Alan Ameche crashed over from 1 yard away giving the Baltimore Colts a (23-17) overtime win vs the New York Giants to claim the 1958 NFL crown, in not so arguably pro football’s most important game.
I cite here that he also scored their next touchdown and it was in a win in what was a repeat title season in 1959. It occurred vs the Detroit Lions with the Colts down (10-0).
Baltimore played both the Lions and Bears twice each in their first four tilts in 1959.
The superb Lenny Moore now 90 years old was an integral part of the Baltimore Colts’ back to back title teams in 1958 and 1959.
While the Phillies and Brewers (6 and 9 games respectively), seem to have comfortable one eighth “div” leads, the other 4 such entities have close, in some cases surprisingly close races.
L.A. (Dodgers) has not pulled away in the N.L. West as both the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks are only 3 games behind.
Ditto the Yankees, whose A.L. East lead is one game and certainly Cleveland, as the K.C. Royals have gone to “Cleve” and won the first 3 to pull even in the A.L. Central.
I guess the Houston Astros, a team that has made the ALCS 7 straight seasons have a fairly comfortable lead. Currently they are 3 and a fraction games ahead of the Seattle Mariners (the only one of the 30 big league teams to have never made the World Series, no less win it) in the A.L. West.
In a future post, I will detail an all-time type baseball day, in which pitcher’s ‘hitting exploits were incredible.
Game 2 of the ’55 World Series was both a decisive victory, though the tilt was (6-0) Yankees, in the eventual (13-8) (Brooklyn) Dodgers’ win and an aberration type game, as the Yankees stormed back, as the Dodgers had vs them the year before, to win their lone “Brooklyn crown” (everyone in Brooklyn drank for free that October 4, 1955 and it was not Royal Crown soda, they were consuming) to win 4 of the next 5 games, after the #2 Brooklyn win gave them a (2-0) W.S. lead.
In #2 with none of the hits really important and certainly not decisive, all 4 pitchers, who batted (6 did not) Don Larsen (his next start was immortal), Tom Morgan, and Mickey McDermott of the Yankees and winning pitcher with 7 strong relief innings, Don Bessent of the Dodgers, delivered hits.
The Yankees manager is Casey Stengel, who share the record for most W.S. wins (7) with Joe McCarthy. Walter Alston the Dodgers’ manager won 4.
Each is pictured in the ’56 World Series program.
Often, I have truly enjoyed watching movies based on the work of the late, great author Pat Conroy on TCM and other outlets.
“Conrack,” starring Jon Voight and “The Great Santini” starring Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner are two truly impressive films.
Certainly, another great one to watch is “Prince of Tides,” based on Conroy’s book and a 1991 film, starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. based film, 1991’s “The Prince of Tides.”
Recollections of meeting Blythe Danner, a co star in “Santini” and part of the “Tides” cast, resonated with me as I thought back. The same can be said about Mr. Nolte’s gracious actions at a subsequent event
Ms. Danner’s work and her gracious ways that night of the “Tides” premiere are nice memories.
Pat Conroy, pictured above.
This weekend I cite some baseball “semis” or final round/World Series rematches, as I have and will do regarding such in (big time) pro football.
There are 3 World Series repeats going on now.
One is the Phillies vs Royals, Philly vs K.C. as was the case in the 2022 season Supe and K,C, (0-3)(0-3) in “Pre,” is not going to get #3 in a row, but first off again I was “away,” and next who knows for sure?! Certainly not I (me).
In the ’80 World Series, the last between two teams that had never won one (now each franchise has 2 crowns), it was the Phillies in 6 games.
The Minnesota Twins won their first “Minne” crown and second franchise crown (the original Washington Senators, the Twins’ “ancestors,” won it all 100 years ago in 1924), 7 ing the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987.
Finally among W.S. encores, the B.S. bubble L.A. Dodgers 7th franchise crown was won in 6 games vs the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020 when a pandemic was in evidence all over this fragile world.
LCS or “semis” rematches this weekend are a redux of 2003 when the Florida Marlins, down 3 games to 1, 7’d the Cubs and of the 5 such between those ’70’s great hitting, even great teams, the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cincy won in ’70,’72, and ’75 while the Pirates on their way to their last crown won in ’79.
Thus far, in what are all 3 game series, the team that lost more often in the previous, won 4 of the 5 series openers, as only the Dodgers, among the previous entity winners, won last night.
The Reds tie #5/’72 NLCS on John Bench’s “solo” and then win it on a wild pitch, each called brilliantly (this and certainly not his much publicized US Olympic hockey semi win in ’80, is his finest moment/hour (ode to Mr. Churchill), by Al Michaels.
Al Attles, linked to great players, Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry, and an NBA legend as part of the Warriors’ organization for over 60 years, dating back to their days in Philadelphia, died days back at age 87.
What a competitor, a force, a protector and as the highlight, coach of the pre season and final round longshot, title winning, 1974-1975 NBA champion, Golden State Warriors, led by Rick Barry.
Truly admirable to me, however, probably a bit foolish (don’t worry Al lived a great life, was part of all 5 Warriors’ titles and truly loved and was loved) is Mr. Attles’ regret, at the fact a great G.S. team was “semi’d” out by the Phoenix Suns in a “dark match” #7 (i.e. the NBA which has all its ‘offs tilts on now, did not “tv” that one), that loss, one major example of why no NBA team repeated as champion from ’70-’87.
Attles had quick hands and was a “protector,” most notably getting ejected from the ’75 title clincher (what memories, not at the shore that weekend or ever, but the call to ecstatic Warriors fan Guy DiRenzo (is it Di Rienzo?)as congratulations afterward) when Mike Riordan and Barry “engaged.”
Wilt was best man at Al’s wedding to Wilhemina and both Al and Wilt started their playing careers, Wilt in ’59-’60, Al the next season as members of the Philadelphia Warriors.
A joke “Hot Rod” Hundley told was that he and Elgin (Baylor) once combined for say, 76 points, with Elgin getting 74 and Hundley 2.
Al talked of he and Wilt combining for 117 that great night in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when Wilt hit 100. Attles shot a “worthy of compliment” 8 of 8 from the field that night.
What a distinguished career, classy Al Attles produced.
Al Attles, pictured above.
Below, a photo showing Phil Masi being called safe, just before the Boston Braves’ Tommy Holmes drove in Masi with the game’s only run. (#1, ’48 World Series).
I was fortunate enough to have met both Phil Rizzuto and Bob Feller, each a truly good man, in my time.
Phil talked of “poor Bob Feller” never winning a World Series game.
He came close, pitched very well, but the great baseball contributor and pitcher, John Sain outdueled Mr. Feller in the Boston Braves’ (1-0) win over the Cleveland Indians in game 1 of the 1948 World Series.
A pick off play by the Indians was ruled unsuccessful and Tommy Holmes, another baseball great in a better day, drove in the game’s only run soon after.
Apparently in Bob Lemon’s victory in game 2 at Boston, vs the Braves, the Indians pulled off a successful pick off play.
In 2016, in their heartbreaking game 7 loss, an Indians’ player (why embarrass him, has not there been enough?!!) was picked off first base.
It is the class, eloquence, humor and most of all, the friendliness in our meetings, that I cherish most about pioneer TV presence (not thrilled with what he preceded and in a sense “begat”), Phil Donahue, a true great, who died days back at age 88.
I was privileged to hear a special talk Mr. Donahue gave, about seven years back, in which he talked of his historic early days in Dayton, Ohio, the fact Vivian Maier, now posthumously, a “flocked to her exhibition” photographer worked briefly as Phil’s housekeeper, his trip to China and most candidly and memorably, his family, especially his beautiful and beloved wife, actress/actor, Marlo Thomas.
Above, there I am with Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas some years back.
Before that meeting, I now realize was in 2017, I had asked Phil about “his” Cubs finally winning it all, having denied Cleveland in 7 games with the last going into extra innings. He remarked it being a bit “mixed” as he was from Cleveland, whose then Indians and now Guardians, have gone over 75 years sans title.
Just then Phil’s phone rang with ever loving (their “meeting” on one of Phil’s early shows is so touching, especially since it eventually proved substance in addition to style) Marlo checking on him.
I also was present at a conference circa 2010 in which Donahue, spoke eloquently and passionately about the need for people to do better and be more caring and understanding.
His shows certainly broke ground and did bring into conversation topics that needed to be addressed.
Some “extras” today as additional and up front ways of remembering this fine, talented and in most ways blessed man.
This is the 21st year in which it is possible for a team to win the World Series 100 years after winning a previous one.
There were no World Series played 90 years apart in 1904 and 1994, hence there have been 20 previous possibilities (W.S. play began in 1903) and only once, the 2018 Boston Red Sox accomplished the feat.
In the Red Sox case, that 1918 title made them (5-0) in World Series competition, however that was followed by an 86 year title drought.
Since the drought ended with Boston’s 2004 title, 101 years after the franchise won the first W.S. they added crowns in 2007, 2013 and the aforementioned 2018 title.
100 years ago, the Washington Senators won their only title. They became the Minnesota Twins, moving to Minnesota in ’61, who despite dissipating a (4-0) lead in a loss yesterday, denying them a chance for a 4 game sweep of the defending champion Texas Rangers (they were the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, as a 1961 expansion team), are very likely to at least, be qualifiers for the baseball tournament.
Texas is managed by four time W.S. winner Bruce Bochy, who often gets “ga ga” reviews and while titles, if anything matters in sports, look at Bochy’s team records in the following seasons.
Bochy’s Rangers are 11 under .500 (57-68), 11 behind Houston in their 1/8 “div.”
Herold “Muddy” Ruel, pictured above, scored the winning run B12/game 7 for “Wash” to win the 1924 World Series vs the New York Giants.
I had watched an episode of Gunsmoke on “TV Land” that guest starred Morgan Woodward and Joan Van Ark, as father and daughter.
My thoughts turned to their Dallas/Knots Landing history.
Both shows were monster hits on the CBS network. Mrs. Paley, the wife of CBS chairman William Paley, loved “Gunsmoke” and it ran for 20 years.
Dallas, my favorite, made world news when it was revealed “Who Shot J.R.” in 1980. I was told a pilot made an announcement as to the culprit’s identity on a flight that Friday night in November.
Ms. Van Ark, whom I recall fondly as a big basketball fan and presenter at the first Sports Emmys Award win for Bob Costas in 1988, played “Valene Ewing” on both the “Dallas” and “Knots Landing” TV Shows.
Mr. Woodward, a veteran of 19 Gunsmoke episodes, played Marvin “Punk” Anderson on Dallas. He also is recalled fondly as a resounding, ominous presence behind tinted glasses, in the movie “Cool Hand Luke.”
Morgan Woodward, an ominous presence in “Cool Hand Luke.”
Andy B Sports 