Below you will find a link to Vin Scully’s recollections of the 1965 World series.
There is much good information there, as one would expect from a fine broadcaster such as Scully.
However, there is a factual error, one that easily could have been avoided, with some more homework or fact checking.
In this year the retiring Scully, in my opinion, got a bit too much praise and far too many declarations of being the best ever, I point out the following mistake.
Commenting on character “Chauncey Gardner” nearly walking on water in “Being There,” author Jerzy Kosinski said if anyone might be able to do so, it would be one as pure, as the of course fictional, “Gardner.”
Scully, as is the case with the rest of us, does not “walk on water.”
It was John Kennedy and NOT Ken McMullen, (the latter was traded by the Dodgers before the 1965 season), who came in as a defensive replacement, in the 9th inning of game 7 of the 1965 World Series.
Click below to hear Mr. Scully say it was McMullen at about the 3 minute, 47 second mark, of an otherwise accurate account of the ’65 W.S. and Dodgers’ season.
Vin Scully recounts the 1965 World Series
Click below to view the evidence.
1965 World Series Game 7 Box Score – Baseball Almanac
Vin Scully, a great, but not perfect, and in my opinion, not the greatest broadcaster, pictured above.
It is not on a par with with the New York Yankees winning 14 American League Pennants in 16 seasons from (1949-1964), in fact it is not close, however, the New England Patriots’ almost certain 14th AFC East crown in 16 seasons (2001-2016), is quite a feat!
“N.E.” raised their record to (10-2) with a (26-10) win vs the L.A. Rams, covering the 13 plus point spread.
One recalls the Pats’ first division title season of these 14, ending with a big upset win in the Super Bowl vs a powerhouse St. Louis Rams team, that was nearly as big a favorite as the Pats were two days ago.
New England has a 3 game lead over Miami (Dolphins) with 4 games remaining for each team. It is almost certain the Pats will have a division title in 14 of the 15 seasons in which Tom Brady played more than one game.
Brady, coach Bill Belichick and Company almost certainly will host a slots/divisional round game for an incredible 11th time in 16 seasons and 14 playoff appearances.
You can see on Bill Belichick’s typical game day outfit, the Patriots, then the Boston Patriots were established in 1960. They have come a long way and have won 4 Super Bowl titles.
They were an original AFL team, one of eight. As late as 1997, before the Denver Broncos another original AFL team (in fact they met the Pats in the first regular season AFL game ever played), won the first of what is now 3 Super Bowl wins, only the Oakland Raiders among the 8 original AFL teams had won a post AFC/NFC format (begun in 1970) Supe crown.
For the record, the Pats (4) and Broncos and Raiders (3 each) are still the only original 8 AFL teams with a post common schedule AFC/NFC set up Supe win.
Both the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, neither with as much as a Supe appearance since, won Supes in big upsets in the last two AFL seasons, that helped “justify” the NFL/AFL merger.
The Buffalo Bills (0-4), Houston Oilers as their current incarnation, Tennessee Titans (0-1) and San Diego Chargers, the L.A. Chargers in that first AFL season in 1960, also (0-1) have never won a Supe crown.
AFL expansion teams, Miami (Dolphins) and Cincinnati (Bengals) have respectively won 2 Supes and lost 2 such games. The ‘Phins, sans a title since 1973 have also lost 3 Super Bowl games, all 5 appearances under coach Don Shula.
Very few things can help alleviate the “pain” of WFAN radio’s Mike Francesa being as my father would have said so “cock Sure” of his assertions.
We will deal with the so often wrong, Francesa, at a later date.
Right now, the realization Decades is showing, I believe the first twelve episodes of the Abbott and Costello television show today, has helped change my mood, say 130 degrees for the better.
Additionally the usual “Through the Decades,” one “Rowan and Martin Laugh In” and Lena Horne interviewed by Dick Cavett, will air today and early tomorrow morning.
“Hey Abbotttttt” and “slowly I turn” regarding “Niagra Falls” will be heard. It starts at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Can’t wait!!!
This is a good “over and over” There will be classic routines, edited sure, but certainly worth seeing ‘over and over.”
As it turned out what I thought as I went to sleep Saturday night with Penn State behind (21-7), (they actually trailed Wisconsin (28-7), but rallied to win), did manifest.
It will be Alabama vs Washington and Ohio State vs Clemson in the “semis,” of the 4 team playoff that will determine the 2016 season college football national champion.
As discussed yesterday, the selection committee in my opinion got it right in denying Penn State a spot in the ‘offs, despite beating Ohio State and winning the Big Ten. They had 2 losses, while Ohio State had but one.
Additionally Ohio State won at powerful Oklahoma and certainly on paper, is a better team.
I just about hit the opening lines on the New Year’s Eve day and night semis. As I thought going to sleep Saturday, (alone one thinks about those things, not other. Alas, despite some good non dating site “efforts,” including one meeting a beautiful, vibrant woman in an elevator, I fear I will be alone on New Year’s Eve-(will I watch?) Ohio State opened as a 3 point favorite vs higher seed Clemson.
I thought Alabama, which “buried” me all season going (6-0) vs my predictions and (10-2) vs the spread would be 14 point “faves” vs Washington. The Tide opened as 15 point favorites.
First of all, how pathetic I am in not only going (0-6), vs the great Alabama team ,but in not seeing Penn State outright vs Wisconsin, which was lucky to win the Big Ten title tilt vs Iowa last season.
Also why not vs Clemson, which very likely will be in the 4 team ‘off, but won by 7 as 11 point favorites vs virginia Tech in the ACC title tilt last night.
Only one loser/loser/ underdog vs a winner/winner/favorite this week.
That is in the Jim Nantz tilt, his beloved Houston getting say six plus points at Green Bay. Why that game (6-5) Houston (so help me, on NPR singer Rizzo said she went to the “U” of HOUSTON just as I typed HOUSTON) at (5-6) Green Bay and not for example, (8-3) K.C. at (7-4) Atlanta?
The reason is Nantz gets what he wants, the allure of Lambeau Field (who cares! and I love tradition but not at the expense of going in what is a more important game matching teams with a significantly better combined record) and his beloved Houston.
I will give slight nods to both the Chiefs now getting only 4 points, I took 6, and the Lions getting say 7 at New Orleans. Both favorites can score in a pinball machine type manner, so as always be careful!
Try the “dogs.”
The late college football expert Beano Cook is clearly relevant, concerning the college football overview and the decision today, as to whom will be in the 4 team playoff, an entity Mr. Cook opposed.
Still reeling from the election results and a supporter of Barack Obama, I do agree with Beano, one who opposed Mr. Obama, that both the 4 team playoff and Mr. Obama’s support thereof are things I oppose.
In addition to myriad mistakes, CBS commentator Gary Danielson forgot to mention, even once, the most important reason Ohio State could, and I believe should be ahead of Penn State, despite the fact Penn State won both the Big Ten crown and the head to head meeting.
That is the fact Ohio State has one loss and Penn State has two. Beano would have agreed and not just because with Pitt “roots,” he was decidedly anti-Penn State.
Beano pictured above would have “destroyed” his bookie this season, cashing bets this season on “anti team” Penn State to go “over” in wins, make and win the Big Ten title and would be “alive” with an unfortunately realistic shot at making the 4 team playoff.
God (up there talking with Beano), only knows the odds on Penn State winning it all, but though Beano would have “let it ride,” anyone with Penn state to win it all could hedge a bit and gain something.
One more thing, God might be aware of the many good things I do. Certainly I hope so. However, Beano on God’s agenda because of Penn State, has pointed at me saying what he said on earth.
He is a good guy but like the “water torture.” It is “water torture,” as since Beano died in the middle of the 2012 season, I could have altered how close the Sword of Damocles/poverty is to me, by betting his anti teams, Penn State and Notre Dame the “right way.”
As Beano always said “you have to be willing to lose.” I remain many days late and so, so many dollars short and likely always will.
The other classic, controversial divisional round/slots game between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders took place after the 2001 regular season, on a snowy January 2002 night at New England.
Future Hall of Fame players, Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri began their ascent to greatness that night, the former getting a big break after a potential game ending fumble, the latter kicking an incredibly clutch and difficult field goal to tie the game after the non fumble, so called “tuck rule” by Brady that kept N.E. alive.
As the Raiders did 25 years earlier after surviving the also 2nd slot/div game vs N.E., the Pats, in that the first year of Saturday night “slots” tilts, went on to win their first Super Bowl.
I recall the New York crowd, at an event honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, rooting for the Pats. It was Oakland that was still deemed “evil” and the Pats with the youthful Brady, were the sentimental choice.
Things have changed of course and while the Raiders have floundered, save their Supe loss season the next year in ’02, New England continues with one of the great sustained periods of great play, in certainly pro football, if not sports history.
“Sustained excellence” was the motto and achievement of earlier Raiders’ teams with executive Al “Yutzi” Davis, engineering the effort.
Now with a long way to go (5 reg games) and “N.E.” again rocked by an injury to a great player, tight end Rob Gronkowski, the two teams top the AFC with (9-2) marks. Perhaps they will meet in either the “slots” or even the AFC title tilt.
“Anniversary friendly,” 15 and 40 years later, it is nice to look forward, back and at the often symmetrical story, history manifests.
Alabama is a truly great college football team under coach Nick Saban(o).
Last year though they won the title, the Tide allowed late ‘back door” touchdowns in the SEC title tilt and national title game and failed to cover “el” spread.
This year they have rewarded their bettors with a (9-2) mark, destroying schmucks like me who bet or predict vs them.
Additionally when they clearly no covered and “laid down’ a bit vs a Tennessee Chattanooga team that should never be on the ide schedule, there was no line.
In veteran announcer Verne Lundquist’s last SEC title tilt and maybe his last game ever, Bama no covers Florida (31-14).
I am (0-5) predicting vs Alabama this season.
Certainly no lock here!
In two consecutive college football seasons, 1990 and 1991, the mythical college football national title was shared.
In 1990 Colorado and Georgia Tech shared the pre BCS or 4 team playoff, mythical crown.
A year later, now “anniversary number friendly” 25 years ago, the Washington U. Huskies and Miami Hurricanes, (their 4th title in 9 seasons) shared the title.
While first of all, nobody knows what would have happened and second, Wash was a very good team, I still feel safe in saying the “Canes” had the more impressive season, simply because they won at top ranked Florida State, as an underdog on November 16, 1991.
Now the Huskies control, or seem to control their fate, as far as playing for the crown.
They need three wins, a likely one tonight, as 7 plus point favorites vs Colorado (just realized the Buffs shared one of the two consecutive “shares” a “time” ago–a cousin, one of many who rudely do not return phone calls, was ahead in the time share concept, years ago) in the Pac 12 title tilt tonight and two more if they qualify for the 4 team playoff that now determines the title winner.
Who knows about the playoff, maybe (even) if Wash gets in (even) with a win, but after two “evens,” some odds.
Tonight: Wash 33 Colorado 30.
If Wash wins, they get in. (the four team playoff that is.)
The only dogs I really know are sports underdogs and that they are a better choice than favorites.
Thus please understand I could easily be wrong, but the cute puppy above does look like a huskie??
I say the game tonight looks like the Wash Huskies in a no cover win.
I will protect with “Col” money line because I could not stand either Michigan, especially Michigan with sore loser, horribly conservative football wise vs Ohio State coach Jim Harbaugh or Penn State (for different reasons) getting in the playoff.
P.s. In this year of horrible “antis,” and knowing how good Mich and yes Harbaugh can be, I truly fear Mich is a legitimate threat to Alabama or any other team they might encounter in the playoff.
Think Ohio State 2 years ago with the brilliant runner, Ezekiel Elliott, a player NFL fans might know a thing about.
Yesterday, I actually watched a so called “fantasy” sports show called “Game Time Decisions,” in which the host and a guest were predicting sports outcomes regarding the betting line.
Neither the host nor his guest were particularly arrogant, though the host began to be when giving his picks at the end.
The guest would not bet/predict the Golden State vs Houston NBA tilt, but stated with certainty, the Warriors would win the game.
He must have some Mike Francesa “blood,” most of the so called, chalk first handicappers do, as his “certain” statement regarding a “GS” win ended with the Houston Rockets soaring higher, on a “high” scoreboard, (132-127).
Both talked about Dallas minus 3 with little regard for a Dallas win and no cover (i.e. Dallas winning by 1 or 2 points).
The Cowboys are (11-1), winners of 11 straight games but now “just” (that is a tremendous record as well) (9-3) vs the spread, winning (17-15) at Minnesota, which after a (5-0) start has lost 6 of 7 games, to fall to a (6-6) record.
Andy B Sports 