04/24/24
December 04, 2007
1898 Obscene Language Baseball Document: Entitled “Special Instructions To Players,” regarding the use of obscene language by players at the ballpark, to intimidate umpires and opposing players, and to verbally battle with unfriendly fans. Warning: strong language.
Oh, for f#@k's sake, gary. Why are you posting such a stupid-a$$ piece of s*&t story when there are countless other Godd^@ned f*^king stories more worthy of our f@#king time. But you could have filed this under culture just as easily. Them old-timey ball-players. What a hoot!
posted by THX-1138 at 12:49 PM on December 04, 2007
Seriously, I can't believe they're considering not selling it. I can think of many places where this would be an excellent and entirely appropriate piece to display in a position of prominence. Hell, I'd buy it and hang it prominently in my living room. If they don't make this available to a loving client, those so-and-sos can just go fish.
posted by chicobangs at 12:56 PM on December 04, 2007
At the very bottom of the document is the warning "Unmailable, must be forwarded by express". I guess the postal regulations must have been tighter in those days too. That's a great find, justgary. I have spent much of my working life in the company of the Navy and Marine Corps, and I must say that my vocabulary is well-stocked with such "colloquialisms" as are in the post. It's nice to know that they are not merely products of a latter-day permissiveness, but have their origins in an earlier time. So get your heads out of your @$$#$, you C*c{$"c{ers. All you f"c{in SpoFites need to spice up your comments with some red-blooded sports language.
posted by Howard_T at 01:16 PM on December 04, 2007
F@*kin' A right, Howard.
posted by THX-1138 at 01:26 PM on December 04, 2007
Great find, Gary.
posted by BornIcon at 01:43 PM on December 04, 2007
Wow. I was expecting examples of profanity that were tame by current standards. Color me cunt-lapping surprised.
posted by rcade at 01:51 PM on December 04, 2007
I have to admit, I've not used "A dog must have fucked your mother!" in mixed conversation terribly often lately, and that is a situation which I shall endeavour to correct at the earliest opportunity!
posted by chicobangs at 02:48 PM on December 04, 2007
I am strangely moved to see that, almost 110 years later, we so accurately maintain the rituals and forms of cursing that were so lovingly set by our fucking forefathers.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:27 PM on December 04, 2007
I'll have to admit to being shocked at some of the ah....saying in the document. I've been to many little league, minor and professional baseball games in my lifetime and have never heard such colorful language. I guess the warning must have worked...albeit when Billy Martin was managing.
posted by smdragon at 03:30 PM on December 04, 2007
Same thing, rcade. I was expected "damn" and "hell" and got Pulp Fiction. It'd be funny to hear this coming out from under a handlebar mustache.
posted by wfrazerjr at 03:57 PM on December 04, 2007
Sounds like they are going to sell it afterall: http://s210975194.onlinehome.us/blog/?p=49
posted by AaronGNP at 05:29 PM on December 04, 2007
I was under the impression that the word "fuck" didn't exist in our vocabulary until the mid 1900's. I guess my history teacher was wrong. Fuck the fucking fucker, I'm all fucked up now.
posted by smithnyiu at 05:48 PM on December 04, 2007
Is it just me or does it seem that the writer of this fine masterpiece wanted to see how much he could say and get away with it. He gives 8 examples (not 2 or 3) on top of the example that led to the meeting. Are we sure this was actually an official memo and not some prank that was being sent around at the time? Still a great find, and shows the climate of baseball at the time.
posted by jagsnumberone at 06:20 PM on December 04, 2007
It was hard to read, I had to keep covering my eyes.
posted by BoKnows at 11:29 PM on December 04, 2007
I guess my history teacher was wrong. Wow, yes. See Mefi thread on this topic for more.
posted by yerfatma at 06:31 AM on December 05, 2007
Also known by its alternate title, "The Prose of Ty Cobb."
posted by The_Black_Hand at 09:56 AM on December 05, 2007
(I don't care about MeFi threads about sports. Mefites who pissed and moaned so loudly when their precious front page was dirtied with a sports topic are a large part of why SpoFi was created in the first place.)
posted by chicobangs at 11:44 AM on December 05, 2007
Thanks! There's a ton of great etymology in the thread, but make sure to avoid it.
SEAN (cont'd) Well, I think that's a great philosophy Will, that way you can go through your entire life without ever having to really know anybody.
posted by yerfatma at 11:57 AM on December 05, 2007
I think the f**king piece of s**t is fake. The type is just too clean for a 1890's typewriter, and the type doesn't seem to bend where there are creases. Not an expert on determining the exact age of documents, so I could be wrong. Send the dogs after my mother if I am.
posted by dviking at 12:30 AM on December 06, 2007
What a hoot! Thanks for posting. I can only wish that this is authentic.
posted by BCHockey at 03:24 PM on December 06, 2007
Well, sakes alive and bless my fountain-pen! What colorful palaver!