Although the famed league semi-final clashes between teams from the cities of Boston and Philadelphia are better known (the Boston Celtics winning most (ode to Johnny), vs either the Philadelphia Warriors or 76ers), the cities have met in the sport final in the other three major possibilities.
Once both Boston and Philadelphia had 2 baseball teams, the Red Sox and Braves in “Beantown,” and the Phillies and Athletics in “The City of Brotherly Love.”
Nearly 110 years have “rear viewed” since the Red Sox, with a great left-hand pitcher named George “Babe” Ruth, defeated the Phillies 4 games to 1 in the 1915 World Series.
Boston won the last 4 tilts in that final round entity, after another great pitcher, righthander Grover Cleveland Alexander won game 1 for the Phillies.
I thought of this (final round stuff) last night, recalling that local New York PBS station, Channel 13 televised the aberration game 5 Boston Bruins home victory vs the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1974 NHL final round.
Before game 6, the Flyers brought out “good luck charm,” Kate Smith in person (“Espo”/Phil Esposito tried to stop the charm, giving Ms. Smith flowers) and behind Bernie Parent’s brilliant goaltending and with a goal by Rick MacLeish–’twas Philly (1-0) to win the title in just their 7th NHL season.
Finally, in pro football, the Boston team/the New England Patriots and current league champion Philadelphia Eagles split in their 2 Supe clashes.
The Patriots “no covered” Philly in ’04 while 13 years later, the Eagles under Doug Pederson (fired this Eagles title season, by “Jax”) won vs New England.
An excellent player, gone too soon at age 66, Rick MacLeish is pictured above.
Something made me think about former basketball player, Ira Harge.
In doing research on Harge, a fine player at the University of New Mexico (5 time NBA champion and now with his Lakers’ #21 retired, Michael Cooper’s college), I saw that Ira Harge played on the first two ABA championship teams.
More noteworthy is that they were different teams and I doubt but wonder if that has ever happened at any other time.
Harge played on the first ABA champions, the 1967-1968 Pittsburgh Pipers, a team led by Connie Hawkins. That season after playing in all 82 regular season games, Harge did not play in the playoffs
The next year Harge was with the Oakland Oaks, the team that won the second ABA crown in 1968-1969.
That team was led by Rick Barry and coached by Alex Hannum.
Ira Harge pictured above.
Ira was something else!
The above is so difficult to do as the depth of Gene Hackman’s incredible work is truly certainly among the greatest of relatively recent times.
Certainly one must cite Mr. Hackman’s death, still a mystery at age 95 was announced days back and to avoid procrastination and honor Mr. Hackman and not “mainline” the end, let’s get started with “The Euer’s” (He was born Eugene Allen Hackman), as “Buck Barrow,” in the 1967 “ahead of its time,” “Bonnie and Clyde.”
I recall fondly being enthralled in formative years by Gene, with another great, Al Pacino in “Scarecrow.” I believe that was Gene’s favorite.
You really want to see a performance and overall great film, try “The Conversation.”
Even I dug the really popular ones, such as “Hoosiers” and “Superman,” however, as usual, less acclaimed “I Never Sang For My Father” and a so underrated turn in “The Firm,” the latter one I have seen myriad times, the former at a status of really wanting to see and observe Mr. Hackman’s incredible performance again.
Now perhaps unfairly not cited until now, Hackman’s wife, pianist, Betsy Arakawa and a dog were also found “no longer,” days back.
Looking for something to do, you can not go wrong checking Hackman’s films, (I add “Mississippi Burning,” “The Royal Tennenbaums” and of course “The French Connection” and “Unforgiven” the latter two yielding Best Actor Academy Awards for Mr. Hackman–( The great Buffalo Sabres line of Perreault, Martin and Robert was nicknamed “The French Connection Line) many others and enjoy most, as excellent, encompassing the greatness of Gene Hackman, consummate actor.
Left to right, Andy B and Gene Hackman some years back, however, in this century.
Gene as “Lex Luthor” with the great and so classy, Christopher Reeve in Superman.
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.
Andy B Sports 