Last night, thanks to Gary Mintz and The New York Giants Preservation Society, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the legendary sportswriter and I believe national treasure, Jerry Izenberg regale the rather large “Zoom” audience, with great stories and information.

Next, a brief recap from Gary Mintz and a link to books by Mr. Izenberg. There will be much more here regarding Mr. Izenberg in the days ahead.

From Gary Mintz, The President of the New York Giants Preservation Society:

What a great evening last night as close to 60 NYGPS Members attended our Zoom meeting with legendary sports journalist Jerry Izenberg.  Jerry discussed his relationships with Monte Irvin (Who would have been 102 yesterday) and Larry Doby, as well as discussing his illustrious career. Jerry also discussed some of the books he has authored and here they are:

 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=JERRY+IZENBERG&ref=nb_sb_noss

Today, a classic episode of “What’s My Line?” that aired on March 11, 1962.

The mystery guests were Sargent Shriver and Van Cliburn.

Panelists were Dorothy Kilgallen, Tony Randall, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.

John Charles Daly is the show’s host.

Certainly thoughts on the life and tragic death of John F. Kennedy abound as surely Shriver, Cliburn and Kilgallen evoke such memories.

Life goes on, mine to attempts to survive, hopefully others to be more giving and thoughtful.

In “reviewing” Sal Maglie’s no hit game, which was in a crucial game, in another great pennant race (the likes of which we are denied by the wild card presence), in 1956, I learned what I think are incredible/”wow” facts/coincidences.

Simply and for once succinct here, Maglie’s no hitter in a Brooklyn Dodgers’ September 25, 1956 win vs the Philadelphia Phillies, occurred 13 days before Don Larsen’s perfect game vs Brooklyn, whose starting pitcher in that (2-0), pivotal game 5 Yankees’ win was Maglie.

In the ninth inning of Maglie’s no hitter, the great catcher and player, Roy Campanella makes a very good catch on a foul pop up near the Brooklyn Dodgers’ dugout. It is Dale Mitchell, (cited here just days back in another juxtaposition/coincidence regarding the ’48 W.S. and of course the Larsen perfect game) who helps him from falling.

The “of course” an exaggeration and it refers to the fact Larsen got Mitchell on a called third strike to complete his perfect game.

After “Campy’s” nice play, the Phils next batter, a pitcher, but a good hitter was Harvey Haddix. Need I “type” more.

Of course I do, as Rabbi Wise often intoned “do not confuse ignorance with stupidity,” and I add that while some younger people today knowing so little about history, not sports history, but say this country’s history is not good–not knowing that about two and a half years later, Harvey Haddix lost in what was not so arguably the best pitched game in big league’s history.

He hurled 12 perfect innings, but mound opponent that May 26, 1959 Lew Burdette also allowed no runs, in fact he did so for 13 innings and when his Milwaukee Braves’ team, (have to?– cite they were the team Brooklyn beat out in the above referenced, great N.L. race in 1956 and that the second year version of L.A. Dodgers, did same in a playoff that ’59 season. In between they won it all in ’57 and were denied in 7 by the Yankees, reversing the ’57 result, except that the Yankees overcame a (3-1) W.S. deficit to do so. No matter, despite underachieving, those Braves teams which included such as Henry Aaron, Ed Mathews, and Warren Spahn were truly great) scored B13 (the rather strange details another time), Haddix and his Pirates, who were to be World Champions the next season, also in a 7 game W.S. but one whose game 7 was so dramatic, and with Harvey Haddix getting the win in a relief pitching role, lost the game.

Oh do I have stuff for you, suffice now that one needed only to look at ’91’s Clarence Thomas, swallowing hard and I will not say the rest. He is, in my unsolicited opinion,  a traitor to the cause and to his race, not to mention one of the utmost hypocrisy. Add “Squeaky” BARRETT and there is hate, perhaps, even likely, too much and misplaced, but dealing with these types and having barely (if we did) survived Trump, “being an activist vs these,” means NEVER relaxing.”

Alas I wish there was love, a love story, so since there is not, but as an ode, I say I am (at least a bit) SORRY.

OK it is #3, 1948 World Series and you will only get these notes here. Juxtapose ’56 with ’48, another presidential election year.

That year, (’56) Don Larsen hurled a perfect game, as the Yankees took a (3-2) W.S. lead with a (2-0) victory in game 5, en route to a 7 game triumph, vs the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Larsen fanned pinch hitter, Dale Mitchell to end the classic and soon after, was embraced by “10 player titles” Yogi Berra.

It was a called, perhaps questionable, third strike. In his last game behind home plate, the umpire was Babe Pinelli.

Back to #3, ’48 which was so different, but again involves Mitchell and Pinelli. Dale starts for the game and series winning (their last to this point) Indians. Pinelli, at the most active umpiring position (home plate) in ’56, is on the right field line for this one.

Bob Lemon is on the winning team in both American League non scheduled, at least one fourth/one game playoffs (I think any # of games), thirty years apart, as a Cleveland Indians’ pitcher in ’48 and Yankees manager in ’78. Each was at Fenway Park, vs the Boston Red Sox.

After winning the one game ‘off to win the ’48 A.L. Pennant, Lemon and the Indians (hint and so help me, not pitching and in the middle, Lemon is cited as I type regarding him. My “Cheese” “The Stranger” comparison is a tough NO this day.”) stayed in Boston, to meet the Braves in the World Series.

Lemon’s Indians lost game 1, but won #’s 2,3,4 and 6, the first and last of those on the road, to claim the title.

In ’78, the Lemon managed Yankees were in the ALCS after the heart stopping and for me, still heartbreaking, win in the one game ‘off at the Red Sox. The (ALCS) was best of 5, the Yankees claiming their 32nd pennant, winning game 1 on the road and #’s 3 and 4 at home.

Next Lemon’s Yankees won games (3-6) to win their 22nd title. They raised their W.S. record to (8-2) at that point, vs the Dodgers. They clinched it on the road.

“Holy cryptic, Andy,” (ode to Robin speaking to Batman, sorry it is not on tonight and you do not get 55 or so years back) but why this and the 1935 and 1945 (each Tigers wins vs the Cubs) World Series notes? Well–llll as that conservative, who reaped the harvest set by Mr. Goldwater 16 years earlier (this is a bit about being Jewish, or part as Goldwater was and he did allow officers to use his “facilities” while in N.Y. along the ’64 “trail.”) would “start,” he is still The Man, though it would SEEM the juxtaposition of others so much less talented flourishing while I “live below the line” despite TALENT, does not matter to him.

The well put perspective on ’35, in the ’45 Wikipedia recap reminds me the Cubs were somewhat if not highly competitive in both ’35 and ’45 in World Series play. Next paragraph to read it.

However, their title frustration, though lasting 22 years longer than the Red Sox 86 year one, pales in intensity, as while the Red Sox were highly competitive in 3 of their 4 seven game World Series losses (two were won by the opposition in their last at bat, another was the second in which they led a 108 win team (3-0) middle innings of #7 and again all 4 losses were in 7 games)–the Tigers “early and often’d” the Cubs, winning decisively in the one game the Cubs played in over 108 years, in which a victory would have yielded a world crown.

So why this? Maybe a weak retort, as he was all in for the ’16 Cubs even vs the Indians (never mind changing that name, the Washington football change was long overdue–free Leonard Peltier, who even if he murdered those, which he did NOT, the scorebook reads all U.S. establishment leaving the always overlooked Native people here, in a “trail of tears”–mine included). Within a week after the Cubs with their Trump backing owner and abusive to a fan (yes similar regarding the superb hitter, Bill Buckner, but that while also terrible was not quite as. Alas I doubt their owner would have/did back Trump) titled. 

Below regarding ’35 and ’45 World Series from Wikipedia.

The (the 1945) Series was a rematch of the 1935 World Series. In that Series’ final game, Stan Hack led off the top of the ninth inning of Game 6 with a triple but was stranded, and the Cubs lost the game and the Series. Hack was still with the Cubs in 1945. According to Warren Brown’s account, Hack was seen surveying the field before the first Series game. When asked what he was doing, Hack responded, “I just wanted to see if I was still standing there on third base.”

Next and I once sang along with Mr. Gooding’s better known son, Cuba Gooding Jr. for a bar or two of his dad’s (as lead singer) group, “The Main Ingredient’s” big hit to remedy “being heartbroken” and to have resolve.

John Garfield’s character in “Gentleman’s Agreement” talked of the satisfaction in “fighting back,” and though probably it would be better to “play it safe,” I must “fight” the injustice, but will do so with guidance and perspective.

The great Hank Greenberg, pictured above, did fight back.

“Famous last words,” but in the near future, I believe it will be the Democrats, who prevail, and many of the cowardly Republican senators, who voted against the justice, that would have assured that a truly ill, evil, bully that incited an insurrection, as he cried over a decisive loss, would never even attempt elective office, will lose, certainly when the REAL time comes, maybe, even likely, in their next office bid.

Yet, I must express rage and direct it at the preeminent Trump enabler, (think of a parent and a damaged kid, making all of it so much worse) Mitch McConnell.

Now a McConnell and his beliefs would have never “flown” with me, but did not this man emulate Henry Clay?

Yesterday, would not have been the compromise, Mr. Clay often undertook. No, yesterday was about justice and thanks to McConnell and others, lack thereof.

Some heroes have “feet of clay,” you McConnell are no hero, no Henry Clay and will go DOWN (way) in history, as enabling, not only a “sicko” who “built-from people’s utter indifference and stupidity, by among other things saying “you’re fired,” to become president, but set it up for future presidents, maybe even one who is a Democrat, to abuse power, the way Trump did so.

Why Not? Maybe some day, but clearly not yesterday, justice will prevail.