Strange Exchange

Just when you think the sports world hasseason, a revered record that would stand for 34
produced every possible bizarre trade imaginable,years. That wasn't the only notable achievement
they still manage to top themselves ...Ain 1927; Walt Disney also brought the first cartoon
broadcaster for a rabbit. And a cartoon rabbit, atrabbit to the silver screen.Oswald the Lucky
that.When baseball journeyman Harry Chiti gotRabbit looked like a rip-off of Felix the Cat, and
dealt to the New York Mets for a player to behe probably was. However, cartoon characters
named later, little did he know that player wouldwere a novelty back then, so Oswald enjoyed a
be him. The Chicago Cubs could spare a backupmeasure of commercial success. In fact, Disney
catcher during the early season, and apparently,was certain he could expand the rabbit's fame if
the Mets saw enough of Chiti afterward. So,he had a bigger budget, which is why he traveled
when they later gave a list of players from whichto Universal Studio's head office and requested as
to choose in order to complete the deal, Chiti'smuch. The studio refused, even showing their
name was there. Perhaps their choice saidpower by cutting the budget by 20% and telling
something about the other players, but there canDisney to like it or lump it. Chagrined, Disney quit
be no doubt that the Cubs got equal value inand decided to work independently. He was
return.At least that transaction was a player-onlycertain he could create another cartoon character
deal, albeit only one player.Transactions involvingto help him realize his visions of commercial
no players have had various impacts on thesuccess.We now see that the empire built around
teams involved. An obvious example was a swapthe fame of Mickey Mouse never forgot its
between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians.origins.When the ABC network decided to move
In mid-season, they managed to trade managers.Monday Night Football to its subsidiary, ESPN,
Jimmy Dykes was shipped to the Tribe, with Joelong-time broadcaster Al Michaels decided he didn't
Gordon moving to the Motor City, making it thewant to accompany it. He expressed a
only deal of its kind in North American sportspreference to remain paired with virtuoso analyst
history. Both were probably disoriented for theJohn Madden, who left to join NBC, which had
rest of the season, but they'd surely agree that itacquired the NFL's Sunday Night Football
beat being fired, which is usually what happensbroadcast rights.Michaels' career was launched at
when teams want to jettison theirthe 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New
skipper.However, there was a more notoriousYork. He exclaimed to the USA, "Do you believe
no-player deal. It might have happened morein miracles? Yes!" when the American hockey
discreetly, except it affected New York Yankees.team completed the biggest upset in team sports
The year was 1972, and while half a decade hadhistory by defeating the Soviet Union's juggernaut
passed from The Summer of Love, pitchers Mikeand paved the way to an improbable gold medal.
Kekich and Fritz Peterson kept its spirit alive.One of the best in the business, Michaels
They and their wive were close friends. Reallyultimately moved to the prime time of Monday
close. So close, in fact, that during spring trainingNight Football and stayed there for 20 years.NBC
of the next season, they wound up making asaw his addition to their broadcast team as a
trade of their own. When Marilyn Petersonnatural move. ABC saw an opportunity, too, and
changed houses with Susanne Kekich, it wasthe idea of a trade was broached.ABC is owned
news which made more than the agate type inby the Disney empire. They noted NBC's
America's newspapers.Said Yankees generalassociation with Universal and decided it was time
manager Lee MacPhail, "We may have to call offto bring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit home. Dick
Family Day."A bag of baseballs isn't nearly as hotEbersol, president of NBC Sports, did a
for headline fodder. So, when minor-leaguer Timdouble-take. He accepted the trade package for
Fortugno was unceremoniously moved to anotherMichaels containing cable rights to golf's Ryder Cup
team in return for one of those bags, we canthrough 2014 and expanded access to Olympic
only imagine that the amount of $2500 in cashhighlights, but he had never even heard of the
got tossed into the deal to make him feelcartoon rabbit.Michaels took being swapped for a
better.Much more cash was put on the table incartoon pioneer in stride. "Oswald is definitely
1919 for an emerging star named Babe Ruth. Theworth more than a fourth-round draft choice,"
Boston Red Sox had just completed a lousyMichaels said, referring to the compensation that
season and owner Harry Frazee wanted to unloadNew York's Jets got for releasing head coach
salaries. He also had his eye on Broadway, so heHerman Edwards to the Kansas City Chiefs.Walt
sold Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 and aDisney's daughter, Diane Miller, is thrilled, saying
$300,000 loan (with Fenway Park serving as the"Having Oswald around again is going to be a lot
collateral). Frazee used the proceeds to stage 'Noof fun."And so it came to pass that the strangest
No Nanette,' the sprightly musical that gave thesports trade to date was sealed. NBC got the
world tunes such as 'Tea for Two' and can still bepolished veteran it wanted, while Disney could be
found up in lights to this day. This is the deal thathoping their re-acquisition can earn a Comeback of
gave rise to the Curse of the Bambino, whichthe Year award.For Oswald, it's going to be a
may have affected the Red Sox for so manybrand new ballgame.J Square Humboldt is the
years, but Frazee did very well by it.Ruth justifiedfeatured columnist at Longer Life's website, which
his title as the Sultan of Swat in 1927, becomingprovides information designed to improve the
the first player in history to hit 60 home runs in aquality of living.