Once the All-Star Game mattered. It no longer does.
In the 1956 game held at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. four baseball greats hit home runs.
Two were Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, the two often compared, an echoing theme of my youth.
Also often compared, each as all-time hitting greats, Ted Williams and Stan Musial also hit home runs in that game.
What a foursome!!
Griffith Stadium, shown above.
A truly great and gifted player, Orlando Cepeda, died days back at age 87, a scant 10 days after his longtime teammate, the great Willie Mays, left us at age 93. They averaged 90 years on earth, however, it is so sad that so many greats from “my time,” certainly one I greatly prefer, have died.
Cepeda known as “Baby Bull,” and “Cha Cha,” was an integral player on 4 teams, (3 different franchises), that finished first in the great National League in 8 seasons from (1962-1969).
Cepeda was the National League MVP in 1967, as a member of the world champion, St. Louis Cardinals. Additionally, his 1962 Giants and 1968 Cardinals won pennants, but were denied in 7 game World Series losses to the Yankees and Detroit Tigers respectively.
The ’67 World Series also went 7 games, with the Cardinals winning behind Bob Gibson’s 3 series triumphs, #7 on the actual Columbus Day (no school, so I saw it) at Fenway Park vs the Boston Red Sox.
Before the 1969 season, which was the first with divisional play (remember you still had to finish first) Cepeda was dealt by the Cards to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Joe Torre.
Atlanta won the first N.L. West crown (Atlanta in the West?!!), before being swept by the eventual champion New York Mets in 3 games.
Meanwhile the Cards faded. Joe Torre never made post-season play as a player, but ended up managing 4 World Series winners with the New York Yankees.
Incredible 1962 baseball, and oh the race between the Giants and the Dodgers. Look it up!
Phenomenal years for Willie Mays, Jack Sanford, Tommy Davis, Maury Wills and Don Drysdale. Sandy Koufax was on his way to perhaps his best season, but injury stopped it.
I cite Cepeda last, (35 HR’s), as I so vividly recall him hitting 46 home runs the season before (’61 to lead the N.L.) He could hit them out to right center, was unfairly denied earlier Hall status, why? because he possessed pot. UGH!
In the great 4 run Giants’ rally that transformed a “facing elimination” (4-2) / T9 deficit in the ’62, 165th game/3rd of the unscheduled playoff, in which the Giants, so incredibly replicated ’51, Orlando Cepeda drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly.
Orlando Cepeda, a great player from a great era of baseball, pictured above.
Maybe the great Lindsey Nelson who “stretched” Cepeda’s name so eloquently and memorably emphatically introduced Willie Mays late in the ’73 season, when Willie said “good bye to America,” is doing intros now for Willie, “Cha Cha” and others, as few can.
The Panthers’ 7 game triumph, again why did it have to go 7 when they were up (3-0)?!! means 22 of the 32 NHL teams (that is about 12, I could say 26 too many teams) have at least one title.
It was the second consecutive final in which a team bidding for its first crown defeated a team that had “hoisted.” (el Stanley Cup). (The Blues 7’d the Bruins in 2019).
One big positive is Paul Maurice, the “Fla” coach and finally a title winner evoking the names of Jean Beliveau, Maurice Richard and Gord Howe in “telling” his father now the surname Maurice joins Maurice’s some of Maurice’s heroes on that chalice.
Now Corey Perry did title with the ’07 Anaheim Ducks but now somewhat incredibly has been in 4 of the last 5 Cup final rounds and his teams, the Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and now the Edmonton Oilers lost all 4 times.
Twice the Lightning won then he lost with the Lightning (I guess it struck thrice) to the Colorado Avalanche and then this season.
Perry was presented a medal, probably the top one by Putin at the ’12 Olympic Games. I could have told him that did not augur well.
Once something/”a little prayer” after her coffee break, now I believe it is MeTV, to help the great Dionne Warwick, pictured above, to start and along her day.
NEW YORK — Hoops Cabaret in New York City (48 West 33rd Street), featuring dozens of sexy Hoops exotic dancers, and hailed as ‘the sexiest sports bar,’ will show the highly anticipated boxing matchup of Nate Diaz against Jorge Masvidal on Saturday, July 6.
Diaz and Masvidal first met inside the UFC’s octagon for the inaugural BMF title fight at UFC 244 in New York. The second meeting will take place in a boxing ring, from the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Diaz, 38, is no longer under UFC contract following a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279. In his first fight outside of the UFC, Diaz made his pro boxing debut against Jake Paul last August.
Masvidal, 39, on the other hand, is still under UFC contract, but has been granted permission to box Diaz. “Gamebred” was last in action at UFC 287, where he lost a unanimous decision to Gilbert Burns.
At Hoops Cabaret, fans can view the exciting bout on the club’s giant Mega-Tron Video Wall and numerous HD TVs and flat screens, giving every seat a clear view of all the action.
Hoops girl Anna said, “It’s going to be a great fight, and the after-party here with so many sexy dancers is going to be off the hook. And the bartenders and waitresses are gorgeous too! Come make it rain. Don’t miss it!”
Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a gentlemen’s club. Sports and beautiful girls, it’s a win, win. And be sure to check out the club’s VIP Man Cave.
Beautiful Entertainers, VIP “Man Cave”
Next door to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret NYC
Two more final round wins for the home advantage team, clinched a week apart in a Monday night home tilt, raised the record of higher ranked final round teams to either win the series or it be a series with the home team clinching, to an incredible (24-3).
Maybe more incredible, I notice these things.
In baseball two teams won World Series in “4” years and clinched on the road. Those teams were the 1934 St. Louis Cardinals who 7’d the Detroit Tigers, winning big in #7 behind Dizzy Dean in a game most famous for the fact, the great hitter, Joe Medwick of the Cardinals was ejected from the game for “his own protection.”
The 2014 San Francisco Giants, riding the brilliant pitching of Madison Bumgarner won game 7 at Kansas City.
Otherwise, baseball “4” year winners either clinched at home or were higher ranked/had home advantage in 1914, ’24, ’44 ,’54,’64,’74.’84, and 2004.
Only the 1974 Boston Celtics, in the eight “4” year NBA final rounds, who won game 7 on a Mother’s Day afternoon vs the Milwaukee Bucks are an NBA exception, while all 9 “4” year NHL final rounds manifested in the winning team clinching the title at home.
Add it up (24-3), 8 of 9!!
The great Joe Medwick is pictured above.
I think the broadcaster is Tom Manning, certainly he was one of them during that World Series.
Earlier in 1934, it was Manning behind the microphone that summer day at The Polo Ground when Carl Hubbell struck out 5 greats in succession, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmy Foxx to end the first inning and Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to start the second frame.
The Florida Panthers, in their thirtieth completed season, won their first ever Stanley Cup, winning (2-1) in #7, at home vs the Edmonton Oilers and avoided dissipating a (3-0) final round lead and losing the crown.
Thus the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, also the only team to trail going into the third period of #7/final and win, remain the only team in major North American sports leagues to win a final round, after trailing 3 games to none.
After Carter Verhaeghe (his, just after Edmonton “killed” yet another opposition power play and with an assist from Evan Rodrigues, who was a “Fla” star in these ‘offs, especially the two Monday wins that yielded the Panthers their first crown) and Mattias Janmark exchanged first period goals, Janmark’s just 2:17 after Verhaeghe’s), it was Sam Reinhart, another “Fla” stellar performer in these ‘offs,(“FLA” went (16-8, the Celtics were (16-3), but with a far easier road, to “title”) that scored the eventual title winning goal at 15:26 of the second period.
Hail Florida goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, criticized/pulled and not good in games (4-6), however, great in the 4 wins, including the big late save in #3. Certainly, he was superb in these ‘offs.
Miami,Florida Miami/Florida is unofficially the 9th different city/area with at least one title in all 4 major North American sports leagues.
The baseball Marlins, though year after year vast underwhelming, never the less are (2-0) in World Series play, the NFL Dolphins sans a title since 1973 stand (2-3) in Super Bowls, the NBA Heat are (3-2) in NBA final rounds and the Panthers, just (5-11) in individual games rose to (1-2) in NHL final round play and surely avoided ignominy, some of which would have been deserved, by winning game 7.
Edmonton, a la the current NFL runner up team, the Niners once won 5 straight final round entities but have fallen to (5-3) in such.
Much more in the way of notes, surely esoteric, in the long days to follow.
Sergei Bobrovsky, pictured above.
Tonight for just the fourth time in any major North American sports league, a game 7 will be contested in a final round in which there was a (3-0) situation. (Toronto beating Detroit in the ’42 and ’45 NHL final and the Rochester Royals defeating the New York Knicks in 1951).
The Edmonton Oilers down (3-0) have forced a 7th game in Florida tonight, having dominated the Florida Panthers in games (4-6).
Apparently, the great player Connor McDavid will win the Conn Smythe Trophy, win or lose tonight. I guess that makes sense if you count the entire ‘offs, but his 8 points in 2 games in this final were overkill in decisive wins, certainly game 4 was such.
One 50 years apart note, as both the NBA and NHL final rounds will end on the same day of the week (Sunday, both in afternoon games, before television completely wagged the tail in ’74) and Monday these 50 years later, unless and I do not want to think about them getting such.
“They do not make them like the great Donald Sutherland anymore, now at age 88, Sutherland, after as son actor Keifer stated, “a life well lived,” has died.
On screen for almost 60 years (since 1967’s “The Dirty Dozen”), Sutherland had the versatility to play a romantic lead, villain or a mastermind.
Oh to have been in London, England (not Ontario, Sutherland was born in Canada, loved the once Montreal Expos and might be rooting hard for “the now with a chance Edmonton Oilers,” who were down (3-0), to win Canada’s first NHL crown since Tiny Tim’s beloved Montreal Canadiens did so in 1993), when the likes (oh do/did I like them) of Sutherland, John Cassavetes, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown among others, in the great “The Dirty Dozen” production, “hung out.”
I remember and love Mr. Sutherland as “John (he was not that but a detective who fell in both the movie and real, (not just reel) life for the great actor/actress, Jane Fonda, call girl “Bree Daniels” in the superb Alan J. Pakula 1971, directed film, “Klute.” (Sutherland as John Klute).
Great admiration manifests and I will never deny being grateful for Sutherland and Fonda’s anti Vietnam war stance, no matter who it offended or offends. See though discipline likely learned or forced in via the military would have helped– I will “play these.”
First walking and then sitting on the bench with Kevin Costner, a la Jason Robards and Robert Redford in “All The President’s Men,” Mr. Sutherland as “X,” shown below is magnificent in the “Deep Throatish” role in Oliver Stone’s JFK. (See below).
His pathos inducing performance in “Ordinary People” and comedic romp as “Hawkeye” Pierce in MASH, are two more in a long list of great performances, in seminal films.
Add his intense activism and surely Keifer is correct, but I increase, “a great life with equally great deeds,” thank you Donald Sutherland.
Click below to view Mr. Sutherland’s magnificent, meaningful scene in “J.F.K.”
Mr. Sutherland, who once ran up an insane phone bill listening to his beloved Montreal Expos, might have/get a kick out of my citing namesake Gary Sutherland as having scored the Expos’ first ever run and getting credit for the first putout in a game played in Canada.
The magnificent Donald Sutherland, pictured above.
The 2024 NHL Final, which the Florida Panthers once led 3 games to none, vs the Edmonton Oilers, has gone to a “winner wins the crown,” 7th game to be contested in Florida, on a summer, Monday night. (June 24th).
Edmonton won its third straight game, joining the ’42 Toronto Maple Leafs, the only team in major North American sports league history to overcome a (3-0) final round deficit and win it all and the Detroit Red Wings, who 3 years after in ’45, forced a home 7th game vs the Leafs, only to lose (2-1) with Babe Pratt’s goal decisive, as the third NHL team to get to a 7th game of the final, after losing “el” first 3 games.
Florida, seeking their first ever NHL crown in this their 30th NHL season (’94-2024, with no NHL season in ’05), has been on the losing end of (8-1), (5-3) and (5-1) games after becoming the 29th? team to grab a (3-0) NHL Final lead. (Again only one, those ’42 Leafs ever won after being down (3-0) in an NHL, NBA or baseball final and only 5 teams have overcome (3-0) series deficits in any round, 4 of those in the NHL with only those Leafs doing it in the final).
The Oilers, seeking their 6th crown, first since ’90 and first for a Canada based team since ’93 have now done twice what only 7 teams have done in final round competition and three of those 7 times, the Oilers were in that series, which is to be down as much as (3-1) (of course this year it was (3-0) before let’s cite Connor McDavid’s 8 points, 4 each in the #4 and #5 wins and “legit” goal scorers Warren Foegele, who “opened” set up beautifully by Leon Draisaitl, Adam Henrique (see ’12 vs Fla and a #6 semis clinching goal vs the Rangers when he was with the New Jersey Devils and breakaway/16th of the ‘offs Zach Heyman in #6) and get to a 7th and deciding game.
Aforementioned 1942 Toronto the only team to be down as much as (3-1), no less (3-0), which they were and win the final, ’45 Detroit (Red Wings) already cited as having lost #7 at home to Toronto, ’54 Montreal , eventually denied in #7 when Detroit’s Tony Leswick tallied in overtime, ’87 Philadelphia Flyers vs Edmonton, ’94 Vancouver Canucks vs the New York Rangers and the ’06 and now ’24 Oilers vs Carolina (Hurricanes) and Florida Panthers respectively, accomplished that.
Only ’42 Toronto among the previous 6, won the title as no team other than them, trailing by as much as (3-1) in the NHL final, came back to win it.
Click below to read a fine article by Lance Hornby in The Toronto Sun, after #5 days back, with great details about the ’42 final and more.
1942 Maple Leafs leave plucky Oilers a hard act to follow
Tony Leswick, pictured above, scored in OT in game 7 of the final vs Montreal, to win the ’54 title for the Detroit Red Wings.
The NHL final being contested by teams from cities/states/countries, Florida and Edmonton, a record geographical distance apart for such an entity, got its third “travel time” when Edmonton (Oilers) won #5 at Florida to force #6 tomorrow night in Edmonton.
If the 7 to 5 “fave” Oilers win, the 7th game for the title would be contested Monday night back in (more travel) Florida, as the Panthers once up (3-0) still lead the series 3 games to 2.
Possibly you read that these 2024 Oilers are the 4th team to force as much as a game 6 after trailing (3-0) in an NHL final. (The ’42 Toronto Maple Leafs came “all the way back” and “titled” in game 7 vs the Detroit Red Wings, 3 years later, Detroit down (3-0) forced #7 at home as the Leafs did 3 years earlier but Babe Pratt’s goal was decisive in Toronto’s road win. In ’12 the New Jersey Devils got to #6 but were routed by the L.A. Kings, the first of 2 title seasons in 3 for L.A.)
What you likely did not read I will cite now.
This is the Oilers’ 8th NHL final (they are (5-2) in previous, the Panthers are (0-2)–I add the Carolina Panthers are (0-2) in NFL final games/Super Bowls and to get exponentially esoteric that the once Houston Oilers, denied thrice in bids for “Supe” appearances (’67 by Oakland and ’78 and ’79 by eventual champion Pittsburgh), did go (2-1), winning the first two, in the first 3 AFL title games (1960-1962). Those Oilers are now the Tennessee Titans and they lost a tough game to the Rams in their lone Supe appearance after the ’99 season)), and in 6 of the 8, there was a (3-1) series score.
Four times, the Oilers had the (3-1) lead and won the title in game 5 (at home in what were both 2-3-2 NHL final rounds, the only 2 I have found –write in if you find any –thank you—in ’84 and ’85 and then at Boston (Bruins) with Messier but no longer Gretzky in ’90).
In ’87, the Philadelphia Flyers, a team sans a crown since repeating as champions in 1975 and in that span have lost 5 NHL final rounds, down (3-1) to Edmonton won games 5 at Edmonton and #6 at home before losing a well contested game 7 on the last day of May, at the time the latest an NHL season ended. (Now in hot Florida, no less, (not that it is not hot elsewhere, in fact, stifling so) game 5 was June 18th and #7 would be Monday June 24th.).
Meanwhile down (3-1) in ’06, the Oilers won game 5 at the Carolina Panthers and #6 at home before losing by a goal in #7 on a Monday night.
A truly superb analyst, (his work with Marty Glickman was so great, it helps even on a hot day such as this), Al De Rogatis, shown above as a player, never the less, had to be “called in” by Marty, before he spoke.
Now analysts talk during the play!! I need a Beatles song, “Yesterday,” more to the point “Help!!”
Do they get paid by the word?!!
Andy B Sports 