Dave Mason - Founder of the Group Traffic and Solo Artist Passes Away at 79

 

Obituary from the New York Times

Thinking of 77 WABC Radio on My 77th Birthday

 

So, I am 77 years old today.  Where did all of these years go?  I remember listening to Music Radio 77 WABC all those years ago.  They had plenty of legendary personalities, including Cousin Bruce Morrow and Dan Ingram, but the playlist was very short.  You can read about Music Radio 77 in this detailed article written by Allan Sniffen.  In 1982, the station dropped the music and became a talk station.  Talk radio was never my "cup of tea," so I stopped listening.

In 2020, Cousin Bruce Morrow returned to WABC and is heard every Saturday from 6 PM - 10 PM.  I listen to his show whenever I can.

Bruce's Journal is Always Free - No Patreon or Substack for Me

 

Since October 2005, I have published this journal to freely share my thoughts with others, whether or not they are acquainted with me.  The entries may be about:

• My Background
• Baseball Games
• Bob Dylan
• Oldies
• Radio broadcasting
• Unusual experiences
• Anything else

I can consider it a vanity press.  I don't have to worry about fact-checkers or copy editors.

I never wanted to monetize this journal.  I write it mostly for fun and am not concerned about making money from it.  I always wonder if my writings have any impact on anybody.  Do people think I am some kind of a nut?

There are services called Patreon and Substack where writers charge readers.  They offer a few paragraphs for free and then ask the reader to subscribe, usually for a year, to read their entire articles.  This is just not for me.

Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR Holds a Meeting at the 14th Street Y

 

Every year, the NYC Casey Stengel Chapter of SABR holds an in-person meeting.  This year the meeting was held at the 14th Street YM-YWHA on East 14th Street.  There were several speakers on topics of interest to New York baseball fans.

• Eric Weiss ran his yearly trivia contest
• Jay Goldberg discussed his project, The Memory of America: Remember Your First Baseball Game. He interviewed many fans who talked about the first game they saw in person.  My first game was on July 15, 1957 as the Brooklyn Dodger beat the Milwaukee Braves 20-4 at Ebbets Field.
• Lee Lowenfish, a noted author, discussed his biography of Frankie Frisch who once played for the New York Giants.
• David Fenichel talked about his campaign to build a statue of Jackie Robinson at the site of Ebbets Field.
• Journalist Ken Davidoff discussed his book 101 Lessons from the     Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life
• Scott Tanenbaum, Professor of Sports Studies at Manhattanville University, discussed his book, Bleacher Seats and Luxury Suites, which examines Americans’ changing understandings of urban areas, inclusion, and the body politic.

The turnout at this meeting was somewhat disappointing since only 30 or so people came.  When I was first involved with the chapter, it drew over 100 people to meetings held at the New York Public Library.  It remains a challenge for the chapter to get more involved in the society.

Are Mets Fans Too Critical Over the Lack of a Jewish Heritage Day?

This website lists Theme Games and Heritage Nights at Citi Field in 2026.  There is no Jewish Heritage Night.  Does this imply anti-semitism by the Mets management?  The last such event was held in 2023.  Was there an outrage in 2024 or 2025?  I have seen many posts on social media criticizing the Mets.

Sadly, anti-semitism has grown tremendously in recent years.  My only comment is that Met owner Steve Cohen should address this issue.  He was raised in a Jewish household, but I have never observed him expressing a Jewish identity.

OK, Steve - let us hear you.

 

I am Glad I Didn't Stay Up to Watch the Mets Last Night

 

The Mets just started a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the West Coast, meaning the games start at 10 PM in NYC.  They lost 4-0 and were able to get just 3 hits as they lost their sixth game in a row. Will Sammon of The Athletic gives a good analysis of the Mets' woes.  Juan Soto is not expected back anytime soon, but one player can't turn the team around.  There are 145 games to go.

Athletics 1 Mets 0 as the Losing Streak Hits 5

 

The only scoring of the game was a home run by Nick Kurtz in the third inning.  The pitching of Freddie Peralta and Sean Manaea was good, but the offense was limited to 4 hits.  Posters on social media are already calling for manager Carlos Mendoza to be fired after a record of 7-9.  I think it is a little premature, but podcaster Kelley Franco, aka @threeinningfan, explains what the Mets need to do to turn things around.

Box Score