The Toastman
I recently exchanged emails with Don Surber, who, in addition to being a blogger and a newspaperman, is a fan of the West Virginia Power (Brewers) of the South Atlantic League. Since I'm a fan of the Columbus Catfish (Dodgers) of the SAL, it's always particularly interesting when they play another blogger's team.
The screwy schedule the SAL makes their teams play meant that the Catfish and the Power would meet but once this season ... and that series would be in Charleston, WV. And it was a rough series for the Catfish, losing 3 of 4 by scores of 8-4, 16-6, and 8-2. Thankfully, the Catfish won the finale, 9-5.
After seeing a writeup at MinorLeagueBaseball.com about a West Virginia Power fan, and after having some run-ins with some Catfish fans in Columbus, I asked Don about the Power superfan known as the "Toastman."
The Toastman is Rod Blackstone, Assistant to the Mayor of Charleston, WV. And he's a thorn in the side of visiting players. And, on occasion, to the local fans.
Don shared that back about 4 or 5 years ago, he thought Toastman had crossed the line in his razzing of a Columbus RedStixx (Indians) player. (The RedStixx moved to Eastlake, OH in 2003, becoming the Lake County Captains.)
Since Don's actually a fan of the Cleveland Indians, he felt bad for the RedStixx catcher. Toastman was serenading Swedlow with ditties like "Swing low, Sweet Sean Swedlow ..." every time he struck out. Toastman got under Don's skin that night, like he gets under some opposing players'.
However, the Toastman follows the opposition quite closely. And uses that to light into the opposing players.
The Toastman has been following the Power -- and the Wheelers and the AlleyCats before the name changes -- for a decade and a half. And has a following at the games.
At The Yard reports that once, the Greensboro Bats (Marlins) -- now the Grasshoppers (Marlins) -- tried to sabotage Toastman's outlet he uses to make toast.
The oppositon notices ... and knows ... the Toastman. And the Toastman knows the opposition. As Don Surber told me about the RedStixx Sean Swedlow, the Indians farm hand that he took up for one night:
The screwy schedule the SAL makes their teams play meant that the Catfish and the Power would meet but once this season ... and that series would be in Charleston, WV. And it was a rough series for the Catfish, losing 3 of 4 by scores of 8-4, 16-6, and 8-2. Thankfully, the Catfish won the finale, 9-5.
After seeing a writeup at MinorLeagueBaseball.com about a West Virginia Power fan, and after having some run-ins with some Catfish fans in Columbus, I asked Don about the Power superfan known as the "Toastman."
The Toastman is Rod Blackstone, Assistant to the Mayor of Charleston, WV. And he's a thorn in the side of visiting players. And, on occasion, to the local fans.
Don shared that back about 4 or 5 years ago, he thought Toastman had crossed the line in his razzing of a Columbus RedStixx (Indians) player. (The RedStixx moved to Eastlake, OH in 2003, becoming the Lake County Captains.)
Since Don's actually a fan of the Cleveland Indians, he felt bad for the RedStixx catcher. Toastman was serenading Swedlow with ditties like "Swing low, Sweet Sean Swedlow ..." every time he struck out. Toastman got under Don's skin that night, like he gets under some opposing players'.
However, the Toastman follows the opposition quite closely. And uses that to light into the opposing players.
The Toastman has been following the Power -- and the Wheelers and the AlleyCats before the name changes -- for a decade and a half. And has a following at the games.
At The Yard reports that once, the Greensboro Bats (Marlins) -- now the Grasshoppers (Marlins) -- tried to sabotage Toastman's outlet he uses to make toast.
The oppositon notices ... and knows ... the Toastman. And the Toastman knows the opposition. As Don Surber told me about the RedStixx Sean Swedlow, the Indians farm hand that he took up for one night:
Sean Swedlow's outa baseballAttending a game in Charleston, WV has got to be fun. But probably not for the Rome Braves, who are facing Toastman's taunts tonight.
Many are called
Few are chosen
Toastman knows
1 comment:
The Toastman is a moron and I sit well away from him so I can enjoy the game. For the life of me, I don't understand the need to continually insult opposing players at sporting events. It's a mark of some instability if one can't just enjoy a baseball game. Maybe it's just his politician DNA that makes him want to be the center of attention. We don't pay to see him, only the game.
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