Four Bums

circa 1987, Oakland bleachers. Okay, here, from left to right, is Mac, me, Young Mike and Alan. I've written about Mac and Young Mike before, and Alan will come in due time. Dig the crazy hair and Mac's comb. My beer is part of the bleacher pose. This is one of my favorite baseball pictures in that it captures so much of the bleacher culture in the 80's. Notice also the multiple colored seats in the upper deck. The Coliseum replaced seats as they broke, and the stock color was different than the original.

Cast and Crew: Too Many Mike's

Aside from my good friend, Mike, there were other Mike's in the bleachers. One was a guy from New York, scruffy and wore an old faded Yankee hat. So we referred to him as "New York Mike." When asked one time where he got his hat, he replied, "in a gutter at the corner of 125th and Lexington." This Mike was there maybe '84-85.

Another Mike came along in '86. He was young - a high school junior, I believe. He had longish hair, and he was quite the athlete. He scaled the benches and steps far better than any of us already established batting practice ball hounds. So he kinda took over the shagging bragging rights. We called him, "Young Mike."

Then another came along in '87. He, too, was young, with a good glove, and was further competition for the ball hounds. He wore a new Yankee hat. So we called him, "Young New York Mike." Got all that?

Mike, New York Mike, Young Mike and Young New York Mike: Bleacher bums