Friday, May 14, 2010

I'm Going After DiMaggio



69 years ago tomorrow, Joe Di Maggio unknowingly started what would become one of the most beloved, unassailable achievements in modern sports. He collected a base hit in 56 straight baseball games. It's a testament to skill and perseverance that remains an iconic feat today, even as bigger, faster players who manipulate their bodies in any way imaginable to gain a competitive edge fail to come close to matching this feat.

I am taking on DiMaggio. I am taking a run at that hallowed streak. I will attempt to clip the Yankee Clipper, to jolt Joltin' Joe. My pursuit will not be a testament to skill and perseverance, but to simple-mindedness. My goal - post at least one song per day for at least 56 days. Furthermore, each song will be one I heard for the first time in 2010. That could mean mostly tunes by hirsute amerciana sad bastards or low-minute mileage (power) pop tunes, but that doesn't mean I won't try to sneak a Joe South fastball or a Charlie Rich cutter by you.

I will also valiantly try to match DiMaggio's . 408 average during the streak (for non-math majors, only 4 out of every 10 songs needs to be a hit). And if baseballalmanac.com is correct (and seriously, how could they not be?), I only need to hit 15 home runs during this onslaught.

Play ball!

Les Brown & His Orchestra (featuring Betty Bonney) - Joltin' Joe DiMaggio

Tommy Keene - My Mother Looked Like Marilyn Monroe

Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson

Bruce Springstone - Take Me Out To The Ballgame

1 comment:

Janet said...

Yippee!