The opposing shortstops in the 1959 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox were Maury Wills and Luis Aparicio.
Both men are among the great stolen base kings of all time.
Aparicio led the American League in stolen bases for nine consecutive seasons from 1956-1964.
Wills won six straight National League stolen base titles from 1960-1965.
In the ’59 World Series opener, Jim Gilliam, who would become a great number two (in the lineup) hitter behind Wills, was the Dodgers leadoff hitter.
Aparicio was the White Sox leadoff batter. Nelson Fox, like Gilliam a great second place hitter, batted next for the White Sox.
Aparicio and Wills in 1966
The Miami Heat are over ten to one favorites to win their semi-final series vs the Indiana Pacers.
The Heat, getting the usual fine performances from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, eased to a victory in game 3 of their series vs the Indiana Pacers.
Miami now leads two games to one but I still predict a seven game series. The Pacers record in road semi-final games dropped to (5-21).
I think the Pacers will win game four on the road. Let’s see what happens, as that is why they play the games.
This past week the Oakland A’s won a game getting just one hit. This evoked memories of the one and only Reggie Jackson.
Some people like Reggie, others do not, and some dispute his greatness. Few rational people deny his great clutch play.
The A’s won game four of their 1974 ALCS vs the Baltimore Orioles keyed by Reggie Jackson’s double, high off the wall at Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium. It was the A’s only hit in a pennant clinching win.
The game was played on a weekday afternoon. It was one of many huge hits by Mr. Jackson in his storied career and truly a memory from days long since (Margaret Mitchell’s famous title and concept, namely) “Gone With The Wind.”
The cities of Chicago and Los Angeles have a storied history, and often a direct sports rivalry.
The current NHL semi-final series between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Los Angeles Kings is the thirteenth playoff meeting between sports teams from the two large U.S. cities.
Hockey, Basketball, Football and Baseball Teams from the cities of Chicago and Los Angeles have met twelve times before in playoff sports series.
Twice the cities have met for the league championship. In 1959, the L.A. Dodgers, in just their second West coast season, beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series.
By 1991 the Bulls were in the NBA East and Chicago beat the Lakers to win the first of their six championships.
In watching the very enjoyable “A Kiss in the Dark,” a 1949 film on Turner Classic Movies, I noticed a coincidence that involves Notre Dame University football.
The movie starred David Niven and Jane Wyman (who by the way looked awesome in shorts). Ms. Wyman was the first wife of Ronald Reagan.
The 40th U.S. President, Mr. Reagan was also an actor–all presidents are–but he made a living as one before entering politics. One of, if not his most famous role, was as Notre Dame player George Gipp, in the film “Knute Rockne All American,” which starred Pat O’Brien as coach Rockne.
In “A Kiss in the Dark,” Ms. Wyman, whose character is in love with Niven’s character, admonishes hulking Bruce Arnold, played by Wayne Morris, after he hugs her too hard.
” Must you always be acting as though you are charging through the Notre Dame 5 yard line?,” are her approximate words.
Both the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs are huge favorites in their semi-final series at this time.
The Heat opened the series as three and a half to one favorites and are nearly four to one favorites right now. This is after the Heat took home advantage away from the Indiana Pacers, by winning game two in Indiana.
I believe the Pacers will win a game in Miami in this series. My prediction remains the Heat to win the series in seven games.
The Spurs were originally eight to five favorites vs the Oklahoma City Thunder in their semi-final series. After it was revealed that the Thunder’s Serge Ibaka would not play due to injury, San Antonio became slightly over two to one favorites. After an easy win in game one, the Spurs are over four to one favorites.
I certainly think that the Spurs will win the series, but put it this way, if I were the “house” and could get four to one odds with “OKC,” I would do so.
Serge Ibaka–not playing
The New York Rangers are most likely headed to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1994.
They made it five straight wins, four on the road, taking a two games to none lead in the semi-finals, with a (3-1) win at Montreal vs the Canadiens.
During the streak Martin St. Louis scored key goals in three of the Rangers’ wins and Brad Richards had the game winning goal in game seven at Pittsburgh vs the Penguins. These two Ranger stars played on a Stanley Cup winner when they were both members of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.
The Rangers have not lost since the sudden death of Martin St. Louis’ mother. The Canadiens will be without goaltender Carey Price for the remainder of the series. It looks like the Rangers in five games.
Martin St. Louis
“Murder for Two” was a most enjoyable play. The play combined the mystery often present regarding murder with some incredible comedic elements.
The cast of two in this musical comedy starred Joe Kinosian and Ian Lowe, who gave great performances. They were actually the understudies, subbing for Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback who I have heard are also surely great.
Kinosian, who wrote the book and music for “Murder Two” is a brilliant performer. He played the many suspects in the murder investigation in a hilarious manner.
Mr. Lowe more than held his own as the ambitious detective trying to solve the case. He played the somewhat duplicitous character with great style.
If it had been Funny Girl in 1964 and no Barbra Streisand, I would have been upset, but I did not fret upon seeing both roles were to be played by understudies.
It turned out they both were great, in the wonderful “Murder for Two,” now playing at New World Stages, which is located at 340 West 50th Street in Manhattan.
In the NHL quarterfinal round, the team scoring first won 26 of the 27 games played.
In the quarter-finals there were three contests that went to seven games. Three out of three road teams, the NY Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings prevailed in those seventh games.
The New York Rangers have won four straight games and lead their semi-final series vs the Montreal Canadiens one game to none.
The streak started when the Rangers trailed the Pittsburgh Penguins three games to one in the quarterfinal round. They rallied to win the last three games, including games five and seven in Pittsburgh.
The NBA semi-final round begins tomorrow. Here are my predictions on the two semi-final series.
In the East, it will be a rematch of last year’s semi-final between the two time champion, Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.
Last year the Heat won the series in seven games. This year Indiana has the home advantage but is a huge series underdog. My prediction is the Heat to win in seven games for a second straight year.
In the West, it is a rematch of the 2012 semi-final between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Two years ago, the Thunder won in six games. Top ranked San Antonio is a 2 to 1 favorite this year. My prediction is the Spurs to win in six games.
