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Giants All Time Leaders – Through 2019

giantsWith baseball shut down because of the corona virus, I thought it would be an interesting time to look back at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the San Francisco Giants.

The Giants began life in 1883 in New York, before moving west to San Francisco in 1957. I’ve seen them play 22 times, first at their old home at Candlestick Park in 1999 and most recently last August at their current home, Oracle Park.  Prior to the world shutting down, I had planned another trip west next month to see the White Sox for a three game series

Home Runs

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 2
Brandon Crawford 2
12 tied with 1

Hits

Name Total
Pedro Feliz 8
Buster Posey 8
Rich Aurilia 6
Bengie Molina 6
Evan Longoria 6
Brandon Crawford 6

Runs

Name Total
Brandon Crawford 5
Rich Aurilia 4
Pedro Feliz 4

RBI

Name Total
Pablo Sandoval 6
Ray Durham 4
Bengie Molina 4
Pedro Feliz 4

Doubles

Name Total
8 tied with 2

Triples Continue reading →

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Fitbit 6: Week 13

Week 6 of sheltering in place due to the corona virus saw my upward trend come to a stop, despite improved weather.  Things got off to a rough start on Sunday, thanks to residual pain from my long walk the day before, so I ended up 6 steps shy of 2900.  Monday I bumped that total up to 5000 steps.  Trips to Jewel, Target, and Meijer on Tuesday gave me my highest total of the week, with nearly 6400 steps.  Wednesday dropped down considerably, to 3100 steps.  Thursday saw a slight improvement, going up to 4000 steps.  Friday fell off a ledge, coming in with only 2400 steps.  Saturday used another trip to the grocery store to get back up to 4400 steps.

Total steps: 28,372

Daily average: 4053.1

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iTunes Top 200: #41 – 47

itunes_image4 years ago, we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library. Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2020.

With three quarters of the chart finished, we enter the home stretch today, cracking the top 50 starting songs with more than 40 plays, according to my iTunes stats dating back to late 2007.

#47: 2Pac & Dr. Dre – California Love
iTunes stats: 41 plays, most recently on 10/20/2019
Previous ranking: #41

A small slip n the rankings for this team-up to celebrate 2Pac joining Death Row Records after getting released from jail in 1995.

#47: Weird Al Yankovic – White & Nerdy
iTunes stats: 41 plays, most recently on 10/26/2019
Previous ranking: #46

A parody of the song Ridin’ by Chamillionaire and Krayzie Bone, which became Weird Al’s first ever top 10 hit.

#47: Snoop Dogg – Gin and Juice
iTunes stats: 41 plays, most recently on 12/9/2019
Previous ranking: #79

A strong rise in the rankings for this 1994 hit from Snoop Dogg, which also appears on Volume 13 of my mix tapes.

#47: Metallica – Wherever I May Roam
iTunes stats: 44 plays, most recently on 9/25/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

Used by David Robertson as his entry music, which got it added to some editions of my White Sox victory playlist, enabled this Metallica tune to make an impressive debut.

#43: Sir Mix-A-Lot – Baby Got Back
iTunes stats: 42 plays, most recently on 10/26/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

The classic ode to large backsides, which also appears on Volume 6 of my mix tapes, makes a strong debut on the list.

#43: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band  – Go Purdue Cheer
Continue reading →

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Braves All Time Leaders – Through 2019

bravesWith baseball shut down because of the corona virus, I thought it would be an interesting time to look back at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Atlanta Braves.

The Braves began life in Boston, moving to Milwaukee in 1953 and landing in Atlanta in 1966.  I’ve seen them play 19 times, including games 3 and 4 of the 2003 NLDS against the Cubs.

Home Runs

Name Total
Chipper Jones 3
Freddie Freeman 3
Brian McCann 2
Jeff Fancoeur 2

Hits

Name Total
Chipper Jones 10
Vinny Castilla 9
Brian McCann 8

Runs

Name Total
Chipper Jones 6
Andruw Jones 6
Freddie Freeman 4

RBI

Name Total
Chipper Jones 7
Brian McCann 7
Freddie Freeman 7

Doubles

Name Total
Brooks Conrad 2
Gary Sheffield 2
Freddie Freeman 2
Nick Markakis 2

Triples Continue reading →

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200 Things To Do In Illinois – Superdawg

Illinois celebrated its bicentennial as a state in December of 2018.  To celebrate, the Chicago Tribune published the Bicentennial Bucket List: 200 Things To Do In Illinois, celebrating the best the state has to offer in history, food, architecture, culture, sports, nature, drink, and oddities.  With the state still shut down due to the corona virus outbreak, I figured this was the second-best time to look through this collection and cover the ones I’ve done/eaten/seen.

We kick things off with one of the entries from the Food category: Superdawg, from Chicago, IL.

A Chicago-style hot dog with all the trimmings comes with a heaping side of nostalgia at Norwood Park’s 70-year-old Superdawg Drive-In.  No need to leave the car; place your order via the intercom and wait for a server to emerge with your order in a retro cardboard box filled with stubby crinkle-cut fries.

Another north side tradition that I was unfamiliar with growing up, but was introduced to after starting to work up north in 1997.  I don’t remember the first time I went to Superdawg, but my most memorable trip would have been on September 11, 2001.  There weren’t many cars in the lot that day, but it was a nice opportunity to catch up on the radio news of the events of the morning.

It’s been a few years since I’ve been down to the original location, thanks to the Wheeling location opening in 2010.  It may be worth a trip, once this whole shelter-in-place business is over with.

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Take My Money, Please


Reports broke on Monday that both the White Sox and the Cubs have come up with a plan to compensate season-ticket holders who already have paid for the 2020 season that has been delayed due to the corona virus.

Both teams are offering the option for season-ticket holders to let the teams keep their money for unplayed games or games played without fans.  In exchange, they will receive a 5% interest payment and the money already paid would roll over for a 2021 season-ticket payment.  Season-ticket holders will also have the option for a complete refund, without the interest payment.

There has been no official word from either team on the plans or the fine details, as we come up to a month after the scheduled start of the season.  There has also been no word yet on the plan for single game tickets, of which I have a couple of hundred dollars tied up.

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Phillies All Time Leaders – Through 2019

Philadelphia_PhilliesWith baseball shut down because of the corona virus, I thought it would be an interesting time to look back at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies began life in 1883, and are the oldest continuous franchise that hasn’t moved cities or changed names.  I’ve seen them play 19 times, including three times in the city of San Francisco.

Home Runs

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 4
Mike Lieberthal 2
Bobby Abreu 2
Aaron Rowand 2

Hits

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 20
Ryan Howard 11
Pat Burrell 8
Shane Victorino 8

Runs

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 6
Ryan Howard 5
Pat Burrell 5
Carlos Ruiz 5

RBI

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 15
Ryan Howard 5
Aaron Rowand 4

Doubles

Name Total
Jimmy Rollins 6
Ryan Howard 4
Pat Burrell 3
Jayson Werth 3

Triples Continue reading →

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Fitbit 6: Week 12

Week 5 of sheltering in place due to the corona virus saw my upward trend continue, despite the return of winter weather.  Things got off to a decent enough start on Sunday, thanks to a trip to the grocery store that helped put me over 5000 steps.  Continued cold weather on Monday left me with only 3700 steps.  Tuesday was a little better, as I surpassed 4200 steps.  Snow covered the area Wednesday morning, leading to a disappointing 3090 steps.  Another trip to two grocery stores on Thursday put me back up over 5700 steps.  Another snow covered morning on Friday kept me inside most of the day, leading to only 2200 steps. shy of 3200.  The weather improved on Saturday and so did my results, notching my first 10,000 step day since January 3rd thanks to a long walk through the neighborhood.

Total steps: 34,068

Daily average: 4866.9

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iTunes Top 200: #51 – 60

itunes_image4 years ago, we last counted down the Top 200 songs in my iTunes library. Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at my most listened to songs, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2020.

Today, we wrap up the first three quarters of the chart,  with the 9 songs with 39 and 40 plays, according to my iTunes stats dating back to late 2007.

#60: The Cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer – I’ve Got A Theory/Bunnies/If We’re Together
iTunes stats: 38 plays, most recently on 11/9/2019
Previous ranking: #35

A small slip in the rankings for this entry from Once More With Feeling, where we learn the truth behind the evil that is bunnies.

#56: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Walk On The Ocean
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 11/27/2019
Previous ranking: #65

The second hit from Toad the Wet Sprocket, which also appeared on Volume 8 of my mix tapes.

#56: Cheap Trick – That ’70s Song
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 7/28/2019
Previous ranking: #96

A strong rise in the rankings for the theme song from the FOX comedy about young Eric Foreman and his group of friends in 1970s Wisconsin.

#56: Black Eyed Peas – Let’s Get It Started 
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 12/11/2019
Previous ranking: Unranked

An impressive debut for the 2005 Grammy Award winner for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

#56: AC/DC – Back In Black
iTunes stats: 39 plays, most recently on 9/29/2019
Previous ranking: #96

A big jump for this tribute to former lead singer Bon Scott, who had died during the songwriting for the album.

#51: 10,000 Maniacs – These Are Days
Continue reading →

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Padres All Time Leaders – Through 2019

With baseball shut down because of the corona virus, I thought it would be an interesting time to look back at the all time leaders in both offensive and defensive categories for all 30 teams. We continue today with the San Diego Padres.

The Padres began life in 1969, joining the National League along with the Montreal Expos.  I’ve seen them play 19 times at 5 different ballparks, first in 1985 at Wrigley Field and, most recently, in 2017.  I was supposed to take in the 3 game series between them and the White Sox next month at PETCO Park.

Home Runs

Name Total
Adrian Gonzalez 2
Ramon Hernandez 2
Mike Cameron 2
Khalil Greene 2

Hits

Name Total
Ryan Klesko 9
Sean Burroughs 9
Brian Giles 8

Runs

Name Total
Adrian Gonzalez 7
Mark Loretta 5
Ramon Hernandez 4
Mike Cameron 4

RBI

Name Total
Khalil Greene 8
Ramon Hernandez 6
Ryan Klesko 6

Doubles

Name Total
Ryan Klesko 3
Adrian Gonzalez 3
Will Venable 3

Triples Continue reading →