all-time list although at the time of his retirement he would have been 11th which just goes to show how second base has emerged as a more offense-oriented position. Those 2016 hits put him 8th on the Pirates all-time list.

I cannot emphasize enough that Mazeroski spent his entire 17-year MLB career with the Bucs. Not only did he win a ring with the Pirates in 1960, but he also did so again in 1971. Maz and Roberto Clemente were the only two players who won rings with both teams though Danny Murtaugh did manage both teams. Bill Virdon played on the 1960 Bucs and by 1971 was on Murtaugh's coaching staff. 

Bill Mazeroski earned his place in baseball history not only through his historic HR off Ralph Terry to make the Pirates champions, but with his stellar play with Pittsburgh throughout his career. He belongs in Cooperstown.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my trip to Wheeling, West Virginia last June. Of course, Mazeroski was born and raised in Wheeling which is about 60 miles west of Pittsburgh. Right across the street from the hotel where I was staying was a sports tavern with a mural of sports legends who were either from the Wheeling area or had spent time there. Mazeroski had a very prominent spot on that mural. He will always have a spot on that mural, a spot in Cooperstown and a soft spot in the hearts of Pittsburgh Pirates fans everywhere. R.I.P.

Man on the Run: Paul McCartney Has Slowed Down But He Isn't Standing Still

This evening, I attended a special screening of Man on the Run, a documentary covering the life of Paul McCartney from the breakup of The Beatles, the origins of his solo career and the rise of Wings through the assassination of John Lennon.

Early on in the film we see footage of McCartney's farm in Scotland in its early days. Macca tells us that he didn't know if he'd ever write another song after The Beatles disbanded. This I did not find convincing considering that most of the footage of him is singing or playing the guitar even in casual moments. Music would always be a part of his life. The question was would it be accepted by the public let alone measure up to The Beatles.

McCartney's early solo efforts (McCartney, Ram) and early efforts with Wings (Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway) were maligned and misunderstood. Greater success would come in the form of Wing's seminal album Band on the Run followed by Venus and Mars, Wings at the Speed of Sound and Wings Over America, the live album documenting Wings' viability as a live act. Of course, even with these successes, McCartney's work with Wings would always be measured against The Beatles although Wings' 1977 "Mull of Kintyre" would be a bigger hit in the U.K. than any Beatles single. 

Of course, there was always hope of a Beatles reunion whether it was $3,000 from Lorne Michaels in the early years of SNL to the hundreds of millions of dollars. Alas those hopes were forever shattered with John Lennon's assassination in December 1980.

Grounding McCartney during this period was his wife Linda who was an integral part of Wings. Although Linda McCartney has been dead for nearly 30 years, she remains very much a part of his life through his memories and through his children. 

Following the screening, there was a bonus clip of McCartney speaking with Man on the Run director Morgan Neville. What struck me most about their dialogue is how old Macca is getting. Yes, he is still touring but he was laboring to play both "1985" and "Maybe I'm Amazed" on the piano and did not attempt to sing either song in Neville's presence. 

Yet we must remember that McCartney will turn 84 in June. In other words, "When I'm 64" will be commemorating a 20th anniversary of sorts. The fact remains that McCartney could sell out any stadium in the world. Most people understand that one cannot do at 83 what was one was able to do at 23 and 33. 

It is worth noting there was a clip of a reporter questioning McCartney's ability to perform at 33 which the reporter viewed as old age for rock 'n roll. Macca invited the reporter to see the show and then come backstage after and tell him if he still had it or not. In our present age, I suspect most people are just happy to be in Paul McCartney's presence for a couple of hours even if he can't hit the notes he once hit with ease. Macca's music and The Beatles at large have a larger meaning for people. As such, people want to appreciate Paul McCartney while he is still here. For his part, Macca still hopes we will enjoy the show. 

Tony Clark Resigns as MLBPA Executive Director Following Internal Investigation Amid Federal Probe

(Associated Press)

Tony Clark abruptly resigned as Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) today following an internal investigation which uncovered an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law who had been in the employ of MLBPA since 2023.

Clark's resignation comes following a federal investigation of the MLBPA launched last year amid a whistleblower complaint that Clark had been profiting off licensing fees and other programs launched under his leadership. Before stepping down today, Clark had led the organization since December 2013 following the death of his predecessor Michael Weiner. Clark was the first former MLB player to lead the organization. He played in the big leagues for 15 seasons primarily with the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks along with stints with the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres.

The shakeup comes amid the expiration of the CBA between MLBPA and MLB come December 1st. With MLB seeking to impose a salary cap, speculation has abounded that the 2027 MLB season could be awash as the owners are prepared to impose a lockout. 

The players could select an interim director as soon as tomorrow and Bruce Meyer, the union's lead negotiator, is the most likely choice to succeed Clark. Although Meyer has rankled some feathers among MLBPA's ranks and some would prefer Harry Marino, the labor lawyer who unionized minor league baseball, to succeed Clark. It is conceivable that down the line the players could choose Marino as their Executive Director and retain Meyer as their lead negotiator. 

I shudder to think what Marvin Miller would have thought of this spectacle. Miller was chosen as the first Executive Director of the MLBPA 60 years ago when it be ceased to be a company union making it one of the most powerful unions in American history. Of course, Clark has not been charged with a crime and is innocent until proven guilty if charges come to pass. As such, I could imagine Miller looking at the accusations against Clark with some skepticism especially only months before the expiration of the CBA. 

Yet I also cannot help but think that Miller would be disgusted by Clark or any union leader using their office for personal gain. I also cannot imagine Miller engaging in such nepotism even without the impropriety of an inappropriate relationship.

Like a lot of other things in this world, the MLBPA ain't what it used to be.

Thoughts on AOC Accusing Israel of Genocide on German Soil

While participating on a panel at the Munich Security Conference last Friday, New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused Israel of committing genocide. Her comment came in response to a question from Hegar Shazaf, a journalist from the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz concerning the reevaluation of military aid to Israel:

I think that, personally, the idea of completely unconditional aid, no matter what one does, does not make sense. I think it enabled a genocide in Gaza, and I think that we have thousands of women and children dead … that was completely avoidable.

Not surprisingly, AOC spares Hamas from any criticism or culpability. After all, it is Hamas which has long used their civilian populace as human shields in an effort to turn them into involuntary martyrs. Egypt, Jordan and other Arab states could have opened their borders to the people of Gaza, but it is so much easier for them to vilify Israel. 

Of course, AOC engaging in defamation against Israel is nothing new under the sun. But what makes this particular accusation different is the fact that she uttered it on German soil. That she did so was no accident. Indeed, in accusing Israel of genocide on German soil was AOC's way of likening the Jewish State to the Nazis. 

Yet in accusing Israel of committing genocide while on German soil, AOC reveals her ignorance of what genocide actually is. The Nazis sought to eliminate Jews from the face of the Earth, a goal shared by Hamas. Israel merely wishes to protect itself from yet another entity which wishes to exterminate Jews from the face of the Earth. 

Alas, this will fall on deaf ears of most Democrats and AOC knows is all too well as speculation abounds for a White House bid in 2028. And if AOC sees fit to launch a White House bid, "the Israel is guilty of genocide" will become a focal point of her stump speech. Unfortunately, I suspect that nearly all Democratic aspirants for the White House in 2028 will fall over themselves trying to render Israel an international pariah with few dissidents. Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman rebuked AOC during an appearance on Fox News stating, "Why is she so eager to criticize Israel, but I don't recall her saying anything as Iran executed thousands of protestors! There was never a genocide in Gaza."

And this is exactly the point. There is no genocide in Gaza. AOC's assertion that there is every bit as much of a lie as Donald Trump's claim that he won the 2020 election. No amount of screeching will change the fact.

The problem though is that far too many people believe lies to be true and sometimes those beliefs are expressed at the ballot box. In this respect, an AOC presidency would be every bit much of an assault on the truth as the continuation of the Trump presidency or a successor dedicated to implementing the MAGA agenda. AOC is every bit as much a demagogue as Trump or his minions and thus every bit as dangerous to the future of American democracy as Trump and MAGA are.

Robert Duvall Had a Quiet Gravitas

Actor Robert Duvall passed away yesterday at the age of 95.

In a career which spanned seven decades, Duvall earned himself a place among the heavyweights of American actors in the late 20th and earliest 21st centuries. His credits are simply staggering:

To Kill a Mockingbird

Bullitt

True Grit

M*A*S*H

The Godfather

The Godfather, Part II

Network

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Apocalypse Now

The Great Santini

Tender Mercies

The Natural

Rambling Rose

Falling Down

The Apostle

Deep Impact

A Civil Action

Gone in 60 Seconds

Secondhand Lions

The Judge

Hustle

In recent months, I saw Duvall in The Natural in tribute to Robert Redford where he portrayed the conniving, cynical sports reporter Max Mercy. Last summer, I saw Duvall's Academy Award nominated performance in Apocalypse Now which I described as "a manic intensity but is unaffected by chaos and explosions going on around him". Well, I suppose a high surf and the smell of napalm can do that. 

Yet when I think of Duvall, I think of his performances in some lesser-known movie from the 1990s namely Falling Down, Wrestling Ernest Hemingway and Phenomenon. 

In Falling Down starring Michael Douglas and Barbara Hershey, Duvall plays a cop who is on his last day on the job. He is disrespected by nearly all of his colleagues at work and has to deal with a mentally ill wife at home. Yet he manages to stay two steps ahead of everyone as it becomes clear to him who it is that snapped and wreaking havoc on the city while he must break the news to Douglas' character D-Fens that he is the bad guy.

In Wrestling Ernest Hemingway, he co-starred with Richard Harris as a lonely widower who develops a crush on a waitress played by a young Sandra Bullock and wishes to dance with her. I should mention that Duvall's character is Cuban. In this day in age, a white actor playing a Latino would be verboten. But Duvall played his role with the greatest care, dignity and restraint. As with a great many of his characters, you forget that it is Duvall as he subsumed himself into the role. I particularly remember how his character, in the hope of dancing with Sandra Bullock, would practice tangoing alone in front of the mirror. Duvall did the little things which made you remember him.

In Phenomenon, Duvall portrays a kindly local doctor alongside John Travolta, who after seeing a flashing light, suddenly becomes full of infinite powers. When the townspeople turn against the Travolta character, it is Duvall who rushes to his defense and publicly shames those who forsake their friend who had never asked anything of them.

I also remember some of Duvall's early TV work on The Fugitive and on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, the latter of which he played an undersea alien who temporarily takes over the Seaview. Then again who didn't temporarily take over the Seaview?

Whether Duvall was playing the hero or the heavy, a small role or a big one, he always carried himself with a quiet gravitas even as he retreated into his character. Robert Duvall may be gone but his quiet gravitas will carry on for decades to come. R.I.P.

Will Nick Castellanos Turn Over a New Leaf With The Padres Burning Bridges With The Phillies?

Nick Castellanos had a very interesting 48 hours.

Only days before he was due to report for spring training, the Philadelphia Phillies abruptly released him with a year remaining on his contract.

A mere 48 hours later, Castellanos, who turns 34 next month, signed a one-year deal with the San Diego Padres for the MLB minimum $780,000 with the Phillies on the hook for the balance of the $20 million he was due to make this season.

Castellanos' falling out with the Phillies stems from an incident in a game against the Miami Marlins in Miami (where Castellanos lives) back in June during which manager Rob Thomson pulled him out of the game for late inning defense. In protest of the decision, Castellanos brought an open beer to into the dugout which several teammates including Kyle Schwarber urged him to put away so as not to be caught on TV. 

For his part, Castellanos openly questioned the credibility of both Thomson and hitting coach Kevin Long because neither had played at the major league level. It is a curious comment considering, Thomson was hired by the Phillies following Joe Girardi's dismissal in mid-season in 2022 and turned around the club en route to a NL pennant. 

Castellanos' was in the first season of a five-year contract with the Phillies after a career year with the Cincinnati Reds in 2021 (.309 BA 34 HR 100 RBI). His tenure in Philly has been largely disappointing although he did drive in a career high 106 runs in 2023 along with 29 HR and a respectable .272 batting average. In 2025, Castellanos hit .250 with 17 HR and 72 RBI. Complicating matters is that he below average defender in both the outfield and at third base. 

While Castellanos wanted to play for the Marlins, he would have encountered the same problem he had with the Phillies. Neither Marlins manager Clayton McCullough nor hitting coach Pedro Guerrero had played at the major league level. In case you're wondering, this is not the same Pedro Guerrero who starred with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 1980s.

Castellanos does not have this issue in San Diego with both manager Craig Stammen and hitting coach Steven Souza, Jr. having both played at the big-league level. Indeed, he praised Stammen:

He’s a player. He’s done it. He’s put on spikes. He’s grinded. He’s felt the feeling of success, and he’s also felt the feeling of when the game doesn’t go your way. There’s a lot of respect in that. I’m excited to do whatever he needs me to do.

In this particular case, Stammen has asked Castellanos to play first base, a position he has never played before. He will be in the same infield with Manny Machado, a friend since childhood.

Perhaps Castellanos can turn over a new leaf in San Diego and rebuild his career. A rebound season (especially if he helps the Padres win their first ever World Series title and perhaps a World Series MVP to boot) could help get one last big payday whether it be in San Diego or somewhere else.

With 13 seasons of big-league ball under his belt with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, Castellanos enters 2026 with 1742 hits in 1688 career games for a lifetime batting average of .272 with 250 HR and 920 RBI along with 399 career doubles.

Jews Should Not Let Anti-Semites Redefine Zionism

Alfred Dreyfus (L) and Theodor Herzl (R)

Earlier this month the Jewish Federation of North America (JFNA) released a survey which concluded that while nearly 9 out of 10 Jews support Israel only a third identify themselves as Zionist.

In response to this survey, Jerusalem based communications strategist Laura Kam welcomed his development:

Communications strategist Frank Luntz saw this problem years ago, long before today’s campus upheavals and social media wars. In his work for The Israel Project (where I worked on enhancing Israel’s image internationally), including his 2003 report “Israel in the Age of Eminem,” Luntz explicitly and repeatedly warned pro-Israel advocates not to use the word “Zionism” on college campuses. His reasoning was blunt and strategic. Whatever the word once meant to Jews, it no longer meant that to the audiences’ advocates were trying to persuade. On campus even then, “Zionist” functioned as a negative identity marker, not a neutral description. Once a word triggers hostility, Luntz argued, you have already lost the argument.

From where I stand, this is a copout. Because if one cannot utter the word Zionist because it triggers hostility, then what of other words such as Jew or Israel? Indeed, I would make the case both words trigger even more hostility than Zionism.

This argument, taken to its logical conclusion, would mean Jews would cease calling ourselves Jews.

On this note, Kam addresses the language around Zionism:

Words do not operate in a vacuum. They operate in ecosystems shaped by repetition, repetition, repetition, as well as media framing. Today, Zionism is widely understood — particularly among younger Americans — not as Jewish self-determination but as a synonym for occupation, oppression and/or racism. That definition is historically wrong, but Luntz’s core insight from his seminal book Words That Work still applies: It’s not what you say; it’s what people hear.

Some within the Jewish community have responded by trying to reclaim or redefine the term. We see earnest campaigns insisting that “Zionism simply means…” followed by careful lessons in Jewish history. These efforts are sincere — and largely failing. You cannot successfully rebrand a word whose public meaning has hardened, especially in hostile environments like college campuses and social media.

Luntz’s insight was not ideological; it was tactical. He was not arguing against Israel or Jewish self-determination — nor am I, having moved to Israel and raised a family here. He was arguing that clinging to language that alienates persuadable audiences is self-defeating. Defending a word is not the same as defending values, Israel’s legitimacy or Jewish safety. 

Words are indeed shaped by repetition. But what happens when the words which are repeated are false? Well, Hitler's Big Lie answers that question. Unfortunately, a great many Americans (Jewish or not) have been subjected to yet another big lie when it comes to Zionism. Even more unfortunately, being passive consumers of what we are told, we either accept things at face value or accept them because we want to believe them.

Kam argues that "defending a word is not the same as defending values". Alas, she utterly misses the point. The fact is Israel does not come into existence as a modern state without Zionism. To ask Jews to stop using the term Zionism not only emboldens our enemies but it renders us ignorant of our own history. 

Let me put it this way. How many Jews who object to the term Zionism are aware of The Dreyfus Affair or of Theodor Herzl's response to it? 

If those who oppose Zionism think I'm referring to Richard Dreyfuss then they have no business being anti-Zionists. 

Should one ultimately oppose Zionism then one ought to know what Zionism actually is not as it is defined by the Zohran Mamdanis or the Carrie Prejean Pollers of the world.

As for me, I am a Jew and I am a Zionist. If you don't like it then too damn bad.