Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have not only seemingly insurmountable one eighth division leads, but decent league leads, in a bid for that entity’s one seed. (L.A. is up an incredible 14 and a half games in its “div” and 7 and a half in its league. Mathematically, the Yankees are not quite a “sure thing,” up the same 7 and a fraction in their “div” and certainly not, with a two game league lead.)
The 4th of July was the traditional “in first then, in first for the pennant” gauge on the pennant race.
Then, but one team from each league made post-season and they met in the World Series.
More often than any other World Series pairing by far, are the eleven clashes between the Yankees and Dodgers. (The Yankees won 8 of the 11).
Maybe, though the odds are roughly nine to two against it, there will be a twelfth World Series between the teams and first such event in 38 years (19 before and after the year 2000).
Click below to view highlight from the first Yankees/Dodgers World played in 1941. Actor Paul Douglas conducts the post World Series interview.
The Women’s Soccer World Cup final is set as national teams from the Netherlands and the United States (243 years old today), will meet Sunday in France.
Also on Sunday, at venerable Soldier Field in Chicago, the Gold Cup final will match teams from the United States and Mexico.
I know the United States women’s national team will be the favorite and I will guess Mexico’s team as the favorite, in the Gold Cup game.
Both matches shape up as good ones.
Today another episode of the wonderful television show, “What’s My Line.”
This one aired on May 19, 1963. The panelists were Dorothy Kilgallen, Martin Gabel, Arlene Francis (she and Mr. Gabel were married to each other), and Bennett Cerf.
John Charles Daly is the host.
It is always interesting to see the contestants, other than the mystery guest. This episode illustrates that.
Of course the highlight is the mystery guest and he is a great one, Mr. Sid Caesar. Enjoy watching.
Last night I enjoyed watching TCM “Star of the Month,” Glenn Ford, a truly fine actor in two films that the station aired.
First I watched Mr. Ford with Gloria Grahame and others in “The Big Heat,” directed by Fritz Lang, a film from 1953.
Next, two years later and with the classic song, “Rock Around The Clock” performed by Bill Haley & His Comets, opening the film, it was “Blackboard Jungle,” with Ford and an emerging great, Sidney Poitier.
Anne Francis and Vic Morrow, the latter a legend and nice guy from the 188th Street “Candy Stores” area of the Bronx, were also part of the excellent cast.
It was a great night of movies.
Glenn Ford in “The Big Heat,” pictured above.
Click below to view Bill Haley & His Comets perform “Rock Around The Clock.”
It is a pleasure to be reading “Bruce Springsteen The Stories Behind The Songs,” written by Brian Hiatt.
I will have more details on this fantastic read in the days to come.
At the moment, I am so grateful to be enlightened, regarding the process of a great artist with so much credit, rightfully, going to the many other people and factors, that made Bruce Springsteen and all he is, available to us.
The book has amazing photos and great insightful information. Music resonates! I wish I knew it a fraction as well as I did sports. For now, here is a link to where one might purchase this superb piece of work.
Bruce Springsteen The Stories Behind The Songs | Amazon Official Site
The slugging outfielder Bob Allison was quite a player on the Minnesota Twins. In his career, Allison hit 256 home runs.
He played on and was an integral member of the 1965 Twins’ pennant winning team.
Allison made a great catch early in the ’65 World Series.
I have good memories, in recalling Bob Allison.
Megan Rapinoe has been brilliant in leading the top seeded United States’ women’s national soccer team into the World Cup “semis,” being held in France, where the temperatures are even higher, than in New York.
Rapinoe scored all four United States’ team goals, two in each game as the U.S. team won vs teams considered rather lofty, first Spain and then host country, France.
I have seen this before, where a team seems to have the title after beating higher ranked rivals, leaving only lesser ones as obstacles, and then loses. It may happen here, (I doubt it) but even if it does, Rapinoe’s last two games in context, are deserving of sport’s publicity.
Megan Rapinoe, pictured above.
While Ray Oyler, not a good hitter by major league standards–(I wish I could have hit as well. People do not realize how good you have to be to make the big leagues), was benched by manager Mayo Smith, to get the better hitting, Mickey Stanley, into the Detroit Tigers’1968 World Series lineup, he still was a big part of that great title season in Motown (Detroit).
Shortstop Oyler was a superb fielder and along with third baseman, Don Wert, formed a great defensive left side of the infield.
The Tigers “roared” to the pennant that season, with Oyler playing 111 games.
He was a defensive replacement in all 4 Detroit World Series wins as they came back from a (3-1) series deficit to dethrone the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals, in the World Series.
Sadly, Ray Oyler died at the very young age of 42.
I recall fondly his playing days, especially his great fielding, at the very important shortstop position.
Today, please enjoy another great episode from the iconic television show, What’s My Line.
The episode aired on December 12, 1954.
There were two mystery guests, one Clarence Nash, was the voice of Donald Duck. The other was Bob Hope.
Panelists are Dorothy Kilgallen, Fred Allen, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf. John Charles Daly is the host.
Watching this classic, I do say, as of course Mr. Hope and my late friend Beano Cook, in flattering imitation of Mr. Hope, sang, “Thanks for the memories.”
Today, a few details on the 1964 and 1967 NHL and NBA playoffs conclusion.
For the record in 1964 after the Maple Leafs’ Bob Baun, playing on a broken ankle, scored in overtime keeping Toronto alive with a game 6 win at Detroit (Red Wings), their goaltender, Johnny Bower shutout Detroit in game 7 at Toronto to win the title.
The next day, the Celtics won their 6th straight title 5’ing Wilt Chamberlain and the Warriors, one of two Celts’ final round wins vs a Wilt team. In fairness, the Celts had a way better team in ’64, the other ’69, a different story and for another but continual “day.”
In 1967, the last time the Leafs won the title, Wilt and his 76ers won the NBA crown the next night. Each team won its final series in 6 games, the Leafs at home vs Montreal (Canadiens) (the LONE final round loss for the Habs in 17 final rounds from ’56-’86, which is incredible!) and the Philly Sixers at San Francisco, vs the Warriors.
All these years later the Warriors will again play in San Francisco.
Maurice Richard, pictured above, led the Montreal Canadiens to a still record, 5 straight titles from (1956-1960).
Andy B Sports 