Ho, Ho, Huh?

So on Saturday I did another one of these random things that we all do from time to time: I threw out the first pitch at a North Adams Steeplecats game dressed as Santa Claus, but with a Hawaiian shirt, sandals, and shades.

Let the record show that Santa threw a strike.

It was Transcript day at the 'Cats game and publisher Bob Chapman went with a "Christmas in July" theme to bring in some toys and generally remind folks about the paper's yearly Santa Fund drive. His original Santa had to cancel, so I was tapped on the shoulder and asked if I'd step in. I figure this is because most of the best Santas are 6'4". And the real exceptional ones actually celebrate Hanukkah. Brings a nonjaundiced eye to the role, I'd say.

So I ho-ho-ho'ed around with Slider the mascot for a half an hour before the game, amazed at how often a woman in a tiger suit gets asked for her autograph. Then right after the lineups were announced I shook my bowlful of jelly onto the field and shaved the outside corner with a two-seam split-fingered fastball. More waving, some handshakes, a few innings in the stands (disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reported for a minor metropolitan blog), then off to the Hot Dog Ranch for some dinner. If you like hot wings, they have some pretty good ones. Just a tip.

If I run across any pictures of this, you'll see them here (the Santa stuff, not the wings. I assume you all know what chicken wings look like).

[UPDATE: Pics by Nick Mantello and/or Holly Pelczynski found at the Steeplecats web site, here and here. These better get re-run come this December.]

The other interesting thing that happened: in the Joe Wolfe parking lot on the way in, I was asked to sign a set of nomination papers by Mr. Stephen Andrews, proprietor of the Wigwam up on the Western Summit, who is trying to throw his hat in the ring and become the next mayor of North Adams.

"Really?" I inquired, wishing I could raise one eyebrow as well as my lovely wife.

He really was. And in response to the "Why are you running" question, apparently Mr. Andrews has or had been in a purchasing capacity with the federal government for some number of years and--I don't have an exact quote but this is close--"you can't really compare prices from just one vendor." This was, for better or worse, his own summary of his campaign platform.

Now I'm no politician, but in case the day comes I ever seek public office, my strategy isn't going to be to run as "the other guy" to "give the voters a choice". Our incumbent mayor has been around for a long time, and you don't displace that kind of mojo by being just another name on the ballot. That's pretty much how John Kerry lost in 2004.

Still, someone has the cojones to give it a shot, which is impressive in itself. We'll see if he gets his signatures.

Seeing as how it was Transcript day at the game, are we going to read about this in today's paper? Stay tuned, sports fans!