<p> </p><p>So I have the vice-presential debate on TV on Thursday night, while visiting my mom in the hospital, when something catches my ear while a nurse is visiting.</p><p>"That's a bunch of malarkey!" Vice President Joe Biden said to <runtime:topic id="PEPLT005726">Paul Ryan</runtime:topic>, the Republican nominee for vice president.</p><p>"What does former Washington Senators pitcher John Malarkey have to do with all of this?" I immediately think to myself.</p><p>After all, Malarkey pitched for six season in the majors, retiring more than 100 years ago. Why drag his good name through the debate?</p><p>OK, sure, he finished with a 21-37 record, went 0-8 in 1895 and lost 16 games in his final season, so maybe Biden wanted to compare Ryan to a loser.</p><p>But did Biden realize that Malarkey is the only pitcher in major-league history to win a game for himself by hitting a walkoff home run?</p><p>During a game in 1902, Malarkey (then with the Boston Beaneaters), facing Mike O'Neill of the St. Louis Cardinals, led off in the bottom of the 11th inning with a home run, giving Boston a 4-3 victory.</p><p>What's that you say? Biden was talking an entirely different kind of Malarkey?</p><p>Well, never mind then.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
