Along the Arizona and other railroad tracks across the country are various spots called, hobo camps. These camps are shared by traveling operatives or homeless drifters known as hobos. Usually destitute, they are simply workers that meander from place to place doing odd jobs. Hobos are nothing like tramps, who travel and usually work if they have to, or bums who never work at all. They are penniless vagabonds who set up camps or make-shift homes in whatever place they happen to get a job. As soon as the work is finished, they pick up their personal belongings, and hop a train to their next destination.
Where did the name “hobo” come from? There are several theories on the name such as the term hoe-boy meaning “farmhand”, or it could be from various greetings, “Ho, boy” or “Ho, beau”, meaning “homeward bound”. The origin of the name is just as mysterious as when hobos were first seen riding the railroads. It was either the mid or late 19th Century and could have been soldiers leaping onto the freight trains home after the American Civil War, or people heading west to a new life.
There were so many folks jumping the trains that in 1906 they estimated that 500,000 hobos were riding from place to place and living out of hobo camps. By 1911 the numbers increased to an astounding 700,000 hobos, tramps and bums. By the 1930’s and during the Great Depression, the hobo population was at its all time highest. There were no jobs to be had in most towns and cities so many decided to take their chances elsewhere and hopped the freight trains looking for work.
This was not an easy life and was extremely risky. Many of these nomadic penniless hobos were usually harassed by the railroad employees, security, and the train’s crew. Not only did they put up with the railroad people but had to fight the dangerous elements. Jumping on a moving train is not only crazy but treacherous as well. One false move and you could lose a limb, get caught between the cars, or ultimately lose your life. Sometimes the weather is dreadful and one could freeze to death, especially those hiding in the ice cars. Others may rob or kill you while you sleep for the minuscule amount of money you might be hiding. Being a hobo was and is not an easy life.
Today they estimate that there are around 20,000 people living as hobos across the country. Even though the trains nowadays are much faster than those of the 1930’s, many are boarded at rail yards. Hobos not only have their own lingo, but also abide by the “Hobo Ethical Code”. These 16 rules were set up by Tourist Union #63 during its 1889 National Hobo Convention in St. Louis, Missouri and voted upon as a valid set of laws to reign the Nation-wide Hobo Body.
When Sharon (Autumnforest) and I were at the abandoned trailer park near Mobile, we noticed deserted campsite nearby. Hanging in the trees was a tarp or blanket with a small table underneath. The ground below looked disturbed as if someone might have been lying on it recently. There was a rusty barrow with two plastic patio chairs nearby, perhaps used for cooking and keeping a fire. There was lots of junk just tossed about in and around the area. We were not sure how long this camp was vacant, but with the extreme Arizona weather, they probably didn’t stay long. Was this a hobo camp? The abandoned trailer park was near the highway and across from that was a railroad track. We were not sure who occupied this camp but were glad there were not there at that time.
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I know this may seem silly, but I think Manny actually thought he would be cheered in his return to Fenway as a Dodger. The guy actually looked shocked at the cascade of boos that rained down upon him. He is so out-of-touch, I think we actually hurt his feelings. Nothing twenty or so million bucks can't cure, of course.
We've literally forgotten how many times this year John Lackey has been unable to hold a lead provided to him by the Red Sox offense. It's a lot. Yesterday, it happened again, as a 3-1 lead evaporated as fast as you could say, "We paid 82.5 million dollars for this?". Actually a little faster. It's extremely frustrating to see this team of misfits scrap their way to a lead in a must-win, virtual playoff setting and have it coughed up almost as soon as it was gained. No team can win anything with only two effective starting pitchers. That's where we are right now. On the outside looking in.
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The Red Sox secured their biggest win of 2010, with a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Beating David Price, the best pitcher on the Rays staff, in Game 1 sets the tone for the balance of the series. Just 4.5 games back in both the Division and the Wild Card, Boston now sends their best pitcher, Clay Buchholz to the hill on Saturday. John Lester hurled seven impressive innings, giving up just 3 hits and no earned runs, while striking out 10. But the hero of the game was Victor Martinez, who clouted two solo home runs and handled Lester brilliantly.
Brad Hawpe has decided to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays—yet another outfielder to spurn the Red Sox in the waiver claim process. I guess he felt he couldn't break the Nava-Hall-Patterson triumvirate.
The biggest series of 2010 opens tonight in the horrific "Dismal Dome" in Tampa. The linchpin game may be the opener, with the Rays stellar young southpaw David Price facing our own lefty stud, Jon Lester. The stars are aligned for this one. A win by the Sox, and we move within 4.5 games of the post-season. A loss, and we fall 6.5 back with only 33 games left. Not a good place.
This week's tip is from Phil Kelly, Assistant Manager and one of the top instructors at our Warminster facility. Phil starred as a pitcher at Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School and later at Neumann University. 
This concept directly relates to pitching. The pitcher is the only person on the field who has the ability to control the pace of the game. You determine how quickly you step back up on the rubber and throw the ball towards home plate. The main focus as a pitcher is to maintain proper mechanics for every pitch, and this becomes much easier when you slow yourself down. After each pitch, take the ball from the catcher, take a deep breath and gather yourself before making that next pitch.
