Wow!

ChinMusic just unlocked a long 'vaulted' memory.

Cigars.

I'd forgotten about them at the ball park. Certainly nobody ever complained (audibly at least). Can you imagine folks asking an usher to tell the five middle aged businessmen in suspenders and shirtsleeves to put out their Cubans? Ha ha.

Yup I can smell it now. Not unpleasant...but certainly not something I ever wanted to put in my mouth.....but that was the ballpark (MapleLeaf Stadium) I remember the promotion that had (for a couple of years) Satchell Page sitting in a rocking chair out in the bullpen when Columbus (I think) came to town. They'd bring him in to pitch to a couple of batters, and I'm sure some of the young players wondered what the hell was going on. They'd over swing at the big looping windup and be really pissed that a SEVENTY FIVE YEAR OLD had gotten them out (he wasn't 75...closer to 52 actually...but the mystique had already started.)

After his stint (if it was a nice day) he'd go back to the bullpen...sit in his rocking chair...light up a huge cigar, and the ushers would let a stream of little Canadian kids (who probably had never seen a "No coloreds" sign in their lives, in to get his autograph.

Rick