Casey Stengel – Sandy Rosenberg

“Even when there was not a direct impact, you were there.”

Governor Moore said that in his remarks to the Jewish Caucus at a meeting in the Governor’s Mansion this morning.

He was referring, of course, to the civil rights struggle of the 1960’s.

I would add the following, and he would no doubt agree.

When any minority is mistreated, all minorities are mistreated.

The law recognizes that.

The federal Civil Rights Act enacted in 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public places, schools and employment.

It now prohibits such discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

Over the decades, federal and state civil rights laws have been amended to protect the disabled and sexual orientation, for example.

That has come about because discriminated groups successfully made their case, working together through the legislative process.

—

I’ve known David Rubinstein, the new Orioles owner, since we were students at Pimlico Junior High.

The last time I saw David, about three years ago, he asked me, “Are you still keeping score?”

I am.

I have been since I was 7 or 8 years old.

My grandparents, Stewart and Sylvia Hecht, arranged for their eight-year old grandson to meet Casey Stengel, the Yankees manager.

Casey walked into the visitors dugout 10 minutes before the first pitch of a day game at Memorial Stadium.

Casey: I understand you keep score.

Me: Yes, I do.

Casey: There’s a groundball to the shortstop. He throws it to the second baseman, who throws it to the first baseman.

Me: 6 to 4 to 3.

Casey: You’re better than our scorekeeper.

There’s a reason why Casey is in the Hall of Fame.

President Obama promised executive action on the minimum wage last night.

There is ample precedent.

The Emancipation Procalmation, President Truman’s order to integrate the military, and President Clinton’s expansion of public lands through the declaration of national monuments are cited by the New York Times.

I would add the executive actions dealing with fair employmnt taken by Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

There is a common but not universal thread.

The President extends benefits to a race or class of citizens whose needs are not being adressed by the legislative branch.

—

I’m writing from Orioles Fantasy Camp.

Pressed into service as a second baseman, I almost turned a 6-4-3 double play, but my throw was a few feet short and pulled the first baseman off the bag.

Would the outcome have been different had I made the throw from behind the plate to second base beforehand?

Jim Gentile on how Casey Stengel summoned him to pinch hit in the All Star Game:

“Get me that big guy from Baltimore who swings hard.”