Outta Here

My Mother's Aunt Betty was a season ticket holder. My understanding of gesture, of time, of drama was formed by her side during hundreds of ballgames in section 210 of Veterans' Stadium.

For away games, it was mostly the radio.

The radio is my favorite artform. It's the most intimate communication. Nothing but a voice, sounds waving through the air and the images that they form in distant minds.

The passing of Phillies color announcer Harry Kalas reminds me of the twin powers of baseball and broadcasting. The distinctive cadences of the game extend to other fields -especially animation. The distinctive cadences of a man, they are unrepeatable but as echoes in our hearts and mind.

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"Casey at the Bat" from Disney's 1946 Make Mine Music.

These characters move in a weird way (very unbaseball-like). John Sibley's hand is clearly evident. The ball players have a snappy elastic movement. This style is interesting. It makes things move in fluid, yet unrealistic manner.

It's appropriate for cartoons, like Goofy. I'm not sure it was the right choice for "Casey at the Bat".


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Baseball is about precise and orderly timing and placement.

And so it tragedy.