In Short

Times Square 1962, photo by David Hurn/Magnum Photos, posted at theguardian.com. Looks like Winston Churchill:

RIP original New York Met Felix Mantilla, 90. Born in Puerto Rico, he had an eleven-year career mostly as an infielder in MLB. He began with the Braves, rooming with Hank Aaron as a minor-leaguer, advancing to the majors in 1956. He was a member of Milwaukee’s 1957 World Series champions. He also played for the Red Sox, his best years, and Astros. He was an All-Star with Boston in ’65. Overall, he hit .261 and socked 89 homers. An Achilles Tendon injury ended his career. He did not have a hit in either the ’57 or ’58 World Series but scored a run in each. He was involved in a neat bit of MLB history. In May ’59, in the 13th inning of Harvey Haddix’s bid for a perfect game, Mantilla led off with a grounder on which the Pirates’ 3B Don Hoak made a throwing error, ending the dream of perfection. He scored the winning run when Joe Adcock hit one over the wall in right-center. Hank Aaron, who had been on first after an intentional walk, thought the ball was in play and that the game ended when Mantilla crossed the plate, so he jogged off the field. Adcock passed him on the bases. It was ruled a double and the final score was 1–0 rather than 3–0. I recall Mantilla smacking a drive off the upper deck facade in leftfield at the Polo Grounds. That was more than 60 years ago, so I may be remembering it wrong. Post career, his community work included an eponymous little league in Milwaukee. I was unable to find definitive info on his family but found that he had at least two sons. Well done, Sir. Photo from Google Images:

According to an article by Kendall Tietz of Fox News, edited by yours truly: Since 1980 in Kennesaw, Georgia, it’s against the law not to own a gun. Population 34,000+, it had zero murders, two suicides in 2023.

Beautiful January day, perfect for doing business curbside. My thanks to Wolf and Sophie, who bought a hardcover in Russian and Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy by Elizabeth Beller; and to the couple who purchased To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee; and to the elderly couple who picked up an SAT prep book for their grandson; and to the gentleman who took home a thriller in Russian; and to the lady and gentleman who donated four books between them.

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