Tonight, certainly for the first time in a long time and perhaps ever, the World Series begins on a Friday. It matches the Houston Astros, still the only team to play in the World Series representing both the National and American Leagues and the Philadelphia Phillies.
It is a redux of arguably the greatest post-season entity of all (late in game 5, in what is a treasured memory, my father who had seen baseball for say 55 years at that point (he got 13 more, Joe Carter’s World Series ending homer vs the Phils his last and to me after that, with the wild card presence and eventual other c-ap, baseball has taken a precipitous drop. Yet this is W.S. time and I I am looking forward to it. I might even watch it, albeit with the sound off), the 1980 NLCS won by the Phils in an extra inning, decisive 5th game.
Neither franchise has experienced much World Series success as the Phillies are (2-5), the ‘Stros (1-3) in such entities. In World Series games, the Phils are (14-23), the 23 losses evoking their modern baseball record losing streak of 23 consecutive games, 61 years ago in 1961, while the Astros are (9-15).
None of the seven previous Phillies’ World Series have gone 7 games while half of Houston’s 4 have gone to a decisive 7th (a Houston title in ’17 and a loss in ’19). The 7 Phils World Series have averaged 5.28 games in length while Houston’s 4 have averaged exactly 6.
The teams were swept in World Series play 55 years apart. The Phillies were swept by the Yankees, that 1950 title was the second of what was to be a still record and long to be such, 5 straight crowns for the Yankees. Conversely the White Sox title bearing sweep of the Astros in 2005 gave the South Side Chicago team its first title in 88 years. (only the same city Cubs’ 108 year title drought was longer).
Houston (Astros) are (0-4) in World Series opening games while the Phillies are (4-3). The game 1 winner has failed to title in 4 of the combined 11 World Series of the two teams (the Phils won the 1915, 1983 and 2009 openers, the 1915 opening game behind the great Grover Cleveland Alexander, but lost the World Series. The Astros lost the 2017 World Series opener at L.A. vs the Dodgers but won game 7 there and the title.)
There are 3 links to Ronald Wilson Reagan involving Phillies’ World Series play that come to mind and likely only my mind.
“Dutch,” as Reagan was called, among other names (I can think of a few) played Grover Alexander the aforementioned 1915 W.S. opening game winner in a movie called “The Winning Team” opposite Doris Day and gave a nice performance.
The Phillies finally won the title in 1980 less than a month before Reagan was elected U.S. President.
In 1983, Reagan came on camera, before top 8 and after the delay, Garry Maddox, who had the decisive hit and caught the last out in the classic 1980 NLCS, homered on Scott MacGregor’s first pitch, accounting for the game’s final run in the Phils’ (2-1) win.
However, as was the case in 1915, the Phillies lost the last 4 games of the series. In ’09, the Phils won the opener at the Yankees but lost the next 3 games and the series in 6 games.
Bake McBride (is this the year “Bake” (Astros manager Dusty Baker, his team nearly a 2:1 favorite finally wins a title as a manager?) had a key home run in game 1/1980 World Series, the only time either the Phils or Astros won both the W.S. opening game and the series.
I thought highly of Ralph Macchio before seeing him interviewed by Josh Horowitz, Tuesday past at Symphony Space in New York City. My admiration and respect for Mr. Macchio has increased due to his “in perspective,” articulate, personable appearance I witnessed.
His book “Waxing On” sounds great, as he told Mr. Horowitz some of his many great stories involving his excellent body of work.
Most telling to me and my favorite Ralph Macchio performance was in “The Outsiders,” which was discussed. Directed by the great Francis Ford Coppola, who was rightfully praised, the movie was outstanding.
Ralph revealed that during his current book tour he was interviewed by “The Outsiders” author, S.E. Hinton in Tulsa, Oklahoma. That meant a lot to Ralph and it brings good feelings to me.
Mr. Macchio was impressive, having his career success in perspective and even offered “The Astros are good,” but stopped short of a prediction when I asked for one. He is a great sports fan.
Much more to the point, I felt good about Ralph as a person, who has achieved great success.
Ralph Macchio, pictured above.
The classic 1980 NLCS won by the Phillies in the maximum 5 games, vs the Astros, is not the only “semi” matching the sports teams from the two cities, Philadelphia and Houston, who of course are meeting in the 2022 World Series.
In a 1977 NBA “semi”/Eastern Conference Final (the Houston Rockets were in the NBA East at that point in time) the Philadelphia 76ers “6’d” the Houston Rockets only to lose in 6 to the Portland Trail Blazers in the subsequent NBA final. (#6 on the Sixers, Julius Erving was in his first Sixers’ season and in his first 6 seasons with Philly, the team and in many instances him, came up short, certainly of an NBA crown. In the 7th year, a savior named Moses arrived and led the team to a dominant NBA title).
Those are the only two Philly vs Houston post-season clashes, however, there are some nice links involving the two cities post-season and titles history.
In 1960, 6 (that # again) days apart, first on a Monday, the day after Christmas (then the NFL would not play on Christmas Day–not the case now–$$ (wish I had more, but some day none of that will matter) the Eagles won the NFL crown, (17-13) vs the Green Bay Packers, at home (Franklin Field), handing the great coach Vince Lombardi his lone ‘offs defeat followed by the Houston Oilers’ (24-16) New Year’s Day first ever AFL Title game win vs the then and now with most seasons as San Diego, Los Angeles Chargers.
Two great, already venerable quarterbacks Norm Van Brocklin of the Eagles and George Blanda of the Oilers, directed those victories.
Among other great football feats, Mr. Blanda is one of 8 NFL or AFL (only AFL) quarterback to throw 7 touchdown passes in a game.
Van Brocklin still holds the NFL record as he threw for 554 yards in a victory over the long defunct NFL team, the New York Yanks.
In both 1974 and 1975 each city won back to back hockey crowns.
Houston’s titles were won in the relatively obscure WHA (World Hockey Association) but are worth noting as the great, great Gord Howe was a member of those 2 title winning Houston Aeros teams.
The same years, the Philadelphia Flyers won NHL titles and have not “titled” since.
One more note: With Houston, Gordie Howe played with his sons Mark and Marty, the team winning crowns in ’74 and ’75. Mark born in 1955, not long after Gord’s last of 4 Red Wings’ titles and the team’s last in 42 years, (a drought that ended with a sweep of the Flyers), played on 2 Flyers’ teams that lost in NHL final round play.
In that ’60 AFL title tilt, Mr. Blanda threw 3 touchdown passes, one each to Dave Smith, Bill Groman and Billy Cannon, pictured above.
Cannon took a short toss from Blanda and went 88 yards altogether for a TD that put the Oilers up (24-16), the final score.
Interesting, as the AFL had the two point conversion, (I am not second guessing, just noting) that after the gifted Paul Lowe scored for the Chargers, coach Sid (Gross called him “Zid”) Gillman went for 1 and not a potential game tying 2 point conversion.
Yesterday I experienced an eye opening theatre experience, viewing “The How and the Why” at Sheen Center (18 Bleeker Street in New York City).
The story with its evolutionary biological theories and discussion, performed by Karen Leiner and Arielle Goldman, informed and entertained, doing so with pathos and humor.
Each performer was superb going back and forth with/at each other with brief interludes for drinks and popcorn, conveniently located on stage, adding to the intense, moving experience.
Both the writer Sarah Treem and the director Austin Pendleton are fantastic, each a personal favorite for past work and “The How and the Why” certainly increases their stature.
Click below for more information and access to ticket purchases.
The How and the Why — Sheen Center
It will be a redux of the classic 1980 NLCS, won by the Phillies en route to the first of their 2 titles, as the 2022 World Series matches the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros.
Both teams clinched their LCS yesterday with comeback wins, NLCS MVP Bryce Harper’s none out 2RHR B8, lifting the Phils, now (6-4) in NLCS after losing their first 3 (’76-’78), (4-3) vs the San Diego Padres and ALCS MVP Jeremy Pena, whose 18th inning HR lifted Houston (1-0) to wrap Seattle in the “div” round, hitting an early game tying 3RHR in a (6-5) win at the Yankees.
Houston is (7-0) this post-season and (4-0) in ‘offs entities vs the Yankees (a 5/4 game in ’15 and LCS wins in ’17,’19 and ’22) after a 4 game sweep in the just completed ALCS.
Philly has won 9 of 11 (those #’s-the win yesterday yielded it), this post-season, as they handed San Diego their first NLCS loss (2-1). The game 4 winner in a Phils’ LCS is (9-0) (Cincy which had the title with the 7-0 mark Houston now has, swept the Phils in a best of 5 NLCS in ’76) and is (6-1) in previous Phils’ World Series.
The Phils are (2-5) in previous World Series, losing in 5 to Boston in 1915, in 4 to the Yankees in 1950, in 5 to the Orioles in 1983, and in 6 to the ’93 Blue Jays and ’09 Yankees, the ’93 World Series ending on Joe Carter’s 3RHR that transformed a 1 run Philly lead into a 2 run, repeat title victory for the Toronto Blue Jays. They beat the Royals in ’80. K.C. had not won a title at that point and it was the last World Series that matched 2 teams that had not won a crown.
Adding to it, (notes have been limited but now that it is over the air World Series, they will abound here), they beat, the still nary a title Rays in ’08.
The Red Sox had 3 titles after beating Philly in 1915. They won again in 1916 and 1918, went 86 years without another, however, have won 4 after that. The “3” year title winning Orioles (same calendar ’83) and ’93 (last non Yankees team to repeat as W,S. champions) Blue Jays have not titled since.
Then there are the Yankees. They will have the most titles long after I do not know what, however have won just one pennant in 19 seasons (2004-2022) matching the just one pennant before their glory in 19 seasons from (1903-1921). They won the pennant in ’21, there was no World Series in 1904 but as the Highlanders they lost the pennant, I believe on the season’s last day and have not won a World Series since 2009.
Jeremy Pena, the 2022 ALCS MVP, pictured above.
The penultimate of what will be 11 “2” year title tilt rematches(2 NFL title games, 1 AFL title game, that to be the once Texans/now Chiefs facing the once Oilers/now Titans, in what also is a ’19 AFC title redux, 5 in 5 possibilities AFC title tilt rematches as well as 3 NFC title game reduxes) in 14 possibilities takes place tomorrow night in Miami as the (3-3) Dolphins host the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 1972 AFC title game rematch.
Much can be said and recalled about the Dolphins win that day, their 16th of what was to be 17 in an unbeaten season.
One incredible/could not happen today aspect is the fact that the unbeaten ‘Phins had to sojourn to Pittsburgh for the game.
A Larry Sieple run for a first down from punt formation was a key play in the Miami victory.
Tragically (many 21’s are coming up, I am reading, albeit slowly, “The 7 Secrets Of Synchronicity,” by as listed Trish MacGregor and Rob MacGregor, change of 21 cents at Dunkin Donuts yesterday and the time of 2:21 when I looked before) that December 31, 1972 night, the great player and humanitarian Roberto Clemente lost his life in a plane crash.
Back to the esoteric, there will be no redux of the ’52 NFL title tilt (Lions beat the Browns), ’92 or ’02 NFC title games/NFL “semis” at least not in the “reg.” In ’92 Dallas won at S.F. while in ’02 Tampa Bay won at Philly.
Otherwise, as stated, 3 “Two Year” NFC title game rematches, two involving Wash beating Dallas and the other in ’12 manifesting in an S.F. win at Atlanta.
I will recap the AFC/AFL “sitch,” after the aforementioned, upcoming ’62 AFL title game redux, scheduled for Sunday night November 6th in K.C. (nee Dallas) vs Tennessee (nee Houston).
Wonder if you can stand the wait?!!
The first ever Philadelphia vs San Diego major North American sports league post-season entity stands at a game apiece after the Phils “opened” (2-0), but dissipated an early (4-0) lead and lost (8-5), dropping their game 2 NLCS record to (2-8), (0-4) on the road (’77, ’83 and ’09 all vs L.A., the same 111 wins franchise that lost to S.D. days back, were the other game 2 NLCS road losses.)
This NLCS shifts to Philly for a Friday game 3 of the NLCS, this at night, exactly 45 years and 2 weeks after the incredible L.A. comeback win that year and a scant 2 weeks after the Phils replicated the “trailed by 2 runs/T9” L.A. road comeback in the 12/8 series opener at St. Loo.–(eerily exactly 45 years later).
San Diego won its previous 2 NLCS, winning 3 straight home tilts after losing the first two at Wrigley Field in Chicago vs the Cubs in ’84 and going up (3-0) in an eventual 6 game NLCS triumph vs the Braves in ’98. In the latter series S.D. went (3-0) at Atlanta.
In the subsequent World Series, first the wire to wire (they got off to a (35-5) start) ’84 Tigers 5’d the “P-Pads,” winning the opener at S.D. and #’s (3-5) in Detroit, before the 114 “reg” wins (125 total) ’98 Yankees swept them.
Philadelphia is (5-4) in previous NLCS, losing in their first 3 (’76-’78), winning their next 5 (’80,’83,’93,’08 and ’09–they “titled” in ’80 and ’08, the franchise’s only such triumphs) before losing in 2010 to the first of 3 straight “odd year” S.F. Giants’ World Series winners under manager, Bruce Bochy.
The Phillies lost both #2 and the NLCS in ’76,’77, and’78. They lost in ’10 after getting a series squaring home win in game 2.
They won the NLCS despite losing #2 in ’80,’83, ’93 and ’09. In ’08, the only time they went up (2-0) in NLCS play and just the second time in what is now an aggregate 17 Phils’ LCS or World Series, that a Phils’ LCS or World Series stood (2-0) Phils, they 5’d L.A. en route to that second crown.
Steve Garvey, whose teams went (5-0) in LCS play (L.A. won in ’74,’77,’78 and ’81–S.D. in ’84) with him as LCS MVP, 10 years apart in ’74 and ’84, hit a dramatic game winning home run for S.D. in the Saturday night #4 vs the Cubs in the ’84 NLCS.
Essentially Steve and his teams could be “nominated” but not “elected,” as they were (1-4) in World Series play, the lone triumph by the Dodgers in strike marred 1981.
Today, on what is the exact 45 year anniversary of the Yankees’ ending a then 15 year title drought, in a game 6 home win vs L.A. that was highlighted by Reggie Jackson’s 3 home run performance, New York advanced to a third ALCS clash vs Houston (Astros) in the past 6seasons.
Houston (Astros) in their big league record 6th straight LCS, won the previous two and will be I say, at least 8 to 5 favorites in the upcoming one, which starts tomorrow night in Houston.
The win by the Yankees dropped the Cleveland baseball franchise decisive game record to (1-8).
Playing on the exact anniversaries of the ’77 World Series in all 5 “div” series games vs “Cleve,” the Yankees repeated a game 1 win on Tuesday October 11th and as cited, series clinching wins (#6 in ’77 and decisive #5 today, another Tuesday October 18th).
Games (3-5) were reverse results, the Yankees won on Friday Oct. 14 in ’77 (Bing Crosby died that day, Linda Ronstadt sang the national anthem in L.A.– and Saturday October 15, ’77 but lost this year on the exact anniversaries.
In the must game 4, 2 days ago they won on Sunday October 16th, having lost up (3-1) “exactly” 45 years earlier.
A truly great clutch player and a great player period, Reggie Jackson, pictured above.
Malcom (X), regarding the bubbling injustice and subsequent tragic day in Dallas, Texas nearly 59 years ago when John F. Kennedy was killed, perhaps inappropriately, however, surely with grains and strains of undeniable truth, said that “the chickens have come home to roost.”
This is not in the same stratosphere as far as importance, but as with the enduring John F. Kennedy, baseball once was something to be proud of and hopeful, regarding this country. No longer! (regarding baseball).
It started in ’95 with the wild card presence and now in the first year of extra teams/extra rounds, the N.L. has a 5 seed vs 6 seed LCS.
The 111 wins Dodgers and 101 wins “div” and defending world champion, Braves each were (3-1’d) in the “div” series by “P” teams, the Padres and Phillies respectively (they start “sloshing” tomorrow night in S.Diego–as I typed Youmans said San Diego and Pauly Howard– tonight’s 5th Cleve at the Yankees is a decisive, not pivotal game, with the “P” Pads,” roughly 6 and a fraction to 5, series “faves.”
22 years after his last, Bob Costas is broadcasting his 12th full post-season series, one as stated above that has gone to a decisive 5th game, contested between the Cleveland Guardians (1-7, all of course as the Indians in decisive games) and New York Yankees (15-15 in such and few if any could do what I did, albeit with some struggle on the infinitely less glorious extra round ‘offs tilts, namely cite all 36 of the two teams decisive games. The reason it is 36 and not 38 games, is that the two teams split in a pair of decisive games, Cleve winning in ’97 and the Yankees doing so 20 years later. “Cleve” has a chance to win a series vs the Yankees on a Monday night as was the case 3 previous times, in wins 25 and 15 years ago, as well as in a loss, 5 years ago.).
Once assigned, the 9-11 #’s regarding a decisive game in a Costas full series, (9 of 11 had Not gone the distance) was to end.
The Yankees are (4-0) in “full Costas post-season series,” (16-5) in NBC Costas full series games and (6-1) in NBC Costas “drop in” games (his good phrase, also the Yankees won a # of Costas “drop in” MLB Network tilts)
The fine player, Edgar Renteria, pictured above, had the World Series winning/game ending hit for the wild card Florida Marlins vs Cleveland in one of the 7 franchise “decisive game” losses, that in #7/’97 World Series.
I can recall to you related Costas, Penas, Cleveland and other Renteria and for that matter, “Edgar notes.”
As the great Jim Brown said to me when I asked if I could help his programs that are so helpful to troubled young people on my cable show, “I choose not to at this particular time.”
One of the greatest and quite near the last of those performers from a “Golden Age,” the fantastic performer Angela Lansbury, died days back at age 96, 5 days shy of birthday # 97.
I need not cite her many awards or the fact in this year Queen Elizabeth died, that Ms. Lansbury is Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury, however I just did, to attest to her greatness.
She had memorable roles in such classic films as “Gaslight,” “National Velvet,” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
Among so many great roles on Broadway and yes I cite she won 6 Tony Awards, including one of lifetime achievement, was that of “Auntie Mame” in 1966’s “Mame.”
Ms./Dame Angela Lansbury was near, if not at the top of my father’s favorites and I recall walking after Sunday, likely USFL work with Lisa Liberty now McPartland and she looking forward to the great show, “Murder She Wrote,” in which Lansbury starred.
Alas on gambling ViSN’s “No Hyperbole,” Angela was recalled as Mike Palm simply said “60 Minutes followed by Murder She Wrote,” something we surely heard “Super” (the great Pat Summerall) say so many times as late game CBS “pig”/pro football ran on.
It was in ” The Manchurian Candidate,” now 60 years ago and yet so relevant, as recent events are not just recent but in eery fashion, so relevant, that the acting chops of Angela Lansbury shined brightest!
That unforgettable, brilliant performance and so many others made Angela Lansbury one of a kind. Bless and thank you, Angela, as you “march” on (ode to another Angela).
Andy B Sports 