CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story by CC Sabathia with Ray Negron, illustrated by Laura Seeley (2014)

CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story
by CC Sabathia with Ray Negron, illustrated by Laura Seeley
Ecco, 2014
40 pages

A letter for Santa is mistakenly delivered to CC Sabathia, and at the urging of his son Carsten, Sabathia sets out for the North Pole to make sure Santa gets the Christmas request. When they arrive, they find that Santa is behind schedule and is worried that all the toys might not get finished. Sabathia pulls out his telephone and calls George Steinbrenner, who shows up to save the day. Recruiting the help of baseball stars and legends such as Billy Martin, Roberto Clemente, Babe Ruth, Bob Feller and others, the toys are built and ready to go. Unfortunately, Santa is ill and unable to make the global delivery. Sabathia again steps up, and he and Carsten take the toys to their destinations all around the world.

A cute story, illustrated beautifully by Laura Seeley, CC Claus: A Baseball Christmas Story is a great way to introduce youngsters to baseball stars who have passed on. In addition to those already mentioned, Paul Blair, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Hank Greenberg, Elston Howard, Catfish Hunter, Tetsuharu Kawakami, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Jackie Mitchell, Thurman Munson, Bobby Murcer, Satchel Paige, Phil Rizzuto, Jackie Robinson, Willie Stargell, and Ted Williams also appear. In the back of the book, each player is given a small blurb that could kindle the curiosity of a child to learn more about the greats of America’s pastime.

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Merry Christmas to me!

Santa was good to me this year. Not only did I finally get one of the greatest baseball movies on DVD (Field of Dreams), I also got the greatest baseball movie on DVD and Blu-Ray (42). If you haven’t seen this movie yet, you need to. The acting is fantastic, the settings are breathtaking, and the story of Jackie Robinson is one that should be told to all.

I also got the new album from Death On Two Wheels, one of my favorite rock bands in the world. I have not experienced their live show yet, but hope they come to the Cincinnati area again when I am not otherwise engaged.

And in my stocking, in addition to candy, I received forty-four different George Foster baseball cards, including his 1971 rookie! In fact, I believe every Topps card manufactured featuring Foster is here, from 1971 through 1986 (excluding a couple of league leaders).

Yeah, Santa was very good to me this year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all the friends of The Writer’s Journey!

Things I did not know about Rudolph

Of course, everyone knows Rudolph was not allowed to play in the Reindeer Games early in his career, but the reindeer’s baseball-reference page gives us a lot of information that was previously unknown:

• He plays shortstop.
• He is a switch hitter.
• He is signed through 2022 with a vesting option for 2023.
• His contract calls for $14.4 million for two years, then $118 for another eight.
• He has two nicknames: “Mr. December” and “Red.”
• Similar batters include Rob Deer, J.T. Snow, Dasher Troy, and Frosty Thomas (who was actually a pitcher).
• Despite weighing 375 pounds, he only grounded into eight double plays last year.

Lita Ford Reunites With Cherie Currie For Christmas Duet

Inching closer and closer to a Runaways reunion, Lita Ford and Cherie Currie have recorded a new Christmas song for the 2013 season, “Rock This Christmas Down.” According to Currie, the song “has the flare of our Runaways legacy but its pure Lita. It rocks like only she can. We took a dim, negative and unfinished past and turned it into a positive future. It doesn’t get any better then that. I know this will be the best Christmas I have had in decades.”

Ford is excited about the new song as well. “I thought the world could use a new Christmas song. The song was Written by Mitch Perry, my guitarist and Michael Dan Ehmig, my lyricist, along with Marty O’Brien on bass, and Rodger Carter on drums. We so rocked it!

“What I didn’t know is that I’d be singing it as a duet with my long lost sister, Cherie Currie. I am blessed to have her back in my life, and what an appropriate time and song to rehash an old friendship. CHRISTMAS!!!

“Cherie hopped a plane from Chicago to L.A., and drove straight to the studio and threw down her vocal track on this rocking song! Needless to say, it was magic and history in the making.”

You can hear “Rock This Christmas Down” and read an interview with the rockers at USA Today, and purchase the song at iTunes.

Of course, this isn’t Lita’s first Christmas song…she also appeared on Twisted Sister’s Twisted Christmas. What’s more Christmas than Dee Snider?

Merry Christmas!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Jack Frost

A Flintstone Christmas

A Jetson Christmas Carol