Before winning the Super Bowl title in 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs last won the crown after the 1969 season.
Some notes from the ’69 season, concerning two players that were traded either during or after that season, Bruce Gossett and Noland Smith follow.
Gossett was an all-star kicker for both the L.A. Rams and their rival San Francisco 49ers. After the ’69 season, Gossett a Rams player from (’64-’69), was traded to the 49ers.
Twice in that span, (’67 and ’69), the Rams won division titles (it was the Coastal Division, in existence from ’67-’69) with Gossett and then Bruce was the 49ers kicker in their first 3 playoff seasons (’70-’72). In Gossett’s last two seasons, his former team, the Rams won the division (NFC West) title.
Meanwhile, the diminutive, great return man, Noland Smith played with K.C. in full seasons, (’67 and ’68), before being traded by the eventual ’69 champion Chiefs, to the Niners during the ’69 season. (of course the Chiefs beat the Niners in the most recent Supe).
Noland went an incredible, exciting 106 yards for a kickoff return touchdown for K.C., vs the Denver Broncos, in December 1967.
In ’70 the year after he left football, Noland Smith was in a great movie. Its title, being MASH.
The “Big Cat,” Ernie Ladd (#99) and Noland Smith, pictured, as Chiefs’ players, above.
In 1959, (on Thursday April 9th), unlike now, if there were an opening day, tradition was upheld and only two opening day games were played, each a traditional opener.
The American League opened play in Washington D.C. an improving home team, Senators, winning vs the Baltimore Orioles.
I note the presence of Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison, two who helped the franchise, which moved to Minneapolis/St. Paul, two years later, improve tremendously, highlighted by their 1965 A.L. Pennant.
Two tremendous right fielders, who would become far greater and meet in the 1971 World Series, drove in their team’s first runs at Cincinnati, in the home team, Reds’ (4-1) victory vs the Pirates.
Those great RF’s were Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds, eventually leading the Orioles of Baltimore, and Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Clemente singled in the game’s first run and the Buccos’ only run. Frank Robinson hit a 2 run home run that gave Cincy, the lead to stay.
Down the road that is time, both “Bobby” and Frank achieved far greater glory.
Note Frank Robinson on the left, having been traded from Cincy to Baltimore (Orioles) between the ’65 and ’66 seasons, is in Reds’ “attire.” Roberto Clemente is pictured on the right.
In watching a “Perry Mason” episode (“The Case of the Missing Melody”), I put together a link as I am wont to do.
First I noticed Bobby Troup’s name. He was an actor and jazz performer.
Next a key character was named “Polly” in the episode. The Troup/Polly connection recalled actress Ronnie Troup as “Polly Williams” later “Polly Douglas” as the character and “Chip” are wed on “My Three Sons.”
Bobby Troup as “Bongo” is in the episode with “Polly” on “Perry Mason.”
It turns out Bobby Troup is the father of Ronnie Troup.
Ronnie Troup as “Polly,” with Stanley Livingston as “Chip,” on the television show, “My Three Sons.”
After being rained out on both Friday and Saturday, the defending world champion, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox played their season opener on a cold April 12, 1959 at Yankee Stadium.
Phil Rizzuto talks of how cold his feet feel, while later Mel Allen informs us that it is snowing in New Jersey.
Years before he was treated with humor and maybe some disrespect, Marv Throneberry starts at first base and drives in a run for the defending champion Yankees.
Much before on this game and notes on the scant 4 games played amidst postponements, at least two of which were scheduled doubleheaders, that day in upcoming posts.
Marv Throneberry, pictured above started at first base, ’58 World Series hero, Bob Turley was the Yankees’ starting pitcher in that ’59 season opener.
What went around, came around, in the case of the Miami Dolphins drafting 2017 college title game hero quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa of Alabama.
At one point last season, there was talk of how bad the Dolphins were, even that they were losing on purpose.
Then with the insertion of fine veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, at the quarterback position, the ‘Phins played solidly and wound up with the 5th pick, which with an injury to Tagovailoa, left him available at that point.
Tua Tagovailoa, pictured above, threw a title winning 41 yard overtime, touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in the ’17 season college title game.
Each player was a true freshman. I called the play very well, stopped my “broadcast,” to tune Sean Mc Donough’s classic call on radio. I have that, at least.
As stated in my post two days back, Sandy Koufax did not start the opener for his eventual World Series winning, Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965.
I also remarked that a good many of the National League opening day starters in ’65, went on to have excellent, even great seasons. I promised and a “look” follows.
Speaking of “follows” or “folla,” as the great actor, Robert Shaw’s character often intoned in the fantastic movie, “The Sting,” Tony Cloninger of Milwaukee (Braves) and Sandy’s teammate and friend Don Drysdale, each an opening day starter, followed Sandy in the National League pitching wins charts for ’65.
Cloninger won 24 games, two less than Sandy, while “Big D” (Drysdale) won 23. Each won on Opening Day as well.
On Opening Day ’65, Bob Veale of the Pittsburgh Pirates outdueled the great pitcher, Juan Marichal (S.F. Giants) as Pittsburgh won the home game (1-0) in 10 innings.
Veale went on to win 17 games and Juan won 22, tying Sammy Ellis of Cincinnati (Reds) for 4th place in N.L. wins, behind Koufax, Cloninger and Drysdale.
That April 12th night, in the first ever indoor major league baseball game, Chris Short won (2-0) vs Bob Bruce and the newly named Houston Astros. Of course, the team name changed its nickname from the Colt .45s to the Astros, as the team now played at the famed Houston Astrodome.
Short went on to win 18 games in 1965.
In the other game played that full N.L. opening day slate of 1965, the great pitcher, Bob Gibson was ineffective, in an eventual (10-10) tie at Wrigley Field (well before lights were installed there) vs the Cubs.
However, “Gibby” went on to a 20 win season.
Today a very special episode of “What’s My Line?” that aired live on February 16, 1964.
That night, for a second straight week, appearing for the first two times, The Beatles had performed on United States television on the seminal, “Ed Sullivan Show.” They were at The Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida (3 years and 2 days later, my parents and I arrived there as a nice vacation commenced).
Hours later, the magnificent Carol Burnett was the mystery guest.
Panelists were Dorothy Kilgallen, Buddy Hackett (Dorothy intro’d Buddy “as one of the funniest men and also one of the nicest”) Arlene Francis, and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host. Cerf “played off” the Beatles hysteria, in introducing Daly, “urging” the older women in the audience to be calm upon the introduction. Noticeable “howling” followed. Good stuff. Enjoy the episode.
One more “look” at the Red Sox opening day win at Washington D.C. vs the Senators on April 12, 1965, reveals broadcaster, Curt Gowdy citing Sandy Koufax, pitching effectively in an exhibition game vs the Senators, the day before. Sandy faced 10 batters and struck out 5 of them.
Mr. Gowdy goes on to cite Sandy’s 3 no hitters in 3 consecutive seasons and twice fanning 18 batters in a game. When healthy, the best pitcher in the game is Koufax, Gowdy goes on to say.
Sandy Koufax, whose first 1965 start was 6 days later (I remember going into the car, and the Mets’ broadcast citing that start in Philadelphia) went on to great glory in 1965, winning 29 games (26 in the then great regular season, the All-Star Game and most important, shutout wins in games 5 and 7 of the World Series, as the Dodgers won it all.
It was nice that Mr. Gowdy got it right regarding Sandy’s greatness. In a future post, I will cite the unbelievable 1965 success of most National League opening day starting pitchers from that April 12, 1965 day, when all N.L. teams commenced regular season play.
Click above to see and hear the 1965 World Series end. A great broadcaster, Ray Scott is behind the microphone.
Scott and Curt Gowdy combined to be the lead announcers on 8 of the first 9 Super Bowl telecasts. Each was on the first, Ray on the 2nd, 6th and 8th with Curt presiding for #’s 3, 5, 7 and 9 and in his case, 2 others (11th and 13th).
I had watched the excellent, Sidney Lumet directed film, “The Group,’ the night before, favoring her “Polly” character and the next day, Shirley Knight, brilliant and touching in that and countless other performances, died at the age of 83.
Ms. Knight dazzled in such films as “Sweet Bird of Youth,” with Paul Newman and “Dutchman” opposite Al Freeman Jr.
On stage, Shirley Knight’s remarkable work included “Kennedy’s Children” and “The Man From Atlanta.”
Watching “The Group” a 1966 film with a great cast, I fell for “Polly’s” sweetness as Shirley Knight conveyed it. In “As Good As It Gets,” which starred Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, Shirley’s humor poured out, playing Ms. Hunt’s character’s mother.
All in all, a remarkable award winning career, in which Shirley Knight’s incredible presence touched so many, in profound, good ways.
Shirley Knight, pictured above, with Paul Newman in Tennessee Williams’ “Sweet Bird of Youth.”
Here is some good news, certainly for fans of the iconic television show, “The Sopranos.”
A podcast titled “Talking Sopranos,” co hosted by Michael Imperioli (“Christopher Moltisanti”) and Steve Schirripa (“Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri”) has begun, in which episodes of the show are discussed.
The first four episodes have been discussed. One can watch them on You Tube.
I “ran into” season 1, episode 4, “The Meadowlands,” which included Michael Respoli (“Jackie Aprile’) and was chock full of great information.
Today, amidst this stay home period, I hope to view more of these podcasts, which again, offer great information and insight about a great television show.
Left to right, Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, pictured above, co host the “Talking Sopranos” podcasts.
Andy B Sports 