Yesterday, in what was perhaps a meaningful game in the long, wild card presence baseball season, the (34-38), Cincinnati Reds rallied for two, two out runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, to (3-2), the almost certain A.L. West winning, (48-27) Houston Astros and complete and a 3 game sweep.
The game evoked some Reds/Astros history, as these were the first clashes between the teams, who from (1962-2012) were in the same entity (National League (1962-1968), National League West (1969-1993) and N.L. Central (1994-2012), since the American League Astros, won their first title in 2017.
One memory is following the game (no television, radio, internet etc.) of July 4th, nearly 40 years ago, when the Astros held on for a (3-2) win at “Cincy,” and moved 10 and a half games ahead of the Reds in the one quarter/you had to finish first, N.L. West.
Cincinnati eventually won the division.
That day, I sojourned to a kosher delicatessen “over the bridge.” (Maybe “somewhere over a rainbow,” Mr. (Harold) Arlen and Mr. (E.Y.) Yarburg can get a pastrami sandwich into the song).
NBA official, Manny Sokol was there. I asked him, those forty years ago, who was the best player he had seen. Without looking up, on a napkin, he wrote Havlicek and Oscar (John Havlicek and Oscar Robertson).
The Astros likely will at least, win the A.L. West
“Over the bridge” yields “Over the rainbow,” Click below as Judy Garland’s Dorothy sings and Toto, the dog is so well behaved, now 80 years ago.
The city of Toronto, of course, now has a current title with the NBA Raptors, who achieved it, in their 24th season.
Additionally, Toronto has 7 straight victories in final round play. Although the NHL Maple Leafs have not won the Stanley Cup since 1967, they have not lost a final series since 1960, winning 3 straight crowns (’62-’64), the baseball Blue Jays won in both of their World Series appearances (’92 and ’93), while the Raptors just won in their first NBA final series).
Somewhat incredibly, not only were the last 4 Toronto major North American sports league crowns (’67 Leafs, ’92 and ’93 Jays and ’19 Raptors) clinched with a game 6 victory, that year’s Toronto semi-final victory, was also achieved in 6 games.
In fact, after the first 5 Toronto titles which had both a semi-final and final round (the ’32 Leafs won the title with total goals determining and giving them a final round berth, a best of 3 series, Toronto won in the maximum 3 games) were accomplished in a different number of games in the semi and the final, the last 8 were achieved in the same number.
Bill Barilko, who tragically died in a plane crash not long after, won the 1951 Stanley Cup for the Maple Leafs, with an overtime goal in game 5. The Leafs had won their semi that year in 5 games as well. One game of the final was called a tie, but 5 counted, 4 went to the Leafs, hence Toronto in 5.
In winning 3 straight crowns (’62-’64), Toronto won its semi and final in the same number of games, 6 in ’62, 5 in ’63 and 7 in ’64.
Bill Barilko, pictured above.
Today another episode of the great television show “What’s My Line” that aired on November 13, 1960, the first such episode after the presidential election of the past Tuesday into Wednesday morning, on November 8th.
When panelist Bennett Cerf cited that host John Charles Daly had been on the air for over eleven hours the past Tuesday, at first, I did not connect the election with that long night for Mr. Daly. Soon after, I did so.
The mystery guest that subsequent Sunday night was John Wayne.
Other panelists were Arlene Francis, Joey Bishop and Dorothy Kilgallen.
Click below to view and enjoy the show.
“Moose” Moryn of the Chicago Cubs made as good a catch, as I can recall, to save a no hit game thrown by Don Cardwell. Enjoy the videos shown below.
Now watch Moryn’s great catch to end the game, preserving Cardwell’s no hit game. The great Jack Brickhouse makes the call on WGN Television in Chicago.
Last night I watched a great episode of The Tonight Show, starring Johnny Carson on Antenna TV. The show originally aired on August 16th, 1973.
Carson was to interview 5 guests, however time ran out before Julie Budd’s appearance. She did, however, help another guest, actress, Jo Ann Pflug with her hair, as apparently there was no stylist for Ms. Pflug’s wet hair.
There were three men as guests plus of course Ed McMahon, who got to hold hands with Ms. Pflug.
Golfer Tom Weiskopf, another maybe, or even not better than Elbert “Tiger” Woods, but I believe, as good as any of Woods’ competition, when he was a dominant player, Rich Little and Victor Bono were the other guests.
It was quite a show!
Johnny Carson is pictured.
The just completed NHL final manifesting in a St. Louis Blues’ title means, among other things, that the city of St. Louis joins New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles, in that order of doing so, as cities with titles won, in all four major North American sports leagues.
St. Louis and Boston have now won titles against each other in 7 of the 8 possibilities, as only St. Louis not doing so vs Boston in football was not/never? accomplished. St. Louis is without a football and for that matter, a basketball team, in one of the major leagues.
The basketball Boston Celtics and St. Louis Hawks each won their first titles vs each other, doing so in consecutive years, the Celtics winning in 1957 and the Hawks handing the dynasty Celtics (11 titles in 13 seasons), their lone final round loss in 1958. Boston went (11-1) in final round play those years. In the other non title season, a great Wilt Chamberlain led team, “semi’d” them in 1967.
New England (Patriots) won their first crown vs a St. Louis team, the Rams, in the 2001 season Super Bowl. Now in a calendar year after the Pats’ 6th crown was achieved vs the L.A. Rams, the Blues win their first title and do so against the Boston Bruins.
Boston’s Red Sox ended an 86 year title drought, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in the ’04 World Series while the Bruins ended a 29 year such drought, also in a sweep, vs the St. Louis Blues in 1970.
Meanwhile the Cardinals achieved 7 game World Series triumphs vs the Red Sox, 21 years apart in 1946 and 1967.
Boston teams dropped to (7-4) vs St. Louis teams in final round series, (the Blues and Bruins are (1-1), the Red Sox and Cards are (2-2), the Celts went (3-1) vs the Hawks when the latter was in St. Louis, and the Pats won the lone vs St. Louis final clash, as cited, vs the Rams when they were in St. Louis.
Five of the ten final series between the cities went to a decisive 7th game (Pats/Rams was a one game entity), Boston hosting 4 and winning 3.
However, it was St. Louis in the most recent, the Blues completing an incredible run with their #7 win at Boston (Bruins), yielding their first title and a well deserved parade in St. Louis today
Mr. Brecheen won 3 games, including the decisive 7th game, in the first St. Louis/Boston final, that the 1946 World Series when the St. Louis Cardinals won against the Boston Red Sox.
A night after the St. Louis Blues won their first title in their 51 st season, the Toronto Raptors won their first NBA crown in their 24 season, in a far more competitive (114-110) game, at Golden State (Warriors). It is the third consecutive year that on successive nights, the NHL and then the NBA playoffs season ended.
Kawhi Leonard, who one hopes does not make it more “you root for or in my case against “laundry,” by leaving Toronto, was named the final round most valuable player for the second time in his career (2014 the other).
It was quite a team effort for Toronto. Kyle Lowry was one of two Toronto players with 26 points, including the first eight in the game. Pascal Sakim, who also had 26 points, hit the game’s big shot, as this tilt was even closer than the narrow margin score, a running shot in the lane, that gave Toronto (the city may have a paucity of recent titles, but they have won when they get there as this is the 7th straight final round victory dating back to 1960) a 3 point lead with 26 seconds to play. Fred VanVleet, very good all throughout the ‘offs, hit big 4th quarter shots and had 22 points in the clincher. Leonard also scored 22 in #6.
The Warriors, who were seeking a third straight and fourth title in 5 seasons played almost the entire series without Kevin Durant and in #3 and for the last 14 or so minutes Klay Thompson, two more that hopefully will stay, are now (6-5) in NBA final rounds, this the third straight time in a final round loss, that the series ended on the Warriors’ home floor.
The road team went (5-1) in the NBA final, (5-2) in the NHL final. Toronto won all 3, the last 3 at the Warriors’ home, Oracle Arena.
There will be many more notes in the days to follow, bottom line two great, underdog stories/titles for the St. Louis Blues and Toronto Raptors, giving each city 14 crowns and at least one in all 7 combined major North American sports leagues in which any were possible. (Toronto has never had an NFL team and hail the CFL Toronto Argonauts, for that matter the Raptors, Blues and yes the Bruins and certainly the Warriors).
Fred VanVleet, pictured above.
The St. Louis Blues, in their 51st completed season, won their first Stanley Cup title, winning game 7 at Boston (Bruins) (4-1). It WAS the longest wait for any NHL franchise, before being able to hoist the treasured Cup, for the first time.
Rookie goaltender, Jordan Binnington, who ended up stopping 32 of 33 shots, was brilliant, especially in the first period, when his numerous big saves enabled the Blues, despite being severely outplayed, to take a (2-0) lead. At that point, “St. Louis was on their way to the crown, in what became the 8th straight and eleventh in the last thirteen, Cup final/#7, in which the winning team took at least a (2-0) lead and was not as much as tied.
Conn Smythe Trophy winner, (as the outstanding player in the entire ‘offs), Ryan O’Reilly scored the goal that put the Blues ahead to stay for the third time in the series, as he opened the scoring (also for the third time in the final) after Binnington’s first period, great saves had denied the Bruins.
O’Reilly deflected in a shot by Jay Bouwmeester, who HAD played in 1184 regular season games, without winning the title.
Then with just 7 seconds remaining in the first period, Blues captain, Alex Petrangelo, who had an assist on O’Reilly’s goal, took a pass from Jaden Schwartz (he had 2 assists) and scored. At that point, I felt very confident that in time, Mr. Pietrangelo would be presented with the Stanley Cup.
After a scoreless, uneventful, frankly boring second period, Binnington (how about “Jordans” first name or last in winter league sports final rounds telecast by NBC. It “seems” a basketball player with the surname Jordan and his Bulls were (6-0) in the title round, all telecast by NBC. Now Jordan Bennington and Michael Jordan are a combined (7-0) in final round series, all 7 on NBC) made two tremendous, third period saves and soon after, Brayden Schenn scored to make it (3-0).
Rookie Zach Sanford, who rooted for the Bruins as a youngster, also scored while Matt Grzelcyk prevented the shutout, with the lone Bruins’ goal.
The Blues, an incredible sports story were last in points among the 30 NHL teams in early January, but won it all under coach Craig Berube.
Their record on the road in the just completed playoffs was (10-3). The Blues trailed in 3 of the 4 ‘offs series (the first one vs Winnipeg was (2-2) at one point) and gave St. Louis its 14th, major North American sports league crown.
St. Louis joins New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles, in that chronological order of doing so, as cities with titles won, in all four such leagues.
Jordan Binnington, pictured above.
Tonight in Boston, the Bruins will host a #7/final round game for the first time in the 80 seasons, in which that was possible, when they meet the St. Louis Blues at T.D. Garden.
The home team is (12-4) in previous game 7’s for “all the marbles,” however, the road team prevailed in the last two, the Pittsburgh Penguins at Detroit in ’09 and the Bruins, in their first seventh game, at Vancouver in ’11. (those #’s again!)
St. Louis (Blues) was swept in each of its three previous NHL final series, including their last before ‘2019, that in ’70, by the Bruins, the series culminating when Bobby Orr scored in overtime.
Half of the ten Boston/St. Louis final round series clashes have gone to a decisive 7th game and four of the five ended/will end with Boston, as the venue.
In a great overtime game in ’57, Tom Heinsohn, like Bill Russell, a rookie that season, scored 37 points, Mr. Russell had 32 rebounds in that game!) leading Boston (Celtics) over St. Louis (Hawks). The Celtics also prevailed in #7/’60 NBA final, easing to the win, in that one.
Bob Pettit’s 50 points, the most ever in an NBA title clinching game, led the Hawks’ victory at St. Louis, vs the Celts in game 6 of the ’58 NBA final.
St. Louis with its baseball Cardinals won both #7/final round/World Series contests vs Boston (Red Sox), doing so at Boston on the real Columbus Day October 12, 1967 (we were off from school) and in the one Boston/St. Louis #7 in this country’s mid west region, in 1946, with Harry Breechen notching his third win of that World Series.
The recent Red Sox, with David Ortiz (events involving he, Kevin Durant and others hopefully put “even” #7’s/final rounds/Super Bowls/World Cups et al. in perspective) leading the way, took the Cards in 4 in the ’04 W.S. and in 6 in the ’13 edition.
I have a feeling that tonight after 7 straight and 10 of 12, NHL #7/final round games, in which the winning team took at least a (2-0) lead and was never even tied, that NBC with lead announcer, Mike Emrick, will get a classic game, maybe even a third overtime 7th game of the NHL final. (The only two thus far, both home Detroit wins, Pete Babando scoring in the second overtime in ’50 and Tony Leswick in the first such “session” (ode to the great Marv Albert, will even cite that his son Kenny is the national radio broadcaster this night in the United States, he is not exactly Danny Gallavan or Kelly, but I hope to listen, as the hard working Kenny Albert, does a good job.)
One more in the category of the type of previous #7’s for the Stanley Cup title, in the first 4, the eventual winning team, the Maple Leafs in ’42 and ’45, the Red Wings as cited above in ’50 and ’54, trailed at one point of game 7, but won the game.
Detroit both trailed in and won in overtime vs a gallant New York Rangers’ team, forced to play 5 of the series 7 games at Detroit and the other two at neutral Toronto in ’50, and trailing, but getting Leswick’s (I believe a distant relative of Len Dykstra, who was on the winning side with the New York Mets in #7/’86 World Series) overtime tally in their ’54 triumph.
Enjoy tonight’s tilt, which is on NBC, beginning at 8 P.M. Eastern Time.
Pete Babando, pictured above, as already cited, scored the Stanley Cup winning goal for the Detroit Red Wings in the second overtime period in game 7 of the 1950 NHL final.
Mr. Babando is still with us on earth. He is 94 years old, having been born on Sunday May 10, 1925.
45 years later, also on a Sunday May 10th, Bobby Orr scored in overtime of the 4th game, lifting the Bruins over the Blues, for their first title in 29 years.
The Golden State Warriors, bet from a three plus point(s) underdog, to a 1 point favorite, first playing with Kevin Durant, then not, as he was injured, won (106-105) at Toronto (Raptors) in game 5, however still trail the Raptors three games to two in the NBA final. Game 6 is in Oakland on Thursday night.
Klay Thompson hit two, as he and Steph Curry combined to hit three, three point shots as “G.S.” scored 9 straight points, to take a 3 point lead with 57 seconds remaining, after trailing by 6 points and Toronto having possession with about three and a half minutes remaining.
Kawhi Leonard, who finished with 26 points, had scored the Raptors last 10 points as they went on a (10-2) run and seemed ready to win their first title when they built the above referenced “up 6 with the ball” lead.
Curry led the scoring with 31 points while Klay, the son of two time NBA title winning player, Mychal Thompson, added 26. It should be noted that Dray Green appeared to get a piece of the ball on Kyle Lowry’s last second shot and that Durant had played well before being injured.
Toronto teams, which remember have won 6 straight final round entities, have now gone up (3-1), winning #’s 3 and 4, but then losing #5, in 3 straight final rounds.
The baseball Blue Jays did so, in both ’92 and ’93, each time winning the title in game 6.
In ’92, Toronto faced another Oakland team, the Athletics in a baseball “semi”/ALCS and leading 3 games to 1, lost a game 5 on a Monday, as is what manifested yesterday. The Blue Jays won that series in six games.
Andy B Sports 