A perfect replay
In a notion foreign to the TiVo generation, former New York Yankees pitcher Don Larsen will watch the NBC-TV broadcast of his World Series perfect game for the first time this month, 51 years after pitching it. Larsen and his catcher, Yogi Berra, will attend the first public viewing of the telecast of his historic 1956 performance against the Brooklyn Dodgers on Feb. 23 at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls, N.J. The event, a fundraiser benefiting the Don Larsen Foundation and the Learning Center, is open to the public but limited to 80 persons at the small theater. Tickets are $300 a person; patrons also receive a ballpark dinner and baseball autographed by Larsen and Berra. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-973-655-2378.
Rock on, my guitar hero
To those who insist Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya hurt his arm last season by playing too much air-guitar in his spare time, the pitcher has a ready reply: Long live rock! Zumaya told The Detroit News he refuses to give up playing the video game “Guitar Hero,” even though the Tigers believe that was the cause of his late-season forearm troubles. “I don’t believe that’s what it was, and to tell you the truth, I haven’t stopped playing it. … A lot of people have criticized me and told me, ‘Joel, put it away.’ But I’m still going to play it. Just not as often.” Besides, injury risk or not, the game has its benefits for Zumaya. “I even got free stuff from ‘Guitar Hero,”‘ he said, “because of all the publicity I gave it.”
A career thrown away
“I was nervous. I thought if I hit him in the kneecap, I’d get released. ”
Steve Kline, San Francisco Giants reliever, on playing catch with newcomer Barry Zito
Wrigley Field bucks tradition for a few bucks
A sign of the times is finally sprouting at Wrigley Field: Advertising will appear among the ivy on the outfield walls. Doors in right field and left field will sport the logo for Under Armour. The outfield signs represent a change for the storied ballpark. “The Cubs are committed to finding alternative and creative revenue streams,” team marketing and sales director Jay Blunk said. The sports apparel manufacturer also will have advertising rights for signs behind home plate.
