Pirates-Twins, bottom of third

The first hit for the Twins off Phil Dumatrait is a bloop single to left by Mike Lamb. Interesting that Nyjer Morgan didn't dive for it; was he thinking common-sense, don't get hurt this close to the season, or was he caught in-between?
They have Hampton Farms peanuts salted and roasted in the press box; absolutely, positively what I needed.
Bob Gibson was a real tough autograph back in the day. A friend of our dad's had played in the low minors with the Cardinals' right-hander, but that didn't impress Gibby.
Looking back, I almost think he was trying to impress on our teenage minds his signature on a program didn't amount to anything.
One thing's for sure: I've certainly remembered his refusal a lot longer than any of the barely legible autographs we received.
One memento I've long treasured -- as Joe Mauer comes up with runners on the corners and two outs -- is an autographed photo of me with 1968 World Series hero Mickey Lolich, albeit in a Mets uniform.
The portly Lolich defeated Gibson 4-1 in Game 7 to lead the Tigers to a dramatic come-from-behind triumph. He would have probably been in the Hall of Fame had not then-Tigers manager Billy Martin pitched him 700-plus innings in 1971 and '72, hastening his decline.
Here's another piece of trivia, although the subject was anything but: Lolich missed two weeks of the 1967 season to serve in the National Guard during the Detroit riots. The Tigers lost the American League pennant that year by a game.
Who do these guys serve today? Just askin.'
Mauer strikes out, and it's 1-0 Pirates.