Sherryl Woods’ women’s fiction series of books, mixed with a little baseball, is turned into a TV show.
by Rich Watson
Earlier this year we discussed the Sherryl Woods novel Stealing Home, the first book in the “Sweet Magnolias” series (eleven books and counting). I had mentioned the series had been adapted into a Netflix program. I gave it a watch.
The soap opera aspect is greater as a TV show than as a book, but the baseball elements remain, so it’s worth mentioning here.
The home run king was the darling of Hollywood, but it was a tennis player who turned his head.
by Rich Watson
During the 50s, Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner was often seen with celebrities. He was friends with team co-owner Bing Crosby, and his picture was taken with leading ladies from Hollywood he dated such as Elizabeth Taylor.
He would marry four times in his life, though. His first wife was tennis star Nancy Chaffee.
He was a sensational player and an icon in the history of American labor. Now his widow leads a drive to get him enshrined with the immortals.
by Rich Watson
Curt Flood was valuable to more than the St. Louis Cardinals. As an outfielder, he was a three-time All-Star, won seven consecutive Gold Gloves, batted over .300 six times and played on two World Series-winning Cardinal teams.
More importantly, he was the first ballplayer to challenge in court Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, a provision in players’ contracts that prohibited their ability to decide their financial future for years. His legal battle helped pave the way for true free agency in professional baseball.
Over twenty years after his death, however, Flood hasn’t yet been inducted into the Hall of Fame, baseball’s highest honor. Campaigning on his behalf is someone who knows a little about being a trailblazer: Flood’s widow, actress Judy Pace.
