Sunday, May 22, 2011

Nine

Got a favorite number? Do you see it a lot? Are you superstitious about it? Every time I frequent this restaurant in the city and have to visit the restroom, this 9 pops out at me. Now if you grew up in New England (except for southern Connecticut... what's wrong with them?) in the 40s and 50s and loved the grand ol' game, the number 9 meant only one thing... Teddy Ballgame! Mr. Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams (August 30, 1918 – July 5, 2002). He had a couple of other nicknames like "The Kid", "The Splendid Splinter", "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived", but "Teddy Ballgame" was the one I loved. He played his entire, 21 year professional baseball career with the Boston Red Sox. Late nights in my bedroom with a West coast game on, I'd practice over and over, trying hard to perfect that most graceful left-handed swing. Early spring mornings before school, at night or in summer rain showers, you'd find me in the batters box of our homemade back diamond, just swinging away from the left side. During games, it didn't help me much. I always batted right... but I could dream! Oh, my favorite number? I've got this thing about 22 now. I just like the look of the repeating 2s. Go figure.
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23 comments:

  1. Cezar and LéiaMay 22, 2011 at 7:36 AM

    Very interesting...I see only the number 6!After a time trying to figure it out, I saw the 9! :)
    By the way, I love 16!
    Hugs
    Léia

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  2. EG CameraGirlMay 22, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    I see the 9 too. I'm not sure I have a favourite number though!

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  3. Sharon CreechMay 22, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    The things in your head! Gosh.

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  4. KateMay 22, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    I, too, saw a "6"--well, our minds obviously work differently. I like the colours in the photo. It's the kind of artwork that drives a friend of mine into a frenzy whereas I love it!

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  5. SRQMay 22, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    I see an 11...and 16. I've always been partial to 16.

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  6. KaoriMay 22, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    I almost gave up...but I FINALLY spotted the 9! This is some bathroom wall! I have a thing about 8:14 where I always glance at a digital clock at exactly that time :-D

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  7. biebkriebelsMay 22, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    Thank you for your comment on my blog. I don't know much about sports and baseball, but I like your blog and the photo's.

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  8. SharonMay 22, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    This is perfect for me. Nine is my favorite number. There seem to be an abundance of nines in my life.

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  9. ShannonMay 22, 2011 at 11:03 AM

    11 and multiples of it catch my eye too.

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  10. Rune EideMay 22, 2011 at 12:28 PM

    Oh well - my son was born on the ninth :-)
    BTW, an interesting illustration for the number.

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  11. VPMay 22, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    I saw the 9 because I like the number, but can't say why!

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  12. LowellMay 22, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Hmmm. I think your number is just about up! Hasn't ol' Ted been frozen? So maybe he'll show up again some day.

    I'm wondering why someone would have a favorite number...

    Who wants to be just a number? :-)

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  13. AnonymousMay 22, 2011 at 2:59 PM

    I never stopped to think about numbers or favorite numbers. It used to be my wife's phone number...

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  14. FranciscaMay 22, 2011 at 3:31 PM

    Nine is a very lucky number for the Chinese. I saw it quite fast in the abstract. 22...? You're on your own with that one! :-D I don't really have a lucky number myself.

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  15. RedPatMay 22, 2011 at 5:12 PM

    I see your 9 but have few memories of Teddy Ballgame. I still love listening to a ballgame on the radio especially in the afternoon!

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  16. Doug HickokMay 22, 2011 at 5:32 PM

    Great story Mr Birdman. I very much like the nickname "Teddy Ballgame".

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  17. Genie -- Paris and BeyondMay 22, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    Your stories are better than most on NPR, my friend! Keep 'em coming!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  18. Folkways Note BookMay 22, 2011 at 7:54 PM

    Birdman - I have a favorite number combination but I can't reveal it to you. I plan on winning the state lotto with it -- barbara

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  19. Bob CroweMay 22, 2011 at 8:22 PM

    Well, what's "wrong" with them is that they are Yankee fans. I was, once. It took me a minute to find the 9 in all that figure-ground complexity.

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  20. JackMay 22, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Birdman, all it took was for me to see the title "Nine" to know that today's post would be about Teddy Ballgame. You and I are similar vintage and Red Sox fans. Send me an email with your address and I will send you a book that runs through every number and the various Red Sox players who wore it. It is fascinating and fun, but when you finish you will ask yourself why you spent so much time reading about guys who wore 19 for two at bats.

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  21. RandyMay 22, 2011 at 9:02 PM

    Excellent post!

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  22. MichelleMay 22, 2011 at 10:16 PM

    It took me a minute to find the nine!

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  23. cieldequimperMay 23, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    I tilt my head to the right and see nothing but a coastal Native raven...

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