Mark of Fridays: Baseball genius

So, on the way to Florida, the Hanleys stopped at the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory which, oddly enough, is in Louisville. The museum was plenty of fun for baseball fans.
Matt got to hold Mickey Mantle's real bat. Everyone got to see how a bat is made. And there was a kid's area where Matt gave Mark his first lesson in hitting off the tee. Mark was marginally interested in that. Plus, there was all sorts of Super Nerd Baseball Stuff, like statistics and stories and movies.
All in all, it was a pretty cool trip, although it was way over Mark's head.
OR WAS IT!!!

Consider: On one wall of museum they had thousands of wooden plaques representing all the players that have had contracts with Louisville Slugger.
On the upper left corner of the wall, it starts with Nap Lajoie, Honus Wagner, Eddie Collins and Ty Cobb - players from the early 1900s. Then it moves right and ends up with David Wright and other current players.
But the plaques are not just the great players who signed with Louisville: it's every scrub and nobody who ever got a contract. (And they make it clear that Louisville invites you to sign a contract - you can't request a contract with them.)
So, we're talking about a wall probably 40 feet long and 15 feet high. Each wooden plaque is about 2 inches across and an inch wide. Every column is filled with 48 plaques and there are hundreds of columns.
There are literally thousands and thousands of plaques, as you can see in the picture with Lynne on the right. You can only see a fraction of the wall in the picture.
Of course, this is all scene setter to prove that Mark is a baseball genius. We knew he was a genius in many things but not necessarily baseball.
So, Mark is walking down this wall past name after name, passing decades of baseball players. He doesn't seem to paying any more attention to one or the other.
And then: he stops.
And then: he points.
And he points at one specific wooden box.
And he won't stop pointing at it. He points at it over and over again, with both hands.
If he had been just a bit to the left, he would have been pointing at the immortal Clede Wilson, a man well known for being among the all-time top players named Clede.
If he had had been just a bit higher, he would have been fixated on Pap Williams, one of the few players named after his father's nickname.

But, no. Out of hundreds of thousands of names Mark zeroed in on Mr. Ted Williams.

Teddy Ballgame. The Kid. The Splendid Splinter. 512 home runs, .406, War Hero.

Ted Williams.

This Mark kid - he's a genius. Must come from his Mom.

Mark of Fridays: Vacationarama

Well, we had a week off and Mark made the most of it. He traveled to Florida! In the sun. As a reminder, 10 weeks ago it looked like this.

But in Florida, it was pools and shorts and lizards and bubbles and sunscreen and general awesomeness.

Mark got to meet (again) Maggie Huffenberger, the exceptionally smart and cute daughter of Kevin and Angie. Mark had a little sharing trouble, but Maggie was magnanimous about it. For another view of the visit, check out Kevin and Angie's site. (After you look at the cute Mark and Maggie pictures, be sure to take a gander and Angie's research. Wow!)

More non-Mark Florida pictures to follow...

The seven-month Mark

Mark Hanley, at seven months

The measurements: 20.2 pounds, but short. (A little squatty, if you must know.)

Best friends: The order goes something like this: 1 - Mommy, 2 - Jack, 2a - Daddy

Enemies: Six month olds. They are so lame. Most of them can barely sit up. That's unlike me, who can sit on my own for like 10 minutes.

Most six month olds think it is awesome to hold a ball. I can hold a ball and throw it in the air.

Six month olds don't know about object permanence. I know you didn't make my toy disappear, you just won't give it to me.

Six month olds can't understand mirrors. I know they are windows to look at the weird baby who follows me everywhere.

Six month olds have never been to a restaurant, have never left the state of Illinois and have never gone swimming. I have done all of these things and I didn't even cry.

Most six month olds stare at ceiling fans. I also stare at ceiling fans, but I can stop any time I want.

Six months olds think they are so cool. But they are so uncool.

Just found out about: Pools. Holy cow. Have you heard about these things? They're great! I just got to float around in one in Florida and it was splashtastic. True, Mom covered me with so much sunscreen the water beaded up on me, but I still very much enjoyed the experience.
I'm not so sure about: This lady at the pool, who mentioned I was "a big one." Then, she added I "don't miss too many meals." Finally, she threw in that I'm "chunky guy." What's she saying?
Favorite activities: Traveling. When I was just a naive 6-month-old, I thought Illinois had everything. How embarrassing. Illinois is great, but there's lots of states out there! At least seven. Most six months olds wouldn't understand, but I know better. I've been to Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. Yes, it's true that on our trip to see Aunt Laura, I didn't make it out of Will County before I filled my diaper but, hey, it happens.
I have a crush on: Setting world records. Now that I'm seven and know lots of stuff, I have set several Guinness standards. Among them: sitting for more than 10 minutes; largest naturally grown toe jam collection (more than six quarts, I believe); greatest accumulation of drool (also more than six quarts. Per day.).

Major accomplishments: Went swimming. Got to be the test baby in the psychology class at Mommy's school and I passed - I can continue being a baby. Taught Mark Buerhle how to do this. Giant toe jam ball.