After not being in post-season play for 21 years after their 1979 World Series triumph, the Pittsburgh Pirates have been in the wild card round/N.L. play in game for three straight seasons.
However, among other things that means the Pirates have not won a divisional title since 1992, which was Barry Bonds’ last year with the team.
Pittsburgh is (1-2) in the play in games beating the Dusty Baker managed Cincinnati Reds in 2013 and losing to the eventual World champion San Francisco Giants in 2014 and the N.L. runnersup, the Chicago Cubs, last season.
Baker back as a manager with the Washington Nationals managed all three Pirates’ wild card round opponents, at one time.
He was Bonds’ manager in his first 10 seasons with the Giants from (1993-2002.) Baker also was the Cubs pilot starting in 2003.
Six times the Kansas City Royals faced elimination in the 1985 post-season, but they responded with victories each time and captured the World Series title.
The only real threat in those six games, however was in the sixth game of the World Series at home vs the St. Louis Cardinals.
A two out eighth inning hit by Brian Harper gave the Cards a (1-0) lead that they carried to the bottom of the ninth inning.
However, for the second time in his career, a team managed by the Cards’ Dorrell “Whitey” Herzog would fail to hold a one run lead, one inning away from clinching a series.
In 1977, coincidentally as Royals’ manager I still blame Herzog for his pitching choices as the New York Yankees rallied for three runs and a (5-3) victory in the decisive 5th game of the 1977 ALCS.
1985 was less on Herzog as some truly bad breaks, a missed call and clutch Royals’ hitting by Dane Iorg and Steve Balboni led the K.C. comeback win.
1985 WS Gm6: Iorg wins it in the bottom of the ninth
Click above to view Dane Iorg’s 2 run pinch single to win game 6 of the 1985 World Series. It is among baseball’s all time clutch hits.
Also it is a fine call by broadcaster Al Michaels.
In reading David Halberstam’s fine book “October 1964,” my mind swelled with memories and at least identifications with such baseball names as Chico Ruiz, John Tsitouris and Carl Warwick.
These were not the Bob Gibsons, Ken Boyers and Mickey Mantles that the book recounting the incredible 1964 baseball season also included. In future days I will comment more on both the book and 1964 season.
The Philadelphia Phillies, at the time sans a World title and with just two pennants, the last 14 years earlier, had a six and a half game lead with 12 games to play when they took the field for an eventual (1-0) loss to the Cincinnati Reds on September 21, 1964.
Chico Ruiz stole home in the sixth inning for the game’s only run while Tsitouris outdueled Art Mahaffey in a fine pitching duel.
Warwick’s good deeds were in the World Series for the Cards vs the Yankees. He collected 3 pinch hits, no player has ever collected more in a World Series.
It was truly a great thrill for me to meet Kreskin as in “The Amazing Kreskin” at a book party held last night at Troy Liquor Bar in Manhattan, for his splendid new book, “In Real Time.”
My excitement was due to years of great admiration for his considerable talent and entertainment skills.
My admiration for Kreskin grew exponentially after speaking with this classy, humorous, caring and entertaining man.
His new book is a step away from entertainment, as he is delivering a message about and for our future society. It goes along with the caring individual I met for the first time last night.
I will have more on the book as I continue reading. It is most revealing and represents a big effort by a brilliant, caring animal loving man to give back.
Other memories and lighter notes from last night include his terrific and strong handshake, what Mr. Kreskin calls a chiropractor’s dream.
Also when putting his hand on my head he joked (I hope), there was little there.
Quite the opposite when it comes to this, dare I say “Amazing” great and caring individual.
Order “In Real Time” : The Amazing Kreskin
Click above to order this great new book about a tremendous individual.
In 1985, the Kansas City Royals overcame three games to 1 series deficits in both the best of seven ALCS and World Series. They won their first title.
Thirty years later, the Royals negotiated three rounds of playoffs successfully and won their second title.
K.C. had to win two must games in the division series vs the Houston Astros, one in which they trailed by 4 runs on the road entering the top of the eighth inning.
At home in the decisive fifth game, the Royals overcame a (2-0) deficit a “mere bag of shells” as Jackie Gleason’s “Ralph Kramden” might have said after the incredible comeback win in game four.
Two teams truly interest me as the endless NBA and NHL regular seasons drag on.
The amazing Golden State Warriors seem to play the Oklahoma City Thunder each time I turn around. Yet another clash tonight in Oakland.
Meanwhile it is very unlikely the Montreal Canadiens will make the NHL playoffs.
Last night a shootout win by the Anaheim Ducks vs the Canadiens pushed the Ducks into a tie for first place with the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL Pacific Division.
It is the first time all year the Ducks are in first. Maybe the Canadiens will help the Ducks by denying their divisional rival, Los Angeles Kings a point or two in their clash in L.A. tonight.
At first I was just going to cite the fact that the food item usually spelled chili was CHILLI in the 1931 film, “Secret Six.”
As the movie progressed, I realized it was a better than average “gangster film” not by Warner Brothers, known for the genre but by MGM.
The cast was incredible but I marveled at Lewis Stone’s performance as what we might call a “shysta” lawyer.
Then I realized this superb actor later was to play “Judge Hardy” in the famed “Andy Hardy” movies with Mickey Rooney as “Andy Hardy.”
What acting range this man, who served the United States in two wars displayed.
Lewis Stone pictured above
Yesterday was the 54th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 point game in Hershey. Pennsylvania for the then Philadelphia Warriors vs the New York Knicks.
It is the 17th such anniversary without the amazing Mr. Chamberlain on this earth, at least as just any 7 foot millionaire (homage to Shirley MacLaine on us possibly having multiple lives and David Shaw’s book with Wilt).
This is the first such anniversary without long time Philadelphia pro basketball legend and team official, Harvey Pollack here.
After the March 2, 1962 game, Mr. Pollack wrote the number 100 on a piece of paper and had Wilt hold it up for photos. That photo is one of the most iconic of all sports’ photos, so simple and saying so much!
Click below for Deb Kiner’s story about a couple, who attended the historic game.
High school sweethearts on a date saw Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game, vintage photos
i just saw it on TCM after the overture on the opening credits of “Sparticus.”
The screenwriter is Dalton Trumbo as Mr. Kirk Douglas along with Otto Preminger in “Exodus” gave Mr. Trumbo proper credit after 10 years of an American, still not talked of enough horror called the blacklist.
Once I need not have approached Mr. Douglas for a picture, an autograph or even to praise his fine work over the years.
From a slight distance in a room I cited his bravery and contribution for giving Mr. Trumbo that screen credit on “Sparticus.”
Barely audible, but resounding throughout time, Kirk Douglas said thank you.
I say thank you Mr. Douglas.
The day after Game 1 of the 1988 World Series won by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Kirk Gibson’s incredible home run, I placed a fairly early LA. time call to the great sportscaster Bob Costas (one of the few still working these 28 years LATER and it seems Bob Costas excelled hosting a non sports show called “Later”),
As one might expect Costas was ready and on his way early to Dodger Stadium for game 2 of the Dodgers/A’s World Series. I brought up that he might note Gibson had homered in his last World Series at bat in 1984, all but clinching what is still the last Tigers’ World Series title.
Gibson also had a hit in his last at bat in the one post season series in which his team lost (he was in 5, contributing mightily to two title teams each the last won by that franchise in what is easily the team’s longest title drought since winning its first title), a single in the ninth inning of game 5 vs the eventual champion Minnesota Twins, who pulled a major upset beating Detroit 4 games to 1 in the 1987 ALCS.
Gibson was a tremendous player, who will never get serious consideration for the wharped Hall of fame and while I agree that high standards would keep even a Gibson out, I am appalled lesser players are in and of course true greats are denied entry.
Andy B Sports 