Sports Fact & Book Rec of the Day 8/27/2009

8/27/1954:
Cincinnati slugger Ted Kluszewski belts a walk-off homer against Max Surkont at Crosley Field, giving the Reds a 3-2 victory over Pittsburgh. It's Big Klu's sixth home run this year off Surkont, tying an MLB record shared by Highpockets Kelly of the Giants in 1923 (off Vic Aldridge) and Ted Williams in 1941 (off Johnny Rigney). A first baseman, Kluszewski is also part of an around-the-horn triple play pulled off by the Reds in the sixth inning, started by Bobby Adams at third base and going through Johnny Temple at second base. the genial cleanup hitter will lead the majors this year with 49 homers and strike out a remarkably low 35 times.

Birthdays:
Frank Leahy b. 1907
Buddy Bell b. 1951
Bernhard Langer b. 1957
Adam Oates b. 1962
Jim Thome b. 1970

Packers Fact:
The Packers beat the Boston Redskins in the first postseason game in their history in 1936. Green Bay won 21-6 in the NFL title game that year.

ENERGY AND TALENT

If you have encountered comedian John Leguizamo—through his hit one-man shows Mambo Mouth, Spic-O-Rama, Freak, and Sexaholic, or in movies—it is unlikely that you have forgotten him. If you don’t know him yet, you’re in for a treat with this fast-moving memoir that explodes like firecrackers on a hot summer night.

PIMPS, HOS, PLAYA HATAS, AND ALL THE REST OF MY HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS, by John Leguizamo (Ecco, 2006)