Once again for the weekend’s baseball series, there are 3 World Series rematches with that many involving teams with World Series winning or losing streaks of at least two.
Let’s start with one that rematches the same city opponents from 119 years ago, the White Sox and Cubs. In that only all Chicago, 1906 World Series, the White Sox, known as “The Hitless Wonders” 6’d what was a great Cubs 116-36 (still the best percentage ever in baseball) team, that won the next 2 world series and not another for 108 years until their last final round/W.S. appearance in 2016.
Meanwhile the White Sox whose title drought, was 88 years from 1917 until 2005, also won in their last World Series appearance, sweeping the then National League, Houston Astros in he minimum 4 games.
Both the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees lost in their most recent World Series appearance. The L.A. Dodgers 5’d the Yankees in the 2024 version while after the Yankees 6’d the Phils in 2009, the Houston Astros won their second title, both as an American League team/W.S. representative 6’ing the Phils in 2023.
Both the Boston Red Sox and aforementioned L.A. Dodgers have W.S. winning streaks, the Red Sox with 4 straight wins after their 86 year title drought ended in 2004 while the Dodgers won titles in the last two presidential election years, 2020 and 2024.
Left to right Al Schacht AKA “The Clown Prince of Baseball,” who performed at many a game, and Nick Altrock, a (20-13) member of the 1906 champion Chicago White Sox.
From Wikipedia:
Police protect Nick Altrock from crowds after pitching a 4 hitter during game 1 of the 1906 World Series. Notice that they are on the infield, as it was common practice for fans to walk on the field after a game.
Nick actually made player appearances in 5 different decades, something only Minnie Minoso accomplished in major league (N.L. or A.L. —in both cases all American League) baseball games.
I met Eileen Fulton, as stated above a vibrant great who died at age 91 last week, and first interviewed her at a classic car show, to benefit “burn survivors” and immediately felt at ease, her beauty, both inward and outward, shining with the day’s beautiful weather.
It was another September 11th (Jerry Rice got behind the Giants secondary, I met Angela that day after Claudell Washington went deep, “well into/aka deep” into extra innings, later that eventful day) and we sat in a classic car and were each, both serious and humorous, with burn survivor (she emphasized “survivor”) Loretta V.
Loretta, it turned out loved soaps but watched those on ABC and not Eileen in her iconic, 50 years role as “Lisa” on “As The World Turns.” (When Eileen used some of her southern charm in pronouncing and different accent emphasizing “As The World Turns” I “kvelled at my fortune in that moment).
Ms. Fulton gently asked that Loretta consider “switching.”
I told Eileen the ABC afternoon telecasts in upcoming LCS telecasts would interrupt at least one day of their soaps, she slyly, playfully giggled.
17 days later this classy lady appeared on my cable show, “Sports And More” live.
I recall she and I getting makeup for the endeavor on the “As The World Turns” set. So generous!
I had not spoken with Eileen in many years, but subsequent to that show, we had dinner once and I saw her wonderful cabaret show.
At one point, Eileen Fulton appeared live in 3 shows all in one day. First the then live “As The World Turns,” next some time, a 20 minutes window until her first appearance in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” allowed that after ATWT, with a night gig in another great show, (all three were), “The Fantastiks.”
Eileen Fulton did so much, a singer actress of course, prolific author but most of all exuded kindness and charm that made so many people, if not happy, at least happier.
I have been fortunate to spend time/interview “home run/nice” celebs, Al Lewis and Pat Cooper, to name two. My time with Eileen is also treasured.
Eileen with Andy B. at the live show, “Sports and More” in 1988.
Three World Series rematches are on the schedule in the next series beginning tonight.
All 6 teams involved, have current, multiple World Series winning or losing streaks.
The 1915 W.S. redux of Boston Red Sox at Philadelphia Phillies has Boston with a 4 game win streak and the Phils, having lost in their last 2 W.S. appearances. Boston won in 2004, 2007 2013, and 2018 while the Phillies, were 6’d in both 2009 and 2022.
Also Boston won the first World Series, that in 1903, while Philadelphia (Phillies) were the last original team to “title,” that not happening until 1980.
Also on “el” docket– there is Pittsburgh hosting Detroit. Those franchises the Pirates and Tigers respectively, clashed in the first maximum games/7 such World Series, in 1909.
Pittsburgh won it, the entity was billed to a great publicity extent, as the Pirates’ Honus Wagner vs the Tigers’ Tyrus Raymond Cobb, two all-time baseball immortals.
The Pirates have victories in their last 3 World Series (1960, 1971 and 1979 evoking Bill Mazeroski and Hal Smith in ’60, Roberto “The great” Clemente in ’71 and Wilver Stargell in ’79) while “Det” lost in their last 2 (2006 and 2012, winning just 1 of the 9 tilts played).
Finally, the Minnesota Twins visit L.A. to face the so over rated and still huge plurality/relative favorites to repeat as champions, something (the team, second to the Yankees with 11 crowns, 16 less than the Yankees and try 9 and 11, those #’s as last years either won a W.S.–the Yankees in 2009 and St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, the Cards also have never repeated as W.S. winners) the Dodgers have never accomplished.
In ’65, Sandy Koufax, Lou Johnson and the Dodgers prevailed in #7 at Minnesota’s outdoor Metropolitan Stadium, to win the title.
Each team has won its last 2 World Series. L.A. got a “B.S.” 2020 crown before last year’s very accomplished title. Minne (11-1) as the Twins in home World Series tilts, won it all in both 1987 and 1991, each clinched at the indoor, very loud Metrodome, in a decisive 7th game.
8 time N.L. batting champion and consensus greatest shortstop and among the greatest at any baseball position, Honus Wagner, is pictured above.
Beautifully and in meaningful fashion, going from sexually charged 1970 to 2010 and back, the superb play Transgression (“Here Arts Center 145 6th Avenue, New York City through August 2nd) written by Terry Curtis Fox (a story editor on Hill Street Blues), and directed by his daughter, Avra Fox-Lerner, includes so much so relevant and emotional, if nothing else, in the age of “Me Too,” and makes one contemplate far greater issues of truth and justice–neither lately the American way– even if Superman is appearing again.
“Transgression” is thought provoking, at times brilliant and eye opening– A superb line: “often a bribe and settlement are the same.” Many such are sprinkled throughout.
Those actors, far more than they being outwardly attractive (one thing my mother and Rod Serling were right about among many, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”) were superb in bringing out thoughts regarding art, even great and what might be the better, if not right thing to do.
No easy answer and the play reveals that.
Those actors are Susan Bennett, in a dual role, Yuval Boim, Jane Ives, James Jelkin and Ivy Rose.
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Jannik Sinner, who went on to win his first Wimbledon crown, was both extremely lucky, but also showed great compassion, when in the tournament’s round of 16, Grigor Dimitrov, who had been forced to do so before, “retired” leading Sinner (2-0) with “el” third set tied (2-2).
Sinner showed compassion, downplayed that “advance,” but took advantage, culminated by winning an all (6-4) final, 3 sets to 1 vs Carlos Alcaraz.
A 4th major tournament win manifested for Sinner (“Pay up” if you were vs him, as Andy Roddick did via delivery of pizzas,– my ode to Edward Asner’s “pay up sinner as Axel in Rich Man, Poor Man) after he “quartered” Ben Shelton and eased in the semis vs Novak Djokovic, before reversing the French Open Final and winning vs fellow “cream of men’s tennis, ” Carlos Alcaraz.
Jannik Sinner, pictured above.
Iga Swiatek, now a 6 time “Grand Slam” winner on the women’s side was incredibly dominant riding a pretty paved path to her first Wimbledon crown.
The performance exceeded the “paved” by a nice margin as she did not lose a set (12-0) in winning the required six matches.
In the final (see below from Wikipedia) Swiatek did what had not been done on the women’s side at Wimbledon, winning (6-0) (6-0) vs Amanda Anisimova, a “paver” as she upset the slumping Aryna Sabalenka in the semis, this after Sabalenka got “Gauff’d” in the French Open.
Th reigning champion Dorothea Lambert Chambers defeated Boothby 6–0, 6–0 in the challenge round to win the ladies’ singles tennis title at the 1911 Wimbledon Championships.
Iga Swiatek, pictured above.
These last baseball tilts before the 4 day “exhibition game” break, include World Series rematches from both 100 and 10 years past.
In 1925, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the decisive #7 on a questionable for playing and certainly for a game of that magnitude, wet Forbes Field, (9-7) vs the Washington Senators, since 1961, the Minnesota Twins.
Ten years ago, the Kansas City Royals, who won their other title 30 years ago, won in 5 games vs the New York Mets.
The Mets won at the Royals while the Twins prevailed at home vs the Pirates in the series opening games last night. Seemingly only the Mets, who are very much in contention, have that this season.
Hazen Shirley “Kiki” Cuyler, a great player, is pictured above.
He delivered the 2 run double, B8 of #7, tuning the last 2 runs of the 1925 (9-7) Pirates win vs the Washington Senators, now the Minnesota Twins.
How’s this? A highway, The Hazen Shirley Kiki Cuyler Memorial Highway, is named for him in Harrisville, Michigan.
The opposing manager in 1925 was Stanley “Bucky” Harris, who did “Title” 22 years later with the Yankees as did another “Bucky,” for them, namely Dent 30 years and much more famously 31 years later, after his huge homer in a one game playoff for 1/4.
Around town, it being New York City, I was fortunate to see “The Last Five Years,” before it closed.
The show was thoroughly enjoyable. Nick Jonas showed his acting chops, giving a fine performance.
‘Twas a nice recall of a relationship that first soared and then soured, so often the case.
Its details illuminate and might help offer perspective if not compromise in the future.
Today at Paley Center 52 West 52nd Street, commencing at 4 P.M. a discussion and look back at “Superman,” the so memorable television show, which starred George Reeves.
My admiration is great for Reeves and then Christopher Reeve, each having played as “The Man of Steel” and the even more entertaining “Clark Kent.”
Jason Robert Brown, pictured above, wrote “The Last Five Years.”
Andy B Sports 