Kansas City Road Trip, Day Three

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

One of the prime objectives of my weekend visit with my best friend Skip was taking him to a game at Kauffman Stadium. We accomplished that mission yesterday afternoon, enjoying the lovely weather and seeing my beloved Kansas City Royals win their weekend series with the Baltimore Orioles two games to one with a 6-1 victory that was closer and more tension-filled than the score might indicate..

Royals starter Yordano Ventura gave up a run on two hits in the 1st inning, but only allowed one other hit in his 7 complete innings.

Yordano improved to 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA on the season.

"How do you like me now?"

All-Star LF Alex Gordon hit a solo home run to the opposite field to tie the score in the 4th inning.

1B Eric Hosmer's solo home run in the 6th inning gave the Royals the lead, and they put on one of their patented "put the ball in play" rallies to score 4 runs in the 7th to salt the game away.

The team had to get on a plane and fly to the west coast right after the game, as they have a three-game series with the Angels in Anaheim starting tonight, followed by a three-game series in Seattle.

Beefing

Zona Rosa location

As I have explained for the past couple of days, when Skip and I get to visit a big part of the fun is the meals. We both enjoy being just a little "naughty" when it comes to eating things that are not necessarily the healthiest options.



Yesterday was the highlight meal of the weekend, dinner at the famed Hereford House.

Skip had his favorite, a tender and flavorful Kansas City Strip steak...

...while I had my favorite, the prime rib, served medium rare.

"You guys enjoy bonding over dead cow, don't you?"

We do share a certain fondness for deceased bovine flesh, yes...

Sports Nostalgia

1964 Stanley Cup Championship celebration

When I was a young boy I got a tabletop hockey game for Christmas, which quickly became one of my all-time favorite gifts. Sadly, I got so good at the game it was tough to find anyone in the family willing to play me.

One of the features I most enjoyed about the game was the ability to swap out teams. The set included all of the Original Six National Hockey League teams, in both their home and road uniforms.

One of my favorite teams to play was the Toronto Maple Leafs. I just liked their uniform, and when I started paying attention to hockey in the early '60s Toronto was having a tremendous run of success.

On April 25, 1964 the Maple Leafs defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-0 to capture their third straight Stanley Cup. Only two teams in NHL history have ever had longer streaks.

Cartoon

From the pen of Henry Payne, whose editorial cartoons you should read often, as I do.

Until Next Time...

On April 25, 1923 Albert King Nelson was born in Indianola, Mississippi. Performing professionally under the name Albert King, he became one of the most influential and respected artists in American blues music. He is considered one of the "Three Kings" of the blues (along with B.B. King and Freddie King).

Albert's unique vocal style and powerful playing (mostly on "Lucy," his custom-built Flying V guitar) influenced scores of blues and blues-rock players, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and my hero Joe Bonamassa. Albert was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

In 1967, Stax Records released a compilation album including several hit singles Albert had recorded for the label. Born Under a Bad Sign quickly became a must-have record for blues fans.

The album was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1985, and in 1999 it received recognition by the Grammy Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine includes the album on its list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time."



Today's send-off is "Laundromat Blues," one of my favorite tracks on the album.
It showcases not only Albert's soulful singing and playing, but also the whimsical side
of blues lyrics. Enjoy...