DAILY DIRT: Now an oldtimer, Ryan Seacrest will always be ‘Mr. American Idol’

What’s YOUR favorite “hippie song” from that memorable era? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 876 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s the final day for our Daily Dirt weekend extravaganza honoring some of our favorite celebrities reaching milestone birthdays.

Today’s subjects are those turning 50 at some point this year:

• Jimmy Fallon: So, who do you enjoy more, Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel? 
• Ryan Seacrest: He’ll always be “Mr. American Idol”.
• Derek Jeter: Raise your hand if you have a 1992 Derek Jeter rookie card.
• Tiffani Thiessen: What is her most identifiable role — Kelly Kapowski on “Saved by the Bell” or “Valerie Malone” on “Beverly Hills 90210?” (Many forget she also had a six-year run on “White Collar” as Elizabeth Burke.)
• Christian Bale: The best movie Batman. Ever. (And don’t even mention Michael Keaton.)
• Leonardo DiCaprio: No matter of he’s 50, 60 or 70, movie fans will always remember him most as “Jack” in the 1997 classic “Titanic”.
• Victoria Beckham: She’ll always be a Spice Girl in my world.
• Donald Faison: You recognize him these days on T-Mobile commercials, but he’s also an accomplished actor (“Scrubs,” “Clueless”)

2. Those whose formative years were in the late 1960s and early 1970s likely are familiar with the term “hippie,” or those who — at the time — rejected most lifestyles that were termed “conventional”.

That non-conventional thought process also carried over into their choices of music.

Here’s my top 10 “hippie songs” of that era:

• 1. “San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair),” by Scott McKenzie.
• 2. “The Times They Are A Changin’,” by Bob Dylan.
• 3. “All You Need Is Love,” by the Beatles.
• 4. “Woodstock,” by Crosby Stills, Nash and Young.
• 5. “California Dreamin’,” by the Mamas and Papas.
• 6. “Mr. Tambourine Man,” by the Byrds.
• 7. “Incense and Peppermints,” by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.
• 8. “Born To Be Wild,” by Steppenwolf.
• 9. “Mellow Yellow,” by Donovan.
• 10. “Light My Fire,” by the Doors.

3. Hey, baseball lovers.

Here’s some interesting information that might come in handy during discussions this season with some of your baseball buddies. The following are the all-time home run leaders at the five oldest MLB ballparks:

• 1. Boston Fenway Park (opened in 1912), Ted Williams 248 home runs: This stadium opened days following the sinking of the Titanic.
• 2. Chicago Wrigley Field (1914), Sammy Sosa, 293: The Cubs’ manager in 1914 was Hank O’Day, his only season as skipper of the club. He was known as “The Reverend”.
• 3. Los Angeles Dodger Stadium (1962), Eric Karros 130: When the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn, N.Y., they first played in the L.A. Coliseum.
• 4. Los Angeles Angel Stadium (1966), Tim Salmon, 160: Remember when the team was labeled as the Anaheim Angels and/or the Los Angeles Angeles of Anaheim? Bizarre.
• 5. Oakland Coliseum (1968): Mark McGwire, 166: I miss Charlie Finley.

Steve Thought O’ The Day – Ted Williams still holds the record for longest home run at Fenway Park — 502 feet. He hit the homer on June 9, 1946.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Eric Karros? Boy, that’s a trivia stumper for you.