RIP Joe Hardy
When I was a kid, my favorite pro ballplayer wasn't even real. He was young Joe Hardy from the musical "Damn Yankees." In the film, 'Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo' was played by Tab Hunter, who passed away yesterday at the age of 86.
Channel 9 in L.A. showed Damn Yankees on their Million Dollar Movie regularly, and I tried my best to watch every showing. I once bragged to my dad that I'd seen Damn Yankees over a dozen times. I thought it would please him that I loved a baseball movie so much, but his reaction was actually disapproving. See, Dad didn't like any movie or play where men danced, and I think it especially bothered him to see ballplayers dance. Didn't bother me, though. I loved musicals then, and I love them even more now. Same with baseball! Some things just get better with age.
Anyway, I'm a little sad that Joe Hardy is gone for good now, but by all accounts, Tab Hunter had a great life. I'll sure never forget him... those dashing good looks, Joe's .524 batting average, or that 600-foot home run! "WHAM!!"
Channel 9 in L.A. showed Damn Yankees on their Million Dollar Movie regularly, and I tried my best to watch every showing. I once bragged to my dad that I'd seen Damn Yankees over a dozen times. I thought it would please him that I loved a baseball movie so much, but his reaction was actually disapproving. See, Dad didn't like any movie or play where men danced, and I think it especially bothered him to see ballplayers dance. Didn't bother me, though. I loved musicals then, and I love them even more now. Same with baseball! Some things just get better with age.
Anyway, I'm a little sad that Joe Hardy is gone for good now, but by all accounts, Tab Hunter had a great life. I'll sure never forget him... those dashing good looks, Joe's .524 batting average, or that 600-foot home run! "WHAM!!"