Ozzie Virgil, Sr. Was a Baseball Pioneer

 

Former MLB player and coach Ozzie Virgil, Sr. passed away on September 29th at the age of 92. 

Virgil's passing would be overshadowed by that of Pete Rose the following day. Yet Virgil was a baseball pioneer becoming the first Dominican born player in MLB history when he took the field for the New York Giants in 1956. Two years later, Virgil would make history again as the first player of color to wear a Detroit Tigers uniform although he would lament not being accepted by Detroit's African-American community. The Tigers were the second last in MLB to integrate. Only the Boston Red Sox held out until Pumpsie Green joined the team in 1959. 

Virgil would play parts of 9 seasons primarily as a utility player in MLB also wearing a Kansas City A's, Baltimore Orioles and a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform before returning to the Giants who by this time were in San Francisco. Finishing his playing career in 1969, Virgil played in 324 games collecting 174 hits for a lifetime batting average of. 231 with 14 HR and 73 RBI. 

My first memory of Virgil was as the third base coach for the Montreal Expos in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Virgil was manager Dick Williams' right hand man and would follow him to San Diego where he was part of the Padres' 1984 NL pennant winning team before moving onto the Seattle Mariners. 

I also remember Virgil's son Ozzie, Jr. who was a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays and played in the 1983 World Series with the NL champion Phillies alongside the late Pete Rose. 

In Ozzie, Sr.'s later years, he worked for the New York Mets in the Dominican Summer League. In September 2018, when he was 86, the Mets made Virgil an honorary coach for one game in honor of his service to the team and to baseball. 

Baseball might have once been the American national pastime. But the game is far more revered in the Dominican Republic. If one sees baseball on TV in a business establishment which is not a bar there's a very good chance that establishment is Dominican owned. Ozzie Virgil, Sr. is the lynchpin of that passion and reverence.

Last year, the Negro League Baseball Museum held a traveling exhibit called "Breaking Barriers - From Jackie to Pumpsie: 1947-1959" and, in Ozzie Virgil, Sr.'s memory, I have highlighted the picture I took of exhibit. R.I.P.

My Thoughts on the Vance-Walz VP Debate

 

I just finished watching the lone VP debate between Ohio Republican Senator J.D. Vance and Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz.

Here is what I wrote about Governor Walz last night:

Even if Walz comes across as less of a policy expert than Vance, he will come across as a warm, decent human being who cares about the well-being of people. This would hopefully go a long way with the independent voters who will likely decide this election. 

From where I sit not only did Walz come across as a warm, decent human being who cares about the well-being of people, but more than held his own with Vance on policy questions in his capacity as Governor of Minnesota. He also made a point of engaging Vance on points of agreement but mainly addressed his commentary to the millions of people watching at home. Walz exceeded expectations and I think makes him the winner of this debate. No doubt Pete Buttigieg prepared him well, but Walz demonstrated he has plenty of knowledge.

This isn't to say that Vance didn't stay on message about blaming the country ills on migrants both legal and illegal and Kamala Harris for inflicting those ills. No doubt this was music to Donald Trump's ears. But I think Vance's words sounded sour too many voters who haven't yet made up their minds. Vance's claims that Trump saved Obamacare when he did everything to kill it, and that Trump would do everything to regain the trust of voters on reproductive freedom when it was Trump who violated that trust and brags about doing so.

The fact that Vance couldn't answer Walz as to who won the 2020 election and tried to claim Facebook censorship was a greater threat to democracy than the violence of January 6th tells us he is bound to Trump, not to us. Walz adroitly pointed out the fact the former VP Mike Pence's decision to certify the results of the 2020 election was the reason he was not on stage with him tonight asking, "Do we honor democracy or Donald Trump?"

The 2024 presidential election is exactly five weeks from today. Tonight's debate might be a mere footnote by then depending on a litany of things such a wider war in the Middle East between Israel and Iran, the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and dockworkers strike not to mention any number of calamitous events which could arise in the interim. 

But as with the debate between Vice-President Kamala Harris and former President Trump three weeks ago, it was a good night for the Democratic candidate. We will know so should Republicans again complain about CBS debate moderators Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan as when they complained about ABC debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis last month.

There were a number of Democrats who were worried that Tim Walz wouldn't be able to rise to the occasion this evening. I believe he has put those fears to rest.

Thoughts on Former President Carter Turning 100

Today marks former President Jimmy Carter's 100th birthday. 

Carter becomes the first U.S. President to live that long.

It is remarkable that he has come this far given what he has gone through over the past decade. 

Carter was diagnosed with liver and brain cancer in 2015 and survived it.

Carter sustained injuries from several falls in his home in 2019 and survived it.

Carter has been in hospice care since February 2023 and has survived it up to and including the death of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter in November 2023 to whom he was married for 77 years. 

However, frail Carter's body has become, his spirit and his will are still strong.

He is determined to live long enough to cast an absentee ballot for Kamala Harris.

Given the fact that former President Trump, rather than congratulate Carter on his birthday, speaks of him as “the happiest man because Carter is considered a brilliant president by comparison" to President Biden.

A small statement from a small man with small hands.

While I have my share of disagreements with the 39th President, I admire Jimmy Carter for his strong constitution which is far more than what I can say about Trump.

I can only hope Carter lives long enough not only to vote for Kamala Harris, but to see her inaugurated.