Some “notes” yielded revelations and the esoteric, regarding the two New York baseball teams, both specifically on July 3 and 4th, 1973 and for that memorable baseball season.
Lighter once it is over: The Mets were in Montreal that July 3rd when I believe the power went off in the city. Ralph Kiner, the great home run hitter and one of the Mets broadcasters was in the hotel lobby when “the lights went out.”
During the famed November 9, 1965 blackout, Kiner was at the famed Toots Shor’s Restaurant talking with another baseball great, Monte Irvin.
In the first inning of an eventual (19-7) Expos win vs the last place Mets, once Expos player, Daniel “Rusty” Staub hit into a double play, T1, bases loaded none out that got 1 run, but surely was a negative result for the Mets.
The play was 4-6-3 with 2nd baseman Ron Hunt throwing to shortstop Tim Foli, who in turn threw to first sacker, Mike Jorgensen.
All 4 players involved played for both the Expos and Mets in their careers.
The Mets, though only (82-79), the worst record ever for a first place team, then a 1/4 “div” winner, went from last place to finish in first place.
Meanwhile the Yankees won (3-1) in a Tuesday afternoon tilt vs the Boston Red Sox that July 3rd.
Before what would be a tough Independence Day doubleheader loss to the Bo Sox, (2-1) and (1-0) Ray Culp 8 inns, Bob Veale 1 inning save and Roger Moret a 6 hit shutout in the nightcap), the Yankees were ahead by 3 and a fraction games in their “div”, all in the win column over the eventual A.L. East winning Baltimore Orioles.
The Mets ended play on July 3rd 1973, as stated in last place and I add 11 and a fraction, (ok 11 and a half) games out of first place, where they somehow ended the regular season.
Good memories flow when thinking about Ron Hunt, pictured above, most notably he being voted the starting National League second baseman in the 1964 All-Star Game, which was played in Hunt’s then home park, first year Shea Stadium.
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While there, it will be from Wikipedia, from which pertinent facts/highlights of the magnificent work of Roberta Flack, who died days back at age 88, will be posted.
Her popular, moving music yielding such popular songs has many memory manifestations.
One so seaped in so much me is a 1973 trip for college orientation at SUNY Albany. I am driving but Dad (where is he, Richard Orris and two beyond plutonic/there for the ride females are present.
The AM only radio, had to be WABC, right?! is on with Roberta Flack’s beautiful “Killing Me Softly With Your Sing” emitting beauty, I can not quite fully grasp (even now) but all of us, including my father, from another generation, enjoying.
Somehow during or next (do not waste the battery) we all get out of the car to “stretch etc.” and I lock it with the keys still in the ignition. This leaves me beyond embarrassed and is a big problem.
However, Dad did carry an extra set of keys, something all drivers, without whatever “automatic” convenences that would avoid such, ought to do.
Roberta Flack was a magnificent performer and the memories of her iconic songs stay with so many.
Some of the facts from Wikipedia follow and are record making history and “breaking.”
Roberta Cleopatra Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of quiet storm. Her commercial success included the Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping singles “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face“, “Killing Me Softly with His Song“, and “Feel Like Makin’ Love“. She became the first artist to win the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in consecutive years.
Roberta Flack, pictured above. Click below to view the magnificent Ms. Flack perform the iconic “Killing Me Softly with Your Song.”
It is (probably), certainly in esoteric fashion, that a University of Connecticut college basketball crown was followed by an Ohio State football such, for a second time, ten years after the first (’14 and ’24).
In similar fashion, “U.Conn” and the New England Patriots won titles together (per the headline cue The Turtles), 10 years apart in ’04 and ’14.
I cited, in a previous post, that after 3 previous “same year in the final” failures to both win, that the Dodgers and Eagles each titled in the fourth such instance.
Concerning the 18 time NBA champion Boston Celtics, this is the second time an Eagles crown followed one by the Celtics (the other in ’60, when John F. Kennedy was elected U.S. President).
Four times (’61, ’62 ’65, ’66) a Packers title followed one won by the Celtics with the Pittsburgh Steelers and S.F. 49ers joining the Eagles, with 2 crowns each in years the Celtics took NBA title honors.
A long time since “invest a dime” and even pay phones.
Oh and finally warmer weather and while not quite “Stormy Weather,” by Lena (who am I to call the great Lena Horne, Lena) “Happy Together” truly resonates and hail Mark Volman “Flo,” and Howard Kaylan “Eddie” and “The Turtles!”
I will continue along the proverbial high road and not be specific, however as I wrote/typed (who would have ever thought an elective subject/course such as typing would become so paramount?!) in a post when the great hockey player/”cared and knew regarding the fans,” Bobby Hull, a man, as with all, con flaws, died–it was akin to “hatchet work,” in many, even most obituaries and it bothers me not really because he was a favorite, but because I feel it lacked perspective.
Hull comes up again and in a big time positive way as he had donated his brain in the hope of greater knowledge concerning brain injuries and failure. This to Boston University for research about Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
In those many obituary notices, his hockey prowess was acknowledged, even that a veritable brook when ’twas a mighty river of power and speed, a la the also so great, but, again as with so many, Mickey Mantle, but not the fact, Mr. Hull stood after games in the glorious 6 team hockey league and delayed his Chicago team’s bus departure until EVERY fan received his autograph.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2025/02/19/bobby-hull-cte-death-nhl/79202481007/
Please click above to read about Bobby donating his brain and to learn more about CTE.
Left to right, long time friends and teammates, Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull.
Bobby knowing about Stan and his family suffering because he had CTE, donated his brain and it is now known Bobby also had the disease.
Another great, Henri Richard, he tied with the great NBA player, Bill Russell with the most major sports league crowns (11), also had CTE.
As I indicated when Bobby died, Stan, Bobby and me a then “Chi” fan were denied the ’71 title by Montreal with Mr. Richard tallying the tying and winning goals in game 7 of the final.
Maybe in a better place, free of the dreaded disease, the three can join others and remember. Surely donations such as Bobby Hull’s might help while still on this planet.
2024 was the fourth year that both the Eagles and Dodgers (twice each as Brooklyn and Los Angeles), made the respective NFL and baseball final round entities.
It also was/is the first time both teams won the title.
Once before, (1947) both lost, the Eagles to the lone Cardinals’ (then in Chicago, since in St. Louis and now in Arizona) title and the Dodgers to the eleventh of the Yankees sports record 27 titles.
Twice in both ’49 and 2017, the Eagles won the crown while the Dodgers lost in their final round entity
.Both Charley Trippi, who lived to 101 plus years and is pictured above, and Elmer Angsman, recorded 2 long TD plays apiece as the Cardinals won (28-21) at their Chicago home vs the Eagles in the 1947 NFL title game.
Some decent quick food and first roll “with’s” are good 7-11’s. So too, the recent Eagles rout of the Chiefs, who do remember have 3 recent titles, yielding the city of Philadelphia its 18th major sports league title, 7 won by moved franchises and 11 by its current 4 teams.
The lost to history, girl with the curl/almost exponentially–Philadelphia Athletics (for example they won 3 straight American League Pennants and 2 World Series, (’29-’31), beating out the Yankees of Messers (ode to Frank, who was a fine broadcaster) Ruth and Gehrig, among other greats, but also having so many woeful Philadelphia seasons among their 53, won 5 titles while in Philadelphia, that total now matched by the NFL Eagles 94 years later.
Basketball’s Warriors, while in Philadelphia, copped 2 titles giving the “moved out of Philly” franchises seven.
Each of the other 3 (in addition to the Eagles, as cited with 5 titles), current Philly major league sports teams have 2 titles each, the Phillies winning it all in (’80 and 2008), the NBA 76ers doing so in ’67 and ’83 while the Flyers (2-5) with 5 straight losses won titles in their first 2 Cup Final “apps”/appearances (the Wendy/Randy/Diana/Ciao led “apps’/appetizers were among the great highlights of 2 really nice surprise parties, amidst last weekend’s snow and rain, the first a Deb organized “Sam Huff/Jim Marshall” b/day for “Dr. Ike,” and Sunday’s for 50 years de marriage for Gloria and Mel) in ’74 and ’75.
Bobby Shantz, pictured above from 1953, the year after he won 24 games and the A.L. MVP while pitching for the ’52 Philadelphia A’s, hopefully turns 100 years old this September 26th.
I interviewed the so personable, informative and truly excellent pitcher years back. Mr. Shantz exemplifies pure class.
Reflections On The 1965 NFL Western Conference Playoff Game With An Update
A week and change (Heraclitus called another definition of the word, change, as the only permanence, however, I perhaps hope Mahomes who has 3 of each (Supe crowns and children) is not neanderthal enough to force an additional child, while he and the Chiefs winning another crown is also something I can live “sans”, gets no change in those #’s), after Philly (Eagles) the only team to deny Vince Lombardi’s Packers in a playoff game, kept K.C. from tying the Pack as the only NFL team to win 3 straight crowns, clinching such in games, I put the G.B. feat (’65-’67) in some perspective.
The great coach Vince Lombardi won 5 titles with truly great Green Bay Packers’ teams.
Even the great teams usually need some good fortune to achieve lofty goals such as league titles.
Certainly Green Bay facing a Colts’ team forced to play running back Tom Matte at quarterback in the playoff game and in other stretch drive 1965 games, qualifies as one instance of good Pack fortune.
Additionally much controversy surrounds I believe the all important game tying field goal by Don Chandler.
More on that kick, subsequent changes and notes as Colts/Packers history is on its way in future posts.
In 2018, Alex Cora managed the Boston Red Sox to their ninth World Series win, that one 100 years after their fifth, which was followed by an 86 year title drought, the team losing in all 4 World Series appearances during that span, all in the maximum 7 games.
Cora in following 2015 title winning Kansas City Royals’ manager Ned Yost, is the sixth manager with four letters in his last name (surname), to win a World Series.
Altogether, 74 different managers have won the World Series, Yost and Cora are among the 52 different managers with one title to this point in time.
Each joined an interesting group of managers, the other four with 4 letters in their last name, to win a World Series.
First is one of the most famous, if not most famous baseball managers ever, namely the great Connie Mack.
Managing in an incredible 6 different decades for the then Philadelphia Athletics (it helps one’s longevity as manager when you at least partially own the team), Mr. Mack won 5 World Series. It should be noted that Mr. Mack’s last name was actually Mc Gillicuddy (think Lucy Ricardo).
The other three “four letter” W.S. winning managers were Eddie Dyer (St. Louis Cardinals 1946), Ralph Houk (New York Yankees 1961 and 1962) and Alvin Dark (Oakland A’s 1974).
While Connie Mack won no other World Series when he was not the manager,( he managed in all the possible World Series years of his career), Yost, Dyer, Houk, Dark, Yost and Cora all won World Series in other roles in other years in addition to their managerial title(s).
Cora, still in as Boston manager, won a title as a player there in 2007 and was a coach for the 2017 title winning Houston Astros, before guiding the 2018 Red Sox to their aforementioned ninth crown.
Now thirty years ago, Yost was a coach on the Atlanta Braves World Series winner, who were managed by Bobby Cox, the only manager with 3 letters or less, in his last name to win a World Series.
Eddie Dyer was a pitcher on the 1926 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, though he did not appear in the World Series.
Ralph Houk played and coached on New York Yankees World Series winners before guiding them to back to back titles in 1961 and 1962. He coached on the 1958 title team and had one at bat in winning World series for the Yankees in 1947 and 1952.
Alvin Dark was the only one in the group to have been a starting player on a World Series winner (shortstop on the 1954 New York Giants, in his life he caught a touchdown pass from Y.A. Tittle at LSU University and hit a home run off Sandy Koufax) before managing the Oakland A’s to a World Series victory twenty years later.
The legendary Connie Mack pictured above.
The Philadelphia Eagles win in the “Jack Ham #’d”/59th Supe marks just the fourth time in 46 possibilities (’79-2024, the first wild card round tilts were played in ’78) that the champion won it all after losing in the NFL wild card round in the previous season.
Philadelphia has been “involved” in 3 of the 4 situations, including this season’s as last season ended for the Eagles in a wild card round loss at Tampa Bay vs the Buccaneers, the conclusion to their “free fall” season for which they more than atoned in winning the franchise’s second Supe in 8 seasons and fifth NFL crown, one more than the team they defeated, the Chiefs as well as the Browns (according to NFL records), Rams (they gave Phil its toughest ‘offs test, nearly overcoming a late 13 point deficit, before falling by 6 points as barely “covering” underdogs) and the Lions, against whom Philly would have likely been slight road underdogs but Wash a franchise as with Dallas and San Francisco also has 5 NFL crowns, more than seemingly did “el” Eagles a good turn, ripping the NFC top seed Lions.
Another instance of a previous season’s wild card round losing team winning it all the next season also involved the Eagles and Buccaneers in the reverse way as in ’01 and in fact in ’00, the Eagles wild card rounded the Bucs, who bounced back to win it all in ’02, beating current Chiefs’ coach and both a 3 time Supe winning and Supe losing coach, Andy Reid and the Eagles in the “semi”/NFC title game at Philadelphia.
One more “involved” Philly as in ’06, the Eagles no covered the Giants in their wild card round game at Philly while the next year they won the title, clinching/claiming it in a Super Bowl win vs current Fox Sports lead analyst, Tom Brady (both he and Burkhardt kept telling us that the game’s result, a clear Philly rout was still in doubt–that rhymes and those 2 are no poets, instead shilling to keep viewers tuned) and the (18-0) New England Patriots.
The other team to get wild card round ousted the year before winning the crown were the 2010 Green Bay Packers who lost (51-45) at Arizona in a 2009 wild card round tilt before winning it all in 2010.
Why Jack Ham?
Many reasons: He was a great player, wore 59, the Eagles and Steelers once were merged as the Steagles but most of all because had the Chiefs, who have been excellent, won last Sunday, they not only would have matched the (’65-’67) Packers with 3 straight crowns but also the (’74-’79) Steelers with Ham (no cheese that I know about) with 4 titles in 6 seasons.
They did not get it nor did they deserve such status.
Andy B Sports 