Today (2/1/12) is RUSH day. If you haven’t been a rock and roll fan for the past 40 years, you might be confused by this, but let me fill you in.
“2112” is a seminal album by the Canadian prog rock trio RUSH. Released in 1976, it is considered one of the band’s greatest works and was their first real commercial success. The highlight of the album is a 20-minute opus, taking up all of side one, consisting of seven pieces describing a dystopian tale of intellectual oppression.
So what does this have to do with baseball? Well, bassist and lead singer Geddy Lee happens to be a huge baseball fan. Here’s a collection of links to Lee’s fandom:
- An ESPN Page 2 interview from 2007 talking about his favorite players and stadiums
- A 2008 video interview conducted by Matthew Berry, discussing Lee’s passion for fantasy baseball
- An ESPN Page 2 interview from 2010 discussing his donation of memorabilia to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
- A 2008 MLB.COM article on his donation to the Negro Leagues Museum.
- The blog “MopUpDuty” spots Lee in the stands at a BlueJays game, and unearths a photo of Lee playing bass alongside Dave Stieb and his wife!
- A RUSH fan website reports on Lee purchasing the film rights to the story of baseball as it is played in Italy.
- As part of their “Beyond the Lighted Stage” career retrospective DVD extras, each member discussed their hobbies. Go to the 2:48 mark here to hear Geddy describe his love of the game, and show off his remarkable baseball memorabilia room.
- A blueprint to a fictional “Warren Cromartie Secondary School” was on the back cover of the band’s album “Signals“.
So, Happy RUSH Day (and Happy “A Little Over 2 Weeks Till Pitchers and Catchers”).