The Daily Dose/April 29, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: We go to some effort here not to repeat items, both here and in our popular On This Date’ segment. But there are a few things that get mentioned most years, either because of their historical significance or because we enjoy the item. Today, we are going to talk about an accomplishment in a baseball game played 149 years ago today that falls into the latter category.  

Here We Go: April 29, 1876, was a Saturday and the National League was in its first week of play. In fact, the St Louis Browns at Louisville Grays game was, depending on when the other games started, the ninth, tenth, or eleventh game in league history. (To date, over 241,000 major league games have been played.) 

Hey, Batter, Batter Swing…But Don’t Hit It To Me: In this game, Louisville’s John Carbine established the major league record for most errors in a game by a first baseman, with five. The record was tied several times in the era, but was never broken and remains the oldest record in the major league record book. We know because years ago we put the work in to find out. 

Oh, Jesus H: The record so intrigues us that a few years ago we put some effort into visiting the site in Louisville where the game took place. 

Dry, Technical Matter: We would be visiting relatives in Louisville, and Uncle Rudy and I came about as close as you can get to where first base was located. 

Hold On To Your Hats: It was easy enough to find they played at the Louisville Baseball Park and where that was located, however we wanted to get as close to where Carbine made five errors as possible, so more work was, thrillingly, needed. Some newspaper research from the time told us the grandstand ran parallel to Hill Street. Now we’re getting somewhere, because now you can reckon where home plate was. From there you walk off 90 feet toward first base and the next thing you know, dream come true, you are standing about as close to where Mr Carbine entered the major league record book as a human could possibly reckon. 

The Bottom Line: Yay for us. There is an old saying that a pond evaporates without new water. So it is in life: if you don’t go putting some effort into things that interest you, eventually you’ll shrivel up and wonder where the years went. And, for the record, John Carbine’s major league career lasted seven games. A classic no-hit, no-field player, he was released after posting a .161 batting average and committing ten errors. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow goes to a staff meeting at the hospital. Today’s Diary. 

We were all set to scram, gloriously early, when Daniel opened his goddamned yap about some BS nobody really cared about and BOOM, there’s 20 minutes you’ll never get back…

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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1992 – Riots begin in Los Angeles following the acquittal of four police officers charged in the Rodney King beating. The riots began in South Central Los Angeles and spread to other parts of the city, killing 63 and doing over $1 billion in damage. Four officers were acquitted of using excessive force in the beating of King, which had been recorded by a bystander and played on television. The riot lasted three days. 

In 1986 – Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox establishes a new major league record for most strikeouts in a 9-inning game in 3-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. Clemens struck out 20 batters to break the record of 19 done several times previously. Clemens tied the record in 1986, and it was later equaled by Kerry Wood and Max Scherzer.  

In 1989 – Shenandoah is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the first of two consecutive weeks with The Church on Cumberland Road. It was the third of 15 Top 10 country hits for the group and was their first of five #1 country songs. The song also went #1 country in Canada and was Billboard’s 29th biggest country song of the year. 

 Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Real freedom is possessed by those who are not anxious to be rich.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. X: Rousseau and Revolution

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The 1908 Summer Olympics were originally scheduled for Rome, but were moved when money was needed to pay for cleanup after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Who holds the major league record for most strikeouts in an extra-inning game? – Answer next time! 

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose will return.

Click here to read today’s entry in the Diary of a Nobody.

Thank you for stopping by,

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The Daily Dose/April 27, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

The Sunday Bottom 5 will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is giving the cat treats. Today’s Diary. 

He’s already caught on that he gets a ration when we get home from work in the morning, and this morning he was meowing like he hadn’t eaten for five days…

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Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1805 – In the First Barbary War, United States Marines and north African Berbers attack the city of Derna, Tripoli (now Libya). US naval forces had been sent to the Mediterranean by President Thomas Jefferson to combat piracy in 1801, and the battle lasted until May 17 and resulted in a US victory, the first time the US flag was raised in victory on foreign soil. The attack inspired the line “…to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine Hymn. Despite this, the war’s results are generally considered inconclusive. The Second Barbary War in 1815 was a victory for the United States. 

In 1908 – The 1908 Summer Olympics begin in London, featuring 2,008 athletes from 22 countries competing in 22 sports. Among the demonstration sports was pistol dueling, where competitors fired wax bullets and were suitably protected. Great Britain won the most total (145) and gold medals (56), with the US was second with 47 and 23. The Games ended on Oct 31 and remain the longest Olympics ever. 

In 2019 – Lauren Daigle is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart for the 39th of a Billboard all-chart record 132 non-consecutive weeks with You Say. It was the third of six #1 Christian songs for Daigle, and the song also peaked at #29 on the Hot 100. It broke the all-chart record of 110 weeks at #1 set by the album Switched On Bach by Wendy Carlos, then Walter Carlos, on Billboard’s Classical Album chart from 1969-72, and the record still stands.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

We should constantly be reminded of what we owe in return for what we have.
Eleanor Roosevelt

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons hold the record for fewest points in an NBA playoff game in the shot clock era, a 66-64 Celtics win in game three of the 2002 Eastern Conference semifinals. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Where were the 1908 Summer Olympics originally scheduled to be held? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 26, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Dray the Dairy Delivery Driver shows up at the hospital. Today’s Diary. 

We were in the daycare center making sure a marauding band of 4-year-olds wasn’t occupying it when – AND I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!! – Dray the Dairly Delivery Driver (D4) calls. 

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Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1994 – South Africa begins its first-ever multi-racial elections in a general election for seats in Parliament. The election lasted four days and saw the African National Congress (ANC), led by Nelson Mandela, take 252 (63%) of the seats. The new parliament elected Mandela president, a post he held until 1999 and the election came four years after negotiations to end South Africa’s policy of racial segregation had begun. A total of 19.7 million votes were cast. 

In 1983 – The San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets establish a new NBA record for most points in a playoff game in a 152-133 Spurs win. The 285 points broke the record of 279 points established by the San Francisco Warriors and St Louis Hawks in 1967, and this mark was later tied, broken twice, and his now 304 points, done by the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns in a 2-overtime game in 1992. The Spurs/Nuggets game remains the highest-scoring NBA playoff game not to go to overtime. 

In 1969 – The Isley Brothers are at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart – for the second of four consecutive weeks with It’s Your Thing. It was the second of 27 soul hits for the group and their first of seven soul #1s. The song also won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and peaked at #2 on the Hot 100. 
 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages…Whatever.

But men must know that in this theatre of man’s life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.
Francis Bacon

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Guardians has the most walks of any active major league player with 1,286

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Which teams hold the record for fewest points in an NBA playoff game in shot clock era? – Answer next time! 

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 25, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

GREAT MOMENTS IN THE DEATH PENALTY: Alabama executed convicted rapist and murderer James Osgood, 55, Thursday night. He was put to death after he dropped his appeals and his guilt was never in question. 

Fly In The Ointment: This brings up an interesting conundrum for those who oppose the death penalty: is it OK when the condemned man wants to die? 

Get Your Official Daily Dose Policy Right Here: No, it is not. This country has executed innocent people. To deny that is folly, and the death penalty must be abolished for that reason. There should be no appeals for a condemned man to drop. 

Dry, Technical Matter: Besides, let’s be honest, even considering he wanted his sentence carried out – about ten percent do – Osgood’s death served little purpose. It is unlikely to deter anyone else from murdering, and we are no safer today than we were yesterday. All we did was exercise our age-old need for vengeance. 

More Dry, Technical Matter: You would think mankind would have evolved from this and death would no longer be punishment for a crime. After all, we’ve evolved in other aspects. For example, armies no longer eat their prisoners. In time, they advanced to making slaves out of them, and we are sufficiently advanced now to take them prisoner. 

Fly In The Ointment: But we humans haven’t evolved from this: the death penalty is still around, and so is war. Religion hasn’t gone anywhere, either, with adherents still needing the spiritual aid and comfort we humans have required since time immemorial. 

The Bottom Line: America has executed innocent people. If you don’t believe me, look up two names: Cameron Todd Willingham and James Beatherd. If sufficient research leads you to believe they deserved to die, all right, we’ll disagree, but yay to you for being an informed citizen. Even considering there are guilty people who want their death sentence carried out, the death penalty must be abolished. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow gets a date with a woman. Today’s Diary. 

Regular readers of this crap know the chances of an actual date are slim…

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Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1983 – Pioneer 10, launched by the US in 1972, becomes the first man-made object to cross Pluto’s orbit. Pluto was then inside of Neptune and Pioneer 10 would become the first man-made object to leave the Solar System in June and would remain the farthest spacecraft from Earth until overtaken by Voyager 1 in 1998. Earth received its last signal from Pioneer 10 in 2003 and is now estimated to be about 13 billion miles from Earth. 

In 2001 – Rickey Henderson of the San Diego Padres establishes a new major league record for most career walks in a 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Henderson’s 9th-inning walk was the 2,063rd of his career, breaking the record of 2,062 established by Babe Ruth between 1914 and 1935. Henderson retired in 2003 with 2,190 walks and the mark is now 2,538 by Barry Bonds. Henderson led the American League in walks four times.

In 1987 – Aretha Franklin and George Michael are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me). The song went to #1 in six other countries, including Zimbabwe and Great Britain, at #5 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was their 36th-biggest song of the year. It was the second and final #1 song for Franklin and the sixth of eleven #1 songs for Michael. The song won the Grammy Award for the Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group,

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

In this emergency, he consulted his native common sense, and found it a good guide.
Dorothy L Sayers
Murder Must Advertise

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The Bee Gees have had one #1 album in Great Britain, Spirits Having Flown, which spent two weeks at the top in 1979. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Who has the most career walks amongst active major league players? – Answer next time! 

Share Gaylon! Go!