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.
Today, some quick reflections on one of basketball’s greatest and certainly least acclaimed, relative to his talent, players, Jim Pollard.
He played on all 5 Minneapolis Lakers’ title teams, teaming with the great dominant, big man, George Mikan.
Pollard could leap “out of the building,” and was known as the “Kangaroo Kid,” later a nickname given to another basketball great, Billy Cunningham.
One other thing, my late friend Joe Green, who gained my father’s respect because he tried to help me, this despite Joe’s involvement in the late fifties/early sixties, college basketball scandal, which really hurt fans such as my dad, talked of Pollard’s greatness.
Joe Green could play and certainly Jack Molinas, a misguided talent, really could play and was the third overall pick in the 1953 NBA draft.
Many times, eating his muffin which he did ever so slowly in late night diners, Green told me that Molinas felt he could play with anyone in the NBA, except Jim Pollard.
Pollard was that great!
Jim Pollard, pictured and “rising above.”
Last Sunday TCM aired an interview, which the great host Robert Osborne conducted with the acting immortal, Peter O’Toole some years back.
Mr. O’Toole’s fabulous career both on the stage and especially on screen came to life with some great behind the scenes anecdotes adding to the viewing pleasure.
I learned much about O’Toole’s fabulous career and was pleased to hear how much he wanted and liked his role in “The Stuntman,” one of my favorite films.
Difficulties regarding camels were discussed, regarding the classic film, “Lawrence of Arabia.”
Additionally, Mr. O’Toole as the fictional “Alan Swann,” in the excellent comedy, “My Favorite Year,” is shown delivering the famed “dying is easy, comedy is hard” sentiment in brilliant fashion.
We miss greats in their field, such as Peter O’Toole and Robert Osborne, however, let’s appreciate the fact, their work can still be seen and heard.
Click below for a nice article regarding the “dying is easy, comedy is hard” sentiment which references Mr. O’Toole’s and other’s.
Who Coined the Phrase “Dying is Easy, Comedy is Hard .
Peter O’Toole (pictured above), as T.E. Lawrence in the classic 1962 film, “Lawrence of Arabia,” directed by David Lean.
Now back to that 1965 opening game tilt in Washington D.C, which was won by the Boston Red Sox (7-2), against the Senators.
The President of the country, Lyndon Baines Johnson is in attendance and threw out the first pitch. He presumably rooted for the Senators.
Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy of Massachusetts stops by and tells Red Sox broadcaster, Curt Gowdy, he of course, is rooting for the Red Sox.
Seven home runs (six of the solo variety) account for all nine runs in the game.
Lenny Green hits two, Lee Thomas has the only one with men on, a 3 run “poke” for the game’s first runs, while Tony Conigliaro added a tremendous upper deck shot. The other Boston homer was hit by Felix Mantilla, who surprisingly hit 30 the year before and would hit 18 out, in 1965
Don Lock and Ken McMullen, the latter part of a big trade with eventual ’65 World Series champion, Los Angeles (Dodgers), that sent Claude Osteen west and Frank Howard east, and Don Lock homered for Washington.
There will be more from this game, please “stay tuned.”
Tony Conigliaro, pictured above, would go on to lead the American League in home runs in 1965.
Much is made and rightfully so, regarding what “might have been,” regarding “Tony C.,” however, he did accomplish quite a bit.
Today another great episode of the iconic television show, “What’s My Line?”
On the show from 1959, the amazing, talented, Harry Belafonte is the mystery guest.
Panelists are regulars, Dorothy Kilgallen, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.
What a treat to see the great actor, Ray Milland as the other panelist.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host. Enjoy watching it.
It is baseball’s opening day in 1965. There are 6 games in places, other than Washington D.C. and Cincinnati, the traditional opening day game sites for the American and National Leagues respectively. One is a night tilt at Houston’s Astrodome, which was baseball’s first indoor game.
My focus is on the Boston Red Sox at Washington Senators game, that Monday April 12th. Specifically, let me cite and comment on the three Red Sox radio broadcasters that day.
Lead announcer Curt Gowdy is starting his 15th and final season, calling Red Sox action. He will be baseball’s lead television voice for the next 10 seasons.
A big favorite of mine, Ned Martin, as was the case with developing Red Sox star, Carl Yastrzemski, is beginning his 5th season on the Bo Sox network.
It is one time Boston pitching star, Mel Parnell’s first broadcast. Gowdy, who broadcast the game and Martin, who recalled listening to it while living in the Washington D.C. area, and of course Parnell, reminisced, regarding Mel’s opening day shutout win at Washington, vs the Senators in 1952.
Stay “tuned” here for notes and nice “nuggets,” from that opening game, now over 55 years ago.
The great Curt Gowdy, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 