The three game inter-league Yankees at Cincinnati Reds series (the Yankees, who had lost 9 of 12 games “salvaged” in the third) evoked memories of three great, great teams, arguably the three greatest baseball teams, when you consider their more than one year status, sweeping the at “Cincy” portions of three World Series, contested between the Yankees and Reds.
In 1939 an unbelievable, record setting Yankees team, albeit in a year the great Lou Gehrig fell ill and would die two years later, tragically young at age 38, swept the Reds in 4 straight games, the last two at “Cincy” in the World Series. (Joe DiMaggio, in his 4th season, all title seasons, as in my opinion the 1936-1939 Yankees were the greatest of all baseball teams/eras, alas as Joe said, “I played in 10 World Series and we won 9 of them,” something he was more proud of then hitting in 56 straight games and maybe even marrying Marilyn Monroe, had a famous hook slide, scoring in the clinching game).
Certainly for one season (1961) and they did win 5 straight pennants (’60-’64), part of an incredible 14 in 16 seasons (’49-’64) and repeated as title winners in ’62, those Yankees rate with anyone, among baseball’s greatest teams.
In ’61, greats Roger Maris (yes he was great and sadly there are boos directed at him, not overwhelming but discernible, when he is being introduced before a tilt vs “Det” in ’62) and Mickey Mantle each threatened the immortal George “Babe” Ruth’s single season home run mark set in 1927 (of course that ’27 Yankees team (they repeated in ’28 is among and often considered the greatest), Roger doing so 61 to 60, Mick finishing with 54 and the Yankees denied in 7 games by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, won it all, going to Cincinnati in a (1-1) series and winning all 3 to title. Johnny “Bells” Blanchard had a huge game tying, 8th inning pinch-hit home run in pivotal game 3.
Last, but nowhere least and with all due respect to the Oakland Athletics (’71-’75, with titles in ’72 and I just realized wins at “Cincy” in the first two tilts of the ’72 World Series–speaking of two, Fury “Gene” Tenace, the eventual W.S. MVP that season homered in his first two at bats in game 1 at Cincy and Oakland, now sadly no longer “there” (ode to Gloria Stein), won #’s 1,2 and 7 in Cincy for the crown) the Cincinnati Reds of certainly ’75 and ’76, having been just a bit too young to have seen the ’61 Yankees, are the best baseball team I ever saw.
In 1976, they swept the Yankees, who would win the next 2 titles, with another superb version as were/are the lesser era, Joe Torre managed teams that “quantity’d” 4 titles in 5 seasons, (’96-2000, and 3 straight ’96-’98), winning the first two games at Cincy.
Joe Morgan, arguably baseball’s greatest second baseman ever (I opt for Roger “Rajah” Hornsby, a right hand batter,who “only” batted .358 lifetime, however “Little Joe” is close, so great and sadly no longer alive) set the tone with a first inning home run while John Bench, probably by consensus, baseball’s greatest catcher, won Series MVP, capping it with 2 game 4 home runs.
I cited others including an Oakland A’s team that also won the first two World Series tilts at Cincinnati, however, back to the undefeated, “at Cincy” (the A’s lost in #6 there in ’72), in said World Series and the ’39 Yankees season and era, ’61 Yankees season and era and ’76 Reds seasons, rank with any team, perhaps a tad better!
The above referenced Blanchard pinch home run tied game 3 at Cincy (T8), before Roger Maris hit the tie breaking, go ahead to stay game winning home run, called by the great Mel Allen and shown above.
May 1954
—Ted and the Bo Sox were in town. (New York City)—-
It has been a while since I posted a video of the great television show, “What’s My Line?”
As a bit of a make up, below I think you will enjoy the show from May 23, 1954 with the great Ted Williams as the mystery guest.
John Charles Daly is the show’s host. Panelists that Sunday night after an exciting (10-9) Red Sox win at Yankee Stadium vs the Yankees in one of just two seasons the Yankees did not win the A.L. Pennant from (1949-1964), were Dorothy Kilgallen, Steve Allen, Arlene Francis and Bennett Cerf.
Of course a la, as noted by Morris Carnovsky (“A.R. Lowenthal”) regarding James Caan’s “Axel,” in “The Gambler,” Mr. Williams had on his “favorite tie.”
He was not wearing one.
It was not raining, (it is so hot) however, “Thunder happened,” in the form of the franchise’s first and Oklahoma City’s only pro crown, winning #7, (103-91) vs the Indiana Pacers.
A (9-0) third quarter “Thunder rumble” (the 9 points on consecutive 3’s by final round MVP Shai Gilgeous- Alexander (29 points), Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams (20 pts.) put “City” ahead to stay denying a game “Indy” team, whose star player, Tyrese Haliburton suffered an achilles injury midway or so, through the first quarter and of course did not return. (As with Tatum of Boston, next year play is also unlikely, one would hope not, but think so) was the highlight.
The Thunder, as both the Seattle SuperSonics and current form are now (2-3) in NBA final rounds with a (14-16) mark in such games, while Indiana (the state is (0-4) as in consecutive years, ’55 and ’56–first Dolph Schayes, George King and the Syracuse Nationals 7’d and Philadelphia Warriors with Tom Gola 5’d the Fort Wayne Pistons) is (0-2) in final rounds and (5-8) in games.
Chet Holmgren had a big game for the title winning (84-21) Thunder hitting for 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. In defeat, T.J. McConnell of the Pacers impressed, scoring 16 points and as an indicator of “City” going up 22 points, had all of his team’s points for a 13 minutes, one second span minutes span in which the 56 all score, became (90-68) “Ok City.”
While for a 31st consecutive, completed NHL season a team from Canada was denied the NHL crown, Canadian player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (pictured above) of the title winning Thunder (12 assists in #7) won the NBA final round MVP, “reg” MVP and scoring title in 2024-2025.
Oh, thunder only happens when it’s raining Players only love you when they’re playing
Eight years apart, two great players, first Roberto Clemente in 1971 and next Wilver “Willie” Stargell in ’79 led the Pittsburgh Pirates (remember when they had a chance, were viable or both?!) to 7 game World Series triumphs, clinched at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, vs the Orioles.
After that “Buccos” road win in the 7th game of baseball’s final round/the World Series, home teams prevailed in #7 of a league final an incredible 18 consecutive times over the next nearly 30 years before another Pittsburgh team, the NHL Penguins won the ’09 title with a game 7 of the final round win at Detroit, vs the defending champion Red Wings, who had 6’d them, the year before.
Starting with that Pens’ road triumph, the road team has gone a so impressive (7-2) in # 7’s of final rounds in the three of four major sports leagues (the NFL contests a one gamer for the crown most always at a neutral site, better known as the Super Bowl), big league baseball, the NHL and NBA–the last of those having one tonight.
Each league has a current road team win skein in such a game, (3-0) NHL– the aforementioned Pens in ’09, the Boston Bruins with current “Fla” champion (their parade is today, again the NBA title is to be decided tonight) Brad Marchand on their roster, in ’11 at Vancouver (Canucks) and the St. Louis Blues winning their lone crown, in 2018, at Boston, vs the Bruins and Marchand).
In the last #7 of an NBA final round, Cleveland upset 73 win(s) Golden State on the road in 2016.
Baseball also with 3, the Cubs ending a 108 year title drought, vs the Cleveland Indians in ’16, the Astros first title win in what was their 55th completed season in 2017 and the Washington Nationals only crown either as the Montreal Expos or “Wash,” vs the ‘Stros in an all road teams win, 2019 World Series.
Before the Penguins’ above referenced road #7/final round win in 2009, the last such was 38 years earlier in 1971.
Click above to hear the great broadcaster Danny Gallivan’s calls, as Henri Richard scored the decisive goal and the game’s conclusion.
Tomorrow night’s Pacers at Thunder #7, will be the 20th such in NBA final round annals in 79 possibilities, (1947-2025).
Starting in 1951, the 5th season, #7’s in the final were “rolled,” in half (10)–(in ’51,’52, ’54,’55, ’57, 60,’62,’66,’69 and ’70–the Celtics going (5-0) in those, the Lakers (2-4) with both wins while in Minneapolis) of the next 20 seasons.
That percentage is in sharp contrast with just the same 10 final round 7th games occurring in the next 55 seasons, counting this one, which was deemed unlikely before it began, from (1971-2025).
Home teams won the first eight before the Celtics in what was Bill Russell and Sam Jones’ last tilt, won at L.A. despite 42 by Jerry (West) in ’69.
Overall, the home team is (15-4) with the ’74 Celtics (at Milwaukee Bucks), ’78 Washington Bullets at Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder and also routed in a road 6th, as the Thunder were, forcing the upcoming 7th) and the Cleveland Cavaliers with Ky Irving’s “3” “el” most important play, winning at the record breaking (73-9) Golden State Warriors, in 2016.
These Thunder had a stellar (68-14) “reg” and are (15-7) in the ‘offs while (50-32) Indiana (Pacers) are also (15-7), (7-4) on the road. The Thunder are (10-2) at home and pretty big #7 favorites.
Finally, the Thunder hope to “play the pattern part of the ’84 Celtics with “Indy” as L.A.–then a la the 2025 Thunder, the Celts lost games 1, 3 and 6. They won the crown with wins in games 2 (Gerald Henderson’s steal and tying driving lay in an NBA all-time play) 4, 5 and 7.
“Indy” opts for ’94 as the Houston Rockets with “Ok City” as the New York Knicks. Then as with 2025 Indy, the Rockets won games 1, 3 and 6. Houston, at home, won #7, while Indy, unlike ’84 title winning Boston, cited above, is on the road, for this highly anticipated, “all the proverbial marbles” game.
That’s correct, Gerald as that is the one and only Celts legendary broadcaster, Johnny Most, who once worked with NBA broadcasting pioneer, along with the largely forgotten Hilliard Gates, Marty Glickman, on the call.
The low television ratings of the 2025 NBA final will get a “spike,” as there will be a game 7, that manifesting after the Indiana Pacers eased in #6 vs the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“It” will be contested Sunday night at (68-14) Oklahoma City, an 8 point favorite vs (50-32) Indy, however, the Pacers have been the better, by far ‘offs story/”thing” with “City” struggling on the road in its 10 road ‘offs tilts.
Playing in Seattle as the SuperSonics, the franchise (now 0-2 in #6 of the NBA final, each on the road at the Bullets in ’78 and to a “Chi” clincher in ’96) lost #7 to the Bullets in ’78 before bouncing back to “5” them for the crown the next season.
Indy, sans an NBA crown, just (2-10) in semis lost in 6 to the Lakers in the 2000 final round.
Playing in the A.B.A. the team went (3-2) in final rounds, one a 7 game triumph, clinched on a Saturday afternoon, TV’d by CBS (Don Criqui?), that in sharp juxtaposition to the Sunday night telecast 2 nights hence.
The late, great “D.J. ,” Dennis Johnson, left off the top 50 NBA players list while alive in ’97 (he was a posthumous top 75 choice recently), went 0 for 13 in #7 vs the Bullets in ’78, only to bounce back and win the final round MVP the next season.
Some noted that Sam Reinhart’s 4 goals in a Cup clinching tilt, (2 into an empty net and yet Tkachuk not he got/gets credit for the prestigious Stanley Cup winning goal) tied “Babe” Dye’s record set 103 years ago when Dye’s team, the Toronto St. Patricks also clinched the title with a (5-1) win.
Did anyone note that goals by both Reinhart and Dye gave their respective teams (1-0), (4-0) and (5-0) leads?!! Dye made it (2-0) and deservedly is listed as the Stanley Cup winning goal scorer, while Reinhart, who made it (3-0) with his second goal, more or less ridiculously, is not.
Oh Corey Perry, you did win one (’07 with Anaheim) but this is the 5th time in 6 seasons, with 4 different teams that said Perry team, lost in the NHL final.
Finally with likely more from both the NHL and NBA ahead, the Florida/Miami area now joins New York (really if it was not for the Yankees …), Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and Los Angeles as the 7th to have teams with at least 2 crowns in all 4 major sports leagues.
Miami: The Heat (3-4) in final rounds lead with three titles while the Marlins, yes the Marlins (2-0) in the entity, Dolphins (2-3) and now the Panthers (2-2) have each won 2 crowns.
Cecil “Babe” Dye is pictured above.
The Florida Panthers [ (2-2) in NHL final rounds and (9-13) in such games, once (1-8)–have repeated as Stanley Cup Champions, having 6’d the Edmonton Oilers in this year’s final after winning in 7 games also vs “Edm” (once (5-1) in final rounds, they are (5-4), (28-22) in such games, once (20-10) and (20-6) after losing in 4 straight games to the New York Islanders in 1983).
Last season, Sam Reinhart had the Cup winning goal, a truly legitimate one, as it put Florida ahead to stay and was #7’s last tally, as the Panthers, once up (3-0) in the series, prevailed (2-1) in game 7, as was the case last night, in a Panthers’ home Cup clinching game.
“About” last night, Reinhart “R”ifled 4 goals, 2 of which were empty net–(he “opened” and made it (3-0) yet the quirk gave Matthew Tkachuk, another “ringer” on a Paul “The Magnificent” Maurice coached team of many such, credit for the Stanley Cup winning goal, the immortal Gord Howe once told me in an interview, he was so proud to achieve), in a (5-1) #6, title clinching win.
Sam Bennett who had 15 ‘offs goals and 4 in the final won the Conn Smythe Trophy, as the most valuable of the playoffs performer while Brad Marchand (he won #2 in O.T. and opened /made it plus 3 in the pivotal 5th game at Edmonton) and the brilliant netminder Sergei Bobrovsky, to name 2 were major contributors to the Florida crown.
A Florida team has made the NHL Final the last 6 seasons, winning 4, repeating twice, the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021 before losing to the ‘Lanche (Colorado) in ’22 while “Fla” after being 5’d by Las Vegas (another Sun Belt U.S. team, no title yet again for Canada, has now copped 2 straight crowns, each clinched at home.
The Oklahoma Thunder, whose Friday night past, #4 win was/is the key one, moved within 1 win of their first Oklahoma City based crown, riding Jalen Williams’ forty/40 (ode to Chet, who directed NBA games also on ABC, which to me anyway, were done so much better than now) to an 11 point(s) win over the Indiana Pacers, in game 5 and into a (3-2) final round lead.
Regular season and still likely final round MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose great game in #4 was and barring the unforeseen, will be this series most important, added 31 points.
Now will it and to me, if “City” wants the high regard that would accompany a (68-14) title team, do it in 6 not 7 (they conceivably could lose #7 at home and even last night in a tilt which Ok City led throughout, the game Pacers, did cut a once 18 point lead to 2) be clinched Thursday night in Indy or will there be a 7th on Sunday night?
Sorry for the “chalk,” yet fully aware it could still be Indy, certainly in #6 and maybe even 7, though again I doubt it–thus in “Anticipation,” some notes follow.
The Thunder, as both the SuperSonics and based in “Ok City,” are (4-1) in NBA final round games 5, winning to go up (3-2) vs the Bullets in ’78, clinching the crown in ’79, staying alive from (0-3) to (2-3) vs Mr. Jordan and the Bulls in ’96 and being eliminated by the Heat in 2012 before last night’s win.
Eight times in 31 “such,” has the #5 winner in an NBA final round series that was tied 2 games apiece lost the series.
One of those 8 was the Thunder franchise as Seattle losing to the Bullets, whom “Sea” 5’d the next year.
Those Bullets winning in 7, the last game at Seattle (Mitch Kupchak’s big “put back” play and I remember Mark Splaver, look him and the ’78 Bullets run up) doing it vs “Sea” in ’78.
The Florida Panthers are one win away from repeating as NHL champions, after a pretty easy (they led (2-0) as stars Brad Marchand “opened” and Sam Bennett notched his 5th goal of the Cup final, then (3-0) (3-1) (4-1) and (4-2)–after a (5-2) Saturday night win, at Edmonton, vs the Oilers.
Last season, the Panthers had a (3-0) final round lead vs the Oilers, before needing a 7th game (thus a home loss in #5) home (2-1) win (Sam Reinhart had the game winning goal, Evan Rodrigues “opened” and “Bob,” Serg Bobrovsky was stellar in goal) (2-1) win to claim their first title and hand the Oilers a second straight 7th game final round defeat, the other at the Carolina (Hurricanes-that area’s football team the Panthers are (0-2) in final rounds/Super Bowls), in 2006.
This is the first of the eleven combined Cup final rounds in which Florida or Edmonton appeared, that the series was (2-2) and not (3-1) or complete after 4 games. The last “such” was the eventual 2019 St. Louis Blues’ 7 game triumph, winning at Boston (Bruins), a big Panthers’ rival, yet they dealt the superb player, Marchand, to “Fla” at the trade deadline this year, after failing to title in a home 6th game.
While Edmonton, which had overcome a (3-0) deficit after one period in #4 (“Fla” has outscored “Edm” (7-0) in the last three first periods and scored first in 4 of the 5 tilts thus far) and won (5-4) on Leon Draisaitl’s second overtime goal of the series, but are now likely, but far from certain, to lose in a third straight final round, a la the NFL San Francisco 49ers, after winning in 5 consecutive such entities.
Paul Maurice’s Panthers failed to clinch at home up (3-2) vs Toronto in the “quarters” and ahead (3-1) vs Carolina in the semis plus the above cited 3 failures in games in which they did not face elimination, one at home in last year’s final round series vs Edmonton.
Sam Bennett, pictured above, with 15 goals in these ‘offs is I suppose the favorite to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the entire ‘offs most valuable player if Florida does win a second straight crown.
