Pepi & More

RIP Brooklyn-born Joe Pepitone, 82, who seemed to squander prodigious baseball talent. Signed by the Yankees in 1958, he spent four years in the minors, then played part time for the Bombers in ’62. He was a member of the World Champions that year. He played full time on the pennant winning teams of ’63 and ’64, putting up fine numbers. From then on his career was checkered, flashes of brilliance mixing with petulance and rumors of off-field foolishness. The Yankees gave up on him after eight seasons. He then spent time with the Astros, Cubs, Braves and Japan’s Yakult Atoms. A three-time All-Star, he won three Gold Gloves. He made a crucial error in the ’63 World Series when he lost a throw from 3B Clete Boyer in the white shirt sleeves of the Dodgers’ crowd. That led to the winning run in Game Four of L.A.’s sweep. In ’64 he hit a Grand Slam in Game Six vs. the Cardinals, as New York lost in seven. Overall, in twelve years he batted .258 and had 219 homers, the latter ranking him 310th all-time. In 1988 he spent four months in Rikers on two misdemeanor drug possession charges. Married three times, he was a father of five. My fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. Sarno was one of his aunts. I saw him a few times in the Harbor Fitness Club in Bay Ridge. I did not speak to him, unsure if he would be receptive. Photo from Google Images:

SVB bailout — another nail in the coffin of capitalism, headline from foxnews.com: “Former Dems including Clinton donor, Obama official dominated SVB’s board of directors.”

Back to the drawing board, headline from FN: “Philadelphia ax-wielding robbery suspects leave convenience store empty-handed after failing to chop open ATM.”

Cool, from FN: “Maple Leafs fans belt out US national anthem in Toronto after singer’s mic cuts out.” Kudos. I wonder if snowflake PM Justin Trudeau was in the crowd, singing along.

It will be hard to top this as the most amusing headline of the day, from FN: “Gwyneth Paltrow reveals rectal ozone therapy is the weirdest wellness trend she’s tried.” According to drozone.com, here’s what is required: Oxygen Tank, Oxygen regulator (comes with the generator), Ozone Generator, 3-Chambered Bag, Catheter.” Sounds like gay males and porn stars would love it.

Lindsay Lohan is pregnant with her first child. Let’s hope she’s grown wiser.

The floating book shop was rained out for the second straight day, which prompted me to take the old Hyundai in for inspection. To my delight, I’d already been charged for it when the car was repaired two weeks ago. I also did the annual window wash.

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