This is our first baseball week in review and playoffs update. It is not like the good days of no wild card teams, in fact there are two in each league now, but it is baseball. Once I would have said that loud and clear as James Earl Jones did with his booming voice as a character in “Field of Dreams.” Now even though I know every World Series result by heart and had unmatched intensity for this once great action, I still say “it is baseball” but in hushed and significantly less reverential tones.
The Reds managed by Dusty Baker, whom I first called at the NY hotel 40 years ago looking to speak with Ralph Garr, lead their division by six and a half games. I spoke with Baker this year and told him I liked his team and that they had a great chance to be in post season. The rest I said is a “crapshoot” and he agreed. The Reds in all likelihood, will be in the playoffs, probably as either the NL 1 or 2 seed.
It is still the Washington Nationals in their division, (up five games on the Atlanta Braves, against whom they play next, in a 3 game series) and even though they could win it all without Stephen Strasburg, what are the odds with him and what are the odds without him? As stated in our August 14th post, it has been 79 years since a Washington D.C. team was in the baseball post season and now they decide not to use a top pitcher when they get there. What would Walter Johnson say? I say abandon hope all ye who want bills passed or sense made regarding the fans or for that matter, the people. This selfish decision epitomizes the bottom line greed, big business that makes its capital in Washington D.C. That said, the Nationals will be in post season and do not rule them out. I did not think they would win it their first time in the playoffs–but this is not basketball and it surely could be done. Odds say less likely without a top pitcher, who incredibly was not hurt but shut down due to an innings pitched restriction.
No NL west indication, save to say the winner will likely be the 3 seed in the tournament. It is a tournament now. Right now the Los Angeles Dodgers have a half game lead over the San Francisco Giants (those long time rivals clash next, also in a 3 game series).
It was a tremendous final concert of the season in Brooklyn starring the double bill of The Commodores, who performed first, and Gladys Knight who came out second. There was an overflow crowd for the free concert which was staged in Coney Island as part of the Seaside Summer concert series. These and other free concerts have long been presented by Brooklyn borough President Marty Markowitz.
The Commodores with original members William King, Walter “Clyde” Orange and J.D. Nicholas performed many of their hits and King, who named the group by randomly picking a word from the dictionary, is still sensational. The crowd was urged to talk to the people near them and responded by being lively throughout the performance. The Commodores’ songs included a rousing version of “Brick House.”
Gladys Knight is an all time great and she told the audience how much she loved them. She recently appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and still looks great. The show closed with “Midnight Train to Georgia.” As the song concluded ending the show at at about 11 P.M. I thought about the songs and memories I associated with both The Commodores and Gladys Knight. It is getting toward “midnight” in so many ways. Seeing the songs performed live combined with the memories was a big positive. The concert was well worth the long trip.
Thirty five years have passed since Elvis Presley died on August 16th. I heard the terrible news on WXLO Radio (99X) with Bob Slade making the announcement. I try to remember it each year and while not one to go to Memphis (Elvis’ home), I do miss the one of a kind performer, Elvis Presley.
Last night on the eve of the sad anniversary both Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley joined the crowd in Memphis. It was the first time that both Priscilla (Elvis’ wife) and Lisa Marie, his daughter, attended the vigil which is held every year on the anniversary of Presley’s death.
Last week when the new “Dallas” ended its first TV season I thought about Priscilla Presley who played a major character (Jenna Wade) on the original show. It was nice to see her looking so well last night.
That August 16th when Elvis died in 1977, the New York Yankees took a (9-4) lead into the top of the 9th inning at home vs the Chicago White Sox. But the White Sox rallied for 6 runs to take the lead. However the Yankees won the game 11-10 on Chris Chambliss’ 2 run home run in the bottom of the 9th. Perhaps the Yankees received divine intervention from Babe Ruth, who also died on August 16th. For many fans around the country that game was a “horror” experience. Horror evokes the memory of Bela Lugosi, who also died on August 16th.
On Tuesday August 14, 2012 a truly moving service was held for Marvin Hamlisch at Temple Emanu-El in New York City. Marvin was a prolific song writer and as Bill Clinton said at the ceremony that drew about 2,000 people, that extremely rare combination of genius and being a truly good person.
Marvin Hamlisch exhibited kindness time and again as he literally did not say no to helping others. This unique person helped whether it was at White House receptions or tutoring people without pay in their musical studies.
A great chorus was assembled and two of Mr. Hamlisch’s greatest pieces of work “The Way We Were” and “What I Did For Love” were sung and it was as moving a moment as I have felt in a long time. I also wish I had the tissue concession. My tears alone would have “sold” many tissues.
Marvin Hamlisch lived a great life. He accomplished so much, helped others, and found true love with his wife, Terri. All of those things and then some, resonated through the massive hall in the synagogue. Whether listening to people around me talking, hearing his music or Terri speaking about him, I knew Marvin Hamlisch was a mensh. Well deserved, high praise indeed.
As the baseball season continues I will have more detailed coverage of the playoff races. Additionally there will be an overview of the teams that are very likely to enter what is now a 10 team baseball post season tournament.
Right now the Washington Nationals have the best record in baseball (72-44) and lead the Atlanta Braves by 5 and a half games in the NL East. They are 9 games ahead to make the playoffs. The Nationals, who were the Montreal Expos until the 2005 season, have quite a 1-2 pitching duo in Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. The latter is (15-6), the former is (13-5). The Washington D.C. team is managed by Davey Johnson, a fine player and big league manager, who managed the ’86 Mets to a World title and made the last out when they won their other title in 1969.
No Washington D.C. baseball team has made the post season since 1933 and there have been at best a handful of seasons when one contended for such a spot. As the Expos, this franchise made only one post season appearance and that was in the strike marred 1981 season. In 1994, the Expos appeared headed for post season but a strike wiped out the rest of the season. That year the Expos and New York Yankees had the best records in their respective leagues the National and American when the strike took place. Beginning play on August 14th, those two franchises again have the best records in their respective leagues. This time there will be no strike and the Expos are the Washington Nationals and quite a story.
Another hot day and I “popped in” an audio tape of Bob Costas interviewing Harry Caray at some point during the 1989 baseball season. The tape I listened to was a repeat that aired on Christmas Eve, 1989. Costas is tremendous at any time but especially concerning his favorite sport, baseball. Surely I prefer listening to Caray and Costas talking about Stan Musial than watching the 21 point favorite United States basketball team win by 7 points vs Spain’s team. That is my choice, as NBC is getting great ratings and some criticism for its Olympics coverage.
Few broadcasters had the impact of Harry Caray. Costas states this in reference to how long Caray was denied entrance to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. His style, that of a fan and an unabashed “homer,” would merit some detractors but one could not write the history of baseball broadcasting without including Harry Caray.
On the show, Harry led the crowd at a St.Louis restaurant in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Praise for Stan Musial and Bill Veeck “grows as time goes by” were the essence of Caray’s words.
I realized that this show aired and was recorded by me the night before Billy Martin died. Costas says “What a quinella that is” when hearing of Caray and Martin having a drink together. A (drink) is surely an understatement. When the show aired originally, Martin was to be on the next show and surely was. When that was stated in the rerun, Martin was living his last full day on earth.
Likely, Caray and Martin did live full lives. While nostalgic to hear Harry Caray, I also must look forward and try to live life fully. Sadly, that is a difficult task. The task is made more difficult because my passion for sports has been drastically tempered by among other things, the paucity of good radio broadcasters. I wish Harry Caray and for that matter, Bob Costas could “take me out to the ballgame” by being my eyes through their radio broadcast of the game.
This year the Pittsburgh Pirates have been a pleasant surprise as they battle to make post season baseball for the first time in 20 years. Coincidentally, the Baltimore Orioles are also a pleasant surprise as they do the same in a bid to make the post season for the first time in 15 years.
The Pirates defeated the Orioles in two excellent 7 game World Series in 1971 and 1979. A pair of baseball greats were World Series MVP’s for Pittsburgh. In 1971, the great Roberto Clemente had one of the greatest “Fall Classics” ever in leading the Pirates to the title. Sadly, he died a little over a year later on the last day of 1972.
In 1979, another great, Willie Stargell lead the Pirates 7 game win vs Baltimore. Both World Series ended in Baltimore with Clemente (1971) and Stargell (in 1979) each hitting big home runs in the decisive game. Stargell was also on the 1971 team and while he did not have a good World Series, did score what proved to be the World Series winning run in an eventual (2-1) win in game 7 behind the brilliant pitching of Steve Blass.
The Orioles are honoring their 6 Hall of Famers with statues this year. The six are Frank Robinson, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Ed Murray, Cal Ripken Jr. and manager Earl Weaver. All but Ripken participated in at least one of the World Series vs the Pirates. Additionally, all six were on at least one World Series winning Orioles team. Jim Palmer was on all 3 Orioles title teams, sticking around long enough to win Game 3 of the 1983 World Series. Both Frank and Brooks Robinson played with Palmer on both the 1966 and 1970 Orioles’ World title teams.
Earl Weaver managed the 1970 team, the lone World Series winner that he managed as his teams lost World Series in 1969 to the Mets and as cited above to the Pirates in both 1971 and 1979. Eddie Murray hit two home runs in the 1983 World Series clincher after having a bad World Series in 1979. Ripken playing in what proved to be his only World Series, caught the final out of the 1983 World Series.
The season finale of the new “Dallas” series certainly did not match the intensity of “Who shot J.R.” or other season finales of the original “Dallas.” That said, it was still a nice final episode of the first season of the new “Dallas.” The season consisted of 10 episodes all of which aired during a “Dallas” marathon that aired on TNT concluding with the much publicized season finale.
Dallas has at times defied the Thomas Wolfe saying “You can’t go home again” (after all, the multi millionaire offspring J.R. and Bobby lived home with their parents, albeit on the sprawling Southfork ranch) and perhaps does this time. The characters are great ones and even after 22 years (I believe there were 2 sequels) it is good to see how they are doing. Larry Hagman’s “J.R.” is an all time great. His intense clashes, mixed with “deep down” love for brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and two time wife and former wife, Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) still resonate with audiences.
Overall, for me personally, it is tough to go “home again” and see “Dallas” and all it entails. Yet while it is not the “must watch” show of the past, I still find myself very interested in the characters and the overall storyline. Cynthia Cidre and the production staff have done a good job. I look forward to the new season which begins in January and airs on TNT.
On Friday August 3, 2012 an amazing feat/coincidence took place in baseball as the Upton brothers “B.J.” of the Tampa Bay Rays and Justin of the Arizona Diamondbacks each hit their 100th career home run. On July 20th, the 43 year anniversary of humans walking on the moon, both Uptons sent balls “in flight” that eventually landed as their 99th career home run.
They are the 6th pair of brothers to each reach the 100 home run mark. The other 5 pairs all had some affiliation with the New York Yankees.
The other brother pairs are “Irish” and Bob Meusel, the latter with the Yankees (see our Credits, characters and coincidences July 23rd post). “Irish” Meusel and the New York Giants won 2 of 3 World Series vs the Yankees from (1921-1923.)
Another pair of 100 plus homers, brothers faced each other in the 1964 World Series. Ken Boyer’s Cardinals beating Clete Boyer’s Yankees in 7 games. Both Boyer brothers hit home runs in the 7th game.
The Boone brothers, Brett and Aaron are on the list. Aaron Boone “made like” Hank Aaron and hit an ALCS winning home run in 2003. Hank Aaron also hit a pennant clinching home run. Aaron’s homer clinched the 1957 National League Pennant for the Milwaukee Braves, who went on to beat the Yankees in 7 games in the World Series. After clinching the pennant on Aaron Boone’s homer in 2003, the Yankees lost in 6 games to the Florida Marlins.
Joe and Vince DiMaggio are on the list but another brother Dom DiMaggio, who was a truly fine player, hit only 87 homers. Finally we are stretching the Yankees’ connection a bit with the Alomar brothers, Hall of Famer, Roberto and Sandy Alomar Jr. Their father Sandy Sr. played for the Yankees in the 1970’s.
It was a hot night so I stayed close to home. People are out at the theater but not me. That process will begin again during the week.
Meanwhile I watched “The Godfather Part II” which was in many ways every bit the equal of “The Godfather.” Each ranks among the all time great films of any genre and certainly those about organized crime.
Based on the book, “The Godfather” by Mario Puzo, both the original “The Godfather” and its amazing sequel, “The Godfather Part II,” after over 40 years, still entertain. I believe there is a consensus that ranks “The Godfather Part II” as the best sequel to a movie that was ever made. Watching it, yet again, as I hope to do for a long time, it is hard to argue with that consensus.
Speaking of organized crime, the late, great Richard Pryor recalled being liked and kidded by his employers. A young, unaware Pryor was surprised that there was no bill for an evening out including dinner and drinks. It was explained to him “we are crime, and crime does not pay.”
Andy B Sports 