centerfield maz

August 29th, 1966: It had been an exhausting madhouse for the Beatles 1966 Tour. On stage they couldn't hear themselves play, the technology of the day wasn't able to re-create the advancements they were making in the studio. As they were recording Revolver & the next project Sgt. Pepper on stage they were still doing basic songs like Rock & Roll Music. They wanted to focus their time on making music that would take rock & Roll to the next level. 1966 was a rough one for them, Lennon made his "more popular than Jesus comments" and the American South began Beatles boycotts, the KKK threatened then, & there were other death threats. They had just escaped the incident in Manila were the Marcos family turned the whole country against them, again they escaped with their lives in jeopardy. Besides all that, the Touring was getting to stressful. There were no days off, no privacy. Their plane would fly into a city and the mania began. It was the sixties, rio...

It was an "Amazing" day at the Huntington Hilton on Long Island, for the 1969 Mets Autograph Reunion show. The line up was incredible: Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Cleon Jones, Ron Swoboda, Bud Harrelson, Gary Gentry, Jerry Grote, Al Weis, Wayne Garrett, Ed Kranepool, Ed Charles, Ron Taylor, Rod Gaspar, Jim McAndrew, Duffy Dyer, Bobby Pfeil, coaches Joe Pignatano, Eddie Yost & special guest Dwight Gooden. Centerfieldmaz was there taking pictures, getting autographs and of course buying old baseball cards. (I added nicely to my collection of pre '69 Mets.) I couldn't get to everyone, so I pret ty much went with the players I haven't met in the past. I did miss out on Garrett & Dyer who appeared before 11 AM. While mingling in the hallway I got to greet Seaver & Gooden on their entrances, I also got a hand shake & quick conversation from a pure gentleman; The Glider- Ed Charles. As he exited, Charles was thanking the fans for coming. All t...

Of all the venues in the New York area, there is no place like Radio City Music Hall. Comfortable padded seats, leg room, full bar and the best sound on earth. Last night inside from the summer heat of midtown was a great concert by the Moody Blues. The crowd is a mix of original fans, second & third generation fans. A pretty mellow show, some of the early classics bring the crowd to a standing ovation. The second set builds up and by Just A Singer in a Rock & Roll Band, the crowd is on their feet cheering & dancing ri ght through the end. The sing along during Questions is definatley one of the highlights, as is Tuesday Afternoon, Just A Singer & Ride My See Saw. But Nights In White Satin is one of the best concert songs you'll ever see anyone do! It was my second Moody Blues show and again they do not disappoint. Their blend of symphonic, psychedelia, classical rock & roll is done to perfection on stage with a seven piece band. The band has sold well over 70...

August 16, 1987: The wind is blowing out today at Wrigley Field. The Mets score a club record 23 runs beating the Cubbies 23-10. Yes Mets vs. Cubs, not Giants vs. Bears. The Mets scored three runs in five different innings, plus had a seven run sixth inning. They knocked out 21 hits, including HRs by Darryl Strawberrry (29th) Howard Johnson (28th) & Len Dykstra (9th). Strawberry also had a triple, doub le, & walk, with four hits overall, driving in five runs and scoring five runs. Hojo & Dykstra, who also had four hits, both drove in three runs. A a matter of fact everyone in the starting line up had at least one RBI except Rafael Santana. Ron Darling got the win, despite giving up 5 runs, on only 4 hits in six innings. Jesse Orosco did worse, giving up 4 runs in one inning. The losing pitcher was Greg Maddox, he allowed 7 runs before the 4th inning. But a Cub pitcher named Drew Hall really got roughed up. He gave up 10 runs in only one inning pitched, balooning his ERA ab...

In honor of the Mets wearing 1900 NY Giants uniforms, here's a look back at that team: The turn of the century NY Giants were not yet the Championship Dynasty they would become during the decade. In 1900 they were an an 8th place team, with some colorful characters & legendary players, forgotten in time. John McGraw wouldn't arrive as manager until late in the 1902 season. In 1900 Buck Ewing started the season as manager. He was considered the greatest catcher of his time and is a member of the Hall of Fame, but after a 21-41 start as manager he was fired. His replacement was George Davis who improved the team to play just above .500 (39-37). In 1901 he was fired after going 52-85 & finishing in seventh place. Davis was a good clean player, unlike most of his time. In April of 1900 Davis & team mates Kid Gleason & Mike Grady stumbled upon a raging tenement building fire. They ran into the burning building, Davis rescued two women and a child from the blaze. A...

Steely Dan are winding down their eight sold out nights at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan. Each night had a different theme, playing three different albums in their entirety on specific nights. Last night I got to see them perform my favorite Steely Dan album: The Royal Scam. The album was released in 1976, went gold and peaked at #15 on the album charts. It was the prelude to the smash Aja the following year. The Royal Scam was a more heavier rock album with some of Steely Dan's best guitar work. It contained the classics Kid Charlemagne, Green Earri ngs, Haitian Divorce & the title track to name a few. The cover featured a homeless man sleeping below skyscrapers with snake & monster heads. Very Gothic, and different from most Steely Dan art work. As usual Steely Dan were right on target sounding like a well organized machine of music. They play perfectly note for note, with everything in synch. They band features a four piece horn section, a fantastic drummer;Keith Carlo...

Crosby Stills & Nash are true veteran rockers from the sixties hey day. David Crosby the once handsome rock star with the long hair & frilly brown leather jackets was a founder of Los Angeles' group the Byrds. Steven Stills came from the Buffalo Springfield and the Englishman Graham Nash from the Hollies. After each had left their original groups they were all hanging out together in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles. At a party thrown by Cass Elliot the three got together and sang a new Stills song "You Don't Have To Cry". The room stopped at the beautiful harmonies the three voices made, and everyone knew a group had to be formed. The released an album and went on tour in the Summer of '69. The second gig they played was Woodstock in Bethel, New York and they went on to become legends. On the 40th anniversary of Woodstock they are on Tour in the Summer of '09, true survivors of their own demons, dependencies, & rock & roll. Last night...