Countdown to Christmas - 96 Days

96..... true, that's about what I shot on the FRONT 9 at Mangrove Bay in St. Petersburg during the summer of 1979 in my first ever round of golf.... and I'd like to say it's my best total ever for a full 18 but sadly we only started the countdown at 99 days..... In '96 I ran the second annual Disney Marathon in Orland, FL, and at mile 22 choked on a Powerbar and nearly passed out before getting water about a 1/4 mile later. It was my third marathon (and second finish) and had a blast. I'd still like to run Disney again someday.

In '96, Dodger Chan Ho Park became the first South Korean pitcher to win in the majors, throwing four scoreless innings in relief of Ramon Martinez for the 3-1 win. Also in '96, umpire John McSherry died of a massive heart attach after calling time from behind home plate just seven pitches into a Reds-Expos games in Cincinnati. In 1896, Ed Delahanty of the Phillies hit FOUR inside the park homers and had 7 RBIs, but it wasn't enough for the Phils as they lost 9-8 to the Chicago Colts! Delahanty lead the league that year in doubles (44), homeruns (13), RBI (126) and slugging (.631). Delahanty played 16 years in the big leagues, mostly with the Phillies. A lifetime .346 hitter, he died in a tragic accident at Niagara falls during the 1903 season. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945.

I know you are wondering "but what about number 96?" Well..... Bill Voiselle, who played 9 seasons with the Giants, Braves and Cubs between 1942 and 1950, wore number 96. He appeared in 245 games with a lifetime record of 74-84. His best season was 1944, going 21-16 for the Giants, with a 3.02 ERA. He was named Sporting News Pitcher of the Year that year. In 1947 He went to play for the Braves, and changed his number to 96 to honor his hometown of Ninety Six, South Carolina. Voiselle passed away in 2005 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetary in Ninety Six, SC.