The defending NFL champion, Philadelphia Eagles open their exhibition season with a game vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Once the franchises combined briefly and were known as the “Steagles.”
They have never met in a Super Bowl.
This season, each team is considered a major threat to win its conference, however,of course, the odds are against a “Steagles” Supe.
The Boston Red Sox deserve much credit for sweeping the second place Yankees and even more credit for a (79-34) (.699 winning percentage) record.
However, all it does is likely give the Red Sox home advantage in any series they might play, in the upcoming baseball tournament.
Boston, famous or infamous for an 86 season title drought from (1919-2003) did win 5 early titles, all in a 15 “played seasons” span (there was no World Series in 1904, just as there was none, 90 years later in 1994) from (1903-1918).
This season’s likely top mark and at this point it is a great record (look for the team to slow its pace and that would be a good idea, although there is still “mucho,” seemingly meaningless “reg” baseball remaining) makes Boston the top choice to win a 4th title in 15 seasons, having won it all in ’04, ’07 and ’13.
Yet the odds are against them and if I were them I would not want to play the Yankees in the “quarters,” but at this point, that is likely and also likely is that the Red Sox would not be big favorites.
That series certainly would figure to be much closer than the one just played.
It is nice to watch “The Lucy Show” with Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance and directed by Desi Arnaz, on the “Decades binge” this weekend.
In an episode in which the comic genius, Ms. Ball is a football referee, she references three football players of some vintage.
One is John Unitas, “whoever that is” Lucy remarks, as his football card has been lost.
Now looking at football cards, she cites that Jim Brown led the NFL with 942 rushing yards in his rookie season.
Of course Unitas and Brown are two of (some might say the two greatest NFL players ever (clearly two true greats) the greatest players and I was glad to hear a third player, Red Phillips cited.
He led the NFL in receptions in 1962 and the episode/Lucy cited that fact. Way to go Red!
Jim “Red” Phillips led the NFL with 78 receptions in 1962.
’62 was the only year in Jim Brown’s 9 season career, in which he did not lead the NFL in rushing.
Another great Jim, Taylor of the NFL champion Packers, took rushing honors with 1,474 yards that season.
Today, I will share a longer video and some more notes on the 1968 World Series, particularly game 7.
Detroit’s Mickey Lolich had won games 2 and 5 while the defending champion Cardinals of “St. Loo,” had won #’s 1 and 4 behind Bob Gibson, with 31 game winner Dennis McLain (the only pitcher to win as many as 30 since the immortal “Dizzy” Dean did so in 1934), losing both vs Gibson.
However, McLain was victorious in game 6 with Jim Northrup hitting a grand slam home run to aid the Tigers’ cause.
Mr. Northrup also delivered the big hit of #7, thus almost by definition, the series, a 2 run triple, that broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning.
Click below to view the entire ninth inning of ’68 W.S. #7 with announcers, all greats, Harry Caray on play by ply, Curt Gowdy with OCCASIONAL color and Ernie Harwell post-game.
Game 7 1968 World Series – Full 9th Inning – Detroit Tigers v St Louis Cardinals
It has been nearly 50 years since the Detroit Tigers came back from a three games to one deficit, vs the defending champion, St. Louis Cardinals to win the 1968 World Seris.
The superb Mickey Lolich was the Series star, winning three games.
Below you may click to view the last pitch of that World Series and subsequent Detroit Tigers’ on field celebration.
Broadcasting legend, Harry Caray was in his last game as anything related to the Cardinals and he calls the last plays. Additionally, listen as Curt Gowdy, yet another we wish were still here, cite the great company Mr. Lolich joined with a (3-0) World Series record.
The list included Bob Gibson, the losing pitcher in #7/’68 W.S. who had turned the trick the year before. Mr. Gibson had an incredible 1.12 ERA for the 1968 season and I recall waiting to see the Strat-O-Matic card, for the great Cards’ pitcher.
I recall another Yankees at Boston 4 game series.Trust me at the time and sadly to this day, the results were highly negative to me.
However, worse than that is the fact the 4 game “at Boston” (Thursday-Sunday) Yankees/Red Sox series means so much less, due to the wild card presence.
The “referenced” 4 game series, Thursday-Sunday at Boston in early September, 1978 manifested in 4 easy Yankees’ wins, that moved the teams into a first place tie in a true race (no safety net/wild card) for a “one quarter” division.
Now barring the truly unforeseen, both teams will be in a 10 team baseball tournament.
Each day on MeTV, the great show, “Perry Mason” starring Raymond Burr airs twice.
The first episode is shown at 9 A.M. Eastern Time with another at 11:30 A.M.
This morning in the episode titled “Paul Drake’s Dilemma,” Bruce Gordon, best known for his periodic role as “FRANK Nitti” on “The Untouchables,” portrayed a character named “FRANK Sherwood.”
I truly enjoy the thought provoking show, “Perry Mason,” still a gem after all these years.
Last season, the Green Bay Packers were obviously hurt by the loss of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Minnesota Vikings took the NFC North crown and were the NFC two seed, eventually being routed by the NFC one seed and eventual “Supe” winning, Philadelphia Eagles.
This season, I predict the team considered “second choice,” the Packers will win the NFC North crown.
Minnesota will finish second, while the two other NFC North teams, Detroit (Lions) and Chicago (Bears) will improve slightly.
At this point, many might say the American League is “locked in,” as far as its tournament seeding. Certainly the 7’s that have manifested, are significant leads as August approaches.
The Boston Red Sox, playing nearly .700 baseball, lead the defending World champion, Houston Astros, by a full SEVEN games.
Meanwhile, their lead over the New York Yankees, who have baseball’s second best record, is SEVEN in the win column and five and a fraction games in the A.L. East.
In turn, Houston’s lead over the Cleveland Indians is SEVEN in the loss column. Likely, but far from definitely, the Astros and Indians will clash in the tournament “quarters”/divisional series, with “Hous” having home advantage.
The closest “race” is the one for the final A.L. spot in the tournament and currently the Seattle Mariners lead the Oakland A’s by two games. In turn, the Angels are SEVEN games behind the A’s.
Certainly Red Schoendienst and SEVEN went together, as he was in many 7 game World Series.
I really enjoyed the show featuring Boy George and Culture Club at Forest Hills Tennis Stadium last night.
Additionally, The B-52’s and Tom Bailey also turned in fine performances on a nice night.
My mind raced with memories as I enjoyed George’s great banter and insight, while he sang some classic tunes.
It was a long transportation night, however well worth it.
Boy George, pictured above.
Andy B Sports 