Somewhere in the bowels of 1271 Avenue of the Americas is a secret room. The room is filled with test tubes, pitching machines, virtual reality simulation chambers, advanced robotics, three thousand (give or take a few) different kinds of baseballs, and a full-size replica of Wrigley Field. In the corner of this secret room is an exact reproduction of the Resolute desk. The desk is made from 100% solid oak and measures 72″ x 48″. There are two secret compartments that may only be accessed by entering a nine-digit code that changes every 24 hours. The first of the two secret compartments is climate-controlled and contains a Pristine 10 Honus Wagner T-206. The detailed plan to save baseball from the home run is in the second secret compartment.
The Plot to Save Baseball
Meanwhile MLB Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. receives the daily updated nine-digit codes from a chip implanted in his brain. Every day at 4:22 pm (the date of the first-ever National League game between the Boston Red Caps and the Philadelphia Athletics in 1876) a new code blinks in front of his left eye for ten seconds. Manfred then takes a private elevator from his office down to the secret room. He accesses both compartments. First, he checks to ensure the Wagner T-206 is safe and secure. Then he sets to work on the never-ending struggle against the home run.
The Plan
Following his assertation of the condition of the most valuable baseball card in history, Manfred slips into a game-worn Ty Cobb uniform and continues to execute a plot that was set in motion over 100 years ago. And, of course, this plot begins with and is created because of, Babe Ruth.
Three people created the plot. The first of these three musketeers was Kenesaw Mountain Landis, MLB’s first commissioner. Landis is remembered for many things, most notably for his banning of the eight Chicago White Sox players from baseball for life in the wake of the black sox scandal. Secondly, the other two merry men were Ty Cobb and Johnny Evers. Cobb and Evers are largely considered to be the greatest baseball minds of their day and played a more scientific brand of baseball, as compared to the power-driven Babe Ruth style. But, it is because of this Ruthian style of baseball that the plot was created to save baseball from a slow death.
As a result of this plot, the battle to save baseball from the home run rages on in a secret room far below the office of the commissioner of baseball. However, one must wonder. Will the plot succeed? Will the game of baseball be saved from the clutches of boredom and ultimate extinction?
Tune in next time to find out how America went home run crazy as The Plot to Save Baseball continues!
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned:
Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Johnny Evers
