IT’S A FACT: Former Cardinals and Mets outfielder Vince Coleman owns half a dozen parrots and cockatiels, all named “Vince Coleman.”

IT’S A FACT: Ageless knuckleballer Tim Wakefield drinks three two-liter bottles of Mountain Dew prior to every start. He says the sugar and caffeine keeps him energized, and the constant gas keeps him from overthrowing.

IT’S A FACT: Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron speaks flawless Russian, and has turned down several offers to work for the U.S. State Department.

IT’S A FACT: Derek Jeter’s patented jump-throws are a tribute to his childhood idol, Olympic high jump pioneer Dick Fosbury.

IT’S A FACT: At every major league baseball game, 50 seats are set aside for the Friends of Abner, a little-known “advisory group” which has existed since the founding of the National League. Confirmed members include John D. Rockefeller, Ty Cobb and Dean Rusk.

IT’S A FACT: Delmon Young, who memorably flipped a bat at an umpire last year in the minors, is having a nice season so far. Many people don’t remember that Brooks Robinson once kneed an official scorer in “the bad area” after a questionable “error,” and that Ty Cobb killed more than ten umpires in his career.

IT’S A FACT: The ball showcased in the National Baseball Hall of Fame as being from Len Barker’s 1981 perfect game was in fact purchased by Barker from a local sporting goods store. The actual game ball continues to sit in Barker’s den, where it will reside until “those Nazis from the Hall come to pry it from [Barker’s] cold, dead hands!”

T’S A FACT: Oakland infielder Bobby Crosby is an avid stamp collector with a collection of over 2,500 stamps. The centerpiece of his collection: a 1983 irregular depicting Babe Ruth at the plate, naked.

IT’S A FACT: Former Pirates’ catcher Ed Ott holds two unique distinctions: slowest time from home to first base, and shortest full name.

IT’S A FACT: The four consecutive home runs hit by the Red Sox Saturday against Yankees rookie pitcher Chase Wright were the most ever by a Boston team against a Yankees rookie pitcher named Chase Wright.

IT’S A FACT: All-star pitcher “Sad Sam” Jones’ 1971 death certficate has been certified as a forgery; Jones himself vanished after gaining popular notoreity as mystery airline hijacker D. B. Cooper.

IT’S A FACT: Despite his opposition to American capitalism, Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky was a passionate fan of baseball, particularly of the Boston Braves. His failed attempts to set up a “People’s League” in the first years following the revolution precipitated his split with Josef Stalin and his eventual exile from the Soviet Union.

IT’S A FACT: Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez asked for grievance leave when he learned about the “death” of Captain America. After consulting with team officials, he decided to remain in the everyday lineup and dedicate this season to his hero.

IT’S A FACT: Big Jim Potzrebie’s Used Motor Vehicles is celebrating “Christmas in May” all next month; prices on new and used Nissans, Daewoos, and vintage DeLoreans are lower than Mark Wegner’s strike zone…and twice as crazy!!!

Big Jim Potzrebie is the founder and CEO of Big Jim Potzrebie’s Used Motor Vehicles of Milwaukie, Canby, Drain, Dufur, Happy Valley, Barlow, Estacada, and Aurora, Oregon.