The upcoming Congressional testimony that baseball players will be giving reminds me of a delicious chapter in Red Smith's To Absent Friends from Red Smith. It's a collection of Red's columns written to and about friends who have passed.

There's a chapter that details Casey Stengel's testimony at a senate hearing concerning baseball's Reserve Clause. A senator asks Old Casey a rather benign question, which Casey takes and runs with, as Casey could. Casey takes the senate down a few rhetorical blind alleys, does donuts in logical cul-de-sacs, and even misses a train or two.

The befuddled senators, not knowing what to make of Casey's explanation, go to Mickey Mantle for clarification. "Basically, I agree with everything Casey just said," explained Mickey.

I can hear the gavel pounding for order as the gallery roared. Can't you?

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