July 19, 1964 Ð Young Bacon ÒSomehow Connected to EveryoneÓ
Astonished friends and neighbors of Center CityÕs Bacon family are reporting that the clanÕs youngest child, the 8-year-old Kevin, possesses a mysterious connection with nearly every person on earth. ÒI donÕt know what it is about him, exactly, but Kevin is somehow connected to just about everyone,Ó said next-door neighbor Ruth Winston, 55. ÒAnd what I find most odd is that heÕs so darn young. ItÕs really quite strange.Ó
 Architect Louis Kahn, a colleague of the boyÕs father, city planner Edmund Bacon, explained the bizarre phenomenon. ÒPick anyoneÉ say... President Johnson,Ó he suggested, drawing a diagram in his Walnut St. office. ÒNow: Johnson was in the Senate with Francis MyersÑwho came from Philadelphia. LetÕs seeÉ now, when he was at St. JoeÕs, Myers roomed with Raymond St. JamesÑwho went on to head the Philadelphia Housing Authority. IÕve worked with Ray on several projectsÑand, of course, IÕm also friends with EdÉ who, obviously, is KevinÕs father. Incredible!Ó KahnÕs assistant, David Warburton, added that ÒweÕve done a thousand of these things, and thereÕs never been more than six jumps from anyone back to Kevin. And I mean anyoneÑfrom Mayor Tate all the way up to Sandy Koufax.Ó
The youngster, meanwhile, seemed confused by the web of connections that surrounded him. ÒMy parentsÕ friends talk about it when they visit, but I donÕt get it,Ó he said, looking up from a Yogi Bear comic book. ÒI mean, I never even met Frank Sinatra or any of those other people.Ó Winston, for her part, believed that the child held a mystical power. ÒWhen IÕm around him, I can feel itÑthat this boy can be traced back to anyoneÉ from Kim Novak to the Prime Minister of Britain,Ó she said, shaking her head in amazement. ÒOne day, mark my wordsÑKevin will be famous for this.Ó |
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February 18, 1979 Ð Newly-Acquired Rose Represents ÒAll ThatÕs Good in BaseballÓ
One day after landing Cincinnati Reds third baseman Pete Rose in free agency, Phillies officials praised the pugnacious hit machine as the embodiment of all that is good in baseball. ÒWith his grit, toughness, and all-out hustle, Pete represents the true spirit of the sport,Ó said GM Bill Giles while announcing the acquisition of the 12-time all-star. ÒI think that everybody in our locker room would be well-served to use him as an example. HeÕs a real credit to the game.Ó
 Manager Danny Ozark was just as praiseworthy. ÒTo get a guy like Pete, well, thatÕs a pretty big deal,Ó he said of the 1973 NL MVP. ÒAnd not just because he hits like Ty Cobb and can play five positions. HeÕs a great, great man, as well.Ó According to reliever Tug McGraw, ÒItÕll sure be nice to have him on our sideÑand not just because I wonÕt have to face him. Having a guy like Pete Rose really adds a touch of class to an organization.Ó
Rose was just as pleased to have signed the mammoth four-year, $3.2 million deal. ÒThe Phillies are right on the edge, and hopefully IÕll be able to push Ôem over the top,Ó he said by telephone from Florida. ÒNow, if I were a gambling man, IÕd let it all ride on us this year. But IÕm not, so thatÕs really not an issue.Ó Giles, oddly, also used a gambling term to express his excitement. ÒIÕd be willing to bet that Pete will bring us our first world championship. And, when all is said and done, hopefully heÕll go up to Cooperstown with a ÔPÕ on his cap.Ó |
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