Sunday, September 12th, 2010

Useless Knowledge is Power

On Saturday afternoon prior to the start of the Cardinals/Braves game, I walked around the concourse on the main level at Turner Field. Honestly, I was searching first and foremost for a bottle of water. The temperature was high, the sun was shining, and the humidity was even worse. I found some water and continued on my way.

Near the end of the concourse, I passed a promotional pop-up tent. It was staffed by two guys from 680 AM The Fan, the radio home for Atlanta Braves games. One of the guys grabbed a microphone and addressed the crowd that was huddled around them. He announced that it was Braves trivia time. Having studied the game of baseball and Major League Baseball team histories, I was intrigued. He fired off a question.

"Can you name the only player in Braves history to play in all three home cities (Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta)?" he asked.

The crowd was silent. I confidently raised my hand. I knew the answer, but I wanted to give the Braves fans a chance before me. Someone eventually answered incorrectly and said Hank Aaron. That's wrong folks. He never played in Boston. Another person answered Warren Spahn. Wrong too. He retired before the Braves moved to Atlanta.

The guy pointed at me. "You know it, don't you?" he said.

Please. That's an easy question. It's #41, Eddie Mathews (yes, just one T in his last name). His rookie year was the final year the Braves played in Boston. He remained in Milwaukee the entire time the franchise called Wisconsin home. His final season was the first year the Braves played in Atlanta.

Thanks to possessing too much useless baseball knowledge, I am now the proud owner of a 680 AM t-shirt. Guess I'll wear that to the gym.