Published since 2005. San Francisco is a city that belongs to the people of the world. Hence this blog has a global focus. The name "Sam Spade's San Francisco" refers to an exciting era in the City's history, the time of Dashiell Hammett's fictional gumshoe and San Francisco character, Sam Spade. My name is Tom Dunn and I edit the blog. I'm not as exciting as Sam Spade, but I am definitely a San Francisco character.Contact or on Twitter -- Search blog below.
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Saturday, September 22, 2007
Barry Bonds & the Great John McCormack
It is said that when the great Irish tenor John McCormack decided to end his career in 1938, his voice was still rich and strong and his popularity was at it height.
For an Irish Catholic operatic tenor, the height of one's career is to be honored by the Pope in a grand setting with thousands of adoring Irish fans. For McCormack that came true in 1928 when he was knighted by Pope Pius XI.
That crowning achievement came to him again in 1932 when he sangPanis Angelicusbefore the Pope and to many thousands of his countrymen on Irish soil. They were packed into Dublin's Phoenix Park for the 1932 Roman Catholic Eucharistic Conference which was being attended by Cardinals and high-ranking archbishops along with scores of bishops.
In 1938 McCormack uttered this oft-quoted farewell statement and began the great tour that ended in London's Royal Albert Hall with a performance before King George VI. His farewell statement was, "I am leaving the stage while you are asking why, rather than why not."
I want Barry Bonds to read that little story because it is a story about how a great performer can retire gracefully and with dignity. McCormack lived until 1945 and was revered and loved by professional musicians the entire world over.
Living with an adoring public is not the exclusive privilege of singers, however. It occasionally occurs in the lives of baseball players. To those of us who are long-time or lifelong San Franciscans (and who are old enough) the name of Joe DiMaggio immediately comes to mind. For many the same is true for Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth.
None of that warmth of memory will belong to Barry Bonds. There will forever be an asterisk next to his name. For a fellow in Bonds' predicament there is only one wise and sensible thing to do: retire as soon as an opportunity presents itself and do so with as much dignity as possible.
Now that he is leaving the San Francisco Giants it is time for him to leave baseball as well. Farewell then, to Barry Bonds, baseball's all-time home run leader. The people of San Francisco thank him deeply for his extraordinary performance as a San Francisco Giant.
We also hold his father in high esteem, the late Bobby Bonds, a right-fielder for the San Francisco Giants who retired with 332 home runs. They were quite a father and son team!
2 comments:
Phil Ventura said...
The voice of the legendary Irish tenor Count John McCormack was hardly still in great musical shape after about 1930, when the "bloom was surely off the rose."
However, it can fairly be said that he was a great musician until the very end.
Thanks for the story, and for the point made. However, with the start of World War II, McCormack came out of retirement to sing some concerts for the troops, war workers and for charity. He also made a few recordings, and I believe his last one was in 1942.
After that brief return, McCormack had to go back into retirement due to poor health, and died of emphysema in 1945. Point well taken, though; it's better to leave while still on top than to overstay one's welcome. Thanks for remembering one of my favorite singers in such a positive way!
2 comments:
The voice of the legendary Irish tenor Count John McCormack was hardly still in great musical shape after about 1930, when the "bloom was surely off the rose."
However, it can fairly be said that he was a great musician until the very end.
Thanks for the story, and for the point made. However, with the start of World War II, McCormack came out of retirement to sing some concerts for the troops, war workers and for charity. He also made a few recordings, and I believe his last one was in 1942.
After that brief return, McCormack had to go back into retirement due to poor health, and died of emphysema in 1945. Point well taken, though; it's better to leave while still on top than to overstay one's welcome. Thanks for remembering one of my favorite singers in such a positive way!
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