I’m not old enough to really remember Alomar as more than a highlight reel. I watched the team those years, of course, but when you’re five years old, not much sticks. So I don’t recall his pop-outs, whether or not he ran out routine grounders, his tendencies when down 0-and-2. I don’t recall the circumstances surrounding his departure. Don’t recall any of his foibles or missteps, really, besides the most obvious one. I remember precisely zero booted balls or wide throws, no third strikes taken bat-on-shoulder, no baserunning gaffes or mental mistakes. I hardly remember him in motion at all. What I remember are the stills from his cards. Splayed out parallel to turf in shallow right field. Suspended as if on wires above second base, hovering over a cloud of dirt and spikes, eyes locked on Olerud, somehow above it all. Arms raised as he exits the batter’s box, a crumpled Eckersley just out of focal range. This is the iconic Robbie pose—for those of us who remember those years, it’s our Jumpman. It even looks like Jumpman—legs spread wide, arm outstretched, like he’s trying to occupy as much space as he possibly can, connoting defiance and virtuosity.
Robbie was enshrined in Cooperstown last summer, and watching him at the podium, you could still imagine him floating above second. You can imagine him receiving the ball from Fernandez, like he’s meant to be there, yanked into place by some cosmic thread, fluidly pivoting and firing to first.
August 22, 2012 at 2:22pm
WWY92 designer Benjamin Nelson also plays drums for totally rad Kingston band PS I Love You. Listen to their latest LP, Death Dreams, here, and then buy it.
November 26, 2011 at 3:07pm
Reblogged from shootandbeseen
That’s a good look, dude. Diamond Rings before his October 3rd show with Twin Shadow @ T.O.’s Mod Club. Photo by shootandbeseen.
September 12, 2011 at 9:58pm
Jose v. Nasty.
September 6, 2011 at 1:51pm
Carter v. Coltrane. I could spin some laboured analogy about how baseball is like jazz, but it isn’t, really. I just like this cover art.
September 2, 2011 at 10:20pm
Our first pop-up shop is going to be, um, popping up at the ‘dome before the Jays/Red Sox game next Monday. On the bridge, near Gate 2. Come hang. If you can’t wait that long for one of these shirts, get in touch: wherewereyouin92@gmail.com. Sizes S thru XL.
August 28, 2011 at 3:12am
This is a t-shirt designed by Benjamin Nelson. Ben is a graphic designer living and working in Kingston, Ontario. He plays drums for PS I Love You and is a big Jays fan.
These shirts cost $25 shipped. Printed on white, Alstyle tees. S, M, L, and XL. If you’d like to wear one, send an email to wherewereyouin92@gmail.com with your size. Paypal works.
August 27, 2011 at 11:26pm
WHERE WERE YOU IN ‘92?
where were you in ‘92 is devoted to the ongoing aesthetic + emotional appreciation of the Toronto Blue Jays. There will be no roster speculation or advanced defensive metrics. No facts, just feelings. There will be images, there will be words. There will be things to wear, and to listen to, and to stick to walls. Something for anyone who refused to round the bases without jumping like Joe, who insisted on throwing rainbows to first like Tony Fernandez, who scoured the bottoms of Dempster’s bread bags for an elusive Randy Knorr card. For anyone who sees that old logo and feels comfort they can’t quite articulate. Catch the taste.
