The 1938 World Series marked the second time in a 6 year/7 season span that the New York Yankees swept the Chicago Cubs in World Series play.
Three future Hall of Fame players were involved in the final out that clinched what was at the time, an unprecedented third straight World Series triumph for the Yankees.
Pitcher Charlie “Red” Ruffing fielded a ground ball and threw to first baseman, Lou Gehrig, playing in his last World Series game less than a year before a debilitating illness ended his career and soon thereafter his life, to retire the batter, Billy Herman.
The magnificent player and classy gentleman, Bob Cousy will turn ninety years old in this calendar year.
He played on six NBA title teams with the Boston Celtics. I enjoyed his work as a commentator on Boston Celtics’ telecasts. He worked with among others, Gil Santos, a superb broadcaster, whom we lost this year.
This post will link to a very personal story about Bob Cousy’s care for his wife, Missy.
It certainly puts much in perspective and increases my already great admiration for Mr. Cousy.
Click below to read about Bob’s care for his wife.
NBA legend Bob Cousy let dementia-suffering wife
The roles reversed, many years earlier, Missie caring for Bob Cousy.
The Washington Capitals had the best record in the NHL during both the (2015-2016) and (2016-2017) regular seasons.
Both seasons, the Caps were denied titles, losing in the quarters to the eventual champion, Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Warriors had the best record in the NBA for three straight seasons (’15-17), winning titles in ’15 and ’17.
In ’18 both the Capitals and Warriors won titles without the best regular season record in their respective leagues.
Click below to view a post from last season, talking about the two 2018 winter sports champions, clinching the 2017 best record. Also view some notes on 1975, concerning the two teams, including memories of Rick Barry, Keith (later Jamaal) Wilkes and listening to first year Caps’ games on WTOP in the United States capital.
- Top mark update on April 6, 2017
The Warriors won the 1975 title on the road, at you guessed it, Washington D.C.
Today an episode of the great television show “What’s My Line” that aired 4 weeks after the Baltimore Colts’ famed 1958 NFL Title game win at the New York Giants.
The date was January 25, 1959.
Paul Newman was the mystery guest and the distinguished David Niven provided a truly eloquent introduction of one of the three regular panel members, Dorothy Kilgallen.
What’s My Line? – Paul Newman; David Niven [panel] (Jan 25, 1959)
Today I recall fondly some of Joan Rivers’ vintage appearances on The Tonight Show both as a guest and as the host, in John Carson’s absence.
Click below to see one of Joan’s great opening monologues, this one from 1984.
She was always great as a guest, in my opinion, even greater as a guest host.
Joan Rivers stand-up Tonight Show – hilarious monologue 2 – 1984
Joan Rivers, pictured above in a guest host role on The Tonight Show.
The loss by the Boston Celtics in a Sunday game 7 of the NBA semi-final round to the Cleveland Cavaliers marked the third straight time, all with different teams, a Boston team’s season ended with a Sunday defeat.
First the Philadelphia Eagles upset the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, of course played on a Sunday.
Next the Tampa Bay Lightning won a home game 5 to eliminate the Boston Bruins on Sunday May 13th.
Before the three losses, the Red Sox, though they would lose their 2017 division series to the eventual champion, Houston Astros, avoided elimination with a game 3, home Sunday win.
I was inspired having seen the film, “RBG” about the eminent Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
In a short time, a work about the late Supreme Court Justice, Antonin Scalia, will be performed at 59E59.
The play is “The Originalist,” written by John Strand and directed by Molly Smith.
Edward Gero as Justice Scalia, Tracy Ifeachor and Brett Mack comprise an excellent cast.
More information including how to purchase tickets is below.
THE ORIGINALIST begins performances on Saturday, July 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, August 19. The performance schedule is Tuesday – Friday at 7 PM; Saturday & Sunday at 2 PM & 7 PM. Single tickets are $25 – $70 ($25 – $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.59e59.org.
Today a look at another fine episode of the great television show, “What’s My Line.”
This one is from August 14, 1965 which was a Saturday.
Paul Muni is truly entertaining, trying to disguise his identity in a unique way.
Enjoy!
Click below to view the episode.
What’s My Line? – Paul Muni (Aug 14, 1955)
The great actor, Paul Muni pictured above.
Despite a loss vs Tampa Bay (Rays) yesterday, that ended a 12 game win skein, which included a (10-0) road trip, the world champion Houston Astros are viable contenders in a bid for a Houston repeat title.
Only the Rockets had ever before given Houston a major North American sports league crown, when the Astros gave the city another, with a 7 game World Series triumph, clinched in L.A. vs the Dodgers 33 Wednesdays ago, on November 1, 2017.
The Rockets repeated their ’94 NBA title with an unlikely one in ’95, winning all four ‘offs series sans home advantage.
In leagues no longer in existence, Houston teams twice repeated as champions.
The recently deceased Billy Cannon led the Houston Oilers, now the Tennessee Titans, to the first two A.F.L. crowns in ’60 and ’61.
In the defunct W.H.A. , the Houston Aeros with the great Gord Howe won back to back crowns in ’74 and ’75.
There is a long way to go, but maybe the Astros can win another repeat Houston title in ’18.
Barry Trotz is not the first coach that will not be with his defending Stanley Cup champion, team (in this case the Washington Capitals) the following season.
Tom Johnson of the ’72 title team Bruins and the retiring Hector “Toe” Blake, after the ’68 Canadiens won it all, are two that come to mind.
There are others, however, in a way, let’s go full circle 50 years and in the NHL’s annals 50 seasons later, concerning Blake’s great coaching disciple, Scotty Bowman.
Bowman coached the first year St.Louis Blues in that ’68 Final, losing in 4 straight games, three by only one goal, to Blake’s 8th title team.
In ’02 Bowman broke mentor Blake’s record, winning his 9th title and a la Blake after ’68, retired.
Trotz will coach elsewhere and 50’s (years and seasons) later, left a title team, this one the Caps, who won their first title and for that matter final series game, vs a truly impressive first year, Las Vegas Golden Knights’ team.
Andy B Sports 