At first I thought the answer would literally spell out something like B-A-T. My second thought was that it must be a Team Mascot with the second piece of clothing being an ascot. But before I could think of a third incorrect answer, it hit me.Q: Take two different articles of clothing and place them one after the other. The result will spell something seen at a baseball game. What is it?
Sunday, July 13, 2025
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 13, 2025): Take Me Out to the Ballgame
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 13, 2025): Take Me Out to the Ballgame
144 comments:
For NPR puzzle posts, don't post the answer or any hints that could lead to the answer before the deadline (usually Thursday at 3pm ET). If you know the answer, submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.
You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't assist with solving. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the deadline. Thank you.
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Yeow. Ayesha's "I ain't" during the puzzle segment hurt my ears.
ReplyDeleteCome on, that racist!
DeleteHow about the triple negative?
DeleteI just heard it, and she said, "I ain't never heard..." I ain't got no problem with ain't, but her grammatical errors are annoying, like when she said, "There WAS 1700 correct entries..." There are several common words I do not like to hear, but I really do not know why, however ain't ain't one of 'em.
DeleteGood ear!
DeleteBoth of those -- multiple negation using "ain't", and using past tense "was" for both singular and plural -- are completely standard in AAVE. (The latter is common in many dialects; it's called 'was' leveling.
(So, it isn't an 'error', but of course you're not alone -- I'm sure a lot of NPR listeners don't like to hear it.)
My mismatched left and right parentheses, on the other had, was simply an error!
DeleteI thought you WAS sending us a curve ball.
DeleteI had not heard of AAVE until now. i do not agree with it either, even though Cole Porter said, "Anything Goes."
DeleteI see what you did there.
DeleteMost older white folks in America have difficulty with local minority dialects. When you can't understand what's being said is one thing I can cut some slack, the rest is just racist. Reminds me of the people that scream "Speak English!" in public.
DeleteWell I sure learned something today. Respect for our English language is now considered to be racist. Thanks for your very well laid out and informative argument.
DeleteNPR is caught between it's audience of sophisticates and urban supplication, which permits these grammatical assaults.
DeleteChuck, yes, indeed, it was the triple negative in concert with the ain't that made me wince.
DeleteThere's a good chance of a crowd of correct submissions this week. Whatever.
ReplyDeleteRepeating what I said earlier: Careful with that new submission form.
ReplyDeleteI have never received a followup email after submission with the new form. You?
DeleteWay too easy. Leaves me with apathy.
ReplyDeleteSo far I don't get any of the clues here.
ReplyDeleteI am working on alternative answers. I was hoping to come up with six, but maybe that was unrealistic.
That means we’ve been sufficiently subtle, and no TMI’s.
DeleteYou're right - coming up with six alternative answers is unrealistic. I tried, too - I started with six, but that quickly went to four, and then finally went to three. Not bad, I guess?
DeleteWow, in a way your approach is more ambitious than mine!
DeleteI will refrain from commenting.
ReplyDeleteTried to do something with certain neckwear with no luck. My hint: a 1977 song.
ReplyDeleteYour clue prompted me to look at a list of songs from 1977. What a great year for music (at least for my age group). Thanks for the memories!
DeleteSuper easy.
ReplyDeleteNo wonder he chose to use this one.
ReplyDeleteGood choice. I think.
DeleteMusical clue: Phil Collins
ReplyDeleteAnother musical clue: there was a great DJ at our friends' wedding.
ReplyDeleteMaybe two!
DeleteAah, the aroma of pine tar!
DeleteRearrange (DJ+TREE+REEK)
DeleteJackie celebrated after the game with his wife, but of course it was a warm evening, so she left her _______ _______ .
ReplyDeleteLop three consecutive letters from the thing you might see at the game and rearrange. You get something you might see taken at the game.
ReplyDeleteI came across the answer quickly, by thinking of things that I might see at a baseball game. It took me longer to come up with a clue, but I was eventually able to tinker with the letters.
ReplyDeleteRearrange the letters in the answer to get two other words associated with the game of baseball.
Is there ever a chance that a clue like yours could actually be useful?
DeleteSure, it can be useful to confirm that your answer matches mine. The idea here is not to give clues to help figure it out.
DeleteOh, that Will! A clever guy is he.
ReplyDeleteI feel better after reading Blaine's clue. I too was trying to make ascot work.
I have to keep telling myself not to overthink any of these; they are usually much simpler than I would imagine. That can help me not spend hours trying to solve, like I did in recent weeks. Well, they can't all be homeruns...
ReplyDeleteIs there some way to determine if a call from an unknown number on a Thursday afternoon is from NPR? I usually don't answer calls from numbers I don't recognize. But I got a call this Thursday afternoon, and answered it just in case it was NPR. I said Hello and waited.. a male voice with a slight accent (maybe Indian?) claimed to be "Walter Schlossel" and asked to talk to . I've never heard that name before. I said calmly "Who is this? What do you want?" He said "How are you doing today?" I've heard of scams where people call you to record your voice, so I only repeated "Who is this? What do you want?" When he asked me again "How are you?" I hung up.
ReplyDeleteDoes NPR call from a specific number or area code? Does the person calling you identify themselves right away as being from NPR? Given that we live in a world full of spam and scams, why doesn't NPR at least say what area code they will be calling from? Thanks...
They might not know what area code the call will come from. It's possible that the call comes from an intern, and they use their cell phone, which could have a number from anywhere.
DeleteI bet more women than men get the correct solution this week.
ReplyDeleteI found these two different articles of clothing, but I can't see what they have to do with baseball.
ReplyDeleteTogether they make a nice accolade.
DeleteIf you're referring to Ben Bass's puzzle, rather than my silly red herring, I agree.
DeleteHuh, I dunno. I just found one slightly interesting non-baseball word pair.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSorry about that! But I am honored to be the only comment removed today so far.
DeleteDiamond spectacles.
ReplyDeleteI'd bet the great majority of fans attending baseball games today will be wearing these two articles of clothing.
ReplyDeleteRelated to last week's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteOne of the words sounds like somebody that I know.
ReplyDeleteShorts sounds like Shortz, as in Will Shortz.
DeleteAgain, the NPR Sunday Puzzle page reminds us that we must submit entries by "Thursday, DATE DATE at 3 p.m. ET."
ReplyDeleteSurprised at number of grammatical errors by all kinds of people these days. It was predicted by linguists decades ago and predicted would be acceptable. Edward Sapir predicted this outcome. Annoying to me, though.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of annoying errors. You probably missed this that I posted yesterday evening:
DeleteI watched the movie, Conclave last night. My reserved DVD copy finally arrived, and I found it well worth watching, but for the absurd ending. However, I am wondering if anyone here bothered to check out the layout of the chessboard at just before 5 minutes into the film? Why is it film professionals cannot arrange a chess board and the pieces in a logical and correct manner? This one is really a joke.
SDB: I did read your comment but thought I could not comment on my cell so was going to wait for computer access. Then later discovered I am now able to comment after a long time being shut out. I agree with your comment. I was not happy with the ending. I read a lot of reviews and could not find any that agreed with me. Maybe found one or 2. Cannot recall. So glad to read your take on the ending. The sets were great. My daughter in law is a set designer for movies. She gets and is nominated femmy awards. I appreciate sets more than movies now days. Very creative art.
DeleteCorrection...nominated for emmy awards
DeleteSdb: I will ask my daughter in law chess question. She might have some ideas. Can you be specific about the issue?
DeleteI agree Natasha. See my criticism about people not using the possessive before a gerund. But I’m particularly irked by sportscasters who say things like “He’s hit less home runs than last year.” FEWER!!!
DeleteFEWER in front of countable objects, LESS in front of non-countable ones. As in “I have less money than Musk” and “I have fewer dollars than Musk.”
Natasha,
DeleteThere are numerous chess issues with the set designers. Number one is that the white square is on the right side of the board, not the left side. Number two is that the king is not positioned on his color. The white king is on the black square. Once I saw all the pawns set up on the back row of each side. When they set up a board with the game already in progress the pieces are placed in impossible positions. In Conclave the white king had moved 5 squares forward in a different column; I think it was F5. What was he going to do; yell at the opposing pieces? There were mostly white pawns remaining on the board, which makes one wonder what happened to the major white pieces. Not a possible situation. The black king and rook are located in a next to impossible configuration, that would make no sense even were it possible. It goes on and on like this.
As to the movie ending, I cannot imagine the cardinals voting for someone who had just insulted them, not to mention that they had never even heard of him prior to the conclave. I thought the whole story was ridiculous, but loved the acting and story anyway. I despise that religion, and most others, so was not expecting it to be realistic. While I am not a friend to religions as a rule, I am not at all against their members, unless they are the fanatical ones.
sdb;
DeleteSdb: I will ask my set designer relative about the chest set up in Conclave. She may know the set designer. Can you give me the name if the other film with chess set up? I know you have referred to that other movie a while ago. Maybevyou can get a job helping set designers if they use chess games. I wonder if you considered writing to the set designers about their set ups. They probably did not consider the audience as knowing that much about chess. This is very important and should be brought to set designer's attention. I would have let them know if I knew that much about chess. My relative goes to other countries if necessary to get sets done correctly. She is very humble too.
My religion is ballet.
Error...chess not chest.
DeleteNatasha,
DeleteIt is not one other movie, but many others. I was reading a short story by Kurt Vonnegut a month or two ago and it involves a human sized chess board with humans as the chess pieces. He made a major error in placement at one point. I really was surprised, but I suppose SM will now inform me I am a racist for insisting chess boards be set up properly.
Another peeve I have with movies and TV films is the incorrect wearing of tuxedos. The main thing they get wrong is NOT placing the shirt collar wings OVER the top of the bow tie in most films. I love it when they get it right, but that is rarely, even in foreign movies, and PBS.
I mostly find errors in human biology since am a nurse. Once amazon posted my review of Jurassic Park and an error in cardiac circulation. I wish I had sent a letter to the author Michael Creighton.
DeleteThere was also a cartoon error on the Far Side having to do with mosquitoes and malaria. I am zoologist too. I saved the cartoon which is decades old. Never sent my observation to cartoonist.
I find errors in books frequently and if I can find an email address for the author I send an email, or if not I might send a correction to their publisher. I usually get a nice email back from the authors I have contacted, but not Patrick DeWitt, who made a glaring mistake in "French Exit."
DeleteI think it is important to write to those people. I still intend to let Gary Larson know about the error. It is a common misconception. I think. I taught students about malaria so it was easy for me to spot the error. I need to find the page again of Creighton's error. Since many people have read the book and seen the cartoon, it is important to stop misinformation.
DeleteBesides the Patrick DeWitt book error, there are two others that I believe predate it and I remember. One was a small puzzle book where one puzzle was to count the number of triangles, or squares in the larger diagram. It was something like that, but the author had missed several of the shapes in his answer. He did contact me and say he would correct it in any reprinting.
DeleteAnother was a serious non-fiction book about our WWII war with Germany. There was a full page map with few location notations printed. One small city was shown/drawn as being half the page North of the town it was actually South of. He wrote back saying thanks and that I was the only one who noticed this error. Well I lived in Germany for 2 1/2 years in the 1960's.
Sdb: who is SM?
DeleteDiz: Thanks for comment.
DeleteSpanky McFarland
DeleteHe accused those of us who object to misuse of our language by those who make their living using it as being racist. See up above.
Ok. Thanks.
DeleteI am going tent camping on the coast in the morning, so may not be able to post for a week, depending on the internet availability.
DeleteBe safe.
DeleteI’m reminded of a 1957 song.
ReplyDeleteThe group that performed the song appeared at my local record store.
DeleteI looked into it, and the song I'm thinking of was from 1958.
DeleteA number of people are talking about ”grammar.” Personally, as a grammarian, I’m appalled by folks who don’t know to use the possessive before a gerund. They say things like “He objected to me going shopping.” If you try to diagram, you will have 2 direct objects, and it won’t work. It should be “He objected to MY going shopping, thus making MY a descriptive adjective.
ReplyDeleteBut hey! I’m just being picky. I’m still learning that “they” is now acceptable instead of he/she, as in Everyone knows what THEY want.” Words like everyONE, noONE, Every body are all singular and require a singular verb.
Sorry to be so pedantic! Got the puzzle answer early & am just reading posts.😊😊😊😊
Mary and me went to the post office, where they had a package for Mary and I.
DeleteDiz: Interesting about gerund. I had to look it up. I still do not understand he/she/they usage.
DeleteHey Diz. Check your Substack page.
DeleteJust as Sinner won Wimbledon, my d-i-l solved the puzzle. You rock, Meghan!
ReplyDeleteI obviously can't credit them individually, but there are some very clever and subtle hints this week. The one that came before the hint was my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI only wish that my mom had not thrown out my baseball card that I had collected back in the 1960’s. Thinking about it, maybe it was good that she at least got rid of the stick of gum.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the 1960s, I once owned a Mantle glove that might have qualified as an alternate answer.
DeleteI like it! Brandon Belt is a MLB free agent, previously with the SF Giants and Toronto Blue Jays, so a Belt glove is also a valid answer.
DeleteWe all have our own particular burdens to bear--that card is yours.
DeleteBlaine , I got an answer using something related to an ascot
ReplyDeleteI realized the answer when I considered he got it between the second and third try. Clever, but obvious.
DeleteIf my answer is correct, then I could see this in many sports beside baseball ie. Tennis, Football, bowling, etc.
DeleteBy the way, who drew that cartoon ballplayer Blaine used in the header, M.C. Escher?
ReplyDeleteHe does look a little contorted.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI have a conception of what you mean there.
DeleteThis puzzle would have been more appropriate last Sunday (recognizing this clue ties into a few others above). By the way, anyone notice what I saw on the puzzle answer submission page?
ReplyDeleteI suspect you are referring to the warning paragraph at the bottom of the page. And, yes, I am worried. Just 8 minutes ago I was saying to my neighbors across the street I had better keep my mouth shut or I may be forced to move to Ireland and live with Rosie O'Donnell if my citizenship is revoked.
DeleteAs a Blainesvillian who has been around a while, I'm going to risk proposing two rules of etiquette when it comes to posting hints. (1) If someone posts a clever and subtle hint, don't step on it later by extending, explaining, or embellishing it. This happens to Blaine a lot, partly because he posts first and partly because he is so subtle that folks think a little embellishment won't be TMI. (2) Don't post a hint that uses the same idea that someone has already posted. There are at least three posts above that use the same trick, and they turn something initially clever into an accumulation of too much information. I know that this can be inadvertent, but be careful to read through the posts before you assume your idea is original. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteSage advice. It would require that we read all the hints thoroughly first and then act judiciously and accordingly.
DeleteLately, while I certainly don't recommend this for everyone, I’ve avoided hinting altogether. This week, I left what I would describe as an "expressive" comment and a “historical” comment, neither of which could even be construed as a hint or clue.
Thanks, Lancek.
I agree with Lancek (even though I have also elaborated on others' comments twice in the past few weeks). I was stumped until I saw one post that was already too much of a giveaway, followed by an elaboration that removed any possible doubt. And those aren't the only ones--similar elaborations keep popping up like mushrooms.
DeleteI don't usually favor heavy-handed repression of speech, but I think we have to ask Blaine to start deleting the borderline hints until we all show some more self-discipline.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that's not going to be around long.
DeleteLeo, you should self-delete. A Sunday poster was already the victim of someone violating my first proposed rule of etiquette, and now you've violated the second (surely inadvertently).
DeleteCulinary Clue: Juicy Fruit
ReplyDeleteSince Will is to be in Minneapolis this week only a few 1 iron shots from Stately Lego Manor, there should be a group photo of Will, Blaine, and Lego posted here next week. At least that would prove they are three different people.
ReplyDeleteAre they? 😉
DeleteWe'll see (or not); and then we'll know.
DeleteI've only been here about 10 years or so. But I'm pretty sure that Blaine is Blaine.
DeleteThat would explain why I've never been picked to play on the air. 😜
DeleteI can only wish that I was as wise and creative and Will Shortz and Blaine!
DeleteLegoNotInTheirLeague!
"as Will Shortz and Blaine!"
DeleteLegoSays"See?NotSoWiseAndCreative!"
East is East and West is West but ever the Blaine's shall meet (our need for a forum).
DeleteLegoWhoNotesThatConductingABlogAsBlaineExpertlyConductsHisWouldBeExcellentTrainingForUmpires
RIP Arkady Renko
ReplyDeleteNot sure how many of you watched the entirety of the MLB All Star Game last night but somewhere along the way I witnessed the "something" during the game (before the new tiebreaker home run derby took place).
ReplyDeleteSHORTS, TOP --> SHORTSTOP
ReplyDelete> I'd bet the great majority of fans attending baseball games today will be wearing these two articles of clothing.
It's hot in the middle of July.
SHORTS + TOP —> SHORTSTOP
ReplyDeleteThe 1957-58 song I alluded to in my reply to Diz was the Royal Teens’ “Short Shorts.” It was first released in ’57 on a small label and then re-released on a national label in ’58, reaching #3 on Billboard. And, yes, the group actually did appear at my local independent NJ record store sometime in ’57 or ’58. Bob Gaudio, one of the group’s members and co-writer of “Shorts Shorts,” later became a member of the Four Seasons and its principal songwriter.
The song is also known to a slightly younger generation as the song that was used in a Nair commercial.
DeleteTortieWhoWillAlsoMentionThatTheFlyingPurplePeopleEaterSaid"ILikeShortShorts"
SHORTSTOP; SHORTS, TOP
ReplyDelete"Another musical clue: there was a great DJ at our friends' wedding." DJ as in Derek Jeter, famous NY Yankees shortstop.
Apparently there's also a DJ named DJ Shortstop.
Short stop and shorts and top shortstop is actually right I'm camping and the Olympic national Park and this is an ideal way of doing things for me let's see I'm waiting for the time
ReplyDeleteShortstop (shorts, top)
ReplyDeleteI wrote: Tried to do something with certain neckwear with no luck. My hint: a 1977 song.. I took far longer to solve this than it should have taken. I was trying to do something with ascot/mascot. My hint: “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, which featured Phil Rizzuto, a former shortstop. Thought of trying to clue the puzzle with “bat”, as in Bat Out of Hell/baseball bat, or even something with Phil Rizzuto/Phillie Phanatic (mascot), but I was afraid I’d wade into TMI territory.
Every week, Puzzleria! is proud to present “guest puzzles” by some of the most creative “wordsmiths” and “and puzzlesmiths” online. Our featured creator this week is our friend Chad Graham, whose electrifying “Conundrumbstruck by Chuck!” thunderbolts have been crashing down spectacularly from Puzzlerian cyberspace since January of 2020.
ReplyDeleteChad's latest “Conundrumbstruck by Chuck!” is a powerful six-pack titled:
~ Fishy Oscar;
~ Grooming & Gaming;
~ (Some) Creatures Great & Small;
~ Swiggin’ it, Wingin’ it;
~ Well-known Wanter; and
~ Country becomes a Quaff.
We shall upload this week's Puzzleria! very soon this very afternoon!
Also on our menus this week are:
* a Schpuzzle of the Week titled “Infinite leaps and boundlessness,”
* an Anagrammatical Hors d’Oeuvre titled “A gent named James & his Gang,”
* a Marquis de Sadistic Slice titled “My Fiendish Friend, Inflickta!”
* an Anatomical Dessert titled “Somatic Syllabic Syllabus Fare,” and
* 14 riffs of this week's NPR Puzzle Challenge titled “Shortstop Stops Short?” (including an excellent riff created by our friend Plantsmith that involves a protective garment worn by World War I soldiers, and eight great riffs penned by our friend Nodd.
So come, be electrifyingly enlightened!
LegoWhoIsProudToPresentPowerfullyProlific&PrometheanPuzzlesmithsWeeklyOnPuzzleria!
shorts, top->shortstop
ReplyDeleteshorts + top = shortstop
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “I bet more women than men get the correct solution this week.” I think many more things called “tops” are sold to women than to men so they would likely come to mind more quickly.
I had the same thought. My husband was listing clothes out loud and he came up with shorts. I thought of top right after that, so together we were able to solve it.
DeleteShorts and Top >> Shortstop
ReplyDeleteRegarding apathy:
An old joke defines the difference between ignorance and apathy as, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”
I Don’t Care also happens to be the name of the Shortstop in Abbott and Costello’s classic, Who’s on First?”
SHORTS+TOP=SHORTSTOP
DeleteThe shortstop's actual name is either I Don't Give A Darn, or I Don't Give A Damn, depending on whichever recording of the bit you've heard. Lou has said both of them at the end of the bit, but he never said I Don't Care.
pjbNowRealizesItMightHaveBeenAGoodThingToSimplyPost"IDon'tGiveADamn!"AsAHint(UnlessSomeoneWereToSuggestThatItWouldBe[TMI],OfCourse!)
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteCranberry,
DeleteThere were numerous variants of the skit. I'm referring to this one,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sYOUFGfK4bU&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
from the movie, "The Naughty Nineties”.
I think I agreed with SuperZee somewhere.
DeleteWhatever.
I said I was “hoping to come up with six” alternative answers. In traditional score-keeping, the number 6 designates the shortstop. Then SoupHead described a double-play for us 😊
ReplyDeleteAnd when Word Woman said “Another musical clue: there was a great DJ at our friends' wedding,” I added… maybe two! Because she was referring to Derek Jeter, who wore #2.
ReplyDeleteI also left this little puzzle, but nobody bit:
Jackie celebrated after the game with his wife, but of course it was a warm evening, so she left her _______ _______ .
Fill in the blanks with… “stole home” (as Jackie Robinson did, maybe better than anyone else).
Excellent riff, Crito!
DeleteLego(WhoWishesHeWereRunningCrito'sRiffOnThisWeek'sPuzzleria!)
Two different articles of clothing, unrelated to baseball ... together they make a nice accolade:
ReplyDeleteBRA + VEST => BRAVEST
My comment was removed, but I still think it's better to dry your towel on a rod then on a hook.
ReplyDelete*than (not then)
DeleteSHORTS, TOP, SHORTSTOP
ReplyDeleteMy clue was JUICY FRUIT. Because:
JUICY FRUIT was made by WRIGLEY'S GUM
and the CHICAGO CUBS play at WRIGLEY STADIUM
(which I visited in June 2025 for my first time!)
and one of the most famous CHICAGO CUBS was ERNIE BANKS
and ERNIE BANKS played SHORTSTOP
But my clue in last week's comment you can BANK ON IT was deemed as too revealing (by me), because if you search at Google for BANK BASEBALL you end up with
ERNIE BANKS, SHORTSTOP, which is TMI
Happy birthday today, 83, to Don Kessinger, Cubs shortstop for many years. And, July 17, Happy Emoji Day, too.
ReplyDeleteThere were several hints that named actual shortstops, but my favorite was also the first. JAWS noted that he was able to "tinker with the letters" of the answer to get two other words associated with baseball (shot and sport?) -- an elegant misdirection. Well done, JAWS! I was worried that Adam Schaffer might have given it away by his "ever a chance" query to complete the double play, but JAWS misdirected again with his innocent response to the question.
ReplyDeleteMy clues - the reference to the prior Sunday being a better date to run this puzzle was because it was July 6, and 6 is the scorecard reference for a shortstop (as noted by Crito above); the reference to puzzle submission page was because where we insert our answer, the instruction label says "short answer". And last nights post about seeing the "something" at the MLB All Star Game was a reference to Bobby Witt (KC shortstop) who I "wit"nessed playing later in the game.
ReplyDeleteWS last name is homophone of Shorts. I wonder if the puzzle was chosen due to that connection.
ReplyDeleteShorts, top. Shortstop.
ReplyDeleteI had an alternative answer TIE BREAKER (Which is a type of jacket)
ReplyDeleteLucky Dux mused "I only wish that my mom had not thrown out my baseball card that I had collected back in the 1960’s. Thinking about it, maybe it was good that she at least got rid of the stick of gum." I interpreted this as a hint leading to the famous baseball card featuring Honus Wagner, who prohibited distribution of the card either because he objected to tobacco use (the card came with a pack of cigarettes, not gum) or because he wanted to be paid for the use of his likeness. The few cards that were distributed have become ridiculously valuable as a result.
ReplyDeleteI glommed on to Snipper's hint by writing "We all have our own particular burdens to bear--that card is yours." My use of "burden" is a veiled reference to Honus, since the Latin word for "burden" is "onus."
BTW this wasn't the clue that gave it away for me--that was the comment by another commenter that mentioned both "Cincinnati Reds" and "lark," which led me to Barry Larkin, the great shortstop. "Lark" alone might not have been enough (I didn't get the answer from "tinker" in an earlier hint) but the two together pretty much spelled out the answer.
Why do very stable geniuses develop chronic venous insufficiency?
ReplyDeleteOops, once again missed the deadline here, but I was wondering about the Shortz/s echo!
ReplyDelete