On a cable television show some years back, a discussion asked who was the greatest left handed pitcher of all time. Surely in the discussion is Carl Hubbell of the New York Giants.
82 years have passed since the second All-Star Game when Hubbell, with his dazzling screwball struck out 5 of the greatest hitters of the time or really any time, in succession.
The hitters were Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmy Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.
Surely it was one of the great baseball performances ever, by one of the game’s best pitchers.
Though he botched the usage of went and gone, (Yankees’ manager Joe Girardi, who otherwise is well spoken, is the king of that, pun intended,), LeBron James gave a good performance in “Trainwreck,” which starred Amy Schumer, somewhat easing the “pain” of he and the Cavs winning a title, aided by a commissioner’s power.
Now another commissioner, Bronxville resident, Roger Goodell is showing his power and affecting league balance, by suspending New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games of the 2016 season.
Only 16 games are played, but when you have the power and privilege Goodell enjoys, why care what you are doing to the competition that is supposed to be football’s essence.
More on this down the road.
Last year the American League West had two teams in the baseball tournament, both from Texas and the race was not decided until the season’s final day.
The Texas Rangers, who lead the division right now at the All Star break, won it last year, with the Houston Astros also qualifying for the baseball tournament.
In that tournament’s quarterfinal round, both Texas teams dissipated significant series and game leads and were eliminated from the tournament by eventual World Series winning Kansas City (the Royals came from the brink of elimination to beat Houston) and Toronto (Blue Jays).
This year I believe Texas will hold on and win the A.L. West.
The Cleveland Indians have a nice lead in the division as play begins after the All-Star break.
While the Detroit Tigers and classy Kansas City Royals have managed to stay in the race, I believe the Indians under manager, Terry Francona, who guided the Boston Red Sox to titles in 2004 and 2007, will hold on and win the A.L. Central Division.
Chicago (White Sox) have been a positive surprise team, while the Minnesota Twins, managed by the great player, Paul Molitor, have been a huge disappointment, after contending for baseball tournament qualification last season.
As the All-Star Game break continues, (until very recently regular season games resumed on the Thursday such as this, but games will not resume until tomorrow), a look at the American League divisions begins with the American League East.
Three teams are in contention now, the somewhat surprising Baltimore Orioles and the two considered to be best in the division, the defending champion Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox.
For now, I am leaving out the .500 New York Yankees but that could be a mistake. Doubt it however, but can not really call the outcome in this division. Forced to pick, let’s say Toronto wins it again.
Two members of the defending World champion, Kansas Royals, led the American League to its 4th consecutive All-Star Game victory.
Eric Hosmer, who should have been the World Series MVP and Salvador Perez, the player that did win it, led the victory (4-2) at the N.L. venue, in San Diego but with the American League, the designated home team.
Speaking of home, the All-Star Game result means the World Series will open in the American League city.
The team opening the W.S. at home has won 24 of the last 30, including titles by the Royals the first and last years of that span.
Oh the pleasures and the potential of spending time in a library.
The library has air conditioning, books galore and most of the updated devices that seem to make the modern world go around.
I am writing this post from a library now and plan to spend some significant time sitting and reading at a library in the very near future.
It is a definite good idea for you to do the same.
The Grinton I. Will Branch of the Yonkers Public Library shown above.
Many years after Bob Costas received the audio tape of game 7 of the 1960 World Series, played on a Thursday, my phone rang while driving on a Thursday.
That night Costas, as ever and never to be taken for granted, was great hosting a long lost video of the television broadcast of that famed game.
I answered the phone. It was Mr. Costas calling back. Talk turned to the audio, the radio broadcast of game 7 1960 W.S. by Chuck Thompson and Jack Quinlan.
Costas cited Quinlan on that day, as one of the greatest baseball broadcasters ever, I believe Bob said one of the top ten.
I say top 5, he starts the broadcast and is superb in calling Rocky Nelson’s 2 run home run and Bill Virdon’s 2 run single.
The Pirates are off, (4-0) there was and is more to come, recalling this masterpiece.
Jack Quinlan with Ernie Banks to his left.
In continuing with part 3 of comments and thoughts about the classic 7th game of the 1960 World Series, I will “let” the Baseball Almanac give details of the middle part of the game.
The vaunted New York Yankees fought back and took a (7-4) lead to the bottom of the eighth inning. The “Almanac” erroneously reported the score as (7-5) and also the Yankees did not follow “suite” but suit. Their account follows below.
Vern Law and the rest of the Pirates showed why they were still there by rolling over New York to take an early 4-0 lead. However, the Yankees came back with key performances at the plate by Bill Skowron, Mantle and Yogi Berra who shot to a 5-4 lead going into the eighth inning. They continued to lead 7-5 and looked to be in great shape as reliever Bobby Shantz appeared at the top of his game. Fortunately for the Pirates, appearances can sometimes be deceiving.
Gino Cimoli led off the Pittsburgh eighth with a pinch-single and Bill Virdon hit a sharp grounder toward Yankees’ shortstop, Tony Kubek. After the speeding ball took a bad hop and struck Kubek in the throat (resulting in a single), Joe DeMaestri was summoned to replace him as both Pirates remained on base. Dick Groat followed with another single cutting the lead to 7-5 and Roberto Clemente kept the rally going with an infield hit that scored Virdon and advanced Groat to third. Now trailing 7-6,
Click below to view the Baseball Almanac account of the 1960 World Series with their mistakes.
1960 World Series by Baseball Almanac
The Washington Nationals have won 9 of 13 games vs the New York Mets accounting for 5 of their 6 game lead over the Mets in the N.L. East. The Miami Marlins are also 6 games behind Washington in the division.
Washington had a 6 game lead after completing a 3 game sweep vs the Mets in Washington D.C. 11 days ago.
Now the Dusty Baker (he is a superb regular season manager) managed “Wash” team should not look back and in fact, look to climb in their N.L. seeding.
However, knowing baseball and recalling the inconsistent Nationals’ first half, figure at least one more drop by them enabling the Mets and maybe the Marlins to get closer, close, but I say not ahead.
Andy B Sports 