Peanuts

From Wiki Gonzalez

Peanuts was the 50-year-long daily comic strip by Charles Schulz, and probably the most well-known comic strip ever.

Baseball was one of the strip's most popular motifs. This is the lineup according to the Peanuts FAQ found here (question 4.16).

• Pitcher: Charlie Brown, who also served as manager.

• Catcher: Schroeder.

• First Base: Shermy.

• Second Base: Linus.

• Shortstop: Snoopy.

• Third Base: Pigpen, although Violet may have played third as well.

• Left Field: Patty.

• Center Field: Frieda.

• Right Field: Lucy. Rerun played one game in right, even giving Charlie Brown's team a rare win with a walk-off walk. Sadly, a gambling scandal reversed the victory, and the team's losing streak continues.

Lucy moved around between outfield positions a lot. Linus did have a stint as a pitcher when Charlie Brown developed "Little Leaguer's Elbow," and was much more successful. Schroeder also pitched one game, with Charlie Brown behind the plate. Five, fittingly, played some third base, while Eudora was in center sometimes and Violet was the utility person, showing up at 2B, 3B and all the outfield positions at times. Also, Shermy was listed as Designated Hitter in at least one game, and pitched in a few early games.

Woodstock tried out for the team once, but was cut. Sally never played, although she did occasionally come to cheer on Linus, her "Sweet Babboo." Joe Shlabotnik was Charlie Brown's favorite player.

Peppermint Patty had her own team, on which she pitched. Franklin, Roy and Jose Peterson were on her team, as well as Marcie some of the time. They always beat Charlie Brown's team, usually by ugly scores such as 123-0. Peppermint Patty offered to help out "Chuck" by pitching for his team (relegating Charlie Brown to left field); she quit in disgust after just one game, where she hit five home runs and pitched a no-hitter, only to lose 37-5, due to the team's rather pourous defense.

Charlie Brown was a fan of the Giants -- cartoonist Charles Schulz lived in northern California -- and was devastated by their loss in the 1962 World Series. "Why couldn't have McCovey hit the ball even two feet higher . . .?!"

Jonathan Franzen wrote a terrific reminiscence about Charles Schulz and Peanuts in the November 29, 2004 issue of the New Yorker: THE COMFORT ZONE: Growing Up with Charlie Brown.

In August 2003, Charlie Brown visited Old Primer and blew off some steam.