Theme: "Sultans of Swing" - The last word of each theme entry is Major League Baseball team player. The first word are all synonyms of "great".
22. Massive, luminous body larger than the sun: SUPER GIANT.
28. Mighty Morphin figure of 1990s television: POWER RANGER.
42. Senior position at a taproom: MASTER BREWER.
68. Pickpocket in "Oliver Twist": THE ARTFUL DODGER.
96. Easy charge for a babysitter: PERFECT ANGEL.
112. High-voltage fish: ELECTRIC RAY.
122. Athlete in the Midsummer Classic, or what can be found six times in this puzzle?: MLB ALL- STAR.
We've seen many baseball themes in the past. None with such tightness, hallmark of Rebecca's puzzles. Three from each league, nicely balanced.
The fill are also outstanding. We don't often see pair of 13s as fill.
Across:
1. Call back?: ECHO.
5. Fake gems: PASTE. It's a type of glass used to imitate gemstones, especially diamonds. Learning moment for me.
10. Sorts: ILKS.
14. __ white: espresso bar order: FLAT.
18. Lose: DROP.
19. Ramadan faith: ISLAM.
20. Hi-fi sound: MONO.
21. Turn red in the face: BLUSH.
24. Futurist: SEER.
25. Salary bump: RAISE.
26. Eat by candlelight, maybe: DINE.
27. Show that celebrated 50 seasons in 2025, for short: SNL.
30. __ Geo Wild: NAT.
32. Nepal neighbor: TIBET. Momos are popular there. Steamed dumplings.
34. Chemical in pretzel-making: LYE.
35. Evening, in ads: NITE.
36. Colorful pattern: TIE DYE.
39. Tuna roll seaweed: NORI.
40. Wasting time: IDLE.
44. Final stretches of a race: LAST LEGS. Also loved: 94. "Love that!": VERY COOL. 10. Words said with a yawn: I'M SO TIRED. 13. "Well, excu-use me!": SORRY I ASKED 14. Warm button-ups with checkered patterns: FLANNEL SHIRTS. 43. Source of some dirt: RUMOR MILL. 44. Big wheel on the Thames: LONDON EYE. 54. Lucky numbers, maybe: LOTTERY TICKET.
48. Reddit Q&A: AMA.
49. __ Dhabi: ABU.
50. Six in a million?: ZEROS. 1,000,000.
52. Makeup mogul Lauder: ESTEE.
53. Area: REALM.
56. Urban haze: SMOG.
59. Musty: DANK.
60. Maui's __ Highway: HANA.
61. Selling points?: AD COPY. Ah, OK, selling points of a product.
63. Cincinnati's state: OHIO.
65. Thought: IDEA.
67. Article: ITEM.
72. Hoist: HEFT.
75. Sneaker brand named for a big cat: PUMA. Loving my Asics Versablast. Light and comfy.
76. Typical college applicant: TEEN.
77. Groups of eight: OCTETS.
81. Merriness: GLEE.
82. Force: DINT.
84. Double Stuf cookie: OREO.
86. Actor Davis: OSSIE.
87. Princess topper: TIARA.
89. Homeric epic: ILIAD.
91. Decade's 10: Abbr.: YRS.
93. St. known for spuds: IDA.
101. Oven setting, briefly: TEMP.
102. Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea: EL AL. Didn't know this trivia.
103. New York PWHL team: SIRENS. Professional Women's Hockey League. Our team is Minnesota Frost, the champion last year.
104. __-glace: rich sauce: DEMI.
107. Clicking sound?: AHA. 129. Class struggle?: TEST. Won't mislead our regulars.
109. Grannies: NANAS.
111. Lip: RIM.
115. Sir McKellen: IAN.
117. Ages and ages: AEON.
120. Common sound at Oktoberfest: POLKA.
121. Main role: LEAD.
125. Decided: OPTED.
126. "You are something __!": ELSE.
127. "__ beaucoup": MERCI.
128. Sports commentator Andrews: ERIN.
130. Depletes: SAPS.
131. "25" and "30" singer: ADELE.
132. Den fixture: SOFA.
Down:
1. MS reviewers: EDS.
2. Gunk: CRUD.
3. Arizona Natives: HOPI.
4. Opportunity to score: OPEN NET.
5. "Some __": message in "Charlotte's Web": PIG. From Wikipedia: When Wilbur
is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages in her web
praising him, such as "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant", and "Humble", to persuade the farmer to spare his life. Some Pig, Splynter!
6. "Take it or leave it" warning: AS IS.
7. Tilt: SLANT.
8. Beach body feature?: TAN LINE. Another great clue.
9. AED user: EMT.
11. Cinematic surname: LOEW.
12. Use a prayer mat, e.g.: KNEEL.
15. Mario's brother: LUIGI.
16. Plus: ASSET.
17. Word after a final touch: THERE.
21. Wireless support, maybe: BRA.
23. Apt surname for a librarian: READE.
28. Rosie of "The Flight Attendant": PEREZ.
29. Wine menu heading: REDS.
31. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.
33. Acknowledge a standing ovation, maybe: BOW.
36. Under control: TAMED.
37. Designer Mizrahi: ISAAC. He had some great collections with Target for a few years.
38. Falls back: EBBS.
41. Wireless std.: LTE.
42. Rooney of "Carol": MARA.
45. Coup d'__: ETAT.
46. Chromosome unit: GENE.
47. Jeans line: SEAM.
51. Las Vegas athlete: RAIDER.
55. Highway letters: MPH.
57. Two-way player nicknamed "Shotime": OHTANI. Boomer had his rookie card.
58. Many a moving meme: GIF.
62. "Mm-hmm": YEP.
64. One of six in an inning: OUT.
66. A long time __: AGO.
69. Good listeners?: AUDIOPHILES. Great fill/clue also.
70. Virgo preceder: LEO.
71. Prefix with tourism: ECO.
72. "Property Brothers" network: HGTV.
73. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.
74. Dread: FEAR.
78. Endorse digitally: E-SIGN.
79. Water ways?: TIDES.
80. Shut tight: SEAL.
83. Some tapas spreads: TAPENADES. Never had this.
85. Middle-earth monsters: ORCS.
88. King topper: ACE.
90. Hold up: DELAY.
92. Mix: STIR.
95. Actor Epps: OMAR.
97. Took off: RAN.
98. Moved like an inflatable air dancer: FLAILED.
99. Standard font: ARIAL.
100. Sworn rivals: NEMESES.
104. Bus base: DEPOT.
105. Complete a private merger?: ELOPE.
106. Cheesy sandwiches: MELTS.
108. Amtrak option: ACELA.
110. Buffalo skater: SABRE.
113. Skosh: TAD.
114. Croak: RASP.
116. Chemist's salt: NACL.
118. Other, in Spanish: OTRO.
119. Inexperienced sort: NAIF.
122. UFC sport: MMA.
123. Tell tales: LIE.
124. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA.
C.C.
