Philadelphia Phillies Baseball Players

In a emotional announcement punctuated by frequent pauses and finally ending in uncontrollable sobbing, eight-time National League home run champion Mike Schmidt announced his retirement from baseball Monday. Schmidt, reading from a three-page handwritten statement, said he had become convinced his skills had deteriorated to the point that it was time to end his 17-year major league career, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. "Over the years I've set high standards for myself as a player," Schmidt said.

In a emotional announcement punctuated by frequent pauses and finally ending in uncontrollable sobbing, eight-time National League home run champion Mike Schmidt announced his retirement from baseball Monday. Schmidt, reading from a three-page handwritten statement, said he had become convinced his skills had deteriorated to the point that it was time to end his 17-year major league career, all with the Philadelphia Phillies. "Over the years I've set high standards for myself as a player," Schmidt said.

It was a 100-degree punchline to an age-old straight line: How hot was it? It was too hot to sell ice cream. Mohammed Hassan's brow dripped with sweat as he stood by his ice cream cart at 52nd Street and 5th Avenue. He had frozen fruit pops, lemon ices, chocolate and vanilla delights. What he didn't have was customers. "When it's too hot, nobody buys ice cream," he said, mopping his forehead in record 100-degree heat. "You need medium hot.