And they say baseball isn’t the national pastime, the fools!
Today the Athletic has the tale of Atlanta Braves back-up catcher Chadwick Tromp. He’s from Aruba. Tromp says he pays no attention to the politics of the nation in which he has spent half the year every year since 2013 and that now supplies him with over a million dollars each annum. For that reason, I have little sympathy for the problems he has encountered because some jerk in the Braves clubhouse gave him uniform number 45 in an election year, making Tromp a walking target and a bad pun. Supposedly this was accidental. Is everyone on the Braves from Aruba?
“There are tens of millions of people that dislike Donald Trump. There’s tens of millions of Americans who like him a great deal,” said University of Rochester professor Curt Smith, a former George Bush II speech writer and a presidential and baseball historian. “So I think that would be pretty dicey for a player to take Trump’s number. You’re inviting applause. You’re inviting, certainly, cat calls.”
Wow. The Trump Deranged will really jeer a player because of his name and uniform number? Yeah, they’re the ones who will save democracy all right….if they can get their fingers out of their noses.
Here’s the first comment on the piece (the Athletic is sent to New York Times subscribers): “Trump supporters are endlessly amazing (especially at this point). Of course they wouldn’t get the irony of yelling Trump 45 to a brown immigrant. Or, in fact, maybe that is their point…”
The article fully justifies its existence with this section, however, a baseball trivia cornucopia:
“Tromp is not the first player with a presidential last name to wear the jersey number corresponding with that POTUS’ term placement, however unintentionally. There’s Ben Ford, who pitched 19 unremarkable games in relief for the 2004 Milwaukee Brewers. Ford wore the No. 38; Gerald Ford was the 38th president….U L Washington wore the No. 1 for the 1985 Expos. Buster Adams, who played in the 1940s wore, No. 2 and No. 6 in his career. John Adams was the second president and John Quincy Adams was the sixth. Two players named Jackson wore No. 7. Four players named Taylor wore No. 12. Six Johnsons wore No. 17, another 10 Johnsons wore No. 36. Three Wilsons wore 28. One Ike and one Dwight, both first names, wore the No. 34. Reggie Cleveland notably wore the No. 22, though not the No. 24.”
My two favorite subjects—besides ethics, of course—brought together in happy union!
Except for poor Chadwick Tromp…
Ethics Alarms 
Referring to presidents by the number at which they served is a decidedly “inside baseball” (if you’ll excuse the use of the term) thing. Frankly, I don’t think it was made much of until Democrats wanted a demeaning way to distinguish between the Bushes, pere et fils. When they weren’t using “Dubya.” I doubt few baseball fans notice.
When they weren’t calling Bush II “Shrub.”
I’ve been a Braves fan since the Dale Murphy/Brett Butler days. I never made the connection between Tromp and 45.
Because the only tool you have isn’t a hammer….
WRT Chomp’s inattention to American politics, this seems to me to be exactly what most of us want from professional athletes. Chomp especially has several strikes against him if he were to comment on politics: nationality, profession and education level.
As a non-citizen, any comments on politics (or virtually anything American) would result in calls for him to go home, criticism over his lack of gratitude for what this country has given him, etc. As an athlete, he would get the “shut up and dribble” treatment. Since he most likely has no education beyond the high school level (his bio does not list a college) any attempts at discussing politics would result in ridicule surrounding his lack of education (which is a stand you often take regarding actors and athletes).
I think he should be commended for concerning himself with playing baseball and not reaching for the low hanging fruit of criticizing the U.S., our political system or international engagements.
The demonization of numbers seems to be growing recently. New associations, including hoax ones, can sweep away old and cherished meaning or cancel a person for a mere coincidence. For example, these are the Western Union telegraph codes, standardized n 1859. These are used to speed up morse code transmissions (you would want to hurriedly send 17 and get your hand off the key). They became embedded in radio and are still commonly used today. Look at the ‘hugs and kisses’ number. This is commonly used as a ‘fun’ alternative to 73. It is also used when signing off to a YL. Today, it could get you accused of being a Nazi (why is the left so obsessed with declaring everyone a Nazi?).
1Wait a minute. 25Busy on another wire.
2Very Important. 26Put on ground wire.
3What time is it? 27Priority, very important.
4Where shall I go ahead? 28Do you get my writing?.
5Have you business for me? 29Private, deliver in sealed envelope.
6I am ready. 30No more – the end.
7Are you ready? 31Form 31 (permissive) train order.
8Close your key, stop breaking. 32I understand that I am to ….
9Priority business. Wire Chief’s call. 33Answer is paid.
10Keep this circuit closed. 34Message for all officers.
12Do you understand? 35You may use my signal to answer this.
13I understand. 37Inform all interested.
14What is the weather? 39Important, with priority on through wire.
15For you and others to copy. 44Answer promptly by wire.
17Lightning here. 55Important.
18What’s the trouble? 73Best Regards.
19Form 19 (absolute) train order. 77I have a message for you.
21Stop for meal. 88Love and kisses.
22Wire test. 91Superintendent’s signal.
23All stations copy. 92Deliver Promptly.
24Repeat this back. 134Who is at the key?
I hear he offered to switch out 45. But he asked for 47!
Just kidding.
He was going to ask for 46, but he forgot.