whe ETPf Tit CS TL CEA 2 elBUS a Os re ‘ee a E ~ I E= h p wosL-ty ae Mm feet ety aS Baseball Fun Facts (NAPSA)—For many families, a scrapbook of memories can be traced back to America’s pastime. Whether its a youngster’s first trip to the ballpark, a casual game of catch in the backyard, or Mom and Dad cheering in the stand for a game-winning hit, baseball serves as an essential backdrop to a lifetime of experiences. The sport of baseball brings people together in a variety of ways, from gathering to watch the World Series to organizing a “rotisserie team; from tailgating outside the stadium to engaging in trivia challenges. Here are a few questions that you might be able to knock out of the park: 1. Whois the only player to be voted World Series MVP andAllStar Game MVPin the same season? a. Steve Garvey; b. Terry Steinbach; c. Derek Jeter. 2. What is the “Pesky Pole? a. the right-field foul pole in Fenway Park; b. any part of the stadium structure that blocks a fan’s view; c. the flagpole flying the banner of whatever team is in last place. 3. In baseball terms, what is “rhubarb? a. a player who digs up a moundofdirt as heslides; b. a grounderthat kicks off one of the bases; c. an argument or brawl. 4. What sports commentator and lifetime .300 hitter wrote a book titled “I Ain’t an Athlete, Lady... a. Bobby Murcer; b. John Kruk; c. Joe Morgan. Answers 1. c. Jeter accomplished the feat in 2000. 2. a. Johnny Pesky wasa lighthitting player for the Red Sox in the 1940s and 1950s—and later the team’s manager. Heonly hit 17 homerunsin his whole career, but several of them wrapped around the right-field foul pole—which is just 302 feet from homeplate. teach children about the universal values of friendship, teamwork and determination. 3. c. Part of the baseball vernacular since 1943, the term “rhubarb, referring to a commo- tion, actually dates back to noises made on stage by Elizabethan actors when they portrayed an angry mob. 4. b. After walking away from baseball in 1995, Kruk became a sports analyst, writer and actor. One of his latest projects is “The Sandlot: Heading Home, the DVD sequel to the beloved 1993 hit. The film, which also stars Luke Perry and Danny Nucci, follows successful, arrogant baseball superstar Tommy “Santa Santorelli as he travels back to 1976 and relives his boyhood days on the sandlot baseball team, this time choosing friendship over glory, and ultimately earning both. The backyard baseball story recruits the universal values of friendship, teamwork and determination, to weave an inspiring andrelatable story for sports fans of all ages. “The Sandlot: Heading Home is available on DVD from Fox Home Entertainment. To learn more, visit www.foxhome.com.
