‘Ten Innings at Wrigley’

Written in 2019, Ten Innings at Wrigley by Kevin Cook, recounts a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs in Chicago at Wrigley Field on May 17, 1979.

What makes the game special is that Philadelphia squeezes out a 23-22 win thanks to a Mike Schmidt game-winning, solo home run. From the start, this game is not going to be like most baseball games, as the Phillies score seven runs in the first inning and the Cubs respond with six in their half of the first inning.

From there, the game just gets crazier.

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Dana Point Times, Vol. 16 Issue 16. The DP Times (danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com).

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In short, punchy chapters, Cook covers each team’s inning at-bats. By the end of the third inning, Philadelphia leads, 156. After batting in the top of the fifth, the Phillies’ lead expands to 12 runs, 21-9.

No surprise it doesn’t last considering how this contest plays out.

Adding to the zaniness of the game is that the regular umpires are on strike, so the game features replacement umpires, including home plate umpire Dick Cavenaugh, a college umpire nursing a massive hangover. His balls-and-strikes calls were a bane to both teams throughout the game.

More than just play-by-play, Cook begins with a quick, but colorful history of each team. He then takes us through

Letter to The Editor

CITY OF DANA POINT THUMBS NOSE TO STATE LAW, RESIDENT PROPERTY RIGHTS

SCOTT SKINNER, Dana Point

California passed ADU legislation, effective Jan. 1, 2021, giving qualifying property owners the right to convert existing unlivable space into an Alternative Dwelling Unit. The state ADU law intends to create new affordable housing throughout California by allowing property owners the legal right to add an ADU.

However, the city has adopted an unlawful ADU ordinance, which thwarts these rights. I am a property owner converting an existing 486-square-foot storage room with a bathroom into a studio apartment by mainly adding a sink, cabinets, and appliances.

I submitted an ADU permit applica-

April and May of 1979 to give us context of how the season is playing out for each team and baseball, in general.

After covering the game, Cook quickly takes the reader through the remainder of each team’s season. Players’ legacies are then covered.

Three in particular are given extensive treatment: Dave Kingman for his continuing saga versus the media; Pete Rose for his gambling exploits that eventually earned him a lifetime ban from the game he loved and gave so much; and Donnie Moore, who shot his wife and then himself.

Near the end of the book, Cook goes into the business of baseball and concludes with the box score from the game.

With baseball season upon us, the book is a great trip down memory lane for baseball fans. It is fast-paced and not just a collection of dry stats.

Cook, however, provides some interesting facts. For example, he goes into detail about the only owner to be given a lifetime ban. Co ok also points out that pitcher Randy Lerch and catcher Bob Boone are the only pitcher-catcher duo to both hit a home run before taking the field to play defense in the entire history of baseball!

In a book like this, anecdotes are tion, architect plans, and the permit fee of $5,422 in August of 2022, the city informed me I would have to complete an additional Site Development Permit application for discretionary approval and another fee of $7,200.

I have a duplex with a two-car garage, which was legal when built but non-conforming to current garage requirements mandating an additional two car garage. The state ADU statute prohibits retroactive conformity mandates. Therefore, the site development permit has no purpose other than unlawful fees and a method for city planner’s unlawful discretion to reject permits as a surrogate for the City Council’s political agenda against ADU’s.

My particular ADU submittal qualifies under state law for expedited 60-day administrative approval. Since the City Council wrote its ADU oradinance more restrictive than the state law, the California Department of Housing and Community Development has notified the city that its ordinance is unlawful. The planning department has no right to reject an ADU that qualifies for administrative approval.

I wrote to the planning department necessary, and Cook doesn’t disappoint. One of the more colorful stories is about a player who recalls that if a popularity contest had been run on the 1979 Cubs, no one would have won.

Co ok also details the infamous—for Cubs fans—1945 World Series, where William Sianis and his goat were turned away from the ballpark, leading to the belief that the Cubs had been cursed by a goat. Humor flows throughout the book.

The book is available in the public library system.

For more information about the book or obtaining a copy, please call the library at 949.496.5517. The library also hosts two book groups, including the Seaside Book Group, which meets on the fourth Monday of the month at 10:30 a.m. DP

Dan De Neve is a longtime employee of the Orange County Public Library. He currently works at the Dana Point Library as the Adult Services Librarian. He is an avid reader of history, biographies and sports.

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide variety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at editorial@danapointtimes.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY extensively concerning the city’s unlawful requirement. I took his complaint to the HCD, which resulted in corrective letters to the planning director of Dana Point.

Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or information written by the writers. Have something you’d like to say? Email your letter to sraymundo@picketfencemedia.com no later than 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Limit your letters to 350 words or less. Please send with your valid email, phone number and address for verification by staff. Your address and phone number will not be published.

To date, city planning refuses to process the ADU permit. The HCD is in receipt of many complaints. I anticipate the California Attorney General may sue the city and fine the city councilmembers similar to their legal action against the City of Huntington Beach.

SATURDAY | 22 EARTH DAY BEACH CLEANUP AND LUNCH & LEARN

9 a.m. Join Stand Up to Trash at Baby Beach and the Ocean Institute for a beach cleanup followed by a Lunch and Learn at the Ocean Institute. This month’s theme is “Earth Day.” Lunch will be provided. Dana Point Harbor, 24800 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. standuptotrash.com.

YOUTH PROGRAMMING AT THE NOBLE PATH FOUNDATION