There is so much less drama and importance in the current Minnesota (Twins) at Boston ed Sox) (one good thing is that it is still Fenway Park as the venue, these 57 and for that matter 112 years later, though the latter number coincides with the awful event involving a ship called “The Titanic”), penultimate weekend series, but with some degree of qualification for the 12 team baseball tournament at stake, memories are evoked from the incredibly dramatic Minnesota at Boston last weekend (just 2 games Saturday and Sunday, each “beamed” nationally by NBC with Curt Gowdy), as the “1 of 2” to the World Series, great ’67 A.L. Pennant race played out.
More details: 9 days and 8 games remain for the now 4 teams truly involved in a race for the 5 and 6 seeds in the A.L. playoffs. Currently the Twins, after an extra inning win (how can this ever be truly good if you put a runner on second to start each extra frame?!!), are in the 6 seed position (not to be confused with anything in the kamasutra, but alas reduced to thoughts only, I digress), trailing current “5” Kansas City (5’s again as K.C. has lost 5 straight games), by one game, but have the two team tiebreaker.
Now, truly evoke ’67 as now, as then, while Minne is at Boston (very likely Boston, 2 under .500 and trailing 4 teams and 5 down in the loss column is out of contention, obviously an exponential difference from 1967), the Detroit Tigers are in contention, currently one and a fraction games behind the Twins (Minne has the two team tiebreaker, which would be decisive in any season ending ties in the standings, as there are no playoff games to decide even playoffs qualification, the reason being with 12 teams in, “THEY” want it (the tournament), started immediately i.e. October 1,2 and 3 with 4 (12 to 8 round) tilts the first two days and zero to four as possible quantities for (“4”) decisive 3rd games on Thursday October 3rd, the 73rd anniversary date of the most dramatic pennant story of all).
Back to glorious ’67, Minnesota came to Boston for games on Saturday September 30 and Sunday October 1, leading Boston by 1 game, making it the opposite of 1949, when the Red Sox at the Yankees, needed 1 of 2 to win the pennant.
However, unlike ’49, another team Detroit (again involved this year, hence this post so you can “thank/blame” that/them), was very much involved, as they were even in the loss column with the Twins and hence one ahead of Boston, in “the as Beano Cook often reminded, but did not invent,” “the all important loss column.”
Yet, the loss column was not quite the whole story as “Det” had the disadvantage of having to play doubleheaders both Saturday and Sunday, vs the California Angels, who played the spoiler role very well, winning each nightcap game, the Sunday tilt following Boston’s second straight win vs Minne, clinching the pennant for the 100 to 1/”Impossible Dream” Red Sox.
Carl Yastrzemski was brilliant, all-time type brilliant, down the stretch for Boston, as they won the pennant in ’67. Click above to see his 44th home run, I believe off Jim Merritt, called by the great broadcaster, Ken Coleman, on the ’67 season’s penultimate day.
Two current “race” notes, Seattle, currently 2 behind Minne for qualification but sans the 2 team tie tiebreaker,is still in contention and more interesting, Carl Yastrzemski’s grandson Mike, playing for the N.L. and out of contention, S.F. Giants, singled and scored the run that put S.F. ahead to stay vs K.C. in a (2-1) win last night.
The New York Yankees, a la the result in the 2000 ALCS, have won the first two of three games in Seattle vs the very likely out of contention, Mariners, and having been on the positive end in 6, of what is now 8 straight days of “gains” in the Yankees/Orioles battle for the one eighth “div,” have a 5 game lead over the O’s–veritable zeroes of late, having lost 8 of 10 games, however, be warned, things often change quickly in the ‘offs, witness last season when the O’s went into the ‘offs as the A.L. one seed and after a first round bye, were swept out in 3 games by the eventual champion, Texas Rangers.
5 is operative, as I cite it, not because I think the O’s have much of a shot to win that one eighth “div,” but to recall a 3 game series, 50 years ago, earlier in September (Tues 9/17-Thurs 9/19) of “same calendar” 1974, when “Balti” came to New York (Shea Stadium not “Yankee,” as it was being refurbished) and swept the Yankees in all 3 tilts.
Balti and the Yankees have split their 10 contests, thus far, and the tiebreaker/season series, but I seriously doubt any real drama, will be decided in the upcoming O’s at Yankees, Sept. 24-26th. (5-5 and 5 game lead, the Yankees won games 3 and 4 at “Sea” in the 2000 ALCS, lost #5 there, then won the pennant, clinching it at home in #6, in the last “LCS or later,” game, with Bob Costas as the lead TV broadcaster).
That win made official that an intra New York/Subway (World) Series would take place between the Yankees and Mets. It was the first such series in 44 years (Yankees 7’d Brooklyn (Dodgers), reversing the 1955 result, in ’56) and the Yankees took their 26th crown and 4th in 5 seasons, doing so in 5 games.
Speaking of the Mets, they currently are tied with Arizona, the team that denied the Yankees a 4th straight title, rallying in the bottom of the 9th inning of game 7/2001 World Series, for the second of three wild card spots, each team 2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves, (a franchise, the Yankees, managed by ex Braves player, Joe Torre, defeated in 8 straight W.S. tilts to cop the ’96 and ’99 crowns, after losing at home in the first two W.S. tilts in ’96), for ‘offs/tournament qualification.
Oh will I have numbers(#’s) here as the baseball season heads into its tournament.
Surely, at least some will involve the Yankees and their largely great history/success.
Today’s ‘offs possibilities/meaningless A’s at Cubs game in venerable Wrigley Field, in the “as it ought to be,” light of day, comes 3 weeks shy of 95 years after the same two teams met in games 1 and (exactly) #2, of the same calendar as 2024/ 1929 World Series.
Then on Tuesday October 8th, the ’29 post-season which consisted of the 5 game Philadelphia A’s triumph (Howard Ehmke, famously “surprise starting” #1 and fanning a World Series record 13, a record that stood 24 years until Carl Erskine broke it with 14 in 1953) began. (The far too many 12 teams/2024, what amounts to a 12 team tournament commences in less than 2 weeks on Tuesday October 1st with four 12 to 8 round tilts. Despite that this year is exciting and I will have updates and try to watch).
I have cited here before how great the Philadelphia A’s from (1929-1931) (think about it they beat out the great New York Yankees, who had Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, among other greats, to win 3 straight A.L. “flags” and World Series titles in ’29 and ’30) were and the 5 game ’29 series ended with Philadelphia (“Philly was said as I thought of typing it instead of Philadelphia) scoring 3 runs/B9 to (3-2) the Cubs in #5 with Mule Haas hitting a tying 2RHR and Bing Miller tuning in the World Series winning run.
Connie Mack, the record time A’s manager, through thick, thin and thick and long thin again, pictured above in 1927.
Although I am not a crossword puzzle participant or even a “puzzles in general” lover, NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday’s,” “The Puzzle” with Will Shortz is something I rarely, if ever, miss.
One reason for that is relaying the clues to one George Thomas, who gets cited here, not just for being a good, giving person, but for achieving a “hat trick,” having solved the weekly puzzle for a third straight week.
A SPOILER ALERT, as I will reveal this week’s clue and answer, as solved by George, who did so not long after having been given the clue.
George shows great acumen in solving these puzzles, which include ones played with the contestant picked, who sent in his or her entry, and the weekly one revealed at the end of the at most, 5 to 7 minute segment, airing on NPR at approximately 8:40 Eastern Time, each Sunday morning.
Question/Clue: Name a U.S. state capital followed by a world capital , say the names one after the other and together, phonetically you get an expensive dinner entree.
Ready and I will scroll down a bit for space, allowing you to think it over or go elsewhere and take your time trying to get the answer. I reveal it as proof Mr. Thomas got the answer, as stated above for a third straight week, not long after being given the question.
U.S. capital city is Dover, Delaware. The world capital is Seoul, Korea.
The expensive entree is “Dover Sole.”
Thanks for playing the puzzle and doing so, is a highly recommended way to stay focused.
Tune in this Sunday (September 22nd) to hear if George was correct, (he was) (at times there is more than one correct answer) or subsequent to then, on the NPR.org website.
I believe 13 of the 16 NFL tilts in this the second week of the 2024 season, the league’s 105th involve clashes between teams that met in previous season playoff games.
One the Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots tilt is a redux of the famed 2014 season Supe when Mal Butler’s interception saved New England and gave Brady/Belichick and “N.E.” a 4th crown, first after 10 years and 9 seasons sans one.
Seattle had won the ’13 title ripping Peyton Manning and Denver (Broncos).
Seven other tilts this week are “semis” rematches, 4 recalling conference title games in the NFC/AFC configuration that started in ’70 and the other with the Colts sojourning to Green Bay, in a redux of the unscheduled NFL “semi”/Western Conference playoff tilt of 1965, when “G.B.” prevailed in surely fortunate fashion, (13-10) in overtime en route to the first of three consecutive NFL crowns, a feat no team has ever matched by winning title tilts, a game first played in 1933.
The other 6: Buffalo ripped Miami thursday night past, Monday Atlanta at Philadelphia, and today Pittsburgh at Denver, N.Y./Jersey Giants at “Wash” D.C. team, Would you believe they are the Las Vegas Raiders and they visit the Baltimore Ravens and in the “Jim Nantz feature” (likely to be Cincy as a “dog,” but be careful) Cincinnati (Bengals) visits the two time defending champion K.C. Chiefs.
In ’97, ’86, and 2000 Pitts, the Giants and Ravens won those “semis”/conference title games and subsequently won the Super Bowl.
The Bengals (0-3) in Supes, losing by 3, 4 and 5 points not in that chronological order, lost to the Rams in the 2021 season Supe.
An already cited Supe winner in ’86, the Giants (4-1) in such games (they were (3-11) in NFL title games, which were played from ’33-’69), lost to the Ravens in the 2000 season game while the Broncos who won the ’97 semi at Pittsburgh and then upset the defending champion Packers (as cited the ’65 champions as they beat the team/franchise that really is the ancestor of the 2000 champion Ravens, namely the Cleveland Browns) were blitzed (39-20) by the Giants in the ’86 season Super Bowl.
Above depicts wind. The Giants “had the wind”in their favor and largely rode it and their great defense to a (17-0) win(d) in that ’86 “semi”/NFC Title tilt, enabling them to continue on a path to their first crown in 30 years.
The letter “S,” in quantity and certainly quality, comes to mind in recalling the “s”uperb middle linebacker, Joe Schmidt, who died days back at age 92.
There is his name, nicknames (Our dominant athlete and eventual far better person, Santasieri, a sweatshirt, as “Schmidt/Schmo,” also Silly) and comparisons with another great at the position, named “S”am (Huff).
Joe Schmidt played his entire career with the Detroit Lions and managed in ’53 and ’57 to be on their last two title teams, representing half of the four they have won.
In Joe’s case as a way to attest to his greatness, more than the usual about voted awards as in ten consecutive years (’54-’63), he was voted both all league and to the Pro Bowl, the latter, once a fairly meaningful game and even now still an honor.
The pitchers hitting great day/night and incredible Dodgers “in and around September 9th” notes, if not a post each are coming.
Today some notes on baseball, still such a great game and though 12 ‘offs teams are at least 4 to 8 too many, which is stirring some good feelings in me, a good thing.
It is very likely that the two Central Division winners, the almost certain N.L. such, Milwaukee Brewers (up 8 plus games) and the likely A.L. counterpart, Houston Astros (up 3 plus) will be the league “3” seeds and thus must contend with an all home games, best of 3 round of 12 to 8 series.
The closest one eighth “div” race stands with the Yankees one plus games (2 in the loss column) ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the A.L. East.
Next for the Yankees is a 4 game series with the Boston Red Sox, considered their biggest rival (it was nice to see Yankees/Royals in fairly meaningful games, evoking their once great rivalry which manifested in ALCS clashes 4 times in 5 seasons (’76-’80), evoking memories but not close in importance to the Yankees 4 game (also Thurs-Sunday) September (7-10) sweep at Boston which put them even in the had to finish first, 1978 A.L. East race.
Boston still in it, but barely for ‘offs qualification, has helped the Yankees bid for a first place finish, winning 4 of 6 vs the O’s in the last month.
The “above” as an additional tribute to J.E. Jones as this speech in “Field of Dreams,” especially that beginning around 1:22 in, along with, as cited above a fairly stirring “reg,” reminds one, that despite the many bad changes in its rules, baseball remains such a great game.
James Earl Jones, an iconic performer, who, back when, performed and trained to play one in tribute to Jack Johnson, a man who was overwhelmed not just by racial prejudice, but also by laws supporting it, and gained fame, even universal acceptance his father Robert Jones (loved him as “Luther Coleman” in the great film, “The Sting”) never could (Jim Croce in “I’ve Got A Name” ode) never could, died days back at age 93.
Mr. Jones was a tremendous presence and that is what many even most will cite today.
My greatest appreciation for the incredibly talented and achieving Mr. Jones, was his work in the above referenced “The Great White Hope,” as Johnson, in “Fences,” which as was the case with “The Great White Hope,” earned Jones a Tony Award and then as a J.D. Salinger type who then goes “oppo”/public and talks of baseball’s great meaning to so many (brilliantly enunciating BASEball emphasizing its first syllable and again its meaning, in “Field of Dreams.”
Jones and his great career made more impressive by his overcoming a stuttering tendency, sprouting incredible eloquence surely would make his dad Robert proud as James Earl Jones, in so many ways and with such grace and eloquence, lived the life he could not.
James Earl Jones, I believe in “Field of Dreams,” pictured above.
Yesterday on the 59th anniversary of Sandy Koufax pitching a perfect game vs the Cubs, whose pitcher that night, Bob Hendley allowed but one hit and two baserunners in his 8 innings pitched, as the Dodgers won (1-0), with the game’s only run scoring in an inning, sans an L.A. hit, again the Cubs were in Los Angeles to play the Dodgers.
Only I can come up with the incredible notes that I will post regarding Dodgers vs Cubs September 9th or darn close to clashes, in eventual Dodgers’ title seasons.
For now, click below to read my post 3 years back.
56 Years Since Sandy’s Perfect Game In Same Calendar 1965
Left to right, Bob Hendley and Sandy Koufax, who 59 years and one day ago, pitched in one of the greatest pitched games by 2 pitchers in big league annals.
Andy B Sports 