June 30, 2002

12:06 AM

"Babe Ruth and I were teammates on the Yankees—and lovers, too. It was no big deal back then. After Sunday games were over, lots of players and writers would come by our little flat in the Morrisania section of the Bronx for one of Babe's famous bean dinners. I also remember the evening when Babe, wearing his familiar pink housecoat, turned out a nice catfish stew for Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Everyone in baseball knew how it was with me and Babe. After the company had gone home and we'd done the dishes, he would lie in my arms and I'd whisper, 'You are my bambino.'"
posted by semmi (9 comments total)

Funny stuff, but to me it seemed a bit reminiscent of David Sedaris' hilarious piece Parade (Jeebus bless Amazon, you can read the whole damn story on their site).

I'm not saying it's a conscious homage/rip-off/whatever, just that the Sedaris piece was fresh in my memory from having read it recently.
posted by toddshot at 12:43 AM on June 30, 2002

Is this real??
posted by Sonserae at 5:45 AM on June 30, 2002

Is this real??
Yeah, of course, man, of course.
posted by matteo at 5:51 AM on June 30, 2002

and to find out who babe's babe was, just find a picture of the yankees where they actually show their caps. (they don't in this one). heh. pfft.
posted by dabitch at 8:37 AM on June 30, 2002

i installed two way mirrors at the babe's pad in the bronx ... and he come to the door in a dress.
posted by alfredogarcia at 11:26 AM on June 30, 2002

A ball player's life is always intense.
posted by euphorb at 4:27 PM on June 30, 2002

Speaking of Kenesaw Mountain Landis, great savior of baseball and nemesis of "Shoeless Joe," may I recommend the song that takes his name here?
posted by hodgman at 5:25 PM on June 30, 2002

Roger Angell is a much better writer than David Sedaris could ever hope to be -- one of the best living baseball writers (if not the best), he consistently evokes the magic and obsession of the game. This is the first Shouts & Murmurs column that has been worth reading in oh, say, three years.
posted by elgoose at 7:38 AM on July 1, 2002

I know I would hate it if anyone else wrote what I'm about to write in the next sentence---I'd say: "Stop picking these things apart! Get on with your life!" But---and here we go---after reading this piece in The New Yorker last week (and not laughing once) (even though my laugh threshold is pretty low) I couldn't help but feel it was vaguely homophobic. (Eyes roll; snorts ensue). Honestly, though, what's funny about it except the idea that The Babe was gay? And why should that be so funny? I suppose the joke is that it is so far-fetched as to be absurd. But to absurdify (for lack of a better or, for that matter, previously existing word) homosexuality is to marginalize it as this "wacky thing" that no one in their right mind---especially a sports hero!---would ever be. I know, I know---get a life, pal. But I'd be lying if I didn't say it bothered me. My 2 cents.
posted by adrober at 12:45 PM on July 1, 2002