MLB.com “informed,” that last night’s starting pitching match up between the Cincinnati Reds’ Sonny Gray and the Colorado Rockies’ Jon Gray was the first between non related, same spelling/last names that also were colors, since 1933.
Neither pitcher was involved in the decision. Each pitched very well in a game won by the Rockies (3-2), which had a projected total runs total of 12, in hitting friendly Coors Field in Colorado.
A nice photo image of the two Grays pitching.
Below more on the rare pitching match up from Stats by Stats
This is the first match up of starting pitchers with the last name “Gray” in MLB history.
The last time two pitchers squared off with the same color as a last name was Jumbo Brown (New York Yankees) vs. Lloyd Brown (Boston Red Sox) on July 26, 1933 (based on same spelling of last name).
Fifty years after her death, Judy Garland is still remembered as a legendary performer. It is so much fun to see her on television!
I loved her as a youngster in ” The Wizard of Oz,” and as an emerging adult in “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
Among other great feats, she also shined in a heavy dramatic role in “Judgment at Nuremberg.” Of course, many remember her as the ultimate torch singer.
Such a talented person!
Enjoy this appearance, by Judy on “What’s My Line.” Click below to view it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy7LsQXpi7k
At the All-Star break, five teams have nice divisional race leads while one race is mathematically wide open.
The L.A. Dodgers are up by 13 and a half games and almost certainly will win a seventh consecutive N.L. West “one eighth” crown.
In the American League, the Houston Astros, New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins have respective 7 and a half, six and a half and five and a half game division leads.
Atlanta (Braves) lead the N.L. east by 6 games while the Central in that league is wide open.
After the meaningless, deflated All-Star Game, baseball resumes, in need of a spark, which I believe it will get in its tournament and perhaps sooner in some playoff races.
The Braves are bidding for a second consecutive N.L. East “one eighth” crown.
Gilbert O’Sullivan delivered a terrific show, at a great venue (City Winery 155 Varick Street in New York City) last night.
Time moved in beautiful pace, as Gilbert O’Sullivan’s music and storytelling brought me a great gift. It was one of travelling back, forward, accepting loss and looking onward and upward, all in one show. The performance was Mr. O’Sullivan’s first in New York since the 1970’s.
He both looked and sounded great, citing the life and passing of such greats as Jim Croce, Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew. O’Sullivan talking of songs other than big hits and how he performs them, and most of all, clicked with the enthusiastic audience, performing his great music.
Tonight at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, there is the second and final United States based Gilbert O’ Sullivan show this year. Let’s hope and after last night’s great show, I think, he will be back.
We associate with the music, time marches inexorably on, I knew I would be moved.
The extent, however, was astoundingly positive. Mr. O’Sullivan’s timing, song sequence, dedications, and heartfelt words all combined to have me “back in that car,” checking on colleges and less “alone.” Gilbert’s seminal song “Alone Again” (Naturally) played on.
Not only did Gilbert O’Sullivan lead that not so easy “trip,” with his composure and beautiful songs (big hits such as “Clair,” “Get Down” others included “What’s in a Kiss?” a beauty, for example), he did so “Naturally!”
It was a fantastic show!
Gilbert O’Sullivan | Official Website
City Winery | New York City | Live Shows, Dining & Winemaking
Gilbert O’Sullivan, pictured above.
“Fringe Deaths,” an original play by Rider McDowell, playing at St. Luke’s Theater (308 West 46th Street) through July 14th, is an excellent play, which I feel gives great insight into the lives and deaths of 4 celebrated figures, three performers and the man who shot Lee H. Oswald and all that entails.
Thus you know one is Jack Ruby and the other three who all met “fringe” deaths, if you will, are George Reeves, Barbara Payton and Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer.
The performance includes music, insight and at least two dramatic scenes as to what happened, in the case of all four people.
I add that I am both most familiar with and have not only relative, but intrinsic admiration, for George Reeves and this “Clark Kent” wink is for you.
Additionally, I send one out to the eight performers, some in multiple roles that made “Fringe Deaths” so enjoyable and insightful.
They are Tiffan Borelli, who played Barbara Payton, Neil Vincent Smith as George Reeves, Scott Zimmerman as Jack Ruby and others while Alec Hynes was Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer and also in other roles.
Jenny Strassburg, Sandy York, Sean-Michael Wilkinson and Jerry Shulman are also members of an excellent cast
Please click below for more information, including that regarding purchasing tickets.
Fringe Deaths Off-Broadway Tickets – telecharge.com
George Reeves in “The Sainted Sisters,” pictured above.
“A ground ball to third, Robinson to Powell and the Orioles win!”
That was the succinct, great call of Jim McIntyre on national radio (NBC) as the Baltimore Orioles clinched the 1970 World Series in 5 games vs the Cincinnati Reds.
The year before in a Thursday afternoon road game 5, at New York, the O’s were eliminated by the New York Mets.
A year later, in a Thursday afternoon home game, the Orioles gained redemption winning (9-3) in #5, with Mike Cuellar hurling a complete game.
Day World Series and complete games, where have you gone?!!
Click below to view the Orioles clinching the ’70 World Series. Curt Gowdy is the broadcaster.
For most of his career, Al Luplow was a platoon player and not a starter.
He was, however, the regular right fielder for the 1964 Cleveland Indians and 1966 New York Mets.
On June 27, 1963 Luplow robbed future 2 time title winning manager, Dick Williams of a home run with one of the greatest catches in Fenway Park history, tumbling over the right field separation in the process.
Williams later managed the Red Sox to “The Impossible Dream” 1967 A.L. Pennant and won a fourth pennant (the other 2 were also World Series wins with the ’72 and ’73 Oakland Athletics) with the ’84 San Diego Padres.
Al Luplow’s great nephew, Jordan Luplow is platooning on the current Cleveland Indians.
Click below to read about Al Luplow’s great catch in an article from The Sports Illustrated Vault in 1985.
HE LEAPED A WALL TO CATCH THE BALL, BUT HERE’S THE CATCH: WHO …
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.
Andy B Sports 