DVD Review-Home Run Derby

Another slow day,since I didn't have much interest in today's football games other than Hawaii's shot at the big time,which didn't last very long and due to sleep,I only got to watch a small amount of the Winter Classic in Buffalo.
So,I thought this would be a good time (since I am in the middle of watching it) to review the DVD release of the Home Run Derby series.
The show was filmed following the 1958 and 1959 seasons at the Los Angeles version of Wrigley Field and was hosted by the producer of the show Mark Scott.
Simply put-these are must haves for the seamhead out there,but a few caveats.
1) There are literally no extras in the set.
2) It takes 3 different purchases to own the complete show.
3) The 2nd and 3rd releases are next to impossible to find in a store,look on-line.

Keep in mind the era that it was filmed in and it is sheer heaven to watch these old black and white shows.
The players range from the Hall of Fame level (Hank Aaron,Willie Mays and 7 other HOF members) to the excellent (Rocky Colavito and Gil Hodges) to the limited power slugger (Dick Stuart) to the bewildering (Bob Cerv and Gus Triandos).
I have watched the first two discs and they are not only great to see the stars in action,but the interviews during the game with straight man host Scott are a riot as well.
Duke Snider came across as aggravated with Scott,although maybe his one homer had something to with his irritation,while Frank Robinson seemed to wince at Scott's calling him "Frankie" throughout his appearances.
That was the first that I have ever heard Robinson referred to as Frankie and maybe the show ended that as well!
Dick Stuart comes off as kinda light hearted as his reputation has always been and Mickey Mantle plays his character of "ol' country Mick" to the T.
Scott's commentating and questioned is the cliche' announcer of the era,but never fails to bring a smile to your face as he says "Home Run or nothing here on Home Run Derby" 500 times an episode.
The Show would have ran longer,but Scott died at the age of 45 in 1960 due to a heart attack and the show ended.
It truly is a look back at a time where the players could use the money won from HRD and seemed to have fun as well.
In short,I cannot give a higher recommendation for the true fan,although it may be a bit dry for the casual fan to watch more than a few shows.

Bullpen Notes

The New Jersey Devils take on Florida tonight and will have two new faces on the bench,as they recalled forwards Noah Clarke and Barry Tallackson from Lowell.
The moves were considered emergency recalls as Jay Pandolfo and Karel Rachunek were placed on the IR.
Pandolfo has never recovered from the stumble that he took a few weeks ago vs Dallas and finally had to be put on the IR.
Clarke and Tallackson have each scored 12 goals for Lowell this season.
Tallackson has been up with the big club in the past and has shown flashes of talent,while Clarke is a former LA King and I know very little about him at all.
Clarke was signed as a minor league free agent prior to this season.

John Edwards announced a plan today to withdraw American trainers and advisors from Iraq as part of a detailed plan to almost eliminate the American presence in Iraq within ten months of his election as President.
This is a reason that we endorsed Edwards-thoughtful,detailed plans on what he plans to do and putting it out there for interested parties to peruse.
Edwards did this earlier with his health care plans and soon after,the front runners came scurrying along behind with remarkably similar ideas.
By waiting until 2 days before the Iowa caucus,Edwards campaign may have defused similar attempts by Senators Clinton and Obama on this issue.......

Iowa looks like a three way run to the wire and it looks like the momentum is going towards Obama right now,but keep in mind that Iowa is a very difficult state to poll.
Besides our interest in John Edwards,Iowa could easily make this a two person race into New Hampshire,if Iowans exacta box Obama and Clinton.

Until tomorrow