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SAD NEWS FOR RIGHT FIELD FANS! |
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1997 Hall of Fame Game Super-Hero Mark Sweeney has been released by the New York Mets. Mark was acquired in January by the Mets in the trade that also netted them Jeromy Burnitz... Right Field Rooters were so looking forward to yelling "What Field Rules?" at Shea this year, and have one of their own players know what it means. Best of luck, Mark, we're sure you'll catch on with somebody else... perhaps the Rockies or White Sox, so we can see you at Doubleday Field this year as well! Sweeney played right field in the 1997 Hall of Fame Game for the San Diego Padres and slammed 2 home runs in a 16-8 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played left field for the Brewers in the 2001 Hall of Fame Game. 3/14/2002 |
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SHOELESS KENNY UPDATE... and another ACRE-HEAD BABY ON THE WAY! |
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As you read here back in December, Shoeless Kenny Corson broke his leg in three places. Well, Acre-Head Big Bob Ryan tells us that he hung with Kenny back during the Super Bowl, and he's getting around surprisingly well now... he may not make any MVP-caliber plays at Rusty Game IV this year, but it's great to hear that he's doing better. Speaking of Big Bob, he and his wife and fellow Acre-Head Paula are expecting their first child! Paula's due on May 20th. Do I see Budweiser in that baby bottle? 3/13/2002 |
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HALL OF FAME GAME TICKET DATE AND TEAMS! |
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It's confirmed! Hall of Fame Game Tickets go on sale on Saturday, May 4th at the Hall of Fame. The Chicago White Sox will battle the Colorado Rockies in the game. 2/18/2002 |
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HALL OF FAME GAME TICKET DATE? |
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It's unconfirmed, but Tombie tells us that in the New Hall of Fame Newsletter, they state that tickets for the 2002 Hall of Fame Game will go on sale on Saturday, May 4th, at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The big day takes place later than usual, but at least it will be a little warmer out while we're up there. We've also received word that they are going to be VERY, VERY STRICT about the rule that you must stay in your spot on line. I'm sure we can still go to the Bold Dragoon, but I'd imagine that the days of getting a room and sleeping all night are over. So bring some extra caffeine! Should you be inclined to want to stay home instead of venturing up to The Coop, the Hall of Fame has established an on-line ticket ordering system. You're not guaranteed Right Field tickets (or any tickets at all), but click here to view their ordering system and to apply for tickets should you choose to. One other important note. Joey Jo-Jo's birthday is Sunday, May 5th (yes, Cinco de Mayo)... be sure to throw him twenty-something birthday punches! 1/6/2002 |
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OZZIE GETS THE CALL! |
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Smith will be the 254th elected member to the Hall of Fame and the 189th player, of which 96 have been through the BBWAA ballot. He was the 22nd shortstop elected. A 13-time Gold Glove winner while with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, Smith was chosen on 91.7 percent of the ballots. The Wizard of Oz became the 37th player picked in his first year of eligibility. Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots. To be elected, players had to be listed on at least 75 percent of the ballots of 10-year members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Carter got 343 votes (72.7 percent) and fell 11 shy of election. The former catcher's totals have dramatically improved over the years, going from 34 percent in 1999 to nearly 49.7 percent in 2000 to 65 percent last year. Jim Rice (55 percent) was third in the voting, followed by Bruce Sutter (50 percent), first-time candidate Andre Dawson (45 percent) and Goose Gossage (43 percent). Luis Tiant (18 percent) fell of the ballot in his 15th and final year of eligibility. Ron Guidry, Dave Stewart and Frank Viola were among the players who failed to receive the required 5 percent to remain on the ballot. Smith won 13 NL Gold Gloves -- all in a row from 1980-92 -- set shortstop records for most assists (8,375) and double plays (1,590) and entertained fans with a backflip when he ran out to shortstop at the start of games. The Cardinals retired No. 1 in his honor. Smith, 47, was a 15-time All-Star in his career. He will become the 254th person inducted into the Hall in ceremonies at Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 28... and we'll see him there! Like McGoo has said, "We'll be there if the San Diego Chicken gets inducted!" The Veterans' Committee induction results will be announced in a couple of months. As previously announced right here on the News & Happenings Page, Betty's Twisted Acres Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10 will take place Thursday, July 25th, through Tuesday, July 30th. For more info, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame Official Website. 1/8/2002 - compiled from various sources. |
Ozzie
Smith, regarded as the finest-fielding shortstop ever, was elected to
the Hall of Fame on his first try by an overwhelming margin Tuesday.
Smith was the only player picked, with Gary Carter falling just short.
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BETTY'S TWISTED ACRES HALL-OF-FAME WEEKEND 10! |
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The Baseball Hall of Fame has announced it's dates, so we can announce ours... Betty's Twisted Acres Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10 (this is a big one!) will take place Thursday, July 25th thru Tuesday, July 30th, 2002. Rusty Game IV will take place on Saturday, July 27th. Hall of Fame Induction Sunday, July 28th, and the Hall of Fame Game will happen on Monday, July 29th. Teams playing in the HOF Game and Ticket Day info have not been announced by the Hall of Fame... as soon as it's made known, you'll see it right here! So clean out your cooler and seam the seals in your tent... Hall-of-Fame Weekend is on the way!!!! For more info, visit the Baseball Hall of Fame Official Website. 1/6/2002 |
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SHOELESS KENNY BREAKS LEG IN 3 PLACES! |
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Shoeless Kenny Corson, MVP of Rusty Game 2 for playing a flawless 3rd base without benefit of footwear, has broken his leg in 3 places while rollerskating with his son, Gage. Kenny is currently re-habbing his leg and has every intention of attending Hall-of-Fame Weekend 10. We wish him nothing but the absolute best during his rehab, and we're sure we'll see him swinging for the fences again real soon. 12/19/2001 |
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SWEENEY RE-UPS WITH BREWERS! |
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1997 Hall of Fame Game Super-Hero Mark Sweeney has agreed to a $515,000, one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. Sweeney played right field in the 1997 Hall of Fame Game for the San Diego Padres and slammed 2 home runs in a 16-8 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers. 12/13/2001 |
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ZAUN SIGNS WITH ASTROS... MAKING SOME BUCKS! |
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Free-agent catcher and 1999 Hall of Fame Game God Gregg Zaun and the Houston Astros have agreed to a $2.35 million, two-year contract. Zaun, 30, spent much of last season on the disabled list after tearing a muscle in his left calf during spring training with the Kansas City Royals. He played 39 games and batted .320 with 6 homers and 18 RBI. He was originally selected by Baltimore in the 18th round of the 1989 amateur draft and didn't make his major league debut until June 24, 1995, with the Orioles. He also played for Florida (1996-98) and Texas (1999). His best season was with the Marlins' World Series championship team in 1997, when he batted .301 in 58 games, including 38 starts. Zaun, as we all remember, saw the fun that was happening out in right field during the 1999 Hall of Fame game, came out to play (despite being a catcher), and hit a called-shot home run later in the game, thereby cementing his status as the Greatest Hall of Fame Game Hero ever. "Gregg Zaun gives us a very valuable left-handed hitting option," Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker said. "This will continue to create flexibility and balance in our lineup for manager Jimy Williams." Zaun gets $1.15 million next year and $1.2 million in 2003. He can earn an additional $500,000 per season in performance bonuses. 12/3/2001 |
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JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS... NEW BTA MERCHANDISE! |
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You can tell that Marty is re-focusing his efforts on this here website... there's a whole slew of new merchandise available at the BTA Merchandise Barn. Entire lines of items are available in different themes, including the Campfire Crew, Vroman's Nose, Woodchuck Knoll, and the Vintage-style Billboard that is on the Wall of Fame at the Acreage. More designs are coming soon. New items available include boxer shorts and fishing caps. For a limited time (only until January 1st), you can pick up hooded sweatshirts and Christmas stockings featuring the logos, too! Click here to head to the newly-refurbished Merchandise Barn! 12/3/2001 |
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BAZBO'S DRUNK TURKEY! |
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HALLOWEEN PARTY IN SHARON SPRINGS! |
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A contingent of Acre-Heads moseyed up to BTA for the first weekend of activities since September 11th. It sure was nice to arrive and have things still be the same for the most part. Having to clean up hundreds of dead ladybugs and the occasional mouse turd was an absolute pleasure. We had a blast despite mighty cold temperatures (25° at night!) and cramped quarters (14 of us slept in the house Saturday night!). The party we attended was recommended by Chrissy's friends Harry and Michael, who have a vacation home in Sharon Springs. The shindig was held at the Roseboro, one of several buildings in Sharon Springs that are in the process of being restored to their glorious, turn-of-the-20th-Century splendor. An awful lot of folks attended in full Halloween regalia, making for a night that made it easy to forget one's troubles. The bartenders were somewhat inept, but the beers being served were Hennepin and Old Slugger Benchwarmer Ale (two of Otsego County's finest brews), which made the wait at the bar more tolerable. The band was a bluegrass band that played rock songs (Bob Marley on fiddle!)... they were terrific, except for the tambourine player... she didn't have a clue. Here's
a list of who came up, and what they went to the party dressed as: Patti
- Ooompa-Loompa (from "Willy Wonka", complete with over-sized
slippers!) One of the evening's highlights was when Don (as Satan) encountered another party-goer who was dressed as Jesus. They met at the center of the dance floor... everyone circled around them... they SHOOK HANDS and went on to DOH-SEE-DOH! The place went NUTS!!! Pictures to come. Brendan and Andréa won the costume contest. The hotel's owner picked the finalists... it was between them, a Valkyrie, and the aforementioned Harry and Michael, who were dressed as the Bush Twins (Dubya's alcohol-obsessed daughters). Our extremely loud cheers won Bren and Dre $50! Now they must buy breakfast for all of us at Mrs. K's. Mart mowed the Acreage for the last time this season, then winterized the new riding mower and stored it in the Big Barn for the winter. The Pond is very, very low, but it'll be teeming with water come next spring. An autumn weekend at Betty's with people sleeping all over the house... what could be better! We had a great time at what has quickly become another BTA tradition. 10/29/2001 |
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MOUNT RUSHMORE OF IDIOTS NEWS! |
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The Mountaineers - excluding the ever girlfriend-bound Frankleen (j/k) - joined the hallowed halls of drinking legend in a drunken ceremony somehow over-looked during their college days. On Saturday July 28th, 2001 - Brian the Rookie, Triple J, N-Boss Bren Doggy Dogg, and Donny Rocket (all original MRoI members) joined the infamous drunken fraternity of the Century Club! All in advance celebration of the hallmark JoeyJoeJoe / Sweet D nuptials. (Ed. note: we're just glad they didn't try it during Hall-of-Fame Weekend!) In associated news, vomiting and odd sexual misunderstandings were up a sharp 27% this weekend in Staten Island Area bars and pubs. Truth be known, it was easy as pie to the hardened livers of the robust Mountaineers. Next year, Millenium Club ! ? ! 8/1/2001 |
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CORN CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY 2001 IS UNDERWAY! |
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Betty's Twisted Acres Corn Challenge 2001 kicks off on the Fourth of July! 5 contestants are battling it out for this year's Corn Champion Trophy, all the while raising money for the Rusty McGivney Memorial Foundation with every ear they eat! This year's contestants are: Martino Rivas, Vincent Campisi (last year's Champion), Pat Raftery, Joey Jo-Jo Darconte, Frankleen Calabro, and The McGivney Family (they're doing it as a team). All 5 are veterans of the Corn Challenge, but this year, each contestant has obtained multiple sponsors who have pledged to donate an amount of money for each ear of corn that is eaten. Based on pledge amounts and what each contestant ate last year, this year's Corn Challenge could raise well over $2,000 for the Rusty Fund! Best of luck and many thanks go out to this year's contestants, and it's never too late to sponsor a contestant. If you're interested, e-mail us! 7/4/2001 |
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MRS. K GETS MARRIED! |
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While Patti and Mart were up for a short weekend of mowing and flower-planting, they popped into Mrs. K's for breakfast... Mrs. K came over to their table, they said hi and asked how her winter was... she told them that in addition to spending a bunch of time in Florida and California, she got married! Congratulations to Mrs. K from everybody at the Acreage... here's to a whole bunch of years of wedded bliss! 5/6/2001 |
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