Nick:
I was sorting through some old stuff about a month ago, and came across that scrapbook with each box score from the Stars & Stripes still in pristine condition. Any "old" Yankee fan would remember that 78 season fondly.
BTW - in 2000 my son and I flew back to NYC to attend two games. The old Timers game on Saturday, and a Sunday game against the phillies. Turns out that Old Timers game was rained out, but my highlight from the weekend was a Friday night ride in the hotel elevator with two guys with luggage tags reading "Hank Bauer" and "Bill Skowron". Of course I went nuts, and they invited me to the team breakfast on the VIP floor the following morning. I got many autographs on the bill of my newest Yankee cap that I purchased just for that weekend. The cap is embroidered "Team of the Century". I've never worn it since that weekend.
I have to admit to being a big Red Sox Fan, Got to go to Fenway park as a kid several times, when they had special "kids day" admissions. Saw more than one hitter get defeated by the "Green Wall", but my most vivid memory, and the saddest, was seeing (on TV) Tony conigliarro (SP?) get beaned by a fastball. He was only a rockie, but was well on his way to having a record year, and there was talk of him being another Babe.
Saw the shots on TV of the side of his face as he was helped up. Couldn't believe how badly it had swelled in the minute or two he was on the ground. He did come back for another season or two, but the eye was never the same, and he faded from major league shortly after.
I grew up rooting for the Cardinals. Not having a team anywhere close to Manila, Ar, I spent my youth glued to a "STATICie" AM radio.
I remember Musial, Schoendienst, Groat, Boyer, Brock, Flood, Gibson, Shannon, McCarver and lots more. But the singular thing all these guys had in common was being announced by Harry Caray and Jack Buck. Long before Caray became the 7th inning song leader for the Cubs, he was the voice of the Cardinals for over 25 years. He was followed by Jack Buck for another 40+ years.
So, my baseball memories are centered around listening to two of the greatest "game describers" of all time. To this day, I prefer to lower the volume on TV and listen to Mike Shannon announce Cardinal games a la Caray and Buck. It reminds me of the good old days.
J
John,
I had the same issues with "local" baseball teams in Wyoming and Montana. Local radio carried the Cardinals so I became a fan. Interestingly enough when we left the cold, high country for Oklahoma the local radio station there also carried the Cardinals.
I did transition to the Padres while stationed in San Diego and Hawaii but still remain a fan of radio broadcast of baseball rather than TV. Being at the ballpark is great but even better with the transistor radio in your pocket and listening to the "local" guys calling the game.
Jerry
Jerry,
Yeah, we (my Dad or I) had the radio going somewhere around the house every afternoon and/or evening. The voice of Caray and/or Buck was pretty much in our house every day during the Summer.
There seems to be a movement in these days to say that the players of the old days were better, tougher, more dedicated etc. It is certainly a given that teams stayed together longer which could support the owner/player loyalty argument although I'm not sure the players had options then as they do today. I can't help but wonder if Radio didn't make a bunch of these guys (owners as well as players) a bit "Larger than life".
Today, with instant communications, every bit of "dirt" on a player is common knowledge instantly. Back in the days of AM Radio ballgames, all we really knew about a guy was whatever he had done in the latest ballgame. The only way we knew what a player looked like was by the BB cards that we treasured.
I think that is why I remember the radio days so fondly. I realize its probably no different but during the radio broadcast, I could then and still can let my mind believe that they're all good guys just playing the great game of baseball.
J
The post-seventh-game wrap-up on ESPN radio last night lauded Madison Bumgarner as possibly having provided the greatest World Series pitching performance ever.
That assessment is a parallel to the System homily: "It it didn't happen on my watch, it didn't happen."
The quoted article below puts Bumgarner's performance- great as it was - in perspective. The greatest performance ever? No question three shutouts by Mathewson in 1905. (See link fr full article)
"With his shutout Sunday night, Madison Bumgarner has become one of the greatest pitchers in World Series history. In four starts, over three World Series, Bumgarner has won all four, allowing a single run in 31 innings. And that run was all but meaningless: It came in the seventh inning in Game 1 against the Royals last week, with Bumgarner’s Giants ahead, 7-0.
Bumgarner now holds the record for lowest career earned run average (0.29) in the World Series among pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched. The mark is impressive by any standard. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that Bumgarner is the best World Series pitcher ever.
That distinction belongs to Christy Mathewson, who also did his pitching for the Giants (when they were in New York). It’s not even close, either.
Mathewson started 11 World Series games in the early 20th century, giving up a combined 11 runs, for an E.R.A. of 0.97. In 1905, he had arguably the finest baseball postseason performance: three games, three shutouts. He had two days of rest between the first two starts and a single day of rest between the second and third. The Giants and the Philadelphia A’s split the two games Mathewson didn’t pitch. But thanks to Matty, as he was known, the Giants won the Series in five games."
I have always been a huge baseball fan, which is difficult at times as a lifelong Twins fan.
My fondest memory was taking my then 7 year old son to his first big league game with his grandfather (Stacie's dad). We went to a Texas Rangers v. California Angels game in late July of 94. Little did we know that my son was going to witness the 14th perfect game in history as Kenny Rogers threw a gem in front of our three generations. I have never been in a stadium that was as electric as The Ballpark at Arlington was during the last few innings of that game. I told my son on the way out that it was unfortunate that he saw the best game of his life on his first night at the ballpark, not that he understood at his age. We have the ticket stubs and the Dallas paper from the following morning!
Yo Steve,
What a family moment. I have attended, watched and listened to literally thousands of ballgames and have not come close to witnessing (or hearing) a no hitter much less a perfect game.
Keep all the mementos in a safe place. He will grow up and appreciate the event.
Neat story!!!!!!!!!
J
Johnny Vander Meer was in Cuba on a USO tour in the mid-60's and I got to meet him at a Little League All-Star game. All of us kids knew he was a famous ballplayer but all I really remember was thinking that he was another old guy.
Turns out he was quite a bit younger then than I am now. Funny how Father Time changes your perspective.
Really good story, Steve.
Nick