Len Lumbers
@thegoldenyear.bsky.social
🎶 Last customer at Soundscapes Toronto. Prone to arcane song references and best-of music lists.
⚾️ Content co-creator for Xitter’s and Bluesky’s @DaveStiebToday. SABR member.
Mom’s son.
⚾️ Content co-creator for Xitter’s and Bluesky’s @DaveStiebToday. SABR member.
Mom’s son.
RIP Steve Cropper (1941-2025)
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
December 3, 2025 at 11:29 PM
RIP Steve Cropper (1941-2025)
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
Tone. Licks. Groove.
One of the greatest, most important guitarists of all time.
I swear you could drive a truck through the notes of every ripping chord he struck, crisp and clean as country air.
Whatta roll call of tunes he played on, too.
November 21, 2018
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
November 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
November 21, 2018
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
10:54 p.m. EST
The last three photos I took of Brian Wilson on the occasion of my 11th and final BW concert. Miss you being around, old paint.
Fantastic - h/t to the LLWS ‘80 link! That was an entertaining watch. Sheff’s offensive instinct even then is top-shelf.
Found myself retroactively cheering for Taiwan, though, because of this dink. 📷Toronto fans of a certain age and stripe have long memories. #IYKYK
Found myself retroactively cheering for Taiwan, though, because of this dink. 📷Toronto fans of a certain age and stripe have long memories. #IYKYK
November 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Fantastic - h/t to the LLWS ‘80 link! That was an entertaining watch. Sheff’s offensive instinct even then is top-shelf.
Found myself retroactively cheering for Taiwan, though, because of this dink. 📷Toronto fans of a certain age and stripe have long memories. #IYKYK
Found myself retroactively cheering for Taiwan, though, because of this dink. 📷Toronto fans of a certain age and stripe have long memories. #IYKYK
My first job: the Consumers Distributing across the street from Talbot Park @ Bayview & Eglinton, 1986-87!
Think I got $3.75/hr?
The universal hazing ritual involved having to fill an order for an, uhhhhh, personal massager (bottom left!).
Think I got $3.75/hr?
The universal hazing ritual involved having to fill an order for an, uhhhhh, personal massager (bottom left!).
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
My first job: the Consumers Distributing across the street from Talbot Park @ Bayview & Eglinton, 1986-87!
Think I got $3.75/hr?
The universal hazing ritual involved having to fill an order for an, uhhhhh, personal massager (bottom left!).
Think I got $3.75/hr?
The universal hazing ritual involved having to fill an order for an, uhhhhh, personal massager (bottom left!).
Boston, 2018
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
October 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Boston, 2018
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
Tampa, 2020
New York, 2024
Toronto, 2025
In the last eight seasons, Clayton Kershaw and his #Dodgers have now faced 80 per cent of the AL East in #WorldSeries play.
(Whither your competitive window, Baltimore?)
Want to foreground this. Will think about it through tears as we relive the last days of the 1985 ALCS agaaaain. #BlueJaysPTSD
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
October 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Want to foreground this. Will think about it through tears as we relive the last days of the 1985 ALCS agaaaain. #BlueJaysPTSD
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
Dave Stieb's first two 1985 ALCS starts still rank in the top 15 all-time Jays playoff starts. It's the only case of the same guy/same series appearing twice.
I thought this felt familiar: down 2-0 in games and (at one point) trailing badly in G3 at home, Jays’ toughest oppo hitter ties G3 with a series-changing HR.
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
October 8, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I thought this felt familiar: down 2-0 in games and (at one point) trailing badly in G3 at home, Jays’ toughest oppo hitter ties G3 with a series-changing HR.
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
Aaron Judge, meet George Brett.
By WPA, two of the costliest playoff HRs in Toronto history.
#RepBX #WantItAll
On our cutting-room floor: the Leading Off teaser S.I. always foregrounded in their magazine - Tony Fernandez at second base.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
October 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
On our cutting-room floor: the Leading Off teaser S.I. always foregrounded in their magazine - Tony Fernandez at second base.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
Most photos from Aug. 31-Sept. 1 '85, with Chicago in town.
No wonder they boo him.
Vlad Jr.'s production in three major rival ballparks is historically great - there's literally NO other oppo hitter with a >1.000 OPS in EACH of @yankees.com's, @orioles.com's and @redsox.com's current parks.
He's JUST gone over 1.000 at Yank Stad III.
Current park ranks:
Vlad Jr.'s production in three major rival ballparks is historically great - there's literally NO other oppo hitter with a >1.000 OPS in EACH of @yankees.com's, @orioles.com's and @redsox.com's current parks.
He's JUST gone over 1.000 at Yank Stad III.
Current park ranks:
September 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
No wonder they boo him.
Vlad Jr.'s production in three major rival ballparks is historically great - there's literally NO other oppo hitter with a >1.000 OPS in EACH of @yankees.com's, @orioles.com's and @redsox.com's current parks.
He's JUST gone over 1.000 at Yank Stad III.
Current park ranks:
Vlad Jr.'s production in three major rival ballparks is historically great - there's literally NO other oppo hitter with a >1.000 OPS in EACH of @yankees.com's, @orioles.com's and @redsox.com's current parks.
He's JUST gone over 1.000 at Yank Stad III.
Current park ranks:
RIP Ken Dryden (1947-2025)
258-57-74
That’s what I think about when I think of Ken Dryden: that unworldly, stupendous record.
And the number 29.
The masks.
The books.
The Cups.
The after-career.
And the pose: the most unforgettably cool flex hockey’s ever known.
258-57-74
That’s what I think about when I think of Ken Dryden: that unworldly, stupendous record.
And the number 29.
The masks.
The books.
The Cups.
The after-career.
And the pose: the most unforgettably cool flex hockey’s ever known.
September 6, 2025 at 6:23 AM
RIP Ken Dryden (1947-2025)
258-57-74
That’s what I think about when I think of Ken Dryden: that unworldly, stupendous record.
And the number 29.
The masks.
The books.
The Cups.
The after-career.
And the pose: the most unforgettably cool flex hockey’s ever known.
258-57-74
That’s what I think about when I think of Ken Dryden: that unworldly, stupendous record.
And the number 29.
The masks.
The books.
The Cups.
The after-career.
And the pose: the most unforgettably cool flex hockey’s ever known.
3/3: What CAN he do?
He can throw compete games. And he will: his next three starts are all CGs.
The 1983-84 Jays relief corps are among the worst in MLB. (And 1985’s pre-Henke cadre is no better under Bill Caudill’s stewardship.)
Stieb’s line: 8IP 6H 2R 2ER 3BB 7K; GSc 66, RE24 2.04
He can throw compete games. And he will: his next three starts are all CGs.
The 1983-84 Jays relief corps are among the worst in MLB. (And 1985’s pre-Henke cadre is no better under Bill Caudill’s stewardship.)
Stieb’s line: 8IP 6H 2R 2ER 3BB 7K; GSc 66, RE24 2.04
August 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
3/3: What CAN he do?
He can throw compete games. And he will: his next three starts are all CGs.
The 1983-84 Jays relief corps are among the worst in MLB. (And 1985’s pre-Henke cadre is no better under Bill Caudill’s stewardship.)
Stieb’s line: 8IP 6H 2R 2ER 3BB 7K; GSc 66, RE24 2.04
He can throw compete games. And he will: his next three starts are all CGs.
The 1983-84 Jays relief corps are among the worst in MLB. (And 1985’s pre-Henke cadre is no better under Bill Caudill’s stewardship.)
Stieb’s line: 8IP 6H 2R 2ER 3BB 7K; GSc 66, RE24 2.04
2/3: Bobby Cox: “With a three-run lead, you would think you could give the ball to anybody.”
By Win Probability, it’s the second-worst blown save in the AL in ‘84, third-worst in Jays history.
For Stieb, who assumes the AL ERA lead today, wins are suddenly impossible to divine.
By Win Probability, it’s the second-worst blown save in the AL in ‘84, third-worst in Jays history.
For Stieb, who assumes the AL ERA lead today, wins are suddenly impossible to divine.
August 16, 2025 at 3:04 PM
2/3: Bobby Cox: “With a three-run lead, you would think you could give the ball to anybody.”
By Win Probability, it’s the second-worst blown save in the AL in ‘84, third-worst in Jays history.
For Stieb, who assumes the AL ERA lead today, wins are suddenly impossible to divine.
By Win Probability, it’s the second-worst blown save in the AL in ‘84, third-worst in Jays history.
For Stieb, who assumes the AL ERA lead today, wins are suddenly impossible to divine.
No, forget Dave Stewart, y'all: THIS is a "Death Stare."
Anger didn't happen in a vacuum, class. The team - even the really good '83-'84 ones - regularly drove him 'round the bend before '85. This is his second three-run lead blown in five days.
Anger didn't happen in a vacuum, class. The team - even the really good '83-'84 ones - regularly drove him 'round the bend before '85. This is his second three-run lead blown in five days.
August 16, 2025 at 1:10 PM
No, forget Dave Stewart, y'all: THIS is a "Death Stare."
Anger didn't happen in a vacuum, class. The team - even the really good '83-'84 ones - regularly drove him 'round the bend before '85. This is his second three-run lead blown in five days.
Anger didn't happen in a vacuum, class. The team - even the really good '83-'84 ones - regularly drove him 'round the bend before '85. This is his second three-run lead blown in five days.
Blond dock/blonde dog:
July 16, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Blond dock/blonde dog:
Hell yes, let’s lean into that stealthy stat. After Exhibition Stadium closes, the 1989-91 Dave Stieb is a terrific pitcher, with a legitimate top-three claim.
Clemens is miles ahead.
Stieb’s MLB rank:
RE24 2nd
WPA 2nd
RA9-WAR 2nd
WPA/LI 2nd
ERA+ 4th
BA against 5th
LOB% 2nd
Wins 3rd 😆
W-L% 4th 😂
Clemens is miles ahead.
Stieb’s MLB rank:
RE24 2nd
WPA 2nd
RA9-WAR 2nd
WPA/LI 2nd
ERA+ 4th
BA against 5th
LOB% 2nd
Wins 3rd 😆
W-L% 4th 😂
July 14, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Hell yes, let’s lean into that stealthy stat. After Exhibition Stadium closes, the 1989-91 Dave Stieb is a terrific pitcher, with a legitimate top-three claim.
Clemens is miles ahead.
Stieb’s MLB rank:
RE24 2nd
WPA 2nd
RA9-WAR 2nd
WPA/LI 2nd
ERA+ 4th
BA against 5th
LOB% 2nd
Wins 3rd 😆
W-L% 4th 😂
Clemens is miles ahead.
Stieb’s MLB rank:
RE24 2nd
WPA 2nd
RA9-WAR 2nd
WPA/LI 2nd
ERA+ 4th
BA against 5th
LOB% 2nd
Wins 3rd 😆
W-L% 4th 😂
Same week as Mr. Preuss? I’ll take that tiny degree of separation!
Lovely Brian story, Rob! Bri was my guy. A dozen ‘00-‘18 shows.
Never met him, but he DID shout at me after SMiLE at Massey. Broke from the end-of-show band bow to charge towards me:
“Take my picture! Take my picture!”
Gulp. OK!
Lovely Brian story, Rob! Bri was my guy. A dozen ‘00-‘18 shows.
Never met him, but he DID shout at me after SMiLE at Massey. Broke from the end-of-show band bow to charge towards me:
“Take my picture! Take my picture!”
Gulp. OK!
July 12, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Same week as Mr. Preuss? I’ll take that tiny degree of separation!
Lovely Brian story, Rob! Bri was my guy. A dozen ‘00-‘18 shows.
Never met him, but he DID shout at me after SMiLE at Massey. Broke from the end-of-show band bow to charge towards me:
“Take my picture! Take my picture!”
Gulp. OK!
Lovely Brian story, Rob! Bri was my guy. A dozen ‘00-‘18 shows.
Never met him, but he DID shout at me after SMiLE at Massey. Broke from the end-of-show band bow to charge towards me:
“Take my picture! Take my picture!”
Gulp. OK!
The sort of random thing that delights me: finding the uncropped original photo for a Beach Boys album I’ve owned for decades in the pages of a hundred-dollar book.
Also, it’s a nice sunset.
Miss ya, Brian.
Also, it’s a nice sunset.
Miss ya, Brian.
July 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
The sort of random thing that delights me: finding the uncropped original photo for a Beach Boys album I’ve owned for decades in the pages of a hundred-dollar book.
Also, it’s a nice sunset.
Miss ya, Brian.
Also, it’s a nice sunset.
Miss ya, Brian.
Terrific anecdote about Rick Bosetti working the Toronto crowd from centerfield as Stieb closes out his first game at Exhibition Stadium.
#Retire37
#Retire37
July 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Terrific anecdote about Rick Bosetti working the Toronto crowd from centerfield as Stieb closes out his first game at Exhibition Stadium.
#Retire37
#Retire37
Happy Heavenly 83rd to the eternal voice of summer, Brian Wilson.
Mr. Lynch is looking for you, sir.
Mr. Lynch is looking for you, sir.
June 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Happy Heavenly 83rd to the eternal voice of summer, Brian Wilson.
Mr. Lynch is looking for you, sir.
Mr. Lynch is looking for you, sir.
Doonesbury (Garry Trudeau), from May 1990, as Pet Sounds finally comes out on CD.
Andy Lippincott passes away listening to Pet Sounds.
God only knows what Brian heard today, but I hope it was majestic.
#BrianWilson
Andy Lippincott passes away listening to Pet Sounds.
God only knows what Brian heard today, but I hope it was majestic.
#BrianWilson
June 11, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Doonesbury (Garry Trudeau), from May 1990, as Pet Sounds finally comes out on CD.
Andy Lippincott passes away listening to Pet Sounds.
God only knows what Brian heard today, but I hope it was majestic.
#BrianWilson
Andy Lippincott passes away listening to Pet Sounds.
God only knows what Brian heard today, but I hope it was majestic.
#BrianWilson
💔
Still seen him in concert more than any other. He was my guy.
“Warmness, serenity, friendship,” is how journo Paul Williams described his work. Jeez, that’s Mr. Rogers calibre.
In ‘04 he broke from the bows to run downstage toward me, shouting “take my picture!”
A lifetime highlight, then:
Still seen him in concert more than any other. He was my guy.
“Warmness, serenity, friendship,” is how journo Paul Williams described his work. Jeez, that’s Mr. Rogers calibre.
In ‘04 he broke from the bows to run downstage toward me, shouting “take my picture!”
A lifetime highlight, then:
June 11, 2025 at 6:27 PM
💔
Still seen him in concert more than any other. He was my guy.
“Warmness, serenity, friendship,” is how journo Paul Williams described his work. Jeez, that’s Mr. Rogers calibre.
In ‘04 he broke from the bows to run downstage toward me, shouting “take my picture!”
A lifetime highlight, then:
Still seen him in concert more than any other. He was my guy.
“Warmness, serenity, friendship,” is how journo Paul Williams described his work. Jeez, that’s Mr. Rogers calibre.
In ‘04 he broke from the bows to run downstage toward me, shouting “take my picture!”
A lifetime highlight, then:
“Warmness, serenity, friendship.”
Great pull for Y,Y,Y, Bob.
My favourite concert, forevermore: SMiLe at Massey Hall, Oct. 6 ‘04. We had front row.
Brian broke ranks at the bows, rumbled downstage to shout, “Take my picture!”
What a maverick.
Our voice of summer.
He is eternal.
Love & Mercy.
Great pull for Y,Y,Y, Bob.
My favourite concert, forevermore: SMiLe at Massey Hall, Oct. 6 ‘04. We had front row.
Brian broke ranks at the bows, rumbled downstage to shout, “Take my picture!”
What a maverick.
Our voice of summer.
He is eternal.
Love & Mercy.
June 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
“Warmness, serenity, friendship.”
Great pull for Y,Y,Y, Bob.
My favourite concert, forevermore: SMiLe at Massey Hall, Oct. 6 ‘04. We had front row.
Brian broke ranks at the bows, rumbled downstage to shout, “Take my picture!”
What a maverick.
Our voice of summer.
He is eternal.
Love & Mercy.
Great pull for Y,Y,Y, Bob.
My favourite concert, forevermore: SMiLe at Massey Hall, Oct. 6 ‘04. We had front row.
Brian broke ranks at the bows, rumbled downstage to shout, “Take my picture!”
What a maverick.
Our voice of summer.
He is eternal.
Love & Mercy.
Horning in on Bowden Francis’ territory there*.
[Resorted to the W-L% filter to get ‘em on the same screen; on the plus side, Live-ball’s a looong span]
[Resorted to the W-L% filter to get ‘em on the same screen; on the plus side, Live-ball’s a looong span]
June 5, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Horning in on Bowden Francis’ territory there*.
[Resorted to the W-L% filter to get ‘em on the same screen; on the plus side, Live-ball’s a looong span]
[Resorted to the W-L% filter to get ‘em on the same screen; on the plus side, Live-ball’s a looong span]
For my money, Stephen Brunt’s Diamond Dreams is the exemplar of the Jays book strain. He writes about the downbeat side of losing so well.
And most years, you lose.
But it ends in 1996. I’ve ached for a second 20-year trawl. He’s still writing sports bios…🤞
Anyway, here’s his take on ‘85’s crash:
And most years, you lose.
But it ends in 1996. I’ve ached for a second 20-year trawl. He’s still writing sports bios…🤞
Anyway, here’s his take on ‘85’s crash:
June 5, 2025 at 1:42 AM
For my money, Stephen Brunt’s Diamond Dreams is the exemplar of the Jays book strain. He writes about the downbeat side of losing so well.
And most years, you lose.
But it ends in 1996. I’ve ached for a second 20-year trawl. He’s still writing sports bios…🤞
Anyway, here’s his take on ‘85’s crash:
And most years, you lose.
But it ends in 1996. I’ve ached for a second 20-year trawl. He’s still writing sports bios…🤞
Anyway, here’s his take on ‘85’s crash:
Cheers!
Keegan shared the TOC last month: looks like Stieb’s got one of the lengthier chapters.
Blake met Keegan in Dunedin. He’s a Stieb booster and that bodes well for the coverage within.
It’s my nature to hedge bets - I’m particularly persnickety on THIS subject! - but colour me invested.
Keegan shared the TOC last month: looks like Stieb’s got one of the lengthier chapters.
Blake met Keegan in Dunedin. He’s a Stieb booster and that bodes well for the coverage within.
It’s my nature to hedge bets - I’m particularly persnickety on THIS subject! - but colour me invested.
June 4, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Cheers!
Keegan shared the TOC last month: looks like Stieb’s got one of the lengthier chapters.
Blake met Keegan in Dunedin. He’s a Stieb booster and that bodes well for the coverage within.
It’s my nature to hedge bets - I’m particularly persnickety on THIS subject! - but colour me invested.
Keegan shared the TOC last month: looks like Stieb’s got one of the lengthier chapters.
Blake met Keegan in Dunedin. He’s a Stieb booster and that bodes well for the coverage within.
It’s my nature to hedge bets - I’m particularly persnickety on THIS subject! - but colour me invested.