This is a story about Billy Beane’s dad and wine. A few weeks ago — it was just before opening day — I took a day off and drove from my home in Oakland to Santa Rosa. My wife likes to shop near Railroad Square and while she shops I always try to visit one winery I’ve never been to.

 

On that day I went to Hook and Ladder Winery, a terrific place. The woman who ran the tasting room (I apologize for not recalling your name) knew who I was and told me Billy Beane’s dad had dropped in just the other day. She was glowing as she told me this. She said Billy’s dad had charmed everyone in the tasting room and was extremely knowledgeable about wine.

 

I found that interesting because Billy is not all that interested in wine. This morning I arranged to talk to Billy about his dad and wine. We met in manager Bob Geren’s office and when I asked Billy his dad’s name he said, “The same as mine. He’s Bill II and I’m Bill III.”

 

Billy told me his dad had three kids by the time he was 22 — Billy is the oldest. Billy spoke about his father with great pride. Bill II, who still lives in San Diego, was a lieutenant commander in the Navy — he’s now retired. He finished college on the GI Bill and taught 12 years in elementary school.

 

“He has an engineer’s mind,” Billy told me. When his dad stopped teaching he set up computer networks for the San Diego School District. Now he tutors kids with their schoolwork.

 

“When my dad takes up a hobby he learns everything about it,” Billy said. That’s exactly what he did with wine. Bill II learned the chemistry of wine making. He came up to the Bay Area for opening day because it was spring break in the San Diego schools — not that he attended opening day. He prefers to hang out with Billy’s kids. So he drove up to Sonoma County and visited Hook and Ladder and tasted and talked wine.

 

I thought you’d like to know about that.

 

Billy likes wine but isn’t into it like his dad. He told me this story. A childhood friend recently came to his house and noticed Billy had four bottles of red wine standing up on the kitchen counter bathed in sunlight. The friend raised his eyebrow. He told Billy the wine was very good — it was Silver Oak cabernet — and should be placed on its side in a cool place.

 

That was news to Billy. His dad would have known better.

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