Paul T Krause

[Jules 🪐 @schumisnoopy]

this might be my favorite photo of them together

[Carol Roth @caroljsroth]

People keep asking me if we can solve our $40 trillion and growing debt issue.

Of course we have the ability to do so.
We just do not have the political will to do so.

[Baseball’s Greatest Moments @BBGreatMoments]

Thurman Munson won an MVP and two World Series rings before dying at 32.

He was the 1970 AL Rookie of the Year, the 1976 AL MVP, and a champion in both 1977 and 1978.

[Presidential Wisdom @PrezWisdom]

Babe Ruth and Herbert Hoover 🇺🇸

#POTUS

[Jonathan Turley @JonathanTurley]

Kentucky has a population of just 4.61 million people. However, its governor just called for abolishing the Electoral College, which protects small-population states from being turned into electoral nonentities. https://t.co/IDXPHIl7RQ Next, Beshear will call for banning Bourbon.

[BaseballHistoryNut @nut_history]

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Babe Ruth was a fat slob. He was 6'2 and about 200lbs in this picture. He was very lean. Did he put on extra weight at times? Yes, but he kept himself in good shape for many years

He had an incredible eye sight. Think Pujols like

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

On June 13, 1948, Babe Ruth attended a jersey retirement ceremony held for him by the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Yankee Stadium hosted a total of 49,641 fans for the retirement ceremony.
Babe Ruth did not appear to be healthy at the event, he emerged from the dugout using his baseball bat as a cane and he stood on the field near home plate.
He waved his cap and then spoke into a microphone to say:
"This makes me feel proud.
It makes me feel good."
Coming back into the locker room after addressing the crowd, Babe Ruth was offered a beer by his old teammate, “Jumping Joe” Dugan, who asked the Babe how he was doing.
Babe Ruth took the beer, and looked Dugan in the eye.
"Joe, I’m gone," Ruth said, and broke down in tears.

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"Babe Ruth once suffered the humiliation of having the great Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators throw three straight fastballs past him.
Babe Ruth asked the umpire if he had seen any of the pitches.
"No" replied the umpire.
"Neither did I," said Ruth.
"But that last one sounded kinda high to me".
Babe Ruth takes a mighty swing against Walter Johnson in an exhibition game!

[Baseball In Pics @baseballinpix]

Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig landing a fish

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"The grand tier and the bleachers were packed to suffocation, and thousands were turned away.
It was a magnificent spectacle, a-glitter with color and vibrant with the spirit of, 'Opening Day.'"
"The New York Evening World."
"This isn't a ballpark;
It's a colossal arena fit for the gods of sport."
John Philip Sousa.
First game played at Yankee Stadium.
April 18, 1923.
President Warren G. Harding shakes hands with a thrilled Babe Ruth before the game, which was played against the Boston Red Sox in front of a crowd of more than 74,000 people.
"The House That Ruth Built."

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"No one hit home runs the way Babe Ruth did.
They were something special.
They were like homing pigeons.
The ball would leave the bat, pause briefly, and suddenly gain its bearings, then take off for the stands."
Lefty Gomez.
With Babe Ruth.
Exhibition game, Mobile, Alabama.

[James michael🇮🇪🇺🇲🇮🇪🇺🇲⚡⚡ @Jamesyankee]

Bob Sheppard

[Paul T Krause @ptkrause62]

@Shiftyismine1 Howdy!

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"Lou Gehrig evoked tears and laughter with words which made the previous speeches sound rather hollow.
He was wonderful.
Somehow he managed to control his voice.
And when he was through, Babe Ruth put his arm around him.....
People were crying in the stands when Lou Gehrig finished.
And they were ready to laugh again when Ruth put his arms around Gehrig and advised him to try out the fishing rod that had been given him and catch all the fish in the sea."
Rud Rennie after Lou Gehrig’s "Luckiest Man" speech, "Baseball's Gettysburg Address" on July 4, 1939 at Yankee Stadium.
Following Gehrig's diagnosis, he briefly rejoined the Yankees in Washington, D.C.
As his train pulled into Union Station, Gehrig was greeted by a group of Boy Scouts happily waving and wishing him luck.
Lou Gehrig waved back, but he leaned forward to his companion, Rutherford "Rud" Rennie of the New York Herald Tribune, and said:
"They're wishing me luck:
And I'm dying."
Babe Ruth talks about the finer points of hitting with teammate and rookie first baseman, Lou Gehrig, in June of 1923.

[Baseball In Pics @baseballinpix]

Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The two stars of condescending eras of hits vs. home runs.

[James michael🇮🇪🇺🇲🇮🇪🇺🇲⚡⚡ @Jamesyankee]

#15

[Jim Koenigsberger @Jimfrombaseball]

"Babe Ruth came up again in the ninth. I was mad.
I told my catcher, Tommy Padden, Babe Ruth was not good enough to hit my fastball.
I came through with a fastball for strike one.
I missed with the second.
The next pitch I nodded to Tommy.
I was going to throw the ball past Mr. Ruth.
It was on the outside corner.
That big joker hit it clear out of the park for his third home run of the game.
It was the longest homer I'd ever seen in baseball.
As he went around third, Babe Ruth gave me the hand sign meaning:
"To hell with you."
He was better than me.
He was the best that ever lived."
Pitcher Guy Bush, Pittsburgh Pirates. Forbes Field, 1935.
It was the longest homer I'd ever seen in baseball."
Pirates Guy Bush on giving up Ruth's last home run, over 600 feet.

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

Not the way I planned on spending my afternoon, but 7,600 comments should not be ignored! Bots, trolls and personal attacks notwithstanding, the critics of yesterday’s post were dominated by a large and vocal contingent who rushed to remind me that there’s “a difference between socialism and communism,” an obvious indication that they didn’t actually read the post.

Shelley Armour writes… “Mike! You know there is a difference between democratic socialism and communism, right?”

Hi, Shelley. Yes, I know there’s a difference, and I understand what the difference is. The larger point, and the fundamental flaw with your comment, is that you seem to believe the candidates within the Democratic Socialist Party are both “democratic and socialist" simply because that’s the name of their club. Well, maybe some of them are. I really couldn’t say. What I can tell you for sure is that more than a few have called for the complete dismantling of capitalism, free markets, representative government, property rights, borders, police, prisons, and the Constitution in general. My post referred to them, as well as a number of elected Democrats who have agreed to campaign on their behalf – including Gavin Newsom, who said, "The Democratic Party must accept the DSA in order to take back the Congress.” His words, not mine.

Tracey Steele writes…“Wow! I cannot believe Mike Rowe said this. He has a huge reach, and he is actually spouting the word “communism” like it’s the 1950s! Wow Wow Wow!”

Wow indeed, Tracey, and thanks for noticing the size of my reach! (Contrary to popular belief, size does matter!) To say it again, I am not the one “spouting” communism or conflating socialists and communists. The word is being “spouted” by members of the DSA who are using it to describe themselves. I am not accusing them; I am quoting them.

John Engles… Hey Rowe, what’s the difference between the Communists who want to run the country and the Nazi/fascist who currently is?

Several differences, John, but the only one relevant to this conversation is the fact that the communists currently running for office have clearly identified themselves as such. They do not dispute or reject the label. They embrace it. It is who they are, who they claim to be, and who they want to be. The president, on the other hand, has never claimed to be a Nazi or a fascist. That doesn’t mean he isn't, but it is worth noting he has rejected the accusation outright. Obviously, you are entitled to that opinion and the right to share it publicly, thanks to our Constitution. Unlike in a fascist, Nazi, or communist regime. (Also worth noting, Nazis and fascists are not the same thing.)

Chris Tomaloff writes… “Kinda like how the political right didn’t shout down the extreme rhetoric coming from their candidates?”

No, Chris, not like that at all. In the video I shared, we saw examples of prominent Democrats saying things like, “We need to elect more communists!” (Cea Weaver, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office.) Mamdani himself literally tweeted, "Each according to their need, each according to their ability." That’s a direct quote from the Communist Manifesto.

But what exactly is the corollary from the right? Are prominent Republicans tweeting, “We need to elect more Nazis! We need to elect more fascists! Eat the poor!” I don’t think so. John Engles may think Trump is fascist and a Nazi, but Trump disagrees, and so do a majority of voters. Communists, on the other hand, say it loud and say it proud. I’m inclined to take them at their word.

Beto Ojeda… “Mike has always leaned to the Trumpian view of things but never states it, so as not to alienate anyone, but we know how to read between the lines. This “communist” talk is McCarthyism 2.0.”

I wasn’t around in the 1950s, Beto, but from what I’ve read, it was indeed a very difficult time to be a communist in this country. Lots of private citizens were dragged before Congress, made to take “loyalty oaths," and blacklisted in their places of work. I can’t justify it or condone it, but I can explain it. We had just fought a hot war against fascism and Nazism and just begun a Cold War against a communist regime. The existence of an organized Communist Party in this country at such a time strained the limits of tolerance. But do you really think we’re less tolerant today than we were seventy-five years ago? Do you really believe my comments about communists who claim to be communists are synonymous with another Red Scare? If you haven’t noticed, Chris, no one in the DSA, including the communists, is being dragged before Congress and made to swear a loyalty oath to the Constitution. Today, a communist in America can run for office…with the endorsement of the governor of California! And the tacit approval of a major political party! Seems to me we’re about as far from McCarthyism as we can get.

As for my desire not to alienate anyone, I suppose I am guilty of that. I run a foundation that is open to people of all political beliefs, and we’ve assisted lots of Americans who lean to the left. I also know for a fact that many Democrats have supported mikeroweWORKS historically, and I have no desire to run them off. But do you really have to “read between the lines” to understand where I’m coming from?

True, I’ve never endorsed a candidate or publicly encouraged people to vote. But I’ve been very transparent about the fact that I’m a registered Independent who favors policies and programs that often align with conservative principles. Obviously, I would not characterize those conservative principles as “Trumpian,” because a) they were around long before him, b) Trump is not a conservative, and c) I do not agree with or support everything the President says and does. So, is it possible, Beto, that your accusation is rooted in the fact that I have never publicly denounced the president to your satisfaction? Is it possible you think I'm a Trumper, simply because I've never called him a fascist, or a Nazi, or a liar, or a conman, or a traitor, or whatever else you believe him to be?

Gretchen Seipp… Mike, the fact that you still act as though you’re not political after all this time is a bit ridiculous. I still support your work and foundation because I believe in it, but the folksy act has worn thin.

Aw, shucks, Gretchen. Folksy? Lil' ole me?
Honestly, how am I acting as if I am “not political?” This entire conversation is the very definition of “political.”

Christopher Pugh… I would have voted for Mike Rowe and Freddie a few years ago before he went full-on MAGA, and I’m all in favor of his project, but it’s pretty clear the political direction that he’s moved in and the money trail that has influenced it.

It’s Freddy, not Freddie. (I don’t much care, but he’s a terrier and particular about such things.) As for the “full-on MAGA” moniker, is there something I did specifically to earn that designation? Is there some kind of general definition you can share? Or, are you coming from the same place as Beto? Is calling me “Full-On MAGA" your way of saying that I’ve failed to condemn Trump to your satisfaction?

For the record, MRW is supported by liberals and conservatives alike. I have no idea what “money trail” you are referring to. Also, regarding my personal politics, think about the implications of what I wrote. I said that the Democrats have been given a gift – an opportunity to appear reasonable by speaking the truth to their own party, just as Bill Maher has done. All they have to do is distance themselves from candidates who have called for the complete dismantlement of our Constitution. All they have to do is say, “Hold on, comrade. Our tent is not that big. We respect your right to hate America, but we don’t want you in our party, and we will not support your candidacy.”

If they say that, I think a lot of Independents would see them as they see John Fetterman, who has, in the eyes of many voters, become the most “rational” Democrat currently in office. If they don’t – if they actually welcome communist candidates into their party – then I’m afraid the Democrats, by default, will offer the American people a very simple choice in November – a party that disavows communism vs. a party that doesn’t. I think such a choice would be very positive for Republicans because I don’t think most Americans want to align themselves with a Democratic Party that welcomes communists. The question for you, Chris, is why would a “Full-On MAGA” like me encourage Democrats to act in a way that would disadvantage the Republican Party? And the answer is simple – it’s because I support the existence of a Democratic Party that believes America is still a fundamentally good place.

I think there’s a lot of room for improvement in our country, and I believe the best way to realize those improvements is for Democrats and Republicans to have continuous, robust and public debate about all the issues. But if one of those parties is affirmatively determined to transform our democratic republic into a communist state, then we’re no longer debating the various ways to make our country better; we’re debating the merits of destroying it. And really, what’s the point of tolerating that?

America is already a big tent, filled with hundreds of millions of people with wildly differing views and lots of political parties that represent those views. We’ve got the Green Party, the American Freedom Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Constitution Party, and of course, the Communist Party USA, as well as the Democratic Socialist Party. America’s tent is so big, we can even tolerate fringe parties like the KKK, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and so forth. Why then, does Gavin Newsom want to make room in the Democratic tent for socialists and communists? There’s only one reason, and he’s already spelled it out for us – he believes the Democrats need them to win back the Congress. I think it’s a bad bet for the Democrats and for America. And if a prominent Republican reached out to the KKK with the same “big tent” offer, you’d better believe my vote would be in play.

Michael Tillman… When are you going to throw your hat into the ring, Mr. Rowe?

Ha! When it no longer fits my head!

[Baseball In Pics @baseballinpix]

Babe Ruth takes batting practice in Wrigley Field before the World Series in 1932. Photo by Mark Rucker.

[Norm Macdonald Joke of the Day @NormSNLJokes]

In a recent interview on the subject of parenting, Jane Fonda admitted that it wasn't easy to talk to her children about sex. But she felt it was necessary because she did not want them to learn about sex the way that she did:

By reading North Vietnamese propaganda pamphlets.