In an earlier post, two teams that each won three consecutive pennants with an overlap, the (1906-1908) Chicago Cubs and the (1907-1909) Detroit Tigers.
Today a look at two glory teams with all-time great managers who at least began their pennant streaks in the 1920’s.
The New York Giants are the only National League team to ever win 4 consecutive pennants, doing so from (1921-1924).
They split in the 4 World Series after those two pennants, handing the New York Yankees defeats in their first two W.S. appearances.
However after sharing or more precisely being tenants in the Giants’ Polo Grounds home, Yankee Stadium opened in 1923 and the Yankees won their first World Series and it was vs the Giants.
In 1924 the Washington Senators won their only title as the Senators and the only World Series ever won by a team from the nation’s capital when they 7’d the Giants, winning the last game in 12 innings, the longest a decisive, winner take all, World Series game ever lasted.
Next a look at the 3 time American League champion (1929-1931) Philadelphia Athletics, a team so great and yet so under rated.
The Jets square off against the Giants Saturday, August 27th at 7:30pm. It’s still pre-season but this game has more than the usual interest for some due to the crosstown rivalry.
A great suggestion on where to watch the game: the Vivid Cabaret gentlemen’s club in midtown Manhattan has a giant theater style screen, and many hi-def TVs throughout their 3 floors. They also have dozens of beautiful Vivid Cabaret girls, which insures that if and when the game gets boring there is a lot to keep you happy!
Vivid Cabaret New York, 61 West 37th Street. It’s a favorite spot for pro athletes from all the major sports who like to “make it rain” on the club’s lovely dancers. It is the sister club to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC, located just four blocks away.
While, as referenced in my last post, the Chicago Cubs, the only team sans a World Series win longer than them, need not play that hard for the rest of the “reg,” the Cleveland Indians surely do.
Cleveland’s lead over the Detroit Tigers in the A.L. Central is down to five and a half games.
Additionally, the Indians are in a battle for seeding position with among other teams, the Texas Rangers, with whom, they open a 4 game series in Arlington Texas.
Speaking of Arlington, Texas, in “11/22/63,” a work of fiction, but also largely accurate historical facts, by author Stephen King, on that date in the book, the city (Arlington) is cited as the future home of George W. Bush’s Texas Rangers.
No matter that, due to events on that date, John F. Kennedy ended up in another “Arlington,” a cemetery near Washington D.C.
Unlike President Gerald Ford (a Ford actually called and portrayed by a Chevy), perhaps Mr. Bush’s father could give us more insight into events of that day. He was with the C.I.A., after all.
No accusations, just some “information please,” not found in the almanac.
As I recall, almanacs such as the one above, would have reviewed the year before, as is obvious by the fact there is nada, regarding the assassination of President Kennedy on the cover.
Sadly, as time goes on, I wonder where other information regarding that event might ever be found.
My advice to the Chicago Cubs is to stop winning so much, in what now are virtually meaningless regular season games.
The Cubs’ record is (81-45) so there is no “danger” of a truly great wins total, but if I were them I would slow down.
Long before their title drought got out of hand (it is almost 108 years since they won The World Series), the Cubs won an incredible 116 games in 1906. They only lost 36 games, easily the best record in modern baseball history.
That record earned them a berth in the World Series. They lost that World Series to the Chicago White Sox 55 years before White Sox fan and current U.S. President Barack Obama was born.
Soon in the last days, certainly month or so before Mr. Obama’s status is overshadowed by a newly elected president, the Cubs, no matter how many games they win under “I still say he is a loser,” (takes one to know one, but at least I would never have been too lazy to bring in a lefty pitcher to face the great David Ortiz as he was in game 5 of the 2008 ALCS), Joe Maddon, will be one of eight teams in the baseball tournament.
The 116 win, 1906 Cubs failed to title, as one of two teams!
Click below to view Wayne Newton perform “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast”
1972-Wayne Newton – Daddy Dont You Walk So fast.
It really bothers me that once again, though this seemingly is not as important concerning the league competition, that an all powerful sports league commissioner has stepped in, abusing his power and suspended a player.
The player, a great one, and believe it or not I am not a New England Patriots’ fan) is Tom Brady.
He did nothing wrong yet he, his team,his fans and especially “anti-fans,” are made to suffer.
This seemed settled last year when Brady fought the suspension and won. Yet powers like Goodell (was not there a call for his resignation?!! by the hypocritical media after an incident involving violence, one of so many regarding the NFL?!) are not so easily turned aside.
Thus when the NFL, its NBC cameras turned on in Arizona, a state that for so long fought honoring Martin Luther King, Roger Goodell a resident of Bronxville, New York still a town where there is nary a Hanukah light, will gloat in the fact Tom Brady will not be present.
Wake up people, forget your “trophies,”( they will not walk away in/or from any case) and cut your watching, by at least thirty percent!
“Senior” really never let me play, but he came to my door and gave me the trophy saying you were part of this.
I did tip a pass but got no credit and even if I had, then and now I urge you to beware of “Trophies” in all their forms.
In the current issue of AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), there is a segment with comments from Bob Costas.
One such comment revealed by Costas, who just hosted the Olympics yet again, is that he can not fall asleep with any light in the room, in which he is attempting sleep.
In the same issue, suggestions for better sleep include making the room as dark as possible.
Speaking of sleep, despite my great admiration for Mr. Costas, I watched none of the Olympics. Sleep in a pretty dark room was a much better choice.
As I said, I did not watch so I do not know if the horrible fact that Marty Glickman and Sam Stoller, pictured left to right above, were denied participation in the 1936 Olympics, was cited.
Before going back to more history regarding teams that won as many as three consecutive pennants, an update and some comments on baseball in 2016.
The reason the three straight pennants history crossed my mind is the fact the Kansas City Royals now with 9 straight victories still have an outside shot to at least make the baseball tournament and bid for a third straight pennant. “Experts” consider them 30 to 1 underdogs to accomplish that feat.
Meanwhile the Chicago Cubs, a franchise cited in the last post as one that won 3 straight pennants are very likely to be the National League “one seed” in a bid to win their first pennant in 71 years.
The Cubs have a 7 game lead over the Washington Nationals in the one seed race while the Los Angeles Dodgers, now two games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the N.L. West, are ten games behind.
Gabby Hartnett, pictured above, after hitting his famous “Homer in the Gloamin’ ” that was the key hit in the Chicago Cubs 1938 pennant.
First of all, in recalling teams that won as many as three consecutive league pennants, I am citing those from the beginning of World Series play between the National and American Leagues which commenced in 1903.
One team from each league won three straight pennants from (1906-1909) thus an “overlap” caused them to meet in World Series competition in both 1907 and 1908.
The National League team and the victor in both those World Series was the Chicago Cubs, who also won the pennant in 1906 but lost the World Series to the cross town, Chicago White Sox.
The American League team that won three straight “flags” was the Detroit Tigers. They did so from (1907-1909).
In addition to the losses vs the Cubs in both the 1907 and 1908 World Series, the Tigers were denied by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1909.
The great player, Tyrus Raymond Cobb, (Ty Cobb) was denied team victory in all 3 World Series in which he played the last one in 1909 vs another all-time great, the Pirates’ Honus Wagner, who won his only title that season.
Some day I will give Pepsi Cola “equal time,” (maybe I just did). Ty Cobb got “in early” and amassed a great fortune, buying Coca Cola stock.
As I read in his grandson Herschel’s fine book, “Heart of a Tiger,” Ty Cobb was very generous in helping his former teammates that suffered misfortune. He always helped maintain their dignity, when doing so.
Click below for information as to how to purchase “Heart of a Tiger.”
Heart of a Tiger: Growing Up with My Grandfather,.
The New England Patriots have won 13 of the last 15 AFC East crowns the period, (2001-2015), corresponding with the NFL’s move to 4 divisions in each conference.
Last year the New York Jets were denied playoffs entry when they lost to division rival, Buffalo, at Buffalo in the season finale.
As was the case with the Bills, the Miami Dolphins failed to make the playoffs but were also a “spoiler” in winning their season finale at home vs the New England Patriots.
It cost New England which for the second time in three seasons lost an AFC title tilt at Denver. Their loss at Miami cost them the chance to play both AFC playoff games at home.
The New York Yankees also won as many as three consecutive American League Pennants four other times in addition to the three times cited during the incredible 14 pennants in 16 seasons run from (1949-1964).
Those occasions were (1926-1928), (1936-1939), (1976-1978) and (1998-2000).
A pair of “Joes” McCarthy and Torre guided them to not only consecutive pennants, but World Series wins from (1936-1939) and (1998-2000) respectively.
While McCarthy managed 4 straight World Series winners, topping Torre whose 2001 Yankees were denied a 4th straight when the Arizona Diamondbacks, getting a too often forgotten, key hit from Tony Womack rallied in the last inning, one Yankees’ manager won 5 straight World Series. His name is Casey Stengel.
Andy B Sports 