Last night, Antenna TV showed a John Carson Tonight Show from Friday night October 18, 1974, the day after the Oakland Athletics clinched their third straight World Series title “5’ing” the Dodgers, who were eliminated in W.S. play on Oct 17th twice (in ’74 and ’78) and Oct 18th once (1977), in losing 3 of their 4 st. W.S. losses, from ’66-’78.
Mr. Carson talked of the plane his parents were on the night before, being diverted because of fog, but the highlight to me, was the then 90 year old actor, Burt Mustin, talking about the very first World Series in 1903.
In that first W.S. Boston defeated Pittsburgh 5 games to 3 and Mr. Mustin recalled the “Tessie song” or just “Tessie” being sung by the Boston fans, even in his hometown of Pittsburgh.
By the way, Bill Dinneen (over a year later, I checked and Dinneen is the correct spelling with Dineen cited as an alternate one) (3) and “True” Young better known as Cy Young, yes that Cy Young, combined for all 5 Boston pitching victories. Deacon Phillippe, a distant ancestor of actor Ryan Phillippe, notched all 3 Pittsburgh victories.
Burt Mustin on the right (you would have thought “Archie Bunker”) with the great Carroll O’Connor, on the seminal show, “All In The Family,” pictured above.
Only one previous World Series had the same win/lose/home/road configuration as the just completed fine 2017 World Series which manifested in the Houston Astros’ 7 game triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That was one of the few better World Series that I saw that was not so arguably better than this one, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds’ 7 game victory over the Boston Red Sox.
In both the 1975 and 2017 World Series and in no other one, did the following configuration manifest: home team/eventual losing team won game 1, road team/eventual winning team won game 2, home team/eventual winning team won game 3, road team/eventual losing team won game 4, home team/eventual winning team won game 5 (in each of those tilts, first baseman for the game and eventual Series winning team, who were from Cuba, hit home runs–the Astros’ Yuli Gurriel, hit the first of two Astros’ game tying 3 run homers 42 plus years after the great Tony Perez of the Reds hit two home runs in #5/’75), home team/eventual losing team won game 6 and the road team/by definition Series winning team won game seven.
For the third time in as many situations where at the least post-season qualification was on the line the Astros and Dodgers took a cue from the great musical group, “The Eagles,” and “took it to the limit.”
In ’80 L.A. had to win the last 3 games of the then so much more meaningful regular season to force a playoff with the Astros for the ’80 N.L. West title.
Playing at home, L.A. did so, the first game on a Friday night I listened to on “Armed Forces Radio,” I believe with Gene Elston, on a Grundig radio. The next two were on NBC, followed by ABC.
However, as was the case in the decisive games, an L.A. win en route to a strike marred 1981 season title and the Astros’ first title clincher in their 56 year history (Russo “Christophered,” yet another factual mistake saying their first SINCE 1962, NO they had never won one. Say that, NOT “SINCE”), one team, in ’80 and as cited ’17, (the Astros), won easily.
I will have more notes, but before this post ends, I must cite John Smoltz saying two consecutive World Series were played on his daughter’s birthday.
Was she born on 2 straight days? If it was a natural birth, not always the case these days and for some time, that must have been rough, to say the least, on the child’s mother.
Of course that was not the case. Last year when the Cubs “titled” for the first time in 108 years, that #7 was played on Wednesday November 2nd. This year #7 was on Wednesday November 1st.
I prefer listening to Smoltz over the equivalent pain of giving birth, something as a man I can not fathom, but have learned the hard way, there is nobody like your mother as I heard Al McGuire, now there was a rarity, a good television sports analyst, say so long ago, but it is CLOSE!!
A Grundig radio
Tomorrow night in West Los Angeles, an extraordinary film about the life of the wonderful, talented, compassionate performer, Kellyann Chippendale will be shown at 6 P.M. at The Revive L.A. Theater located at 12420 Santa Monica Blvd.
The film is being screened as part of the PTAFF Film Festival.
Ms. Chippendale told me, that “at its core, the film is about the positive effect one teacher can and does have on a student’s life.”
We will keep you posted on other screenings of this film, all around this spinning world.
The Houston Astros, about whom I have fond memories when they entered the National League as the Colt 45’s in 1962, won their first title, in what was their 56th season (the great DiMaggio referenced by Mr. Hemingway, who would not like these tangents in my writing, but loved Joe, saw his hitting streak end at 56 and the “value” S.F. Giants ended their title drought after 56 years) winning (5-1) at Dodger Stadium, in game 7 of the ’17 World Series last night.
George Springer, who hit 5 home runs in the 2017 World Series, tying a record for a player on the Series winning team, set by Reggie (you know what the obstinate “Can” “can” do with his Reggie criticism and the fact his ways hurt so) 40 years ago, also vs the Dodgers, doubled and scored in the 7th game’s first inning, the latter part occurring when Cody Bellinger (a far worse than Reggie 16 strikeouts in this series) threw the ball behind starter and losing pitcher Yu Darvish–(the acqired Dodger pitcher getting routed in both his W.S. starts).
A “Springer/ 2 run “rhymes with Springer,” with 2 out, T3, made it (5-0). Astros pitching, no pun “dodged” L.A. threats, with Charlie Morton, perhaps the first to win #7 of an LCS and W.S. in the same season.
This is the third major professional sports league crown for the city of Houston, the first in the city’s only other “winner take all game” in a major sports league, that #7 of the ’94 NBA final, when the Rockets beat the New York Knicks.
Coincidentally, last night when the Astros “titled,” the Rockets easily defeated, you guessed it, the Knicks.
Stranger/coincidentally, the night before when the Dodgers, hoping to join the ’88 and ’10 Lakers, who came home to L.A. and won games 6 and 7 to “title,” won to make them over 3 to 2 faves to accomplish that feat, the Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons, you guessed it, the team, they the Lakers overcame to win the ’88 crown.
2017 World Series MVP, George Springer pictured above.
The Los Angeles Dodgers/Fox Network won (3-1) in game 6 to force a seventh and deciding game vs the Houston Astros, as the 2017 World Series, the first since 1970 with two 100 wins plus teams (that one in glorious daylight with Curt Gowdy, Chuck Thompson, Jim McIntyre and Tony Kubek only went 5 games as the great Brooks Robinson and the Orioles “picked” the Cincinnati Reds) goes to the first ever home L.A. Dodgers seventh game of a World Series.
Chris Taylor, who solo’d in the L.A. team’s (L.A. won its only other #7 World Series game behind Sandy Koufax, shown last night and while I do not root vs L.A. with anywhere close to the ferocity with which I “loved” them far too long (’63-’85, surprising my father, who came home from work and said “I heard that before” when after Tom LaSorda pitched to Jack Clark, I said I would no longer root for the Dodgers and have kept my word) first W.S. at bat and tied the insane #5 game at 12, with a 2 out T9 single, delivered a 1R2B, that scored Austin Barnes and sent Chase Utley (believe me, Utley batting left handed “scared” me, but losing pitcher “Just” very good NOT great, you know how I feel re Kershaw, but oh do I “fear” him tonight, Verlander, now (0-4) in W.S. tilts, “SINNED” and hit Utley in the foot on a (1-2) pitch no less) to third, whence he scored on Seager’s long fly out to right (speaking of right, Fox execs could celebrate then, as I knew ’twas to be L.A. in #6 and a big $$$ 7th for Fox).
Houston “tried to win (1-0)” but Verlander as is the case with all of them, I say since Lefty Grove are not Sandy (I still “love” Sandy, not so Vin Scully or even Earvin Johnson, each also shown, though I once did.)
The Astros had a (1-0) lead (I had my 4’s note, recall my Snider post yesterday, as Springer, Dykstra and Snider all had/have 4 HR’s in one W.S. and all wear or wore the #4 when doing so, I believe) on Springer’s 2 out, T3 homer but failed 2nd and 3rd none out T5, “lowlighted” by Josh Reddick, being fanned by starter/no decision Rich Hill. Alas could not Verlander squeeze, as Hous needed 1 run there but did not get it!)
Thus #7 tonight, I will watch, my money on L.A. my heart and quixotic sickness vs them. Each team is very good, not great and I am guilty of thinking it is title or failure. The team that scores less runs tonight may be denied the ’17 crown, but they are NOT losers.
When I feel down, such as thinking about Joe Buck, in his 20th world Series getting his 5th seventh game and this year getting a 7 game LCS and World Series for the first time, I recall Jim McIntyre’s call of the last out of the ’70 W.S.
I can’t get his voice here, but in honor of his call and Brooks Robinson, tonight’s tilt will end on a ground out, third to first, it will not be “Robinson to Powell, the Orioles win,” but it is nice to recall that moment.
At an event commemorating the 50 year anniversary of the great 1951 pennant race won by the New York Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers, I interviewed the outstanding Dodgers’ player Edwin “Duke” Snider.
He was so modest, when I mentioned he hit a “multitude” (my word) of home runs in the 1955 World Series, the lone Fall Classic won by the Brooklyn Dodgers.
“A multitude?” he said being modest. I said few hit more, he said “Reggie (Jackson) did, but I believe nobody else has ever hit more in one World Series.
Enjoy “The Duke of Flatbush” on this classic episode of “What’s My Line” by clicking the link below.
Whats My Line Duke Snider
Last night, for the second time in what has admittedly been a fabulous World Series, albeit one playing out far too late into the night and morning, I marveled at the incredible (13-12) Houston Astros’ win that gave them a three games to two World Series lead, vs the Dodgers.
The teams now travel to Los Angeles, where they will play game six tomorrow night and a seventh game, if necessary, on Wednesday night.
Alex Bregman’s run scoring single in the bottom of the tenth inning ended the five hour, seventeen minutes game, which featured Houston coming back from 4, 3 and one run deficits, only to dissipate a 3 run lead, they took to the ninth inning.
For the second time in this World Series a Dodgers’ player delivered in my book, THE clutch hit, knocking in the tying run, down to their last out, with a runner in scoring position, but in an eventual loss. Kike Hernandez did so in game 2 at home, but Houston won, while despite Chris Taylor accomplishing the great feat in game 5 last night, in the end it was in a loss.
Houston got three runs or more batted in performances from Yuri Gurriel, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, with Gurriel and then Altuve smacking game tying 3 run home runs, to tie the mind blowing tilt, in the 4th and 5th innings.
Additionally, George Springer was on base 5 straight times and as was the case with Brian McCann, both homered in the tilt and also reached base before Bregman, who has also played so well defensively in this post-season, delivered pinch runner Derek Fisher with an historic hit.
The irony of the name Derek Fisher (a namesake played on 5 Los Angeles Lakers’ title teams and remember L.A. has 20 major North American sports league crowns while Houston has but 2) and great efforts by Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger (4 runs batted in) and the aforementioned Chris Taylor are cited, deservedly so here.
A truly great game, I missed “(3-0) L.A,” but am so glad I watched it. It was well worth, though it should not be necessary, staying up past 2 in the morning, having seen something great and winding down afterward.
I’ll say it was an over!
Three slots on Fox and a two/two W.S. (I am a two plus two equals 5 guy, questioning and vs the networks and their control, but alas two/two equals $$$$$).
It “had to be” and was L.A. in #4, (at Houston vs the Astros), and now they went from a nine to five underdog to an eight to 5 series “fave,” after TWO big TWOb’s (aka doubles), by out of his slump, Cody Bellinger and an all important game tying hit by Logan Forsythe, led the Dodgers (6-2) in #4 and got Fox a TWO/TWO, definite profit, World Series.
As was the case in #4 of the ALCS, Houston relief pitcher Ken Giles took the loss, yielding a (Corey) Seager single, a tough walk to Justin Turner and Bellinger’s big blast/double, that scored Seager and set up an eventual 5 run L.A. 9th, capped by Joc Pederson’s 3rhr, his second home run of the series.
Did you see the look on Kershaw’s face as now he does NOT face pitching a potential 4th game Dodgers ousted loss with him losing and is a “bit much” (minus 146 and likely to climb, (perhaps) “fave” as the chalk bettors, after they lose in football, will bet more on Kershaw. Yesterday the bettors won as Alex Wood, who pitched so well as did Charlie Morton for “Hous,” was bet from plus 126 to plus 103) ‘fave” in the pivotal 5th game. (In referencing the 5th game John Smoltz, who was a great pitcher and has vast technical pitching knowledge, but is so sloppy and unprepared regarding names, keeping score et al –called it the 5th “INNING” not game, perhaps a “nit pick” on my part, but the Buck/Smoltz combo does not have the “good taste” of pastrami/corned beef, but the negative of it, “turning my stomach”).
OK— my perhaps offensive opinions, to facts you may not care about, but are both accurate and not likely to be found anywhere else.
Only once (’88) have the Dodgers lost #3 of a W.S. and still won the crown.
No L.A. sports team and they have won 18 or 19 in a final series (the ’51 Rams won a one game final), depending on whether you count the ’02 Angels, but the note applies for all L.A. titles, has ever “titled” after losing game 3 of a (1-1) final. They have won #3 of such a final and still lost, but never won when losing the third game of a (1-1) final.
One more, the Saturday game winner of an L.A. Dodgers World Series went on to win the crown in all of the previous eight L.A. Dodgers World Series with a Saturday game (there was no Saturday game in ’59), the Dodgers splitting the eight. Yesterday was Saturday and I should (there is that dreaded word again!!) have cited the above facts yesterday, but I did not!!
More: En route to the ’59 Dodgers and ’02 Angels’ W.S. wins L.A. baseball teams won #3 of a (1-1) World Series.
Six times en route to titles, the Lakers won #3 of a (1-1) final, doing so in ’72, ’80, ’85, ’88, ’01 and ’10.
I have some strong opinions about the college football playoff and the history involving so called titles in their competition.
Facts thus far today include two previously unbeaten teams falling, first Iowa State at home (recall the great movie, “The Hustler” “this is Ames”) defeating T.C,U.
Next Ohio State about a touchdown favorite rallying to defeat previously unbeaten Penn State.
Last night, I had the privilege to watch a poised, humorous (that makes sense), beautiful inside and out, Melissa Rivers present and sign copies of her book “Joan Rivers Confidential” at the stunning Barnes and Noble store, located in The Vernon Hills Shopping Center (680 White Plains Road) in Scarsdale, New York.
Surely in the midst of a frenetic promotional pace, Ms. Rivers took the microphone and talked about her amazing mother, Joan Rivers adding “take with you” comments (one was buy another/different book, as we need to support reading actual books), while glowingly showing a timing and humor, that made me, a “kindred spirit,” fellow only child, glow with pride.
She answered questions, explained the emotions and process of culling great “archival material,” regarding Joan Rivers (“not junk,” another “good one,” from Ms. Rivers), found out from one of Joan’s Barnard classmates that her mom was a philosophy major and raved about another lovely woman’s boots (from a distance I admired, inquired and will include Lori Silverman’s website regarding the boots, Melissa admired).
The night put me in a really nice place, watching Melissa talk about the book she and family friend/ publicity executive, Scott Currie combined to bring us. I can not wait to read it.
Somewhere, perhaps, my parents are able to convey to Melissa’s parents (Joan and Edgar) how grateful I am to Melissa, for being so cordial, talking to me regarding parents, her lacrosse playing son Cooper and her mother Joan’s role in a truly ahead of its time film, “The Swimmer.” Our time talking rounded out a great night.
The incredible, Melissa Rivers pictured above.
Click below for information on how to buy Joan Rivers Confidential
Joan Rivers Confidential – amazon.com
Melissa raved about Lori Silverman’s boots. You can gain information about them. Click below to do so.
Andy B Sports 