By Todd Newville

Imagine being a rookie with one of the greatest franchises in professional sports - the New York Yankees. You go on to win the American League’s Rookie of the Year award and the Yankees go on to win the World Series in a thrilling seven-game matchup with the vaunted San Francisco Giants.

Fiction, you may say. However, for former Yankee Tom Tresh, the dream was a reality in which he played a vital role. Tresh is one of only six players to win Rookie of the Year honors and play with a World Series champion in the same season.

Since the Baseball Writers Association of America instituted the Rookie of the Year award in 1947, only Gil McDougald with the Yankees in 1951, Jim Lefebvre with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965, Fernando Valenzuela with the Dodgers in 1981, Chuck Knoblauch with the Minnesota Twins in 1991, and Derek Jeter with the Yankees in 1996 have matched Tresh’s feat.

Tresh, a lifetime .245 hitter in nine years with the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers, hit 153 career home runs, including seasons in which he clouted 25 in 1963, 26 in 1965 and 27 in ‘66.
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The South Atlantic League Augusta Greenjackets turn back the clock this evening with their “70’s Night and Ross Grimsley Bobblehead Night.”  One dollar Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, a pre-game show by Electric Voodoo, and on-field Twister are only a few of the specials.

The first 1000 fans through the turnstyles tonight will receive a Ross Grimsley bobblehead doll.  An All-Star pitcher (and only 20-game winner in franchise history) for the Montreal Expos in 1978, Grimsley is currently the pitching coach for the Greenjackets.

The Class A San Francisco Giants affiliate Greenjackets open an eight-game homestand this weekend starting with the Rome Braves.

In what is thought to be the first minor league contest ever held at Wrigley Field, the Class A Midwest League Peoria Chiefs will host the Kane County Cougars on Tuesday, July 29th.

Peoria, a Chicago Cubs affiliate, is managed by former Cub and 2005 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ryne Sandberg.  This will be the first time in the Chiefs history that the team has played in a major league baseball stadium.  Wrigley Field opened in 1914.

Tickets are available online starting today at www.cubs.com.

If you answered with anything but the word, Never, then you are WRONG, just like the moronic hockey fans in Montreal and Philadelphia.  I don’t care where it started [Montreal] or where it finished [Philadelphia], you just don’t do that. 

Here’s what you need to do during the singing of the National Anthem, no matter what country’s national anthem is playing:

• Take off your hat. 
• Put your right hand over your heart or stand at attention
• Stand silently or sing if you care to and know the words.
• Show respect. 

Here’s what you don’t do:

• Talk.  And no stupid shouting to signify your team — that means you, Baltimore Orioles fans and Atlanta Braves fans.
• Walk, run or otherwise transport yourself [unless it's an emergency]
• Drink, eat, smoke or engage in any other carnal activity [I think you know what I'm talking about].
• Boo.

The National Anthem stands for something more important than national rivalries.  Show your true colors by standing up to those idiots who have no pride or respect.  Say something to the knuckleheads.  But do it AFTER the whole anthem is played.

The Sioux Falls Canaries of the independent American Association introduce a unique snack at the concession stand this season:  breaded and fried turkey testicles.

Branded as “Fowl Balls,” the protein-laden appetizers will be offered with “your favorite dipping sauce as an alternative to onion rings or cheese sticks.”

According to Canaries Director of Food & Beverage Bill Sedelmeier:  “The Fowl Balls will make a perfect compliment to a cold beer at the Birdcage.”

I’m thinking many cold beers.