There is Aaron Judge and his rookie season home run exploits.
Few, if any, can be talked about ahead of Hank AARON when home runs or for that matter all around play, are discussed.
Another HANK, Greenberg was a great home run hitter, nearly eclipsing the Babe (Ruth) when he hit 58 in 1938.
Do not forget Joe JUDGE as a key player on the only Washington title team, the 1924 Senators and his long, excellent career with the team.
Elliot Lurie, best known as the lead singer of “Looking Glass” gave those of us in attendance at Lockwood Music Hall a great night to remember, with his performance and truly classy, gracious manner.
The performance included songs and stories and still sounding great performing alone, took us to that “beautiful place” only great song(s) are capable of doing.
Yes I closed my eyes and “could hear the sailor’s stories,” along with my memories as Mr. Lurie treated us to “Looking Glass’ mega hit, “Brandy (You’re a fine girl),” singing the song twice (second and last).
He told us great stories, played some new songs and brought the grateful audience songs by greats Nat King Cole and Curtis Mayfield.
Jeff Grob, the drummer from “Looking Glass,” was in the audience really coming alive for “Jimmy Loves Mary-Anne,” and was really informative as he offered great praise for that song’s producer, Arif Mardin.
Both Mr. Lurie and Mr. Grob talked to me regarding Mardin’s greatness as a producer and person.
It was a great night seeing Elliot, learning new things and going back to a great place.
Click below to hear “Jimmy Loves Mary Anne.”
LOOKING GLASS “JIMMY LOVES MARY ANNE’
Today in Chicago, the White Sox and defending champion Cubs met at a point in time after each team had won a title within twelve years.
This is the first time since 1920 that such a point in time existed concerning the two Chicago baseball teams.
The White Sox ended an 88 year title drought by winning the 2005 World Series.
Last season the Cubs ended a 108 year title drought.
Phil Donahue a Cubs rooter is from Cleveland, the city whose baseball Indians now have the sport’s longest title drought.
The Craig Counsell managed, Milwaukee Brewers ended a six game loss skein and still lead, however, precariously, in the N.L. Central.
Counsell “titled” as a player with both the 1997 Florida Marlins and 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks.
In ’97 he scored the winning run in game 7 of the World Series and more important as the Marlins were the home team and all that entails, tuned in the tying run with a sacrifice fly, in the bottom of the 9th.
He was voted the top player/MVP of the Diamondbacks’ 2001 NLCS win vs the Atlanta Braves.
Above Counsell “vs the defense” is pictured about to land on home plate with the 1997 World Series winning run in the eleventh inning of #7.
Yes, in a way I am staying in the genre as Hoops, with all it offers has some relation to someone, an incredible, burgeoning talent, named Chippendale, Kellyann Chippendale, a comedic performer currently performing in Los Angeles.
She is charming, beautiful, topical and quite humorous.
Ms. Chippendale will be performing at The Comedy Store/ Original Room in Los Angeles commencing at 7 P.M. in Los Angeles on August 25th. She also will perform at The Improv on August 6th, the show beginning at 5 P.M.
Kellyann Chippendale, pictured above.
Just one block from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station, Hoops Cabaret (48 West 33rd Street NYC) combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club.
It’s a great place to watch the baseball game, or any sporting event. There are so many Hi-Def TVs and giant screens—there is not a bad seat in the house.
Food and drink served by good looking waitresses in referee outfits, while beautiful entertainers in sports themed clothing perform on multiple stages.
Highly recommended.
HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar
48 West 33rd Street, New York City
***Court-side, Mezzanine and VIP seating
***Multiple Hi-Def TVs on all Three Floors
***Super VIP “Man Cave”
***Full Menu, served late
***Full Service Premium Bar
***Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
I never said the defending world champion Cubs were out of it.
Critical of their play yes, not happy they “titled” last season sure but even with WFAN’s Mike Francesa touting a Cubs easy division win (I heard that Monday and the Cubs won 3 more to make it 6 for 6 since the All Star break, while “Milw,” without me posting “Counsell Pt. 2 have now lost 5 straight games), they have shifted within 1 game of leader Milwaukee.
A long way to go and I now say if Francesa says they the Cubs will run away with the division, then I say they will not.
The next day would be Houston (Astros/Oilers) vs the New York Mets/Jets in both sports.
Teams shifted series and venues Saturday to Sunday, Lindsey (Nelson) though cited as there, maybe he was, probably was broadcasting college football.
Last Saturday, well over fifty years later, all but one of 15 Saturday big league games were at night.
This day in 1966, but one of nine scheduled games were at night. If only it were then, if only life offered other chances, but glorious it was.
Phil Niekro won his 300th game on the last day of the 1985 season as a member of the Billy Martin managed New York Yankees.
That is quite an achievement and the Yankees really wanted to win that season finale for Mr. Niekro.
The day before a Toronto (Blue Jays) victory had given them their first divisional title (then a one fourth division title) and eliminated the Yankees from such a possibility.
Bob Wolff, a truly good man, broadcaster, teacher and one who never saw me live up to being the one “tape” he used to demonstrate professional potential ability in his superb broadcasting classes, passed on yesterday, at the age of 96.
My condolences to his incredible wife Jane and kudos to granddaughter Elizabeth for her great, personable chat with me this day after. She did not fall far from the Wolff tree of great personality and courtesy.
As a tribute to Bob here is my post titled “The Great Bob Wolff” as written four years back.
The Great Bob Wolff
August 9, 2013
An “alchemist” got it right when he mixed hard work, an incredible penchant for preparation, and some good fortune in “creating” the great sportscaster Bob Wolff’s career.
Another “creation” brought Wolff, a truly caring, good man into this often angst ridden world. Bob Wolff, who has been a sportscaster for over 70 years and continues to work (at News 12 on Long Island, New York) at past 90 years old, treasures his wonderful family. He is “complete,” recalling their deeds, and stays spry looking to their future.
His wife Jane has exceeded any analyst, stat person or producer in helping Bob’s career. Jane has always been there with transportation and good thoughts both to and from Bob’s innumerable and incredible treks in an unbelievable career.
Without actually saying the words no hitter, as to not offend the many superstitious people in the radio audience and baseball world, Bob Wolff let us know Don Larsen was working on a perfect game. That was as he broadcast the second half of game five of the 1956 World Series.
When Dale Mitchell was called out on strikes by umpire Babe Pinelli, (working his last game ever as a home plate umpire) Bob intoned “strike three, a no hitter, a perfect game for Don Larsen!”
It is part of history and Bob’s call brings that moment to life. That accomplishment is a dream of many and Wolff with hard work, fierce determination and fortune lived it more than once. Each time he rose to the occasion including the next game of the ’56 World Series when Bob called Jackie Robinson’s game ending hit. It was Jackie’s last base hit.
On an unusually warm December 28th, 1958, Bob heard Baltimore writer John Steadman predict an overtime game before the start of the NFL championship game between the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants. There had never been an overtime game in NFL annals.
Bob did not need that great bit of forecasting to be prepared. Again he rose to the occasion in the overtime: (John) Unitas gives to (Alan) Ameche and the Colts are the world’s champions.
Bob’s broadcast of the historic play is succinct and “right on the play.” It it a broadcasting “call” that will play eternally. This is both achievement and well deserved reward for Bob Wolff.
Recently, Bob Wolff donated priceless interviews he conducted with such baseball greats as Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams to the Library of Congress.
This incredible gesture illustrates so much about Bob Wolff. He certainly is generous. Beyond that, organized and prepared, having archived this piece of baseball history. The interviews are both treasure and thanks to Bob to be treasured.
Bob Wolff is an incredible interviewer and with great creativity can improvise with the best of performers.
In 1977 the Mets traded Tom Seaver, their great pitcher to the Cincinnati Reds. It was the “topic of the day” for weeks and still resonates in New York baseball history. People certainly had their opinions.
I was privileged to be in Bob Wolff’s Pace University sports broadcasting class at that time. Days after the trade, he showed us all about preparation and creativity. Incredibly, he took both sides of the Seaver trade discussion. Exhibiting great articulation and just the right amount of enthusiasm and intensity, he reeled off both sides of the argument, without “batting a proverbial eyelash.” Having witnessed that still provides a great memory.
Whether setting the “winter holidays” scene for the ECAC Basketball Holiday Festival, picking the huge underdog Cincinnati Reds to not only win, but sweep the Oakland A’s in the 1990 World Series (they did), calling Clyde “The Glide” Austin’s winning shot in an NIT game, or more famously, another “Clyde,” (Walt “Clyde” Frazier) and the New York Knicks setting a then NBA record for consecutive wins, Bob has broadcast many great sports moments. He did so in great fashion.
Only Bob has broadcast in the championship round of all four major team sports leagues. That is just the tip of a “titanic iceberg” that also includes the 1962 National League playoff and Jerry West’s incredible shot that sent game three of the 1970 NBA finals into overtime.
Another great teacher, Harry Goder, was trying to help his 11th grade math class with the task of multiplying positive and negative numbers. He made the comparison with positive and negative people.
His first example stated a positive number multiplied by a positive number yields a positive number. “Think of good things happening to a good person.”
That certainly is the case with Bob Wolff, except change the word good to great.
Bob interviewing “The Babe.” Maybe they are connecting again. Ruth died in ’48, Wolff died at double 48, 96.
Andy B Sports 