The 121st baseball World Series commences tonight in Toronto, Canada, with the home team Blue Jays (2-0) in previous World Series facing the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers (8-14) in such, with good and bad memories evoked, from when I truly loved L.A. (ode to Randy Newman).
Toronto opened the ’92 World Series at home losing game 1 at Atlanta before getting a/the key win in #2 on Ed Sprague’s 9th inning 2RHR which transformed a 1 run Jays’ deficit into a lead which they held in an eventual 6 game series triumph.
For now, (I did not hear about Sprague’s homer, of course Carter’s was cited and ranks among the
(Carter 3RHR and Bill Mazeroski are the only World Series ending home runs).
greatest homers and moments in sports, while Batista’s in a mere “div” series was and why because he flipped his bat?!-Reason # ?? for Paar’s drain comment to be “Paar” for the course, Sprague’s “shot” ranks ahead of Springer’s and maybe even if “Tor” upsets L.A. will in my opinion. Certainly if they lose. (By the way, you know I cited Springer as one of the few modern players I truly like and chastised those “Sea” fans who cheered when he left #5ALCS with an injury. Karma, not carrying charges and ode to Mr. Greenstreet).
In their 8 World Series triumphs, (7 played with road/home–their 2020, not so hot crown, was played at a neutral site), the Dodgers in both Brooklyn (they went (3-0) at home in ’55 and eventually finally won the crown) and Los Angeles are (17-1) in home tilts.
They clinched only one of those 8 crowns at home, (6 road and 1 neutral) while the losing pitcher in the lone Dodgers’ loss in that scenario is the great Sandy Koufax, outdueled by Bob Shaw with I believe relief help from Dick Donovan.
More on Sandy, Bob and Dodgers’ history, as I present interviews, titled “Dodgertown Interviews” which you can see on You Tube and below.
There is so much I can say as pictured above are the great Sandy Koufax and me (Andy B.). I am so proud to have interviewed the Hall of Fame “Dons,” Drysdale and Sutton and especially Sandy Koufax.
I truly thank Amy McQuillan, (pictured in the top left corner), a one of a kind, great person, who did the camera work on and found this rare gem and placed it where people can see it.
I can give more facts, one is these interviews were done “on the fly” and I had no notes, no teleprompter.
Note: Lew Burdette, doing so 8 years before Sandy, (1957), also hurled shutouts in the 5th and 7th games of the World Series.
Again, I am so grateful to Amy, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Don Sutton for contributing mightily to these interviews, which surely have and will be insightful, to hopefully many, as time goes by.
Going light, I truly enjoyed watching, (on “Movies,” a nice channel, however, I miss TCM), albeit with commercials, two “better than I thought,” movies, “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” and “Village Of The Damned,” starring respective greats, Patricia Neal in the former and George Sanders in the latter.
No, was Michael Rennee’s character, minimum a Jesus reference, here– yet I did just type the question but no speculation.
Honesty compels, he became Mr. Carpenter on earth.
In the movie, “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” later better known for TV roles, Frances Bavier (“Aunt Bee” on “The Andy Griffith Show”) saying “rummy, rummy” in her unmistakable voice, as she won in cards and Billy Gray, still on part of the movie’s title (earth), as are ” Father Knows Best” siblings Elinor Donahue and Lauren Chapin, as Neal’s character’s son.
“Village Of The Damned” from ’60 had nice product placement and brought nice memories, as one could pretty clearly see “Tony The Tiger’s” “ringing endorsement” of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes, in the background at least twice.
A true great performer and person, Patricia Neal is pictured above.
The 2025 World Series will match the L.A. Dodgers in a bid to repeat as champions for the first time in franchise history and the Toronto Blue Jays, the last non Yankees team to turn that feat, as they did so in ’92 and ’93.
George Springer cited and praised here days back hit a 1 out 3RHR that transformed a (3-1) Tor. deficit into a (4-3) lead which they held, Jeff Hoffman, fanning the side vs Seattle (Mariners) to clinch what is the third Jays’ pennant. Seattle again denied (0-4) in ALCS play is the lone big league team sans a World Series appearance.
Toronto, a pretty big series underdog, (too big says I in the face of the chalk that permeates in this and most sports matters (does it?!!), is (2-0) in previous W.S. part of a 7 series Toronto teams final round win skein since the NHL Maple Leafs lost to the great 5 straight crowns, Montreal Canadiens team in 1960.
The Dodgers are (8-14) in previous World Series, (7-6) as L.A.
Yesterday the great Canadiens of a different era (4 straight titles ’76-’79) were cited as the configuration (road/road/road/road/home/home) evoked the ’80 “quarter” in which the then Minnesota North Stars 7’d the Habs after with those 5 straight titles (’56-’60) and the 4 cited above plus others yielded an incredible 15 titles in 24 seasons for Montreal.
The 1986 World Series had the same “through 6” road/home configuration and as it turns out the Blue Jays played the part of the Mets in the ’86 W.S. as the home team won game 7 and again last night after the above cited road/home configuration through 6 games.
True the Toronto favorite team/favorite sport Maple Leafs have not as much as qualified for an NHL final since winning such in 1967, however, Toronto teams have been victorious in their 7 final round entities.
The great player, Dave Keon pictured above was a key member of the (’62-’64) and ’67 Leafs’ title winners.
Basketball’s Raptors in 2019 and the Blue Jays (’92 and ’93) also won titles.
Tonight in the 15th maximum games (10 #7’s and 5 decisive 5th games) ALCS the home team Blue Jays, the losing team in either the Jays or Mariners’ lone 7th game, doing so at home vs eventual champion, K.C. (Royals) in ’85, slight “faves” vs the Seattle Mariners, who are seeking to make it all MLB 30 teams with a W.S. appearance.
“Tor” eased in #6 and so far only the NHL significant (it ended the Montreal Canadiens 4 year reign as NHL champions, which gave them an incredible 15 crowns in 24 seasons (’56-’79) (they have but 2 since) “quarter” in ’80 when the Minnesota North Stars 7’d Montreal at their hallowed Montreal Forum home to win a 2-2-1-1-1 format series with the first 6 tilts matching the Sea/Tor road/road/road/road/home/home, albeit with the home 5th and 6th winners in the opposite venue, do I recall this configuration.
On Saturday night past, the NHL Seattle Kraken won in Toronto vs the home team, Maple Leafs. I wonder if the Kraken and Mariners stayed/stay at the same hotel.
The Kraken are in Philly tonight vs the Flyers while the NFL Seahawks (4-2) try to keep pace with the NFC West co leading Rams and Niners, each (5-2), as they host the Houston Texans in a game starting about 2 hours after the ALCS #7. The NHL game is one hour before the ALCS tilt.
Of course, the Rams are L.A. and tonight’s ALCS #7 winner will face defending champion, L.A. (Dodgers), beginning Friday in the World Series.
Oh the Minnesota North Stars, the green seats at their Metropolitan Center home.
They are now the Dallas Stars where the franchise won its only crown at Buffalo in game 6 overtime in 1999. It is the lone title in the team’s 57 completed seasons. )’68-2025 with no season in 2005).
More facts, albeit esoteric, less, if any opinions this day/night of #6 at Toronto with the Mariners bidding to reach the World Series for the first time, as they have a (3-2) series lead.
I believe only when the 2 all road series occurred that the road team won the first 5 tilts in any LCS or World Series.
Only once in the Blue Jays’ 9 previous LCS or World Series (all best of 7, it occurred in their and the A.L.’s first best of 7 ALCS in ’85 when K.C. won at Toronto) or the so called M’s in 3 such, have either been in a 7 game entity.
Meanwhile the Dodgers broke form as for just the third time in 39 (1/13, fractions anyone?) LCS or World Series, 5 best of 5 LCS included, were in a 4 game entity, winning that way in ’63 and Friday past while losing in 4 to Baltimore (Orioles) in ’66.
Fox again got more games than TBS. In 19 seasons/years of both Fox, now it is FS1 and they stay on the batter which is poor coverage (the Suarez G. slam, the latest example), and TBS telecasting the LCS (‘2007-2025), that has manifested 13 times, 5 times there were an equal number of games on each network with 2008 (TBS had Tampa Bay –$$$ ruined that fine organization, one of 5 teams the Brewers just swept by L.A., Rockies, Padres, and already cited Mariners the lone team of baseball’s 30 never to qualify for a World Series—in 7 vs defending champion Boston while Fox was on the eventual champion Phils’ 5 game LCS win vs the Dodgers. Remember when L.A. made ‘offs but not as much as the NLCS–no longer the case.
Left to right, Wally Bunker and Jim Palmer, two of the 3 Orioles starters to shutout L.A. thwarting their “repeat” bid (they still have never done so but will be pretty big “faves” to do so this time, more vs Seattle against whom they would open at home after a week’s rest while if Tor wins the next 2, the Jays would have home advantage but still be fairly sizable underdogs) in ’66. (Dave McNally is the other, Moe Drabowsky was brilliant in relief in game 1, the only tilt in that series, in which L.A. scored)
While the ALCS, which to this point, has seen the Seattle Mariners “playing the part” of the ’93 eventual champion Blue Jays, with road wins in #’s 1 and 2 and a home such, in last night’s 5th to lead the Jays (3-2) –Sho Ohtani (let’s not get carried away here, as L.A. was up (3-0) and he had been 3 for 29 at the plate, fanning 11 times), however, hail his 3 home runs, all solo and yes 7 plus innings pitching excellence as was the case with all the L.A. starters, in a (5-1)– 23rd pennant clinching win for the Dodgers, attained in a 4 game sweep vs the Milwaukee Brewers.
I “warned” here about interviews, and “Tor” did win #’s 3 and 4 making the home team (4-0) in the clash of the ’77 expansion teams.
They also had a (2-1) lead in front of Seattle fans, who shamefully cheered when one of the few modern players I like, George Springer, was forced to leave the tilt, but could not add when Azorarena, perhaps another one to admire, leaped at the wall to take away a possible HR and at least an extra base hit, keeping the score (2-1).
Next, promo’d to bat, B8 and with a 60 “reg” homers season, Cal Raleigh, hit a (2-0) pitch beyond the leaping Jays Lfielder to tie the game.
Losing pitcher Little (you would not know it from the Fox graphic that stayed on for a long time –I do not know that it was corrected, indicating Dominquez as such) not only yielded the pretty much all important HR to Raleigh, but walked 2, was replaced by Dominguez who HBP’d Polanco before serving up the grand slam homer to Eugenio Suarez, who earlier “solo’d” (Napoleon anyone?–not the delicacy), as Sea scored first for the 4th straight game.
The epic performance by Ohtani came 1 day shy of 48 years after Reggie Jackson, pictured above, also hit 3 home runs for the winning team in a series clinching game, that in #6 ’77 W.S. on this date.
Jackson’s feat and of course he did not pitch (also the Brewers are not the Big Red Machine Cincinnati Reds, whom L.A. is evoking so far though I do not care if they go (13-1) and repeat as champions, after finally getting the monkey off its back the year before, the Reds were/are discernibly better) came in a World Series standing (3-2), each fact making at the least the game of Reggie’s 3 HR’s, more important than that of Shohei Ohtani’s nevertheless/obvious great feat, last night.
The defending champion L.A. Dodgers are so (think Valley girls for so) likely to cop their 23rd pennant, the first nine won as Brooklyn, after winning (5-1) in #2 behind more brilliant pitching, this time by Yoshinobu Yamamoto (wow, a complete game, so incredibly rare for these pampered modern day pitchers) and (3-1) in #3 at home, to take a commanding (3-0) lead vs the Milwaukee Brewers.
Almost certainly, the Dodgers will go to (3-0) vs Milwaukee teams in entities for the N.L. title having won 2 straight in an unscheduled ’59 N.L. playoff vs the Braves and in 7 vs the Brewers in the ’18 NLCS.
This is the Dodgers’ 39th LCS or World Series, all but 5, best of 7, and only twice each in a best of 7 (L.A. sweeping the Yankees in the ’63 World Series and in turn being swept by the O’s,who allowed 2, then 3 zeroes/O’s (not the cereal) to L.A. in ’66.
Additionally, this is just the third time a team is up or down (3-0) in 39 Dodgers LCS or World Series, again all but 5 (’74,’77,’78,’81 and ’83 NLCS) were best of 7.
So likely: The Dodgers to be (10-7) in LCS and they will bid to be just the 8th baseball franchise to ever repeat as title winners. Their again so likely World Series appearance will be with an (8-14) record in previous such entities.
Mr. Yamamoto, pictured above.
They (Sea and L.A. perhaps linked by Japan, Ichiro and Ohtani) met in the last 3 “regs,” a virtually meaningless L.A. Dodgers sweep and now a meeting in baseball’s most important entity, ‘el’ World Series is a favorite proposition.
Seattle (Mariners) to this point, the only one of the 30 big league baseball teams, never to have made a World Series, leads fellow 1977 A.L. expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays 2 games to none after (3-1) and (10-3) victories at Toronto.
Jorge Polanco, putting on a superb clutch hitting show, (he tuned in the div series winning run with a 1 out/bases loaded bottom 15th inning single in #5 to sink Detroit and has delivered hits to put Sea ahead to stay in both wins (games 1 and 2) at Toronto (a single in the 6th after 60 Homer Cal Raleigh matched the Jays’ George Springer (Springer the ringer, look out Polanco as you did a post game interview, however, I see little hope (one never knows) for Tor as the series shifts to Seattle for #’s 3,4 and a fifth if necessary), and then a 3RHR to break a (3-3) tie yesterday) is leading “Sea.”
L.A. (Dodgers) a team I once loved until Lasorda, a Costas quote is he could not utter one sentence sans profanity, unless he was on some form of mass media, so foolishly pitched to Jack Clark in #6/’85 NLCS and I think the ball is still going!!–won (2-1) in game 1 as Blake Snell, once lifted too early, helping L.A. win the no so hot 2020 season title, hurled 8 brilliant 1 hit innings as F. Freeman, the best of the lot and a great, so rare modern player HR’d to yield (1-0) L.A. T6.
They would need the insurance run T9, and also Treinen K’ing someone to end it.
Jorge Polanco, remember he was interviewed, whose p.s. clutch hitting HAS been sensational, is pictured above.
Sea hungers for basketball as their once team “City” (Oklahoma City Thunder are current NBA champions) and the NFL Seahawks are (4-2) and in a 3 way NFC West first place tie ‘con’ the Rams and Niners, however, their “must” is at least, a first World Series appearance for the Mariners, who are top heavy “faves” vs fellow ’77 expansion team “Tor,” thus each in their 48th completed season (Tor won titles in ’92 and ’93 but is only (2-5) in previous ALCS– with that series winner going (6-1) in the subsequent World Series–only the Indians, now the Guardians, of 2016 lost in that entity as the first 6– the ’85 and 2015 Royals, the aforementioned ’92 and ’93 Jays and ’89 A’s/’91 Twins won in that entity.
There is background (say a history) and “background,” as in movie extra work and I will skip most details save (please someone!!) the fact it was so disturbingly shocking and depressing, to hear the female NBC News “sub” anchor read, that a great talented actress, Diane Keaton, had died at age 79.
She was in so many great films, all 3 so called Godfather, “Annie Hall” and one I will cite as my favorite Keaton turn and first with the great Woody Allen–(he apparently was shocked and distraught at Keaton’s passing and oh that poem about death “finding” us), in Play It Again Sam.
Before it “found” Keaton– Keaton’s performance in a role evoking Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid and even trigonometry (see it does come up in life, triangles– not carrying charges) in “Sam” touches me, in a deep profound way.
“So esteemed as a comedienne, Keaton’s dramatic work in such films as “Reds,” “Looking For Mr. Goodbar,” and Mrs. Soffel was just as impressive.”
Above, were the words of dear friend Chris MacLeod, with whom I heard the sad news and below she is in the “background” in a scene with Diane and Mr. Allen in the seminal film, “Annie Hall.”
Woody Allen and Diane Keaton in the ground-breaking and trend/style setting (largely Diane’s doing) film, “Annie Hall.”
Ten seconds in, Ms. MacLeod appears.
After three more low scoring games in successive days, div round clinchers, the ’77 expansion teams (Toronto (Blue Jays) vs Seattle (Mariners) ALCS and the L.A. (Dodgers) vs Milwaukee (Brewers) NLCS are set.
L.A. made it 6 of 6 post series vs the Phils, either ending or standing (3-1), with Thursday afternoon’s shadowy and eerily similar to the ’78 NLCS, winning (2-1) in the 10 innings, clinching win in #4.
Next for the defending champion Dodgers, who as with some other storied sports teams, the St. Louis Cardinals, San Antonio Spurs and yes the New York football Giants, have never repeated as champions though the Cards (11), Spurs 4 in 16 seasons and Giants (7) copped multiple titles, is a third entity vs a Milwaukee team (’twas the Braves in ’59 in a needed playoff and the “Brew Crew” in ’18, both won by L.A.) with the N.L. title, the series winner’s prize.
Last night (all 4 runs on homers, low scoring, HR or nada and 3’s wild in the series) the Brewers prevailed (3-1), handing the Cubs a second maximum games/best of 5 series road loss in the last tilt. (Somewhat famously S.D. “Birched” the Cubs in a decisive #5 NLCS home game, while last week, these Cubs won a decisive 12/8 round third game, at home, to oust the Padres.
Seattle, which rode the great hitter and current team hitting instructor, Edgar Martinez’ series ending 2 run double to a deciding 5th game/div round win 30 years ago (first year of these div round games, entities, I have so long and continue to oppose being played) win vs the Yankees, won (3-2) in 15 innings in #5 vs the Detroit Tigers Friday night/1:15 A.M. or so in the Eastern time (do not mess with it!!) zone and next, will face the Toronto Blue Jays, the A.L. “1” seed in a 1/2 seed ALCS. (Milw is the N.L. “1” while L.A. which dispatched “2” seed Philly, is the N.L. “3” but pretty sized series favorites.
It was Bob Costas with superb TV play by play and briefly, fine analyst, Tony Kubek on the call. Both Toronto and L.A. series favorites then and now, these forty years later, took (2-0) series leads at home, but lost to the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals respectively.
It was the far better known for his defensive prowess as a catcher, Jim Sundberg who “rung” that 3R2B and slid home just safe in K.C.’s famed #6 World Series win 10 days later. They then eased to win it all in game 7 at home, vs the Cards.
Andy B Sports 