Inside[r] baseball?

January 24, 2012 8:00 AM

Pictures are making the rounds of a younger Ron Paul in the 1975-1979 Houston Astros "rainbow" uniform. Why, you might ask? "An 1889 editorial in the New York Sun advised 'all statesmen of any aspirations for the future to consider that if they have not yet recorded themselves as lovers of our national game [baseball] or some other sporting interest, they should do so immediately.'" This isn't lost on the 21st-century GOP hopefuls, either (you have to see the Rick Santorum video). Since not long after that editorial--1909 actually--the "two parties" in the U.S. Congress have faced off in the Annual Congressional Baseball Game.

(What about free agents Sanders and Lieberman? What uniform did Hillary wear?)

Apparently, Ron Paul cranked the only out-of-the-park homer in the history of the game (linked above).

posted by resurrexit (42 comments total)

(Ripley's version of the Paul home run here.)
posted by resurrexit at 8:02 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

So, he didn't "steal" bases but, rather "acquired bases through individual initiative"?
posted by Thorzdad at 8:04 AM on January 24 [7 favorites]

Ron Paul only likes baseball because of the antitrust exemption.
posted by box at 8:05 AM on January 24 [3 favorites]

So, he didn't "steal" bases but, rather "acquired bases through individual initiative"?

Or through the indifference of the market.
posted by eriko at 8:06 AM on January 24 [3 favorites]

Apparently, Ron Paul cranked the only out-of-the-park homer in the history of the game (linked above).

For a moment there I was afraid you weren't going to mention this crucial fact, and I was already mentally drafting my MetaTalk screed pointing at the bias in this post.

Good job.
posted by BigSky at 8:08 AM on January 24 [2 favorites]

Man, take a look at those teams. The Democrats don't even get a full bench (23 players), while the Republicans roster has expanded (43).

Also, I want to see some positions.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:08 AM on January 24

I want to see some positions.

Me, too--like, who's the portly catcher in those RP photos?
posted by resurrexit at 8:10 AM on January 24

And if the Supreme Court justices aren't the umpires, they're doing it wrong.
posted by resurrexit at 8:11 AM on January 24 [14 favorites]

Damn, even Ron Paul looks good in that uni. The new Astros owner is considering bringing it back. If he does that, on top of the announcement yesterday that I can bring my own food into the park I might even go watch the abomination that is AL baseball. I bet that orange will still look good with BBQ sauce dripped all over it.
posted by IanMorr at 8:11 AM on January 24 [2 favorites]

Ron Paul cranked the only out-of-the-park homer in the history of the game

Yet he can't get any of his own legislation passed or get 40% of the vote when others have to cancel their political rallies due to a lack of people.
posted by rough ashlar at 8:13 AM on January 24

Why did I have to see the Santorum video? And why did the link call it "confusing"?
posted by DU at 8:14 AM on January 24

Also, I want to see some positions.

They were all born on third base.
posted by entropone at 8:14 AM on January 24 [20 favorites]

Yahoo commenters seem to display a massive pro-Ron-Paul bias.

One suspects that they have adopted this particular portal site as their own.

Which will give us a new meme for the 2012 elections:

YAHOO RON PAUL

...which seems more... appropriate, somehow.
posted by Shepherd at 8:15 AM on January 24 [4 favorites]

The new Astros owner is considering bringing it back.

He also says he's considering changing the name completely. Yeah, I know: never gonna happen, but interesting nonetheless.
posted by dirtdirt at 8:15 AM on January 24

They were all born on third base.

Please, please tell me there have been no triples in the game.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:23 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

He also says he's considering changing the name completely. Yeah, I know: never gonna happen, but interesting nonetheless.

There were rumblings (heh) that the name was going to change with the move into the new train-themed stadium to the Houston Diesels or the South Texas Railmen (yikes). The new uniforms seem much more engineer than astronaut.
posted by Rock Steady at 8:23 AM on January 24

Yeah, Crane's made a lot of the right moves since taking over, so hinting at a name change yesterday was an uncharacteristic slip. He needs asses in seats to pay off that debt load and knows the team is going to be crappy. Mind you, with $5 beers and BYOFood he can rename them the Houston YeahWe'reGoingToSuckUntil2020's and I'll be there
posted by IanMorr at 8:40 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

The new Astros owner is considering bringing it back.

I understand why they changed it, but is there a uniform in any other sport that conjures as much nostalgic affection as the Astros' rainbow uni? They were gleefully hideous, instantly identifiable (possibly even from space), and made the whole team seem like mutton-chopped, coke-snorting, disco-dancing supermen. I loved those unis. Know this, new owner of the Houston Astros: change those unis back, and I will cheer for your team, even though I don't really give a fuck about the Houston Astros and a team moving from the NL to the AL confuses and frightens me.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:48 AM on January 24 [6 favorites]

Metafilter: like mutton-chopped, coke-snorting, disco-dancing supermen.
posted by jonp72 at 8:53 AM on January 24 [3 favorites]

Why [was Ron Paul playing baseball], you might ask? An 1889 editorial in the New York Sun advised it.

He saves a bundle on fixed-rate subscriptions.
posted by rokusan at 9:01 AM on January 24 [2 favorites]

Is there a uniform in any other sport that conjures as much nostalgic affection as the Astros' rainbow uni?

Pittsburgh Pirates, baby. 1979 all the way.

We Are Family.
posted by rokusan at 9:04 AM on January 24 [2 favorites]

He also says he's considering changing the name completely. Yeah, I know: never gonna happen.

If the Devil Rays can appease religious whackos by dropping the "Devil", anything can happen. (And don't even get me started on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.)

"Astros" is a pretty cornball name that doesn't exactly sound space-age anymore. It has a retro Disney Tomorrowland sort of appeal, but that's it. I don't think they'll dare go back to "Colt .45's". not even in Texas, but I do think it's time to retire "Astros."

(Plus, it sounds very rude when yelled while drunk. Try it: "Hey, Astros!")
posted by rokusan at 9:08 AM on January 24

That Ron Paul homer would have counted for more, if it wasn't for those damned central bankers, ending the dead ball era, therefore inflating the value of the run, so that it meant nothing any more.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:16 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

Me, too--like, who's the portly catcher in those RP photos?

One of the commenters on the Yahoo page surmised the catcher was Newt, but I'm guessing Barney Frank, 'cause everyone knows Barney plays catcher.
posted by e1c at 9:17 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

'all statesmen of any aspirations for the future to consider that if they have not yet recorded themselves as lovers of our national game [baseball] or some other sporting interest, they should do so immediately.'

Translation for 2012: "Shameless pandering whores gotta pander shamelessly."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:17 AM on January 24

In all seriousness, and without regard to Rep. Paul's crackpot views and racist newsletters, that is some seriously good batting form right there.
posted by deadmessenger at 9:18 AM on January 24

Call me when you find a pic of him in chaps.
posted by stormpooper at 9:37 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

Is there a uniform in any other sport that conjures as much nostalgic affection as the Astros' rainbow uni?

Manchester United 1990 Away Strip. It might as well have come with several tabs of MDMA.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 9:37 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

Manchester United 1990 Away Strip. It might as well have come with several tabs of MDMA.

I can't even imagine what it was like to watch that in motion; even looking at it still on a computer screen is like having a seizure.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:53 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

that conjures as much nostalgic affection as the Astros' rainbow uni?

It looks like he works at Carls Jr.
posted by doctor_negative at 10:15 AM on January 24 [1 favorite]

with the move into the new train-themed stadium

Oh good. It's nice to know that even in the tough years, the Orioles have some sort of legacy.
posted by Navelgazer at 10:24 AM on January 24

Seeing anyone in an Astros jersey is enough to make me vote against them.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:53 AM on January 24

So brave.
posted by I've wasted my life at 11:10 AM on January 24

Pictures are making the rounds of a younger Ron Paul in the 1975-1979 Houston Astros "rainbow" uniform.

Well, he just got my vote for the Republican nomination...
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:16 AM on January 24

does anyone else find it really unfair the Republicans have Connie Mack on their team?
posted by daisystomper at 1:12 PM on January 24

It's eerie. I have seen the original photo of Ron Paul in an Astros uni, and, somehow, on this photo, they have 'shopped out Mt. Kilimanjaro.
posted by Danf at 1:16 PM on January 24

And don't even get me started on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

If you translate the Spanish it's "the the Angels Angels of Anaheim."
posted by kirkaracha at 1:41 PM on January 24 [2 favorites]

The only primary source I can find of the older Paul hitting a home run in the game is Rand Paul's offhand remark. Can anyone else find an independent source of this?

And it really was a classic uniform. Looked great on the Congressman.
posted by zomg at 1:55 PM on January 24

Considering the Oil Company dominance in Texas, they should rename the team the Frackers.
posted by oneswellfoop at 3:13 PM on January 24

Look at these pictures of Senator Kerry after he was playing hockey.
posted by exogenous at 4:42 PM on January 24

Look at these pictures of Senator Kerry after he was playing hockey.

He wasn't really injured. He just put on make-up to simulate injury. I've talked to other hockey players in the same region, and they all say it's possible this was a non-hockey related injury. /not swiftboating
posted by Mental Wimp at 8:15 AM on January 25

I don't get it.
posted by box at 2:08 PM on January 25