I picked up this necklace at a local flea market. It’s marked 14 KT on the clasp. Could the diamonds be real? Cindy
Dear Cindy,
I think the only real way to have the stones checked would be a jeweler. They have diamond testers within reach. It takes just a minute to tell. I believe any jewelry store would do this at no cost.
For now the value in your necklace would be for a gold chain. If the stones are diamond that would increase the value. It’s tough when the stones are so small, though, to produce a very high value. When valuing diamonds, you want them to be in the 1 carat size or more. Then there are many factors in determining a value: cut, clarity, color, inclusions and any damage to the stone.
Cindy, if the stones are diamond chips the value would be in the $200+ range retail. If not, the value is in the gold if it’s real (the jeweler can test that as well). The chain itself will be in the $80+ range.
I hope this helps and good luck with your results. Thanks for sharing.
Theatre Kapow and Ballet Misha combine for Romeo & Juliet
A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been a staple of Saint Anselm College’s Shakespeare on the Green series since it began in 2023, but this year’s selection is Romeo & Juliet. It’s a work that the play’s director, Emma Cahoon of Theatre Kapow, believes is sometimes misunderstood. That’s one reason why she looks forward to doing it.
“I enjoy taking these texts that people feel they really know or have sound notions of, and doing something different with them to see if we can encourage audiences to experience that story in a new way,” she said by phone last spring.
More recently, Cahoon said the production is a pivot from her company’s regular fare in a couple of ways. First, working outdoors is a big change.
“The foundation of a lot of our work is intimate spaces … that allow the audience to be as close and personal to the actors and the story as possible. That’s where the name Kapow comes from — in your face, right there.”
Next, the company began collaborating with Ballet Misha, led by Amy Fortier, for last year’s series, at the behest of Dana Center Director Joe Deleault. The pairing provides what Cahoon termed “a third, middle ground” that unifies Romeo & Juliet’s dance and drama.
“It is … a very physical story, and I’ve been thinking about marrying the physical language of both the dance and then our fight and intimacy choreography,” she said. She hopes to “take the language of both, work with our actors, observe Amy’s choreography and then build this … hybrid language that will be both things.”
As rehearsals commenced on June 29, she’d already had the chance to see some of Ballet Misha’s dancing for the play, saying it was a “really helpful” experience.
“For me as a director, music is a huge entry point,” she said. “It’s really a way that I can connect with the emotional world of the play. Having the baseline right away of the Prokofiev score that Ballet Misha is using and accessing the world that way has been really getting me in the mindset, and getting me so excited.”
Removing close physical proximity of the actors in the audience is a challenge, she allowed. “But I’ve been thinking about ways to heighten the intensity and the reality of the emotion for these characters, and one choice that we’ve made I’m super excited about, because it’s an experiment that either really won’t work or will be awesome.”
Most Theatre Kapow Shakespeare productions feature doubling — one actor in two roles — and gender ambiguity. “We typically have female or non-binary actors playing characters across the gender spectrum,” Cahoon said. “This time around we have one actor playing both Juliet and Tybalt, which is a really crazy track.”
For those unfamiliar with the plot: At one point Romeo kills Tybalt, making the casting a particularly bold move. “That unlocked something for me when we figured out it could even be an option,” Cahoon said. “It felt like a key to exploding some of these more buried themes in the text that I was really interested in pulling out.”
Another difference this year is the cast.
“With Midsummer we were typically working with actors of around the same age, because in that piece it’s mostly teenage lovers and fairies, who are timeless in a way,” Cahoon said. Romeo and Juliet, on the other hand, is a generational story that calls for age diversity.
“So between our seven actors we span generations — and also experience level,” Cahoon said. “I think it’ll be a really great opportunity for those of us working on the piece [to] bring to life that generational thing that’s really present in this play, and it’s something that I’m particularly interested in exploring right now.”
Shakespeare On The Green – Romeo & Juliet When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., July 17 through July 26 Where: Alumni Hall, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester Tickets: $25 at anselm.edu (under 12 free) In the event of inclement weather, performance will be held inside at Koonz Theatre
Featured photo: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Courtesy photo.
In Hippo’s Best of 2025 readers’ poll, we asked readers to vote for their favorite city parks. With the temperature rising and the days still long, you might be looking for someplace to soak in the sun’s rays or beat the heat. Here are the top 11 winners in that category.
Livingston Park
156 Hooksett Road in Manchester, 624-6444
Amenities: The park, which is about 131 acres, features Dorrs Pond Trail (a trail, a little less than a mile, that loops around the pond); Livingston Pool; an accessible playground; athletic fields; picnic areas; a kayak and canoe launch; a running track; ice skating in winter (weather permitting), restrooms and Brigit’s Garden (a public garden; see brigitsfoundation.org), according to the city’s parks and recreation website.
Livingston Park. Photo by Jennifer Gingras.
According to an email from Manchester’s Recreation and Enterprise Manager Brendan Lynch, the green space stands out because “it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re looking to cool off in the pool, enjoy a peaceful walk around the pond, or bring the kids to a vibrant and inclusive playground, the park blends natural beauty with well-maintained amenities.”
The newly finished running track is home to Central High School Track and Field, and the baseball fields are home to Manchester-North Hooksett Little League and Central High School’s JV baseball team. Livingston Pool is currently open for the summer; see manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Aquatic-Facilities/Livingston-Pool for the lap swim and public swim hours.
Rollins Park
116 Broadway St. in Concord, 225-8690
Amenities: The park features baseball and softball fields, a basketball court, ice skating in winter, a picnic shelter, a playground, a pool, portable toilets, tennis courts and walking fields, according to concordnh.gov. Rollins Park “was a gift of the late governor Frank West Rollins, in memory of a distinguished townsman and senator, the Honorable Edward. H. Rollins,” according to an email from Concord Parks and Recreation Director David Gill.
The park “is the local park for residents of the south end of Concord where everyone knows each other … Just a great neighborhood park,” Gill wrote.
Rollins Pool is open daily from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. as well as 6 to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and will be home to the citywide swim team the first week of August, according to posts on the parks and recreation department’s Facebook page.
Rollins Park is also home to the monthly Arts in the Park events held by the Concord Arts Market. The events feature more than 65 arts vendors as well as food vendors, live music and more and will run Saturdays Aug. 9, Sept. 13 and Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to concordartsmarket.org.
Rollins will also host the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event, meant to “promote cooperation between the police and the community,” will feature food, prizes, K-9 demonstrations, a zoo exhibit, a rock climbing wall, touch a truck and more, according to the summer and fall activities brochure, which you can find at concordnh.gov/1984/Parks-Recreation.
White Park
1 White St. in Concord, 225-8690, concordnh.gov
Amenities: Soccer and baseball fields, a basketball court, ice skating and sledding in winter, a playground, roller hockey rink, portable toilets, a splash pad and walking trails, according to the city’s website.
White Park played an important role in Concord history. It was given to the city in 1884 by Armenia White in 1884, in memory of her husband Nathaniel, a founder of The American Express Co., and was designed by renowned architect Charles Elliott, according to an email from Gill.
“[White Park has] something for everyone – places to relax and enjoy nature as the park has large pond and over half of the park is trees and open areas,” Gill wrote.
The splash pad, installed in 2023, is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to the parks department’s website.
The park’s Monkey Around Playground was slated to hold its sendoff celebration on July 15 ahead of demolition and construction of a “Monkey Around Playground 2.0,” which is billed as inclusive and featuring interactive elements, according to FriendsofWhitePark.org. See concordnh.gov/1472/White-Park-Playgroundconcordnh.gov/1472/White-Park-Playground for an explanation of the plans.
This summer, catch free concerts in the park at the Lodge Patio on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Concerts will run weekly through Aug. 24 and then finish up on Sept. 14 and Sept. 21. Next up is Steve Blunt on July 20.
In the winter, the park hosts the Black Ice Pond Hockey Tournament (see blackicepondhockey.com) and ice skating, with skate rentals available at Merrimack Lodge.
Greeley Park
100 Concord St. in Nashua, 589-3370, nashuanh.gov/facilities/facility/details/greeley-park-29
Amenities: The park features baseball and softball fields, a spot to play horseshoes, lighted picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, sledding in winter, tennis courts, trails and a wading pool, according to its website.
The 125-acre Greeley Park has been at the heart of Nashua since 1896.
Greeley Park. Courtesy photo.
“The land was deeded to the city of Nashua by Joseph Thornton Greeley, the grandson of the original Joseph Greeley,” according to an email from Parks Director Lauren Byers. “In 1908, John E. Cotton donated $5,000, an amount that was matched by city funds, to change the Greeley Farm into a public park. The money was used to create a stone and cement rest house, a fountain, a shallow pond, a gravel walk and flower beds.”
Today Greeley Park is a hub of activity, with events scheduled for all ages throughout the year. The Greeley Park Art Show, now in its 72nd year, takes place in August (this year Saturday, Aug. 16, and Sunday, Aug. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), according to nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.
Many of the city’s SummerFun events take place in Greeley, including the annual Fairytale Festival, which will be held on Saturday, July 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nashua Community Music School holds a “Musical Playgroup” most Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and the YMCA holds a “Yoga in the Park” on Mondays at 6 p.m. Most Tuesdays through Aug. 26 catch free concerts at the Bandshell, with shows starting at 7 p.m. Next up is Tru Diamond (a Neil Diamond tribute band) on Tuesday, July 22, according to nashuanh.gov/546/SummerFun. Nashua’s National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 5, will also be held at Greeley Park, the website said. Greeley events continue into the fall (Halloween Boo Bash is slated for Saturday, Oct. 18, from 3 to 7 p.m.) and winter (Santa in the Park is slated for Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 2 p.m.), according to nashuanh.gov/529/Special-Events.
Stark Park
550 River Road in Manchester, starkpark.com
Amenities: Stark Park is “built on land once part of the Stark family farm and the final resting place of John Stark, his wife, and several of their children — one can still visit the headstones today,” according to manchesternh.gov. The park features walking walking paths, a large statue of Revolutionary War hero Gen. John Stark and the Hecker-Hastings Bandstand, the website said.
Stark, of “live free or die” fame (it was written in a toast for the Battle of Bennington), died in 1822, according to the Friends of Stark Park website, starkpark.com. His grandchildren deeded a portion of his farm to the city of Manchester so New Hampshire residents could pay tribute to the fallen major general, the website said.
The western lower half of the 30-acre park consists of the Walk in the Woods trail, ideal for walking, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and mountain bike riding, according to the city’s website.
“The walking paths, gardens, and tall trees make it a peaceful place to stroll and reflect,” according to the city’s parks director Brendan Lynch in an email. See the Friends’ website for a map of the trails.
An outdoor nature children’s playspace “Molly Stark’s Wildwoods,” named for Gen. Stark’s wife, is located along the trail and features sculptures from Tom LeComte of Laurel Hill Studio, according to the city’s website.
In the summer, check out the Summer Concert Series, mostly on Sundays at 2 p.m., running through Sept. 14 in Stark Park. Next up is a rare Saturday evening show, Mr. Aaron’s Kids Concert on Saturday, July 19, at 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, July 20, Another Tequila Sunrise (an Eagles tribute band) performs from 2 to 4 p.m. See starkpark.com/summer-concert-series for the full lineup.
Twin Bridge Park
485 DW Highway in Merrimack, 882-1046, merrimacknh.gov/parks-and-recreation/pages/twin-bridge-park
Amenities: Picnic tables, walking paths, Kids Kove Playground and baseball fields, according to the city’s website.
Since the Colonial era, there have been two bridges that locals use to cross Baboosic Brook. In 1927 a committee of Merrimack residents deeded 27 acres to the town to create Twin Bridge Park, according to the city’s website. They retained the massive stones used for the original bridge abutments and built a park around it, the website said. The Merrimack Youth Association, the city’s sports programs, has its headquarters at Twin Bridge Park; see merrimackyouthassociation.com.
“On a daily basis [the park] is humming with activity between the playground, the baseball field and the walking trails,” said Merrimack Parks Director Matthew Casparius in an email, “so it has a good all-around appeal for all ages.”
Mine Falls Park
Whipple Street in Nashua, 589-3400, ext. 5005, nashuanh.gov/facilities/facility/details/Mine-Falls-Park-14
Amenities: The park features athletic fields, trails including biking and walking trails, boating, fishing and in the winter cross-country skiing, according to the city’s website.
Mine Falls Park. Courtesy photo.
“Mine Falls makes you forget you are in the second biggest city in the state,” according to an email from Nashua Parks Director Lauren Byers. This 325-acre park includes forest, wetlands and open fields and is bordered on the north by the Nashua River and at the south by the Mill Pond canal system, according to the city’s website. These natural barriers keep the park quiet and give it an idyllic feel, as once explained by a tour guide.
Mine Falls is not only “one of the most instantly recognizable and vital parts of Nashua,” as Byers described it, but it’s also one of the newest parks to make Hippo’s list. The city of Nashua purchased the land in 1969, and the park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987, according to the city’s website. “In 1992, the park trails were designed as part of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail, a trail network that extends 130 miles from Massachusetts to Canada,” the website said.
Hippo readers also picked Mine Falls Park as a favorite in the Best Bike Trail category. Find a map of the park’s trails on the city’s website. The Mine Falls Committee also hosts Trail Days to help maintain the space, the website said. Upcoming dates are Saturdays, Aug. 16, Sept. 27 and Oct. 25, with the group meeting at the Lincoln Park entrance at 9 a.m., the website said.
Derryfield Park
Bridge Street in Manchester, manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Parks/Derryfield-Park
Amenities: The park features a playground, sports fields, tennis courts and walking trails. A map on the city’s website shows a 1-mile, a 2.1-mile and a 5K course at the park.
Derryfield Park has played a vital role in the Hillsborough County community since the 1700s, when the park grounds were likely used as a pasture for livestock, according to the city’s website. After Derry and Londonderry were settled in the early 1800s, the city of Manchester claimed the 76 acres and developed it, the website said. The park is “one of the more popular parks in Manchester today,” the website said.
One of the most significant sites in the park is the Weston Tower Observatory, which was built in honor of New Hampshire governor James A. Weston, the website said. While Weston Tower is usually locked, the Halloween event “The Witch of Weston Tower” run by the nearby McIntyre Ski Area in recent years has allowed visitors to climb the stairs to check out the views.
Wagner Park aka “Pretty Park”
242 Myrtle St. in Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks-Trails-and-Facilities/Parks/Wagner-Park
Amenities: The park features benches, a gazebo and a Greek-style temple, the website said.
In an email, Manchester Parks Director Brendan Lynch described the park as “a hidden treasure in the North End — a small, well-loved neighborhood park that’s perfect for casual family outings.”
Known by many in Manchester as “Pretty Park,” Wagner was created by Manchester native Ottilie Wagner Hosser, who willed the land she lived on to the city, requesting them to build a park of “Peace and Love” because the city already had enough parks that commemorated wars and military leaders, according to the city’s website. The park was modeled after one of her favorite parks in Paris and has become a favorite location for graduation and wedding pictures, the website said.
Amenities: Prescott features gardens (as well as free garden tours Fridays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. through Aug. 22), Four Tree Island (a picnic area with grills and restrooms; spots can be reserved for larger parties), the “Whale” sculpture and an outdoor stage for Prescott Park Arts Festival programming.
A 10-acre park on the banks of the Piscquata River, Prescott Park is a hub of activity in the Portsmouth community.
Prescott Park. Courtesy photo.
“It’s the perfect spot to take a stroll, eat lunch or catch a show,” said Todd Henley, the Parks Director for the City of Portsmouth, in an email. The Prescott Park Arts Festival offers a summer-long lineup of music, movies and theater, including the season-long production of Freaky Friday; see prescottpark.org for a schedule of events.
City horticulture interns answer questions and offer gardening tips during the Friday tours of the Park’s formal gardens, according to the city’s website. The park overlooks the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the nation’s oldest continuously operating U.S. navy yard, the website said.
Benson Park
19 Kimball Hill Road, Hudson, 886-6018, friendsofbensonpark.org
Amenities: The park features 4 miles of hiking trails, fishing ponds, gardens, picnic areas, wildlife viewing blinds, the Hudson Firefighters Memorial, the 9/11 Memorial, bathrooms, a dog park and a playground, according to hudsonnh.gov/bensonpark.
Benson Park commemorates a different kind of history than many of the parks on this list. From 1926 to 1987 the land was home to Benson’s Wild Animal Farm, a zoo and amusement park that was attended by families throughout New England, according to the Friends of Benson Park website. Twenty years after the zoo closed, the town of Hudson reopened it as a town park, and some of the zoo’s attractions — like the Old Woman’s Shoe and the elephant barn — have been repaired by the Friends of Benson Park, the website said.
Find maps of Benson’s trails, which range in length from .1 mile to 2.5 miles, on the city’s website.
Through Aug. 29 Benson Park holds a “hide-and-seek adventure” featuring Barney the Gnome, who will be in a new spot each week Saturday through Friday, according to the Friends of Benson Park Facebook page. The Friends will also hold a Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a post said.
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will play the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester tonight as their alter egos, the Space Potatoes. The game starts at 6:35 p.m. On Saturday, July 19, at 6:35 p.m., the theme is Christmas in July and there will be fireworks after the game. On Sunday, July 20, at 1:35 p.m., the theme is Blue Heeler Appreciation, with a pre-game Blue Heeler themed brunch. See milb.com/new-hampshire.
Friday, July 18
The Nashua Silver Knights will take the field at Holman Stadium, 67 Amherst St. in Nashua, tonight at 6:03 p.m. to face the New Britain Bees, with post-game fireworks. On Saturday, July 19, at 6:30 p.m., the Silver Knights will play the Vermont Lake Monsters. See nashuasilverknights.com.
Saturday, July 19
The NH Roller Derby Cherry Bombs will face off against Monadnock Roller Derby in their home season closer tonight at JFK Coliseum (303 Beech St., Manchester, 624-6444, manchesternh.gov). Doors open at 3:30 p.m. and first whistle is at 4 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door only: $15 adults. $5 veterans, $5 NHRD vets, free for kids 12 and under. Visit nhrollerderby.com.
Saturday, July 19
The Merrimack Garden Club (merrimackgardenclub.org) holds its annual plant sale today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. James United Methodist Church (646 DW Highway, Merrimack, 424-7459).
Saturday, July 19
The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) will hold its annual Classic Car Show today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 19
Brews & Blues ’25 will feature music from noon to 7 p.m. today, including Clandestine Funk, Johnny A. and James Montgomery Band, at Anheuser-Busch, (221 DW Highway, Merrimack, 595-1202, budweisertours.com). Tickets to this 21+ event cost $35.
Sunday, July 20
There will be a Cloaks & Cauldrons Market and Old-World Celebration today at the Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Visit shadowandsoul.as.me.
Sunday, July 20
The Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St, Nashua, 800-657-8774, nashuacenterforthearts.com) will host the one-man show A Bronx Tale, written by and starring actor Chazz Palminteri. Tickets start at $75.
Wednesday, July 23
The Tupelo Music Hall (10 A St., Derry, 437-5100, tupelomusichall.com) presents two evenings of ABBA tribute. The Music of ABBA — Direct From Sweden will perform tonight and tomorrow, Thursday, July 24, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $39.
Save the Date! Friday, July 25-26 The Live Free or Die Tattoo Expo will take place Friday, July 25, through Sunday, July 27, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown (700 Elm St., Manchester). The event features tattoo artists, contests, vendors, live music, food and performances. Show hours are from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday, from 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost in advance $20 for a weekend pass ($25 at the door), according to livefreeordietattoo.com.
As reported by WMUR in a July 14 online article, 21-year-old Derry native Liam Doyle has been drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Major League Baseball draft. He is a graduate of Pinkerton Academy. “As a junior at the University of Tennessee,” the WMUR story read, “Doyle was second in the nation in strikeouts with 164 in 95 innings pitched. He had a 10-4 record with a 3.20 ERA, earning SEC [Southeastern Conference] Pitcher of the Year.”
QOL score: +1
Comment:“Charlestown’s Carlton Fisk remains New Hampshire’s highest MLB draft pick,” WMUR reported, “selected fourth overall by the Boston Red Sox in 1967.”
Girl Scouts have our back
Over the past two weeks, press releases from the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains (girlscoutsgwm.org) have reported community service projects by area Girl Scout and Brownie troops. A June 30 press release announced that Brownie Troop 62987, comprising rising fourth-graders from Windham, consulted with experts, lobbied local government officials, and built and placed first-aid boxes along local hiking trails. A July 2 press release reported that Merrimack Girl Scout Troop 62031 has installed a new trash receptacle at Veterans Memorial Park to reduce pollution along Naticook Lake. Finally, a July 10 press release announced that Girl Scout Troup 62222, also from Merrimack, provided signage on their playground at Mastricola Upper Elementary School to improve communication for deaf and autistic students. “The Girl Scouts have a goal of making their community more inclusive for everyone,” the press release read.
QOL score: +1
Comment:In a telephone interview with the Hippo, spokesperson Ginger Kozlowski pointed out, “All of those projects were thought of by the girls themselves. This is not something that grown-ups do. Girl Scouts decided for themselves how they wanted to take action and they made those projects happen. They really do good in the world.”
Rhymes with “Ick!”
According to a July 7 online article by the Boston Globe, “New England is seeing one of its worst tick seasons in years.” Compared to recent years, the Globe story read, this year is particularly tick-y. “In June, visits to emergency rooms for tick bites reached their highest levels in at least five years in New England and other nearby states, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [cdc.gov]. Last month, 233 out of 100,000 ER visits in the Northeast were for tick bites, nearly double the national average of 118.” According to data on the CDC website, every county in New Hampshire has an “established” population of black-legged ticks.
QOL score: -1
Comment: On its website, Tick-Free New Hampshire (tickfreenh.org) recommends “wearing tick repellent clothing, tucking long pants into socks, wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent, and staying to the center of paths.” The group also advises using insect and tick repellent: “When tested, the highest performing products contained one of these three active ingredients: 15%-30% DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), or 10-20% picaridin. All three ingredients are safe for adults, including pregnant women, when used as directed.”
Last week’s QOL score: 66
Net change: +1
QOL this week: 67
What’s affecting your Quality of Life here in New Hampshire?
The Big Story – Sox Roll Into All-Star Break: Where are those people now who said they wouldn’t survive trading Rafael Devers? After a period of adjustment they kicked it into high gear without him. After sweeping the Nationals, Rockies and D-Rays, the 53-45 Sox went into the All-Star break on a 10-game winning streak. It left them a leader in the wild card race and just 3.5 out of first place in the AL East. Time will tell if it’s just a delightful hot streak to enjoy or something bigger. But if it’s the latter, with dumping Devers the starting point, what will it be most historically like? (a) John McNamara being fired to ignite 1988’s Morgan Magic?(b) Jason Varitek shoving his mitt in A-Rod’s face to light the fire that turned 2004 into Boston baseball’s greatest season ever? or (c) with Ceddanne Rafaela coming through with heroics almost every night has he morphed into 1967 Yaz right before our eyes? Buckle up and find out.
Sports 101: Who holds the record for most seasons of pitching at least 200 innings?
News Item – Red Sox’ Second Half: They start the second half with nine straight against the three NL division leaders, with games vs. Chicago and Philadelphia on the road, then the Dodgers coming to Fenway.
News Item – Coming and Going: Last Tuesday was an interesting day as the A’s Lawrence Butler led off their 10-1 win over Atlanta in Sacramento with an inside-the-park home run. Then up the road apiece a little later in San Francisco, PatrickBailey turned a giant 3-1 deficit into a 4-3 SF win over Philly with a three-run inside-the-park walk-off home run. Butler’s was the first time in 82 years (that’s 1943 for the mathematically challenged) an A’s player had led off a game with an inside-the-park homer, while, along with the Cubs’ PatMoran (1907) and Senators’ BennieTate (1926), Bailey became just third catcher to win a game with an inside-the-park homer.
News Item – Rafael Devers SF Update: In his first 18 games with SF Devers is hitting .214 with 5 doubles, 2 homers and 10 RBIs and has struck out 32 times in 84 at-bats.
The Numbers:
.206 – AAA batting average for Kristian Campbell (1 homer, 8 RBI, 80 at-bats) after being sent down to work out issues from a rough six-week stretch with the Red Sox.
350 – career homers reached by Aaron Judge after a two-run shot Saturday. It came in his 1,088th game to surpass MarkMcGwire as the fastest to that mark in history.
38 – homers for red hot Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh after two more in a 12-3 win over Detroit to move within one of Barry Bonds’ pre-ASG homer record.
2,000 – career wins for TerryFrancona after the Reds beat Cleveland on Sunday.
… Of the Week Awards
Who’s Hot – Aroldis Chapman: The Sox closer has gone 18 games without allowing an earned run while giving up just five hits and striking out 30! That includes Sunday’s overpowering three-up, three-down, three-strikeout effort.
Injured List – Hunter Dobbins: The young Sox hurler is out for the year after tearing his ACL covering first base last week.
Quote – “What a Joke”: So said Phillies shortstop TreaTurner after hearing Milwaukee rookie Jacob Misiorowski was ridiculously named to the NL All-Star team after pitching in only five 2025 games when he’s 4-1 with a 3.83 ERA.
Random Thoughts:
Interesting story to follow in the second half is ClaytonKershaw trying to stay ahead of Whitey Ford’s best ever .690 career winning percentage. CK is back in the lead at .697 after a 4-0 start.
Sports 101 Answer: In doing it 20 times the incredibly durable Don Sutton is the 200+-innings-a-season record holder.
A Little History – Sandy Koufax: Speaking of great Dodgers pitchers, if you’re tired of how dugout micromanagers have taken the game out of pitchers’ hands by yanking them unnecessarily after five innings you might like this. In the last game L.A. played in the Coliseum before moving into Dodger Stadium in 1962, Koufax won a 13-inning complete game on September 20 as he struck out 15 and threw TWO HUNDRED FIVE (205) pitches. For context, Alex Cora used eight Red Sox pitchers multiple times in nine-inning games this year.
Final Thought –Thumbs Up – Alex Cora: Don’t know what’s happened to awaken him from the push-button stat geek manager he’s evolved into in recent years. But twice last week he’s managed with his eyes and instinct instead of automatic pitch count behavior to let Garrett Crochet and BrayanBello actually pitch cg’s. For Crochet it was a three-hit 9-k, 100-pitch 1-0 win over Tampa Bay, and for Bello it was a 10-2, 107-pitch win over Colorado. Bravo for acting like a real manager to let players win or lose games.
