Jacoby Ellsbury Sets Red Sox' Stolen Base Record

As I’m sure you know, Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 55th base of 2009 last night, breaking the Red Sox single season record set by the immortal Tommy Harper back in 1973.  (Fenway has long been a hitters’ park where the stolen base was largely looked at as a way to run one’s team out of potentially big inning.)

That’s one of the things I love about baseball.  Every year something new happens.  At least a few records are broken or historical events occur.

Off the top of my head, aside from Ellsbury setting a Red Sox single season record, Jonathan Sanchez threw the Giants’ first no-hitter since John “The Count” Montefusco in 1976; Mark Buehrle threw the first perfect game in ten years and only the 18th in 134 seasons of major league baseball (not counting Harvey Haddix’ 12 perfect innings before losing in the 13th on May 26, 1959); Mark Buehrle set an all-time major league record in his next start by retiring his 45th consecutive batter; and Eric Bruntlett turned an unassisted triple play, only the 15th in major league history.  It’s been as exciting year, and not just because the Giants have a winning record again.

I remember when I was kid collecting baseball cards back in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, I always liked the cards that told you what records or historic events had occurred in the previous season.

Some of the records were a little hokey, but others weren’t.  I remember a card from 1975 with split photos of Steve Busby, Dick Bosman and Nolan Ryan, all of whom threw no-hitters in 1974.  Steve Busby and Dick Bosman aren’t well remembered today, but obviously they had their moments in the sun.

Baseball is certainly great for providing memories that last a lifetime.  Just for the hell of it, I’ll give a shout-out here to Bombo Rivera, a mediocre outfielder for the Twins in the late 1970’s, who just happens to be a certain someone’s favorite all-time player.  Even Bombo had his moments in the sun.