Babe Ruth

You've heard of the so-called baseball gods, right? It stands to reason, then, that there are horse racing gods also.I grew up on baseball, so I use that sport as a point of reference when I think about milestones. Many people know the magic numbers in baseball. The 56-game hitting streak. The .400 batting average. Cal Ripken's 2,632 consecutive games played. Hank Aaron's 755 home runs. At times, it's looked like each one of those milestones would be broken. At others, each has looked downright impossible to approach.

After members of the National Basketball Association's Indiana Pacers charged into the stands to punch fans they believed had thrown a cup at one of them, sports historians have dug up numerous instances of altercations between fans and players. According to Los Angeles Times writer Athan Atsales, even baseball great Babe Ruth went into the stands after a heckler called him a "bleeping bum" in 1922. But as we read these accounts, we are struck by two things. They're becoming more frequent and, until recently, the players involved expressed regret for what they had done.

Members of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce got a glimpse of politics from a business point of view this morning as three local lawmakers gave them a summary of the recently completed Maryland General Assembly session. Sen. Don Munson and Dels. Bob McKee and Chris Shank, all Washington County Republicans, responded to questions from the chamber's government affairs committee during its annual post-legislative forum at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.

HAGERSTOWN Members of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce got a glimpse of politics from a business point of view Wednesday as three local lawmakers gave them a summary of the recently completed Maryland General Assembly session. Sen. Donald F. Munson and Delegates Robert A. McKee and Christopher B. Shank, all Washington County Republicans, responded to questions from the Chamber's government affairs committee during its annual post-legislative forum at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center.

-JULY 6, 2009 Mr. Nathan D. Babb, Hagerstown, Md., died Monday, July 6, 2009. He was the beloved son of Dennis and Jean Babb. Born July 23, 1977, Nathan spent his childhood in the New Market and Mount Airy areas. He was involved in the Boy Scouts, Babe Ruth baseball leagues, and numerous bands and orchestras. Nathan earned the rank of Eagle Scout while active in Boy Scout Troop 268, during and after which he volunteered more than 1,000 hours of community service in Maryland and the Southern Rocky Mountains.

scottb@herald-mail.com A historic Woodmont property near Hancock visited by six U.S. presidents, heavyweight fighter Gene Tunney, baseball legend Babe Ruth and other guests opens its doors to the public for five hours today during its annual open house. Ralph Young, Fort Frederick State Park manager, encouraged people to come out to see the land used by the Woodmont Rod and Gun Club for 125 years. In 1995, the state bought the club's 3,400-acre property for $3.1 million, Young said.

FEB. 3, 1950-SEPT. 24, 2010 Mr. David I. Thomas, 60, of Hagerstown, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at Washington County Hospital. He was the husband, true soul mate and lifelong friend of Toni Rae Baker Thomas. Born Feb. 3, 1950, in Frederick, Md., he was the son of the late John William and Fannie Virginia Stockman Thomas. David loved his country and proudly served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972, during the Vietnam era. He was an avid baseball fan and enjoyed collecting baseball cards and paraphernalia throughout his life.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. ? Generations of Trojans baseball players have rapped out hits and turned double plays at Henninger Field in Chambersburg, a tradition that will likely end in 2008 with the team moving to a new field at Greene Township's municipal park near Scotland. The Chambersburg School Board on Wednesday authorized the administration to draft an agreement with the township for use of its field, a proposal township Supervisor Todd Burns outlined for the board a few months ago. Burns told the school board then that the township was looking for a multiyear deal starting at $15,000 annually that would give the Trojans exclusive use of the ballfield during the high school baseball season.

"Did County Commissioner Paul Swartz change his name to Ron Bowers? Or did Ron Bowers, former county commissioner, change his name to Paul Swartz?" "I'd like to know what the developers know about Washington County besides being easy pickings. " "Our county attorney, Douglas, and his sidekick, Martirano, must be collectively as dumb as a box of rocks to think that the people of this county are going to put up with this nonsense of paying - using public funds - an official on some sort of retirement basis or termination basis and not tell the voters what it is that we paid for. To say that salary is personal income, and therefore exempt, is ludicrous.

Clare Domer's ballroom dance will be Thursday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Morris Frock Post 42 American Legion on Northern Avenue in Hagerstown. The event is open to the public.  Admission costs $5 per person. Benefit concert Smithsburg Volunteer Fire Co., 22 N. Main St. in Smithsburg, will hold a variety/rock benefit concert. The event will be an alcohol/drug free event.  It will be held at the Smithsburg fire hall Thursday, Jan. 26, from 6 to 11 p.m. Some of the bands performing include Next to Nothing, The Eleventh Hour, Your Favorite Coastline, Seasons and Coxey Brown.