Rant #2,260: Tuesday Afternoon (and Morning and Night Too)

Today is November 13.

Yes, it is Tuesday, November 13, not Friday the 13th, although the way things have been going for me lately, it seems every day is Friday the 13th.

This time, though, I am not going to elaborate, only to say that the end of this year cannot come fast enough for me.

Anyway, today on Tuesday, Nov. 13, we celebrate a couple of famous and semi-famous birthdays.

First to me is that of Mel Stottlemyre, the Yankees' stellar pitcher of the 1960s and 1970s, who became quite the successful pitching coach for both the Yankees and Mets after his playing career ended.

He also gave the game two of his sons as excellent pitchers, and he is honored in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium for his accomplishments.

During the days of his playing career, the Mets had Tom Seaver, the Yankees had Mel Stottlemyre. No, there was no comparison, but both were terrific pitchers, but there was only one Tom Terrific, and the Mets had him.

Yankees fans had to settle for Stottlemyre, and this guy delivered for some of the poorest teams in Yankees history, those dreadful teams of the mid 1960s and the early 1970s.

He, Bobby Murcer, Roy White and Fritz Peterson made up a "Core Four" that gave us some thrills, but little else.

Happily, Murcer, White and Stottlemyre (as pitching coach) were around long enough to see the Yankees' fortunes change a bit, and they experienced the World Series just like their predecessors did.

Stottlemyre actually pitched in the 1964 World Series, so his appearance in the later Series as a coach was truly something of a full circle for him, having the experience as both a player and a coach.

Good luck to Stottlemyre, 77, who in recent years has battled a number of ailments.

Next on the birthday totem pole is somebody by the name of Jack Narz, and his career lasted longer than Stottlemyre's careeer did, but in a different field.

Narz, along with his brother Tom Kennedy, was part of a game show dynasty that lasted from the 1950s into the 1980s.

Narz, who would have been 96 this year but died in 2009, was not only a game show host--he was the host of "Concentration" for many years--but a radio personality, and announcer, and he even could count singing as one of his many talents.

He was the announcer on "Life With Elizabeth," Betty White's first foray into sitcoms, and he hosted numerous game shows, including "Dotto" and for a time, "The Price Is Right."

And yes, "Dotto" was one of the shows involved in the 1950s quiz show scandals, where popular contestants were provided with the answers to questions to keep them on the show and to keep people watching. In Narz's case, he had no idea what was going on behind the scenes, and he was one of the handful of game show hosts who were completely absolved of any responsibility for the deceitful tactics of the producers and sponsors of the show.

He hosted "Concentration" during its run in the 1970s for five years, from 1973 to 1978, and afterward, hosted a revival of "Beat the Clock."

So, while other famous people were born on this day, I chose to focus on Stottlemyre and Narz, simply because I enjoyed their work during their respective careers.

Happy birthday to Mel and Jack and whoever else out there celebrates their big day today.

Mazel Tov!