By Frank Cumberland
The Nationals’ decision to keep Alfonso Soriano is the most important Washington sports moment since the Redskins stole Sonny Jurgensen from the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964.
Why? The retention of Soriano reflects the Nationals new owners’ genuine appreciation for the culture of Washington, and foreshadows the level of respect that Nationals fans can expect from the Lerner family in the decades to come. Full Story
Baseball, Shadows and Light
By Frank Cumberland
February 2, 2006
Does Anyone Remember Washington Baseball?
About a year ago, a phenomenon occurred that drew 2.7 million people into the District of Columbia. More people, from more backgrounds, from more places in metropolitan Washington, got together in one place, than at any time in history. And that place was RFK Stadium.
Do you remember? Full Story
How the Nationals Saved Washington
By Frank Cumberland
October 2, 2005
It is generally agreed Lincoln saved the Union. Some agree the Irish saved civilization. Few agree I ever saved any money. But all can agree that the Washington Nationals saved the City of Washington.
As their inaugural season wraps up and quivering, inconsolable fans face a bad and barren winter, I think it is time to take stock of what this team -- this phenomenon -- has meant to our nation's capital. Full Story
Are You A Ballpark Guy? By Larry Crino Ballpark Guys love The Game. It’s that simple. Can you think of some Ballpark Guys? There are quite a few of them out there. Are you a Ballpark Guy? How do you know for sure? A Ballpark Guy can be identified rather simply and in a host of different ways. If you truly love the game, chances are you have embarked on an all-consuming, lifelong quest to attain a level of knowledge and appreciation of baseball that few around you seem to match. If that’s the case, then you may very well be a Ballpark Guy.
We Will Always Remember "Lava Lizard" and "Sassafrasss." Lava Lizard Perhaps you've noticed the *LL* at the top of our Message
Board. That stands for "Lava Lizard" the screen name used
by Stephanie Buser, BPG's most
popular and well-known personality. She took that screen name from her
favorite baseball movie, "Bull Durham". But sadly, Stephanie's time with us was far too short. She saddened
us all when she passed away in November, 2002, at the age of 45. As a little girl growing up in Western Maryland, Stephanie loved the
Orioles. She never lost that love for her team. She always looked toward
the day when Oriole Magic would return. But if the Orioles were her first love, we were her second. Steph knew
most of us who post here, and we shared many wonderful times together
at Orioles
games. She was the most avid contributer to our board and its biggest
influence. She was brilliant, witty, combative, opiniated, personable
and warm. It has not been the same since she left us so suddenly, and it never
will be the same again. Stephanie, we will always remember you and we will always miss you. 
Stephanie Lynne Buser
10/8/57-11/10/02
Sassafrasss Erik Dietzel had a passion for sports, and a true devotion to baseball. The "Sassafrasss" we quickly grew to embrace was a talented writer equally capable of engaging the casual baseball fan in discussion, or instilling in the most seasoned watcher a fresh perspective. A true student of baseball, his enthusiasm for the game was genuine and contagious. It inspired him to spend countless hours entertaining us with the complex lists and statistics he compiled in his pursuit of a better understanding of baseball. He created his own sophisticated formulae to more effectively evaluate major-league performance, both past and present, methods which are plainly better than the traditional measures. He encouraged us, in fact he motivated us, to reflect, to think, and to debate. Analytical and articulate, it was his hope to eventually consolidate his judgments into a book about the game he loved. He had a way of delivering his insights with candor, wit, and charm--and happily, he did just that for years. Those were special days. In addition, Erik clearly still had a lot of little boy inside him. It was the combination of all these qualities that made his friends love him.
Most of all, he was a gentleman, a loyal friend, and a compassionate, thoughtful person. Erik was a Big Leaguer and Hall-of-Famer in the purest sense.
Sadly, our friend never had the chance to complete his book or finish his life. We lost Erik Dietzel to a tragic accident on January 4, 2004. He leaves behind much unfinished work, a group of admirers struggling to reconcile his loss--and many fond, lasting memories. To say merely that we will miss him seems drastically inappropriate. Only 36 years old, he was taken away from us far too soon. But I like to think that God recognized his talents, and decided to call him up for more important research in a nicer place.
Job well done, Erik. Bless you, and may you rest in peace.
-- A friend 
Erik Dietzel |
