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FERN UPDATE! |
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SEMPER FERN! |
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IT'S A GIRL! |
2/23/2004 |
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SHOELESS KENNY TIES THE KNOT! |
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Ring dem bells! Our very own beloved, legendary Shoeless Kenny Corson and his longtime love Heather tied the knot in March over in swinging Las Vegas (you know, where Socko got married a few years back?)! They were going to plan a June wedding with all the bells and whistles attached up in their home state of Maine, but the bug was a-bitin', and they did the deed in Sin City instead! Congrats to both of you (and to your super-blond son Gage)! Here's to a whole lot of years of joy! If you wish to congratulate them personally, you can do so by e-mailing The Shoeless One! 5/13/2003 |
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FDNY/NYPD HOCKEY GAME... WITH FRANK HEAL! |
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Acre-Head Frankie Heal sent this e-mail over... "I will be playing in this year's FDNY-NYPD game at the Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, April 5 at 7pm. I have tickets so let me know if you need any by e-mailing me... they are $15 each and general admission. I think you can buy them at the door too...but I know it sells out every year. Let me know if you want to go....bring the whole family. There is an after party as well. Hope to see you there... I am #21. If you want more info... go to www.fdnyhockey.com....... Frank" 3/28/2003 |
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COLLAPSE OF A LEGEND! by Patti Landy-Rivas |
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In addition to the fridge crapping out, the phone line coming down, and the three feet of water that is probably in the basement right about now, a portion of the big barn has collapsed. Hopefully it's a blessing in disguise. After reading an article in Country Living magazine about barn restoration, Liz was inspired to fix the big barn up. She has contacted Country Living to see if they would do an article about the project. They thought it was a great idea but they weren't committing themselves to an exclusive. A contact at the magazine said to take pictures and submit an article when the project was complete. Liz has already contacted James Landauer, the carpenter who sided and put the windows in the Main Residence. The project will kick off after the big thaw. Hopefully that will be before the Hall of Fame Game in June. Some of Liz's ideas are to have the barn be a 3-season indoor/outdoor area where you can eat breakfast, dinner, or just read the Mountain Eagle. One wall be completely screened as opposed to a closed in wall with windows, keeping it as close to nature as possible. A second fire pit is expected to be a focal point of the space. The barn restoration has been a dream of Liz's for years. Marty and I plan on kick starting the restoration process the last week of April, weather conditions permitting. If we're limited to the house that week, we have some changes in mind for the kitchen and bathroom as well. The three of us are really psyched to continue the overall BTA restoration. Hopefully, while these next few are under way, all the other projects in the waiting can hold off on getting any worse, i.e., the red barn next to the house. Say a prayer that the thing hasn't also collapsed and is leaning on the foundation of the house. Maybe Landauer will shore up it's foundation after he finished with the big barn. Either way, we'll keep you posted on all the improvements, and of any further collapses. 3/1/2003 |
The
blizzard of 2002-03 wreaked absolute havoc on the upstate region and
BTA. |
KONG'S GETTING MARRIED (AGAIN)! |
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Mike McCabe proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Kathryn, during the Blizzard of 2003, and she said yes! They don't have an e-mail address, so congratulate them next time you see them. 2/27/2003 |
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NO VETERANS INDUCTED! |
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The Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans Committee has inducted no veterans into the 2003 Hall of Fame Class. Gary Carter & Eddie Murray will have the podium to themselves in July. Considering how it seemed that every year 5 or more HOF'ers were being inducted for awhile, only 3 HOF'ers in the past 2 years seems like next to nothing! 2/27/2003 |
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EDDIE & THE KID JOIN THE RANKS! |
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Murray, the only switch hitter with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits, was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, and Carter finally made it on his sixth try Tuesday. No one else came close in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Carryover candidates Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice and Andre Dawson were right around 50 percent, and first-timers Ryne Sandberg and Lee Smith didn't even reach that mark. Darryl Kile, the St. Louis pitcher who died last season, got token support. Murray, who made his mark as a first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles, became the 38th player picked as a first-timer. He easily exceeded the 75 percent necessary for election, getting chosen on 85 percent of the ballots (423 of 496). Murray's ticket to Cooperstown came on a somber day for him. Later Tuesday, he was to attend the funeral of his sister in southern California. Carter, an 11-time All-Star catcher, got in with 78 percent (387). He fell 11 votes short last year at 72.7 percent. "I know I'm deserving," Carter said recently.
Though players can express a preference as to which cap will appear on their Cooperstown plaque, the final choice rests with the Hall of Fame. Murray and Carter bring the Hall's total to 256 members. The reconfigured Veterans Committee, which is considering former manager Whitey Herzog, former players union head Marvin Miller and many others, will announce its voting results Feb. 26. As always, we'll be there, cheering for them as they are inducted on Sunday, July 27th, during BTA HOF11! 1/7/2003 |
Eddie
Murray silently led with his bat. Gary Carter spurred teams with his
enthusiasm. 
He
played his first 11 seasons with Montreal and became the first person
to have spent a significant portion of his career with the Expos to
be elected. Later, Carter helped lead the New York Mets to the 1986
World Series title. Overall, he played five seasons for them. |
BTA BUYS A DOUBLEDAY FIELD BRICK! |
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The Friends of Doubleday Field are spearheading a campaign to renovate Doubleday Field, home of the annual Hall of Fame Game and of Betty's Royal Rooters... part of the renovation will include a front plaza with inscribed bricks that are purchased with a donation. With the proceeds from BTA HOF10, we've purchased a brick! It reads:"Betty's Twisted Acres... Right Field Rules, Sec. 313"... isn't it great?! Click Here to learn more about the Friends of Doubleday Field 10/15/2002 |
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ENCYCLOPEDIA SAL MOVES TO VEGA$! |
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Section 313's own Encylopedia Sal Milano has said good-bye to the Northeast and heading on out to Sin City. Sal is going back to school at UNLV, and while taking classes, he'll be subbing at local schools. His parents live in Las Vegas, so he'll also be nearer to them. Best of luck, Sal, and we hope to see you with that Baseball Encylopedia, calling out birthdates and hometowns in the back row of Section 313 someday soon. 8/30/2002 |
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IT'S A BOY FOR BIG BOB AND PAULA! |
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An e-mail came this morning with some terrific news from Acre-Head Big Bob Ryan and his Acre-Head wife, Paula: "Hello All, Paula gave birth to a baby boy this morning. His name is Aidan Miguel Ryan and he's 6lbs-14oz. "He's a cute little guy with dark hair, blue eyes, and a cone shaped head. "I'm going to go get some sleep now so please don't call my house till after 1pm at least, thanks, rob." How 'bout that! Congratulations to all 3 of you! If you'd like to congratulate them yourself, e-mail Big Bob by clicking here. 3/14/2002 |
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SAD NEWS FOR RIGHT FIELD FANS! |
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1997 Hall of Fame Game Super-Hero Mark Sweeney has been released by the New York Mets. Mark was acquired in January by the Mets in the trade that also netted them Jeromy Burnitz... Right Field Rooters were so looking forward to yelling "What Field Rules?" at Shea this year, and have one of their own players know what it means. Best of luck, Mark, we're sure you'll catch on with somebody else... perhaps the Rockies or White Sox, so we can see you at Doubleday Field this year as well! Sweeney played right field in the 1997 Hall of Fame Game for the San Diego Padres and slammed 2 home runs in a 16-8 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played left field for the Brewers in the 2001 Hall of Fame Game. 3/14/2002 |
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SHOELESS KENNY UPDATE... and another ACRE-HEAD BABY ON THE WAY! |
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As you read here back in December, Shoeless Kenny Corson broke his leg in three places. Well, Acre-Head Big Bob Ryan tells us that he hung with Kenny back during the Super Bowl, and he's getting around surprisingly well now... he may not make any MVP-caliber plays at Rusty Game IV this year, but it's great to hear that he's doing better. Speaking of Big Bob, he and his wife and fellow Acre-Head Paula are expecting their first child! Paula's due on May 20th. Do I see Budweiser in that baby bottle? 3/13/2002 |
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HALL OF FAME GAME TICKET DATE AND TEAMS! |
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It's confirmed! Hall of Fame Game Tickets go on sale on Saturday, May 4th at the Hall of Fame. The Chicago White Sox will battle the Colorado Rockies in the game. 2/18/2002 |
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HALL OF FAME GAME TICKET DATE? |
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It's unconfirmed, but Tombie tells us that in the New Hall of Fame Newsletter, they state that tickets for the 2002 Hall of Fame Game will go on sale on Saturday, May 4th, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The big day takes place later than usual, but at least it will be a little warmer out while we're up there. We've also received word that they are going to be VERY, VERY STRICT about the rule that you must stay in your spot on line. I'm sure we can still go to the Bold Dragoon, but I'd imagine that the days of getting a room and sleeping all night are over. So bring some extra caffeine! Should you be inclined to want to stay home instead of venturing up to The Coop, the Hall of Fame has established an on-line ticket ordering system. You're not guaranteed Right Field tickets (or any tickets at all), but click here to view their ordering system and to apply for tickets should you choose to. One other important note. Joey Jo-Jo's birthday is Sunday, May 5th (yes, Cinco de Mayo)... be sure to throw him twenty-something birthday punches! 1/6/2002 |
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OZZIE GETS THE CALL! |
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Smith will be the 254th elected member to the Hall of Fame and the 189th player, of which 96 have been through the BBWAA ballot. He was the 22nd shortstop elected. A 13-time Gold Glove winner while with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, Smith was chosen on 91.7 percent of the ballots. The Wizard of Oz became the 37th player picked in his first year of eligibility. Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots. To be elected, players had to be listed on at least 75 percent of the ballots of 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Carter got 343 votes (72.7 percent) and fell 11 shy of election. The former catcher's totals have dramatically improved over the years, going from 34 percent in 1999 to nearly 49.7 percent in 2000 to 65 percent last year. Jim Rice (55 percent) was third in the voting, followed by Bruce Sutter (50 percent), first-time candidate Andre Dawson (45 percent) and Goose Gossage (43 percent). Luis Tiant (18 percent) fell of the ballot in his 15th and final year of eligibility. Ron Guidry, Dave Stewart and Frank Viola were among the players who failed to receive the required 5 percent to remain on the ballot. Smith won 13 NL Gold Gloves -- all in a row from 1980-92 -- set shortstop records for most assists (8,375) and double plays (1,590) and entertained fans with a backflip when he ran out to shortstop at the start of games. The Cardinals retired No. 1 in his honor. Smith, 47, was a 15-time All-Star in his career. He will become the 254th person inducted into the Hall in ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 28... and we'll see him there! Like McGoo has said, "We'll be there if the San Diego Chicken gets inducted!" The Veterans' Committee induction results will be announced in a couple of months. As previously announced right here on the News & Happenings Page, Betty's Twisted Acres Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10 will take place Thursday, July 25th, through Tuesday, July 30th. For more info, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame Official Website. 1/8/2002 - compiled from various sources. |
Ozzie
Smith, regarded as the finest-fielding shortstop ever, was elected to
the Hall of Fame on his first try by an overwhelming margin Tuesday.
Smith was the only player picked, with Gary Carter falling just short.
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BETTY'S TWISTED ACRES HALL-OF-FAME WEEKEND 10! |
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The Baseball Hall of Fame has announced it's dates, so we can announce ours... Betty's Twisted Acres Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10 (this is a big one!) will take place Thursday, July 25th thru Tuesday, July 30th, 2002. Rusty Game IV will take place on Saturday, July 27th. Hall of Fame Induction Sunday, July 28th, and the Hall of Fame Game will happen on Monday, July 29th. Teams playing in the HOF Game and Ticket Day info have not been announced by the Hall of Fame... as soon as it's made known, you'll see it right here! So clean out your cooler and seam the seals in your tent... Hall-of-Fame Weekend is on the way!!!! For more info, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame Official Website. 1/6/2002 |
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SHOELESS KENNY BREAKS LEG IN 3 PLACES! |
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Shoeless Kenny Corson, MVP of Rusty Game 2 for playing a flawless 3rd base without benefit of footwear, has broken his leg in 3 places while rollerskating with his son, Gage. Kenny is currently re-habbing his leg and has every intention of attending Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10. We wish him nothing but the absolute best during his rehab, and we're sure we'll see him swinging for the fences again real soon. 12/19/2001 |
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SWEENEY RE-UPS WITH BREWERS! |
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1997 Hall of Fame Game Super-Hero Mark Sweeney has agreed to a $515,000, one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Sweeney played right field in the 1997 Hall of Fame Game for the San Diego Padres and slammed 2 home runs in a 16-8 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 12/13/2001 |
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ZAUN SIGNS WITH ASTROS... MAKING SOME BUCKS! |
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Free-agent catcher and 1999 Hall of Fame Game God Gregg Zaun and the Houston Astros have agreed to a $2.35 million, two-year contract. Zaun, 30, spent much of last season on the disabled list after tearing a muscle in his left calf during spring training with the Kansas City Royals. He played 39 games and batted .320 with 6 homers and 18 RBI. He was originally selected by Baltimore in the 18th round of the 1989 amateur draft and didn't make his major league debut until June 24, 1995, with the Orioles. He also played for Florida (1996-98) and Texas (1999). His best season was with the Marlins' World Series championship team in 1997, when he batted .301 in 58 games, including 38 starts. Zaun, as we all remember, saw the fun that was happening out in right field during the 1999 Hall of Fame game, came out to play (despite being a catcher), and hit a called-shot home run later in the game, thereby cementing his status as the Greatest Hall of Fame Game Hero ever. "Gregg Zaun gives us a very valuable left-handed hitting option," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "This will continue to create flexibility and balance in our lineup for manager Jimy Williams." Zaun gets $1.15 million next year and $1.2 million in 2003. He can earn an additional $500,000 per season in performance bonuses. 12/3/2001 |
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JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS... NEW BTA MERCHANDISE! |
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You can tell that Marty is re-focusing his efforts on this here website... there's a whole slew of new merchandise available at the BTA Merchandise Barn. Entire lines of items are available in different themes, including the Campfire Crew, Vroman's Nose, Woodchuck Knoll, and the Vintage-style Billboard that is on the Wall of Fame at the Acreage. More designs are coming soon. New items available include boxer shorts and fishing caps. For a limited time (only until January 1st), you can pick up hooded sweatshirts and Christmas stockings featuring the logos, too! Click here to head to the newly-refurbished Merchandise Barn! 12/3/2001 |
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BAZBO'S DRUNK TURKEY! |
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HALLOWEEN PARTY IN SHARON SPRINGS! |
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A contingent of Acre-Heads moseyed up to BTA for the first weekend of activities since September 11th. It sure was nice to arrive and have things still be the same for the most part. Having to clean up hundreds of dead ladybugs and the occasional mouse turd was an absolute pleasure. We had a blast despite mighty cold temperatures (25° at night!) and cramped quarters (14 of us slept in the house Saturday night!). The party we attended was recommended by Chrissy's friends Harry and Michael, who have a vacation home in Sharon Springs. The shindig was held at the Roseboro, one of several buildings in Sharon Springs that are in the process of being restored to their glorious, turn-of-the-20th-Century splendor. An awful lot of folks attended in full Halloween regalia, making for a night that made it easy to forget one's troubles. The bartenders were somewhat inept, but the beers being served were Hennepin and Old Slugger Benchwarmer Ale (two of Otsego County's finest brews), which made the wait at the bar more tolerable. The band was a bluegrass band that played rock songs (Bob Marley on fiddle!)... they were terrific, except for the tambourine player... she didn't have a clue. Here's
a list of who came up, and what they went to the party dressed as: Patti
- Ooompa-Loompa (from "Willy Wonka", complete with over-sized
slippers!) One of the evening's highlights was when Don (as Satan) encountered another party-goer who was dressed as Jesus. They met at the center of the dance floor... everyone circled around them... they SHOOK HANDS and went on to DOH-SEE-DOH! The place went NUTS!!! Pictures to come. Brendan and Andréa won the costume contest. The hotel's owner picked the finalists... it was between them, a Valkyrie, and the aforementioned Harry and Michael, who were dressed as the Bush Twins (Dubya's alcohol-obsessed daughters). Our extremely loud cheers won Bren and Dre $50! Now they must buy breakfast for all of us at Mrs. K's. Mart mowed the Acreage for the last time this season, then winterized the new riding mower and stored it in the Big Barn for the winter. The Pond is very, very low, but it'll be teeming with water come next spring. An autumn weekend at Betty's with people sleeping all over the house... what could be better! We had a great time at what has quickly become another BTA tradition. 10/29/2001 |
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MOUNT RUSHMORE OF IDIOTS NEWS! |
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The Mountaineers - excluding the ever girlfriend-bound Frankleen (j/k) - joined the hallowed halls of drinking legend in a drunken ceremony somehow over-looked during their college days. On Saturday July 28th, 2001 - Brian the Rookie, Triple J, N-Boss Bren Doggy Dogg, and Donny Rocket (all original MRoI members) joined the infamous drunken fraternity of the Century Club! All in advance celebration of the hallmark JoeyJoeJoe / Sweet D nuptials. (Ed. note: we're just glad they didn't try it during Hall-of-Fame Weekend!) In associated news, vomiting and odd sexual misunderstandings were up a sharp 27% this weekend in Staten Island Area bars and pubs. Truth be known, it was easy as pie to the hardened livers of the robust Mountaineers. Next year, Millenium Club ! ? ! 8/1/2001 |
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CORN CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY 2001 IS UNDERWAY! |
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Betty's Twisted Acres Corn Challenge 2001 kicks off on the Fourth of July! 5 contestants are battling it out for this year's Corn Champion Trophy, all the while raising money for the Rusty McGivney Memorial Foundation with every ear they eat! This year's contestants are: Martino Rivas, Vincent Campisi (last year's Champion), Pat Raftery, Joey Jo-Jo Darconte, Frankleen Calabro, and The McGivney Family (they're doing it as a team). All 5 are veterans of the Corn Challenge, but this year, each contestant has obtained multiple sponsors who have pledged to donate an amount of money for each ear of corn that is eaten. Based on pledge amounts and what each contestant ate last year, this year's Corn Challenge could raise well over $2,000 for the Rusty Fund! Best of luck and many thanks go out to this year's contestants, and it's never too late to sponsor a contestant. If you're interested, e-mail us! 7/4/2001 |
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MRS. K GETS MARRIED! |
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While Patti and Mart were up for a short weekend of mowing and flower-planting, they popped into Mrs. K's for breakfast... Mrs. K came over to their table, they said hi and asked how her winter was... she told them that in addition to spending a bunch of time in Florida and California, she got married! Congratulations to Mrs. K from everybody at the Acreage... here's to a whole bunch of years of wedded bliss! 5/6/2001 |
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TWISTED ACRES FREE FANTASY BASEBALL LEAGUE |
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The slots for the first-ever Betty's Twisted Acres Fantasy Baseball League have been filled... and it looks like the participants are in for some intense competition, and some even more intense trash-talking! The
teams for 2001are: The draft for this league will be held on March 28th, and the league will last all baseball season long, with the winner possibly getting a stylin' trophy (if all the league members agree to chip in for one). For those of you who aren't in the league but want to keep up on the standings (and the trash-talking), visit BTA's baseball-related guestbook, The Bleachers. Good luck to this year's participants! 3/25/2001 |
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TOILET FIXED AND SHOWERHEAD REPAIRED AT THE ACREAGE! |
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Forgive my pride, but I'm pretty freakin' PSYCHED that I was able to remove the cracked toilet and replace it with a brand-new, 1.6 gallon-per-flush modern toilet! Additionally, I found the stem for the shower and replaced that, too! So now, other than a hairline leak in the waste pipe in the bathroom sink (no can do on that one... plumber is on the way), and, of course, the splintered PVC pipes leading into the kitchen sink, the BTA plumbing is ready for another Summer! 3/10/2001 |
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BILL MAZEROSKI AND HILTON SMITH JOIN KIRBY & WINFIELD! |
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Bill Mazeroski, who hit one of baseball's most famous home runs, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Tuesday by the Veterans Committee, along with former Negro leagues player Hilton Smith. Dick Williams, Gil Hodges, Dom DiMaggio and Marvin Miller were bypassed by the panel, down to 14 members because of Ted Williams' recent open-heart surgery. It took 75 percent Ð 11 votes Ð for election. "I'm pretty happy," said Mazeroski, who was at the site of the committee's meeting. "I don't really know what to say. I never, ever expected to be here. You dream of a lot of things. You want to be in the big leagues. You want to make the All-Star Game. You want to be in a World Series. "You want to do all those things, but you never dream of this. It's pretty exciting. I just hope I can live up to it." The Vets were allowed to pick up to four new Hall of Famers, one from each of four categories: former major leaguers, Negro leaguers, 19th-century players and personnel, plus a composite of managers, umpires, executives and Negro leaguers. So that's it! The lineup is set! We'll be joining Dave Winfield, Kirby Puckett, Bill Mazeroski and the family of Hilton Smith in Cooperstown for Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9! 3/6/2001 |
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TOILET CRACKS AND SHOWERHEADS FLY AT THE ACREAGE! |
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Pat and Mart headed up to the Acreage and its' bitter cold conditions for Presidents' Day weekend. Upon arriving, they discovered that, for some inexplicable reason, the faucets in the bathroom were not left entirely open when the house was last shut down. Leaving the faucets open enables any frozen water (ice to you and me) to expand and allow the air that it displaces to escape without adding pressure in the lines, and subsequently causing faucets to pop, or worse, pipes to rupture. I think I explained that rather well! Anyway, the hot-water faucet in the shower popped off, along with the showerhead. Mart attempted to repair the broken faucet's faulty gasket with super-glue, and it worked at about 90%. the faucet was able to run, but it now dripped. So a new faucet must be installed, and Mart's just the guy to do it! Learn on-the-fly is his motto! Worse, they found the toilet tank to be FULL!!!! A major no-no!!!! The toilet bowl formed a hairline crack due to the tank full of ice, and now a plumber must come to replace it, which will be done in time for Ticket Day (we hope). If it's not done in time, be sure to bring a diaper. Vinny should have a few (see story below)! 2/22/2001 |
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VINNY'S THE LOCO SODA DIAPER MAN! |
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Our very own dashing-yet-struggling actor Vincenzo Campisi (know as "Paycheck" to some, and as the nurturing forefather to the Mount Rushmore of Idiots to others), has gotten what we hope to be his big break! Vinny will soon be seen in a national ad campaign for Loco Soda! In the ad, Vinny prances around in a diaper and says, "Loco Soda es deliciosa because of la frutta AND los chili peppers!" Needless to say, Vinny and Marie are very excited about Vinny's first featured role on the screen. He has appeared as an extra in the HBO series "Oz", along with other appearances. You'll remember that Vin and Marie left the Acreage during Hall-of-Fame Weekend 8 to head down for a "Sopranos" audition, only to come back because there were only about 700,000 other hopefuls waiting to audition. Vinny's come a long way, baby (and with that diaper, I do mean BABY)! Try some Loco Soda soon (available at finer stores in Manhattan and Utah), and look for Vinny on your TV screen... I don't think you can miss him! 2/22/2001 |
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PUCK AND WINNY GET THE NOD! |
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Congratulations to Dave Winfield and Kirby Puckett, who were elected January 16th to the Hall of Fame on their first try, becoming the seventh pair of teammates picked by baseball writers in the same year. Winfield retired following the 1995 season with 3,110 hits, 465 HR, 1,833 RBI and a .283 average. Winfield, who had 3,110 hits and 465 home runs, and Puckett, whose All-Star career was cut short by glaucoma, played together on the Minnesota Twins in 1993-94. In fact, Winfield's 3,000th hit drove in Puckett. While the extremely lovable Kirby spent his entire career with the Twins, the strapping Winfield played for six teams, mostly with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. So, which cap will Winfield wear on his Hall plaque? "I can't tell you because I haven't thought about it yet," he said from his home in the Los Angeles area. "I didn't want to be presumptuous. "The hat I'm wearing is the Hall of Fame hat today," he said. "My hat's off to all the teams that gave me the opportunity to do my thing." Winfield was listed on 84.5 percent of the ballots and Puckett was chosen on 82.1 percent in voting by 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. It took 75 percent for election. The outfielders brought to 36 the players elected in their first year of eligibility. There are 251 overall members in the Hall. Gary Carter finished third with 64.9 percent, followed by Jim Rice (57.9), Bruce Sutter (47.6) and Goose Gossage (44.3). Don Mattingly received 28.2 percent as a first-year candidate. Winfield and Puckett joined Carlton Fisk and Tony Perez (2000), Ferguson Jenkins and Gaylord Perry (1991), Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford (1974), Lefty Grove and Mickey Cochrane (1947) as sets of teammates chosen in the same year by the BBWAA. Also, Cy Young played with both Tris Speaker and Nap Lajoie, with all of them elected in 1937, research by the Elias Sports Bureau showed. So the BBWAA has spoken. Now, we wait to hear from the Veterans' Committee in just a few weeks. Is it Gil Hodges' turn? Whomever it is, we'll serenade 'em this coming August at BTA Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9! 1/21/2001 |
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PUCKETT, WINFIELD, MATTINGLY ON HALL BALLOT! |
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Kirby Puckett, Dave Winfield and Don Mattingly are among 17 first-time candidates on this year's ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kirk Gibson, Lance Parrish, Dave Stewart and Andy Van Slyke also appear for the first time on ballots, which were mailed this week to 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Thirty-two players are on the ballot, and each voter can select up to 10 players for induction into the Hall. A player must be selected by 75 percent or more of the voters to be elected. Results of the voting will be announced Jan. 16. New members of the Hall, including those chosen March 6 by the veterans committee, will be inducted during ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y., Aug. 5. To be eligible, a player must have completed at least 10 years of major league service and have been retired for at least five seasons. Players are dropped from the ballot if they receive fewer than 5 percent of the vote in any election. Puckett, whose career was cut short by glaucoma, is considered one of the favorites. He hit .318 with 207 homers and 1,085 RBIs in 12 major league seasons with Minnesota, helping the Twins to World Series titles in 1987 and 1991. He was a 10-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove winner, and won the 1989 AL batting title. ÊMattingly, a six-time All-Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner, played 14 seasons with the New York Yankees, retiring after back injuries reduced his offensive output. He won the AL batting title in 1984 and the AL MVP award in 1985. Winfield, a 12-time All-Star, played 22 seasons for the San Diego Padres, Yankees, California Angels, Twins, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians. His 465 homers ranked 21st on the career list. Other first-year eligibles are Steve Bedrosian, Tom Browning, Ron Darling, Jim Deshaies, Tom Henke, Howard Johnson, John Kruk, Dave Righetti, Jose Rijo and Lou Whitaker. ÊHoldovers include Bert Blyleven, Gary Carter, Dave Concepcion, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Ron Guidry, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, Jim Kaat, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Bruce Sutter and Luis Tiant. 11/22/2000 |
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In Loving Memory: Artie Martini - 1914-2000 |
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The Acreage has lost an absolute original. Artie Martini passed away on Wednesday, November 22nd, of complications from a heart attack he suffered nearly three weeks ago. Artie was Dottie Olsen's long-time boyfriend (45 years!), and was, in effect, grandfather to Liz, Chrissy, Frankie, and Patti, along with their many cousins. Artie, a lifelong Brooklynite and ex-professional boxer with a will of solid steel, will always be remembered for a seemingly endless arsenal of quick, too-funny-to-be-rehearsed responses that made everyday situations into the stuff of classic sit-coms... and he will be missed immensely. Visit the Absolut Artie Tribute Page 11/22/2000 |
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IDIOT MEETS ROCK ICON! |
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On November 14, 2000, Frankleen Calabro, the French foreign exchange student and founding member of The Mount Rushmore of Idiots, met Rush bassist and rock legend Geddy Lee. Frank got an autographed copy of his Geddy's new solo album, along with a signed copy of Rush's CD "Show of Hands". Frank says, "I shook his hand and told him, 'I play a mean version of "Red Barchetta" at the campfire.' Well, actually, I told him, 'Thanks for everything...' I was dumbfounded...I was in the presence of greatness." Frank will continue to report on his meetings with legends of music, cinema, and politics right here on the BTA News and Happenings Page. 11/21/2000 |
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HALL OF FAME TO OPEN SUBWAY SERIES EXHIBIT! |
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The Yankees and Mets will square off again, this time in the glass cases of the Baseball Hall of Fame. "Underground Movement: A History of the Subway Series," will display memorabilia from the two New York baseball teams that squared off in this year's World Series, won 4-1 by the Yankees. The exhibit, which opens on November 17th and runs through 2001, includes items like MVP Derek Jeter's batting helmet (Yankees), the bat used by the Mets' Benny Agbayani to win Game 3 and the cap worn by David Justice, the Yankees outfielder who became the career postseason games and RBI leader. Also displayed will be a history of classic contests between New York City teams from the 1920s through the 1950s. Look for items like an autographed New York Giants baseball, Brooklyn Dodger Whit Wyatt's spikes and Bobby Thomson's shoes and bat and the rosin bag used by Ralph Branca in the famous 1951 playoff that yielded Thomson's home run, the "Shot Heard Round the World." (courtesy AP) 11/21/2000 |
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HALL-OF-FAME WEEKEND 9 DATES ANNOUNCED! |
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The Baseball Hall of Fame has announced the dates for it's Hall of Fame Weekend 2001, which means that we can announce our dates for Betty's Twisted Acres Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9! As is our tradition, we take our weekend and stretch it out to the max... BTA Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9 takes place Thursday, August 2nd thru Tuesday, August 7th, 2001. The Hall of Fame Induction happens on Sunday, August 5th, and the Hall of Fame Game between the Florida Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers takes place on Monday, August 6th. Rusty Game III will be played on Saturday, August 4th, with an earlier start time of 2pm (rather than the usual 5pm start). In order to accomodate this earlier start time, we must rent the Max V. Shaul State Park party facilities for the day. The cost is a total of $75, and this cost will be divided up and added into the donation you pay for staying at the Acreage for the weekend. It'll probably come out to $2 or $3 per person. In the past, we've started late so that any party taking place at the softball field could end before we got there. This will enable us to all go swimming in the falls once the Rusty Game ends, and NOTHING beats throwing your sweaty body into an ice-cold (and I mean ICE COLD) waterfall! Pack your gear! Seam the seals on your tent! Here comes Betty's Twisted Acres HALL-OF-FAME WEEKEND 9! 11/9/2000 |
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CAMPISI, HAGEMANN RECEIVE THEIR CORN TROPHIES! |
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Vincent Campisi, this years' Corn Challenge Champion, has received his Corn Champion Trophy. Vin received a brand-new trophy (photo coming soon) proclaiming him the consumer of the greatest amount of corn in Corn Challenge history, a whopping 142.5 ears. Additionally, John Hagemann, the first-ever to reach 100 ears of corn in the Corn Challenge, has received an equally-beautiful trophy. Vin was very proud, and has written a brief victory speech, which reads as follows: "On behalf of corn eaters across this great land, I, Vincent Campisi, humbly accept this fine trophy as the BTA Corn Challenge Champion 2000. I would like to thank Marty and John Hagemann for pushing me to go where no colon has gone before. On that note, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my colon for being a good sport. Harry, none of this would have been possible without you." "During my reign as Corn Champion, I will dedicate my life to the preservation, not annihilation, of corn. I will work hand-in-hand and ear-to-ear with underdeveloped and underprivileged corns all across this nation. Also, as a side project, I will attempt to achieve peace in the Middle East, and re-align baseball so that the Yankees and the Mets play the Red Sox and the Braves at least twelve times every September!" "Thank you again for this wonderful honor, and thank Christ it's OVER!" The original Corn Challenge Champion stuffed doll has been permanently retired, and sits proudly near the computer that generates this website. 11/9/2000 |
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IT'S A GIRL... TWO GIRLS FOR EVERY BOY!!! |
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Congratulations to Tombie and Maryann McGivney; they've given Jackie and Matty a baby sister! Kaitlin Grace McGivney was born today, October 24th, 2000, at 12:51pm. She weighed a hefty 8 lbs., 9 oz., and measured 19 1/2" long. Apparently, Katy couldn't wait to give Roger Clemens a piece of her mind, so she jumped out in a record 36-minute labor!!! Fortunately, the doctors decided to induce her labor, for if she was at home when her water broke, Maryann's mother and Tom would have been delivering her!
What a great day! E-mail congrats to Tombie, Maryann, Jackie & Matty 10/24/2000 |
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NEW FIREPLACE HAS BEEN ORDERED! |
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After several years of dormancy, the Living Room fireplace in the Main Residence will finally warm those cold, winter bones with it's comforting, inspiring blaze! The box in the fireplace is too old and warped to effectively allow a fire to burn, thereby forcing the folks at The Acreage to use the antique wood-burning stove that John McCole so kindly installed in the kitchen. Only trouble was, it was so old as to be extremely unsafe. The floorboards were found to be warped by heat when the old stove was removed from the kitched this past summer. The folks at Hearths a'fire in Oneonta, NY, will be inserting a brand-new small-but-extremely-efficient wood-burning stove into the fireplace and running a brand new line up the chimney this November. This new stove can heat a 1,200 square-foot space with ease, we're told, and is among the cleanest-burning wood stoves manufactured in the world today! It also looks great... hunter-green enamel finish, with a glass door so you can cuddle up to the fire and sip green tea (or beer, it's ok)! So next time you're up, be sure to light up that wood stove, and be warm at The Acreage! 10/19/2000 |
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NEILSNACKS RUNS OVER A FOX! |
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Yes, it's sad, but true. On his way up to Uncle Neil's new digs down the road from the Acreage, Neil hit and killed a fox with his Jeep CJ5 on Route 145 North. He said he was gonna stop, but "what was the point? I slammed that damn thing. What was I gonna do? Give it CPR? C'mon!" Well, I guess there's no denying his logic. 10/19/2000 |
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SOCKO AND BOOMER GET HITCHED IN SIN CITY! |
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August 22nd, 2000... A great day to get married! Socko Jones and Jennifer Barbato did it in style! Las Vegas, Nevada after sunset, at The Wedding Chapel on The Strip (one of many, many chapels in Sin City), right in the shadow of The Stardust and the soon-to-be-closed Desert Inn. Martino and Patti served as Best Man and Matron of Honor, and Chewy and John (Mart & Sock's sister & brother-in-law) attended along with the Garone siblings: Uncle Mike, Aunt Edie, Uncle Harpo, and Uncle Joey. A hoppin' post-wedding shindig took place at the Samba Grille at The Mirage (where Sock and Jen are staying). You can e-mail congratulations to Socko and Jen at Socko's work e-mail address! We're all so proud of you and love you so much! God bless you both! 8/25/2000 |
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HOUSE
GETS A HUUUUUUUGE FACE-LIFT!!!!
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You saw it if you attended Hall-of-Fame Weekend 8... the Main Residence has received the biggest improvements since the living room side was gutted and re-built in 1995. The sagging floor in the sink area of the kitchen has been gutted, with new beams, joists, and floorboards installed; a new (but temporary) kitchen counter and sink have been put in place; and the most noticable and notable change is that an entirely new roof with vinyl siding and insulation have been installed, along with brand-new windows on the kitchen half and upstairs portion of the house. The work was done by James Landauer of nearby Gallupville, NY, and one and all seem to agree that you can barely recognize the house! It looks THAT GOOD. The visual benefits are obvious, but the siding and insulation will help the kitchen and upstairs portions of the house to retain heat during those freezing cold winter months as well as the living room portion does. If you frequent the house during the winter, you'll be thankful on one of those negative-10-degree nights in January! |
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JOEY
JO-JO'S GETTING MARRIED!
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Another engagement! Joe Darconte and Denise Tumbarello have announced their engagement, and they'll be hitching their wagons together sometime in 2001 (not during Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9, I hope). Man, oh man! I guess 2001 is a big wedding year after all! E-mail congrats to Jo-Jo and Denise 7/18/2000 |
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CHRISSY'S
GETTING MARRIED!
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YES! Chrissy Landy and Andrew Cascio have announced their engagement! Drew proposed to Chris on June 30th (right, Chris?), and plans are in the works for a 2001 wedding. This is one reception you don't wanna miss!!! Congratulations, Chrissy and Drew... we love you both! And Drew, we BETTER see you at Hall-of-Fame Weekend 9, or the family will dis-own you! E-mail congrats to Chrissy and Drew 7/18/2000 |
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BRENDAN'S SISTER RELEASES X-MEN STORY! |
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Brendan Heddle's sister, Jen, is on the move with her writing career. Just released is X-Men Legends, an anthology book which she has a short story in. One of the customer reviews listed her story as one of the best! For X-Men fans in the know, its a Rogue/Carol Danvers story. Also, her comic book (she writes it, someone else draws it) Cynical Girl is in the ordering phase at comic shops, so if you have a local one, please try to order a copy for yourself! If you'd like to see what the Heddle gene is capable of, check them out! Order X-Men Legends at Amazon.com 6/28/2000 |
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Hall-of-Fame Weekend | Corn Challenge Picture of the Week | The Picture Barn Hall of Fame Game Heroes | Mart's Music ©2005
Betty's Twisted Acres/Martin Rivas.
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