World Series: Did You Know?

Jackie Jensen became the first person to play in a Rose Bowl and the Fall Classic.

Jackie, playing for the University of California on the first day of 1949, saw his team come up a little short (20-14) in the January Classic. Jensen scored a touchdown and also suffered an injury. It was, however, more than he'd do in the World Series, which was to consist of just a cameo.

His first year in the bigs on the diamond was bad. Jackie hit just .171 in 45 games, but was added to the postseason roster by the New York Yankees for some reason. The 1950 World Series lasted just four games, all of which were won by Jensen's team.

Jackie did little. New York faced Philadelphia and won game 1, 1-0, game 2, 2-1, and then came home for game 3.

It was another one-run deal, but New York won it. They actually trailed 2-1 as late as the bottom of the eight, but the Yankees were not to be denied.

The first two Yankees' batters were retired. The next three drew walks. That brought up Bobby Brown with the bases filled. Bobby was batting for Hank Bauer. All Brown could do was to short...And reach on an error. Jerry Coleman trotted on in to tie it!

And in came Jackie Jensen. The situation was one I'm sure he'd dreamed of: Game tied, bases loaded, 2 outs.

But not the kind you're just pinch running in.

The Big Cat, Johnny Mize was next, but ace relieve Jim Konstanty got him to pop to third. Philly, for a team being swept, sure was making it an interesting World Series. Even if it was a short one.

Meanwhile, Jensen could have stayed in, batting 5th. But given his light hitting in the regular season, manager Casey Stengel did a double switch: Pitcher Tom Ferrick (9-7, 11 saves) in for Jensen's spot, Gene Woodling (Who'd batted for starting pitcher Ed Lopat in the 8th) went in to left. Another substitution was Joe Collins in to play 1st for Mize.

Philly put two man on in the top of the ninth, but couldn't get 'em home. In the bottom of the frame, Russ Meyer got Billy Johnson to line out, and Cliff Mapes to strike out. Hmmm...Extras?

Not quite.

Woodling got a infield single. As did Phil Rizzuto. And then Jerry Coleman sent everyone home happy by not only getting it out of the infield, but singling home Gene Woodling! 3-2, Yankees! A dramatic win!

The Yankees completed the sweep with a 5-2 win in game 4, although the Phillies scored twice in the top of the ninth. It was New York's third straight World Series win. The'd win again in 1951, with Jackie not on the postseason roster. Then, in 1952, he was one of four Yankees traded to the Washington Senators for Irv Noren and Tom Upton.

Jackie found a home in Boston later that decade, having been traded there in the 1953/54 offseason. He'd league the junior circuit in RBIs three times. But after the 1961 season, he retied age just 34, due to his fear of flying and wanting to be with his family more. He died in 1982.

References

Armour, Mark. “Jackie Jensen.” Jackie Jensen | Society for American Baseball Research, Society Of American Baseball Research. <sabr.org/bioproj/person/00badd9b>. Web. 21 Dec. 2017.

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Fenway: An Unexpurgated History of the Boston Red Sox. Chicago, IL: Triumph Books, 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.

Sports Reference LLC.  Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 21 Dec. 2017.

World Series: Did You Know?

Nap Rucker, in his last MLB season, made it to the final roster in October, and even appeared. During the regular season (1916), he took the hill just 9 times.

Rucker, one of the early masters of the knuckleball, had been a pretty good pitcher in seasons' past. In fact, he was a winner in 22 contest back in 1911. His team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, just wasn't very good. And by 1913, neither was Rucker, as a sore arm plagued him that season. Nate was just 14-15 that season. And in his final 3 season, just 7-6, 9-4 and 2-1.

It was a given that Rucker would retire after the season, so the Dodgers added him to the postseason roster. Alas, he would pitch just once in the Fall Classic, his final MLB appearance.

The Boston Red Sox were a formidable opponent to anyone in the Fall Classic in the 1910s, and when the decade was over, they had won 4 World Series.

In game four of the 1916 Fall Classic, Boston pitcher Dutch Leonard spun a fine 5-hitter, easily getting the best of Rube Marquard. After four innings, Rube was gone. Larry Cheney pitched three innings of relief, but gave up a run in the top of the seventh to make it a 6-2 Boston lead.

So, this game moved into the top of the eight at Ebbets Field. Cheney had been removed for a pinch hitter. That meant Rucker was on the hill.

He had a little trouble in that frame. Everett Scott popped to first in foul territory with one out. Zack Wheat, the Dodgers' 1st basemen couldn't get the job done, and Soott had a reprieve. But all Scott could do was ground to short. Bill Carrigan ended the top of the 8th by fanning.

Brooklyn was set aside 1-2-3 by Leonard in the bottom of the eight. Then, in the top of the ninth, Harry Hooper singled after Leonard had fanned. And error advanced him to second. But for some reason (Remember, it's still 6-2 at this point) Hooper tried to swipe third and was nailed. Hal Janvrin became the third batter Nate Rucker fanned. And he proved to be the last MLB player Nate faced.

Leonard retired the Dodgers in the last of the ninth, allowing just a walk to Ivy Olson. Boston won the game 6-2, then closed out the Fall Classic with a 4-1 win in game five. Rucker, of course, did not get into that game. The Dodgers made it back to the World Series four years later, sans Nate Rucker.

The Red Sox added the 1918 World Series win over the Cubs to make it four in the decade. They would not win again until 2004. Brooklyn had to wait until 1955 to finally win. Rucker wasn't exactly the best pitcher then for Brooklyn, as they had Marquard and Jack Coombs, but it was kind of a nice swan song to a pitcher with a rare pitch, fanning 3 batters and pitching 2 scoreless innings in his one and only World Series appearance.

References

Books

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Web

Enders, Eric. “Nap Rucker.” Nap Rucker. Society Of American Baseball Research, <sabr.org/bioproj/person/22be16b1>. Web. 26 Dec. 2017.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 26 Dec. 2017.

Common Denominator: Stu Miller!

"Pitched against Mickey Mantle in the 1962 World Series, gave up his 500th home run in 1967!"

It's Miller Time!



No, not that one.

Stu Miller was on the 1962 San Francisco Giants. They won the pennant that year, then faced off against the New York Yankees in a classic 7 game World Series. The Yankees narrowly won it, 1-0 in the seventh contest.

Miller pitched in game one, relieving Don Larsen in the top of the ninth. New York had Tom Tresh on first, and were about to face a new battery, as a double switch occurred.

Stu was hitting in Ed Bailey's spot in the lineup. Since Bailey was a catcher, someone had to fill in for that spot. John Orsino did that. Whatever Orsino called, it was right, as Mantle fanned. But Tresh stole second, and Roger Maris walked. A single by Elston Howard scored the Yankees 6th and final run of the afternoon. New York won, 6-2.

So down two games to one going into game four, the Giants needed a win on the road. They got a big win, 7-3. So game five was the final one at Yankee Stadium. Miller got into this one, but the Giants lost 5-3.

Tresh had just smacked a 3-run home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 8th. That turned a 2-2 game into a 5-2 Yankee lead! Miller in, heart of the order up. All Miller did was retire Mantle, walk Maris, and then get Howard. End of the frame.

The Giants got a run back in the top of the ninth, and even had the tying run at the dish. It would have been Stu Miller, but there's no way the pitcher is batting for himself in this situation. Ed Bailey batted for him, and ended the game with a liner to Maris in right.

The Giants beat Whitey Ford in game 6, then merely surrendered 1-0 in game 7, with the series-winning run at second.



 Stu had another crack at Mantle in 1967.

It was May the 14th at Yankee Stadium, and Mantle had a certain milestone in his vision. Miller came in to pitch the bottom of the 6th. He was now on the Baltimore Orioles and they trailed by a run. Mantle had ended the bottom of the 5th with a pop to 1st.

So in the 6th, Miller faced the batters after Mantle. Howard was retired on a fly. Tresh reached on an error, Steve Whittaker fanned. Then Joe Pepitone, who was on the postseason roster but did not play in the '62 World Series, hit a 2-run home run! Miller got out of there without allowing another run.

But in the 7th, Mantle came up with 2 outs and not a man on. Howard and Tresh were due up next. The count went to 3-2...



Tada!

The Orioles lost the game 6-5, and Stu took the loss. Miller posted an excellent 2.55 ERA that year, but could only go 3-10. Purchased by the Atlanta Braves in 1968, he made only two appearances, and retired. Mantle, ironically, also retired after '68.

References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).

Retrosheet. www.retrosheet.org. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (17 Dec., 2017).

World Series: Did You Know?

The Toronto Blue Jays didn't score a run from the 5th to 9th inning of games 1, 5 and 6 in 1992. They still won the Fall Classic. And Joe Carter did all he could.

Facing the Atlanta Braves, Carter hit a home run in the top of the 4th inning of game 1. The contest was a pitcher's duel between Tom Glavine and Jack Morris. Glavine was the Braves' pitcher who surrendered the long bomb. Morris held the Atlanta at bay through five.

But how good was Glavine? Get this: He retired the next 3 batters in the fourth inning, and Toronto did not get another man to 2nd to speak of the rest of the game! Yes, Tommy faced just 18 batters the rest of the game. Glavine got Dave Winfield and Candy Maldonado out on grounders, following Carter's home run. Then Kelly Gruber struck out.

Pat Borders and Manny Lee made quick outs in the fourth, not getting it out of the infield. Then Morris struck out. I'm seeing a pattern here. Carter broke the spell in the sixth when he flied out to left. He'd hit hit solo shot in the fourth there. Joe would fly out to Dave Justice in right to end the game.

When did Toronto finally get a man to first? Why Pat Borders (MVP of the Fall Classic), singled to start the top of the 8th. The Atlanta Braves had scored 3 runs off Jack Morris in the bottom of the sixth at this point, and that was the only scoring they'd get. Manny Lee hit into a double play, and PH Pat Tabler was out on a fly to very short centre. Toronto pitchers David Wells and Todd Stottlemyre held the fort for Toronto the rest of the way. However, while the Jays held Atlanta to four hits, Glavine, going all the way, did the same all by himself!



Don't feel too bad for the Blue Jays. Toronto took gamme 2, 5-4, game 3, 3-2, and game 4, 2-1. Could the Jays become the first team from Canada to win the World Series?

Game 5 was back and forth through four. Atlanta scored in the top of the 1st and 4th, Toronto getting even via Pat Borders' RBIs in the bottom of the 2nd and 4th (Both times, driving in John Olerud). Atlanta seemed to stuff out any World Series parade plans the next inning, however, as they touched home 5 times in inning #5. The last four coming in on Lonnie Smith's grand slam. John Smoltz was clearly getting the better of Jack Morris (Who exited with 2 outs in the 5th after Smith's blast) and now was opposed on the mound by Wells.

Smoltz had a high pitch count on him, but got the Jays out in the 5th, allowing just a 2-out single by Winfield. The 6th inning was easier, as John had a nice 1-2-3 frame. The top of the 7th spelled the end for him, as he walked Manny Lee to start. In hopped in Mike Stanton, the lefty. He got Devon White out, then induced Roberto Alomar to ended the inning with a double play ball to second. Joe Carter singled to start the next inning, but Mike the next three Jays' batters out, leaving Joe at third. The 9th inning was Mike's first 1-2-3 inning (The Braves loaded the bases in the top of the frame, proceeding to run themselves out of that when Mark Lemke tried to score on Terry Pendleton's fly to short left) as Atlanta won, 7-2. Toronto had just 6 hits but also 4 walks. Atlanta had 13 hits alone.



So, it was off to Atlanta four game six. Toronto scored first on a Joe Carter sac fly. Back came Atlanta in the bottom of the 3rd. Candy Maldonado homered of Steve Avery in the top of the fourth. Toronto couldn't be done scoring, could they.

For a while, yes. And that that was crucial, as Atlanta hung on.

Pat Borders doubled and David Cone, the pitcher, walked. Devon White singled to left, only to have Borders nailed at the dish. That ended the fourth. Some insurance was not on the horizon.

Pete Smith came in to pitch the top of the 5th. Joe Carter had a double. Joe was hitting the ball well. 2 home runs to his name, so far. There was only one out, but Dave Winfield and Candy Maldonado couldn't get him home. Manny Lee singled with two out in the sixth, but was stranded.

Roberto Alomar singled in the top of the sixth with one out. He was stranded. Todd Stottlemyre and David Wells continued what Cone had started. They held the Braves at bay. Could Toronto just score 'em a run?

Enter Mike Stanton. Entering to shut out Toronto.

Well, Maldonado greeted him with a line shot to left of a single. Kelly Gruber bunted him to second. Borders was walked intentionally. With runners on 1st and 2nd, it was time for Mike to bear down.

He sure did.

Stanton had defused many a Toronto rally in this 1992 World Series. And he did again here.

Lee popped to 1st. Derek Bell batted for Wells and grounded out. Phew!

Top of the 9th, 2-1 Toronto. A two quick outs by Stanton. One more out to give Atlanta a chance in the bottom of the frame. Joe Carter put a pause on those thoughts with a 2-out double. There's the showers, Mike. So Mark Wohlers came in, and got Dave Winfield to ground out.

The excellent bullpen work for the 2nd straight game paid off! Otis Nixon singled home the tying run with two away in the last of the ninth. Charlie Leibrandt got Maldonaldo to ground out to start the 10th frame. Gruber singled...Uh oh.

Borders flied to left. Leibrandt then caught PH Pat Tabler's liner. To the bottom of the 10th. And all that happened there was a 1-2-3 inning via Tom Henke and Jimmy Key.

Key was forced to bat for himself to start the 11th, and Leibrandt got him to pop to first.

And then the wheels came off the chariot.

White was hit by a pitch. Alomar singled. Carter was out on a fly to centre. Dave Winfield ended the suspense with a double to left. Both runners scored. Atlanta got one back in the last of the 11th, but Nixon was retired with the tying run at third.



A grand show, really, both bullpens in this Fall Classic. Both teams had great starters, and with Jack Morris' recent Hall Of Fame induction, let's take a look:

Smoltz, HOF
Glavine, HOF
Cone, 190 + wins
Key, 180 + wins

But as good as all those above were (Plus Steve Avery and Juan Guzman won 90 + games, too...That's 3 pitchers on each team, 4 in Toronto's case...) where would they be without a healthy bullpen? The Braves were able to stay alive and be in every game because of the 'pen.

References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (16 Dec. 2017).

Retrosheet. <www.retrosheet.org>. Web. (16 Dec. 2017).

Youtube. <https://www.youtube.com/>. Web. (16 Dec. 2017).

Luongo and Fleury: Why I Think They Might Have A Problem Getting #1 Back!

By all accounts, Roberto Luongo and Marc Andre-Fleury have had great careers. Both seem to have a shot at the Hall Of Fame (Fleury has won 3 Stanley Cups, Luongo has been on 3 international championship teams), as both are closing in / past the 400 win mark. Luongo also has 74 shutouts, just two less than Tony Esposito. Not bad company.

So the 2017/18 season started out with each as THE man in the crease. Fleury seemed a lock for sure, as his Las Vegas Golden Knights were an expansion team and there was no one else around with the chance to take him off the #1 charts.

But then injuries struck him, and later, Luongo.

Fleury held the fort for 4 games, as him numbers were good: 3-1-0, 2.48, .925! Hey, job's his right? Not quite. A bad concussion that he has yet to return from in a loss to Detroit October 13th game, has allowed others to step in.

As I mentioned before, Vegas has used 5 goalies (So far) this season. But none were in Fleury's class. But then PK Subban's brother Malcolm, with all of 2 NHL experience with the Bruins, found his way into the crease, and wonders never ceased.

In 9 games (1 no-decision), Subban is 6-2-0, with a 2.27 GAA and .923 S%. Maybe it's all a fluke, but the guy has yet to come down to earth. Is Fleury's job in trouble. According to Hockey-Reference, it's possible a return in soon, but he'll have to battle it out with the kid for his spot. At this point, some of the fluke part of Las Vegas' surprising start is starting to wear off. The team is currently (Dec 8, 2017) 17-9-1, good enough for 2nd place in the competitive Pacific. Why not try to make the playoffs? With this kind of goaltending depth, the team is likely to alter Fleury and Subban since Malcolm has proven he belongs in there. Oscar Dansk, the other hot goalie, is down with an injury, too, but went 3-0-0 with a shutout for good measure. Gotta wonder if he is in the equation for this season.

Luongo was cruising and James Reimer was doing some winning and losing in the Florida Panthers' crease this year. Reimer won his 5th game last night, 6-4. Okay, not his best performance, but where is Roberto? Luongo (6-6-0) has been hurt and expected to be on the shelve for anywhere from two to five weeks.

James Reimer took it all in Toronto, and loved playing their. Okay, he's not the most talented goalie in the world, fine. But he always gives you 100%. He'll battle it out right down to the final buzzar. Certainly, he is still young, just 29 (Compared to Luongo, who is 38), but nonetheless, burst on to the scene way back in 2009/10. His experience in Toronto no doubt prepares him for the "Must win every game," expectations, but forget about that, he's coming into his own: 40-36-15, 2.60, .916) in the last two seasons plus 2017/18 (98 games). I think this is the type of situation where he'll really want to show you what he's made of. In his last half-season in Toronto, he wanted it. Same thing in his first. Why would this time be any different? With Luongo's age a factor, and a determined 1B goalie, Roberto might be fighting for that #1 position for the rest of the season when he returns. Don't be surprised if he's riding the pines half the time should Florida be in playoff contention. Reimer, don't forget, played in 43 games last year, more than half the season.

References

"Official Site of the National Hockey League” | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 8 Dec. 2017. <https://www.nhl.com>

NHL.com. “Rotoworld - Fantasy Baseball, Basketball, Football, Baseball and Hockey. Draft Guide, News, Projections, Cheatsheets, Depth Charts And More.” Team News - Rotoworld.Com. Web. NBC Sports, 8 Dec. 2017, <;www.rotoworld.com/teams/nhl/vgk/vegas-golden-knights>

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. Web. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 8 Dec. 2017.

Common Denominator: Vegas Golden Knights Goalies (So Far)

That would be Oscar Dansk, Dylan Ferguson, Marc-Andre Fleury Maxime Lagace and Malcolm Subban. Hmmmm...Problems in net? Team is 15-7-1 in their inaugural NHL campaign in 2017/18. So much for the, "Expansion team, 2 points," theory that 30 other NHL teams had.

Vegas is in 1st place in the Pacific Division. 4 points behind St. Louis for first in the Western Conference with 2 games in hand. This is all really happening!

So what's been happening in goal?

Injuries.

Not that it matters. The team has found a way to win. Somehow, the five of net guardians have provided steady goaltending. Although, the 19-year-old Dylan Ferguson has played in just one game. Care to bet that he'll appear again? Why not?

The team started the season with veteran goalie Marc Andre-Fleury. So far in his NHL career, which began way back in 2003/04 with Pittsburgh, he's got 3 Stanley Cups, including a huge role in the Pens more recent win, last season. But after posting some impressive numbers in his first 3 starts (Winning then all), Fleury was injured in a loss to Detroit on October 13. So it was Malcolm Subban, with all of just two 31-minute NHL games over the last two seasons, in between the pipes 2 nights later.

But Subban, the younger brother of the Nashville Predators' star defenceman, won the game 3-1. It was his first NHL win. It would not be his last. He beat Buffalo 5-4 in the Knights' next game, then played, but was pulled against the St. Louis Blues on October 21st. Not to worry, Oscar Dansk came in to play, and ended up the winning goalie in OT.

Dansk has since posted some amazing numbers. He's 3-0 with a GAA of just 1.78. But at the end of the month, he was placed on  the IR with an injury to his lower body. He had recorded the team's very first shutout when Oscar beat the Avs' 7-0 on the 27th.

Maxim Lagace took over for Dansk in a game against the New York Islanders on the 30th, but took the loss, allowing 4 goals in relief. Lagace lost to New York Rangers and Boston, but found his groove, going 5-2-1 since. But his S% suggest the team is playing well in front of him. It's below .900 (.887 in his 9 games, having a no-decision last Friday. Subban, with just 3 saves, won the game).

Lagace was supposed to be out tonight with an injury that has not been disclosed. However, he's backing up Subban as I write this.

Ferguson lost his only game against the Oilers, seeing just 9:14 of playing time on November 14th. It's unknown when Fleury and Dansk will return. If Vegas is to continue to impress and make the playoffs in their first year (What a story that would be!), they'll need Fleury's experience. Dansk looked like the real deal, although Subban has carried the load well. If nothing else, three of the four inexperienced goaltenders are proving they can play in the National Hockey League. Several teams are looking for goaltenders, and perhaps if the injuries continue the Knights might try to acquire Andrew Hammond from Colorado.

23 games in, 61 to go for this franchise in 2017/18. So far, Las Vegas has been the "Feel Good" story of the year. Whether or not they can sustain this remains to be seen. Goaltending is as important to hockey as pitching is to baseball. Looking at Vegas, they've got 4 pretty good starters, kind of like a pitching staff. It's working.

So far.

References

"Official Site of the National Hockey League” | NHL.com. National Hockey League. Web. 30 Nov. 2017. <https://www.nhl.com>

NHL.com. “Rotoworld - Fantasy Baseball, Basketball, Football, Baseball and Hockey. Draft Guide, News, Projections, Cheatsheets, Depth Charts And More.” Team News - Rotoworld.Com. Web NBC Sports, 30 Nov. 2017, <www.rotoworld.com/teams/nhl/vgk/vegas-golden-knights>

Sports Reference LLC. Hockey-Reference.com - Hockey Statistics and History. Web. http://www.hockey-reference.com/. Web. 30 Nov. 2017.

World Series: Did You Know

First-time-on-ballet Chris Carpenter was 3-0 lifetime, failing to lose once in 4 starts. His St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series in 2006 and again five years later.

Carpenter made his first Fall Classic start against the Tigers, a gem!

Chris went 8 innings, gave up 3 hits, no runs, and fanned 6. What I find most impressive is he threw just 82 pitches. It was a crucial game, too. The series was tied 1-1, and St. Louis didn't want to go back to Detroit for games 6 and 7. His 5-0 win, paved the road to prevent that. The Cardinals eked out 5-4 and 4-2 wins in games 4 and 5. A World Series was won on home soil.

It would also be in 2011.

Chris had a rough ride getting there. He was just 0-1 in the next two seasons, making his 21-5 season in '05 look like a distant memory. But he bounced back in 2009, 17-4 with a National League-leading 2.24 ERA. The next season, 2010, was more of the same: 16-9, although his ERA was 3.22!

But Carpenter dipped to 11-9 the next season, and the Cardinals advanced to the Fall Classic again. But how could a win one, lose one pitcher help St. Louis beat Texas?

For starters, he beat Philadelphia once and Milwaukee once in the postseason, helping to get St. Louis there. The Texas Rangers stood in his path. Already 2-0 in the postseason, the Cardinals needed him to come through.

That, he did.

Not only did he deliver, he did so when it mattered. First, he got the Cardinals off on the right foot by allowing just 2 runs over 6 innings in the opener for the win. After getting a no-decision in game 5 (Actually, St. Louis lost the game, 4-2, but Carpenter had another great game, allowing just 2 earned runs), Chris was given the ball again for the 7th and deciding game.

The Cardinals had rallied to win game six at home, and Carpenter didn't want to see the Rangers celebrate on his terms, his field. So he made sure to put out the Texas fire.

Well, the Rangers scored twice off him in the top of the 1st, but the Cards equaled that. On the mound, however, Chris had no equals. He went 5 more innings, allowing just 3 more hits, no runs, and left after 6 with a sizable advantage.

It was 5-2 and the sixth inning was a masterful one for Chris. He retired the side in order on just 10 pitches. The Rangers got through the bottom of the frame in similar fashion, however. C.J Wilson, the Texas reliever, needed just 11 pitches of his own to retire the side (Carpenter lead off) 1-2-3.

When David Murphy opened the top of the seventh with a 2-bagger, Chris was removed for Arthur Rhodes. Arthur and some of his bullpen pals proceeded to retire the last 9 batters of the game. St. Louis scored another run, too. Not that they needed it. They won 6-2, for there second World Series win in 5 years.

Carpenter isn't going to make the Hall Of Fame, but his postseason record is one that few can match. Overall, he's 10-4 in the postseason, sporting an ERA of 3.00 lifetime. It was even better in the World Series. In 4 starts, Chris Carpenter posted a 2.00 ERA, he seemed to get better and better with every outing. Let there be no doubt, St. Louis isn't winning their two most recent World Series sans Chris Carpenter.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (26 Nov., 2017).

Retrosheet.  www.retrosheet.org. Web. (26 Nov., 2017).

Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/. Web. (26 Nov., 2017).

World Series: Did You Know?

Buck Weaver, although he hit .333 in 1917 and .324 in 1919, collected just one RBI.

The third basemen was thrown out of baseball (Along with 7 of his teammates) after the 1920 season. It came to light that season that Weaver's Chicago White Sox had thrown the previous year's Fall Classic to the Cincinnati Reds.

Weave didn't get a hit in the 1st game of the 1917 Fall Classic, but got three plus his lone World Series RBI in game 2. The good news, for him, was Chicago won both games against the New York Giants.

New York, however, came right back at home with back-to-back shutouts in games three and four. Buck collected 2 hits in game 3 (Including a double), but none in game four. The White Sox needed game five back in Chicago, and got it. The 8-5 win included Weaver singling and scoring in the top of the sixth with his team behind 4-1. Add that run, and 6 others to the Giants' 1, and it was a fine comeback from the home team.

Game six at the Polo Grounds saw Chicago crowned World Champions. Nemo Leibold, Eddie Collins, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver and Ray Schalk were good for one hit only. Leibold, as a pinch hitter, popped out in the top of the 7th. But in the top of the ninth, with Chicago clinging on for dear life to a 3-2 lead, he scored Buck Weaver from second with a single. Red Faber took care of New York in the bottom of the frame, although they got the leadoff man on. Chick Gandil was the only other player to get and RBI for the winners, and he got 2 for good measure.

But 2 years later, Chicago faced Cincinnati in the World Series. It started off bad. A 9-1 loss in the opener must have raised some eyebrows. Weaver managed one hit, that a single in the top of the 6th, but was left stranded.

Game 2 was a little better, as Weaver was on 1st in the top of the 4th. A single by Joe Jackson and a bunt by Happy Felsch followed. Weaver was 90 feet away from scoring. Jackson, at second, was also in scoring position. Weaver tried to score on a grounded by Gandil to 1st, but was thrown out. Gandil stole second, and Jackson was now on third, but Swede Risberg popped out to end it.

The Reds were up 3-0 in the top of the sixth when Weaver doubled with one away. Jackson fanned, but pitcher Slim Sallee committed a balk. Weaver to third again. Felsch appeared to have an RBI of his own as he got all of a pitch. Edd Roush made a great catch. This was crucial as Chicago scored two runs in the top of the sixth. However, Cincinnati had added a fourth run to the tally by that time. Gandil and Ray Schalk singled in the in the 9th, but no more runs scored. The Reds won, and were up 2-0 in the 1919 World Series.

Chicago took game three at home, 3-0. Weaver was not needed, although he did get a hit. Cincinnati then took game 4, 2-0, as Weaver was held hitless, and game 5, 5-0. The series was best-of-nine, so it wasn't over.

It sure appeared to be in any event as it was quickly 4-0 Cincinnati at home in game 6. The Reds would have probably scored more in the 4th inning, but Joe Jackson made a nice catch and nailed Morrie Rath at home.

Chicago got one run back in the top of the 5th, and then Buck really helped. No RBIs for him, of course, however everything but.

He led off the 6th with a double. Jackson singled. 4-2. Felsch then came through and Jackson scored, 4-3. Two quick outs, but then a Schalk single and the visitors had tied it! Buck had been a big catalyst. He had another double in the works, and this was clutch as the game went into extras.

Buck wasted no time. Weaver led off the tenth with a double. Jackson bunted...And somehow beat it out. Gandil didn't get the ball out of the infield. No matter. It plated Weaver. And it proved to be the game winning run.

Chicago had lived to see another day. And that day, Weaver was just as good as he'd been in game 5.

Already ahead 2-0 behind the pitching of Eddie Cicotte and the hitting of Joe Jackson, Weaver didn't get a hit in the top of the 5th...But he scored.

Eddie Collins singled with one out. Weaver reached on an error. So did Jackson. Felsch came through again. His single scored Collins AND Weaver. 4-0. The White Sox then looked to add to that, but that was all they got.

It proved to be more than enough for Cicotte. Dickie Kerr had won games 3 and 6, and Chicago won the game 4-1, finally coming through in a game not started by Dickie.

But down 4-0 in game 8, and needing this one to stay alive, Weaver was at the dish with two on and no outs in the bottom of the 1st. Weaver fanned. Jackson hit a pop fly behind third, but deep enough to score Nemo Leibold. Oddly, Leibold held, and the crucial run Chicago needed was not gotten.

Weaver popped up in the 3rd. Jackson homered. But now the Reds had 5 runs, and the Sox only one. Weaver singled to start the bottom of the sixth. But the next three batters were retired, (Jackson on a deep fly, looking for another home run).

Two innings later, Eddie Collins singled, and Weaver doubled. So did Jackson. A Gandil triple and an error by Roush gave Chicago 4 runs in the inning.

The Reds didn't score in the top of the ninth, but had 10 runs to the White Sox's 5. Doublin' em up.

The White Sox, though, had to get a man on in the bottom of the ninth to keep this game going, and bring Buck Weaver back to the dish. Did they do that? Indeed.

The painful way.

Eddie Murphy (Not the actor) was hit by a pitch. Leibold, looking to atone for his mistake earlier on the basepaths, and trying to get a hit after leading off the previous inning with a deep fly for an out, did that again here. He sent one to deep centre. For an out. 1 away.

But Collins singled to put two men on. Buck Weaver was back at the dish. 2 on, 1 out. All Buck could do, however, was fly to deep right. Collins holding at first, Murphy taking third. With Joe Jackson up, Collins swiped 2nd base. Now, 2 men were on, in scoring position. And 2 were out. Jackson grounded out to Rath at 2nd. The 1919 World Series was over.

Weaver finished with a batting average of .324. Jackson's was even better, .375. No matter. Neither was in MLB after 1920. Both their careers were forever tainted, despite the fact that the best evidence against them is merely knowing about the fix.

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print. pp. 66-81.

Frommer, Harvey. Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball. Dallas, TX: Taylor Pub., 1992. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. (25 Nov., 2017).

Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer. Total Baseball. Vers. 1994. Portland, OR: Creative Multimedia Corp., 1994. Computer software. CD-ROM.

Lidge: Houston's Opponent's Had A Problem In 2004

The Houston Astros were still in the National League in 2004 and had not appeared in the Fall Classic yet (Although, that was about to happen the next season). Brad Lidge, meanwhile, had a season good enough for me, and why not you, eh?

Year: 2004

G: 80

GF: 44

GF%: .55

IP: 94.2

Wins: 6

Losses: 5

W%: .545

Saves: 29

BS: 4

S%: 87.9

H: 16

ERA: 1.94

K: 157

K/9: 14.9

WHIP: 0.919

WAR: 3.8

References

Sports Reference LLC. "Brad Lidge Stats." Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lidgebr01.shtml. 28 Oct. 2017.

World Series: Did You Know?

Houston is the first team to appear in the Fall Classic in both leagues. Twelve years apart, might I add.

The Colt 45's, the original name of the franchise, which joined the National League in 1962, along with the New York Mets (World Series winners in 1969 and 1986). They changed their name to the Astros in 1965, but didn't climb above .500 until 1969.

Their first postseason was 1980. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, who went on to win their first World Championship. After losing in 1981 to the Montreal Expos (Making THEIR first postseason appearance) and the Mets in 1986, it was a bit of a wait to taste some October action again.

Beginning in 1997, the Astros made it to the postseason six time in nine years. Their best showing was in 2005. Houston knocked off the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS, and then the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS. Alas, they faced the Chicago White Sox in the World Series. The Sox were seeking their first World Championship since 1917, so they'd waited a long time.

The games were all close. Game three went 14 innings. The next game was 1-0. Games one and three were decided by just two runs. You get the idea. But the Astros were brought down to earth in four games. The pitching of Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte was not enough. This ended up being Houston's last postseason appearance while in the senior circuit. Twelve years, in fact, would elapse before the Astros made it this far again.

In 2013, Houston found themselves in another league. The American League. Just three seasons into their foray of the junior circuit, back the Astros were in October. The Kansas City Royals were a little too tough for them in the ALDS, besting Houston 3-2. This 2015 Kansas team went on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS (Six games) and then beat the New York Mets in five games to win it all.

Two seasons later...Houston found the eye of the needle to make a return trip. Winning their first AL Pennant was no easy task. The team won 101 games in the regular season, which was the Astros' second highest win total (102, in 1998). That might have been the easy part. The postseason was tough.

First came the Boston Red Sox, and Houston made it look easy in the ALDS. For the first two games. The Astros won them both by the score of 8-2. But in Fenway for game 3, it was Boston's turn to win easily, 10-3. Houston took game four, narrowly, 5-4.

Now, the New York Yankees.

Again, first two games to the Astros. The next three in New York? Won by, New York. The ALCS would be decided in Houston one way or another.

A masterful performance by Masahiro Tanaka on the mound was the key for game six. He went seven strong, didn't allow a run, and fanned eight. Tommy Kahnle took over for the next two innings and kept the shutout going, allowing just one hit. The final score was 5-0 for the home team. Winner-take-all game seven.

And Houston won it.

Like Tanaka, Justin Verlander threw scoreless ball through 7 innings before giving way to the bullpen. This time, the Yankees scored a run off Houston. Brad Peacock surrendered a solo home run to Aaron Judge in the top of the eighth. That made it 3-1. Houston would have to hold the fort.

Fortunately for them, Jose Altuve matched Judge's heroics with a home run of his own in the bottom of the frame. 4-1. The Astros scored three more times that inning. The Bronx Bombers never scored again. With the 7-1 game seven win, Houston was on to the World Series in 2017, to face the Los Angelels Dodgers.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. https://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 23 Oct. 2017.

Common Denominator: 1984 NBA Draft

"Drafted 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 1984 NBA Draft, to be exact. Met up with Boston at some point in the 1985/86 season, with some drama."

That would be Hakeem Olajuwon, Sam Bowie, and of course, Micheal Jordan. The Dream went first, to Houston, where he joined Ralph Sampson to form, The Twin Towers. Sam Bowie went second to Portland, and MJ to Chicago.

MJ took his team to the playoffs in 1984/85, but the Milwaukee Bucks beat 'em 3-1 in the first round, and that was the end of his first season in the league. His second season was sort of like Bowie's: Injured!

Bowie went down after 38 games. But Sam, who'd taken his team to the second round of the postseason in 1984/85, was showing potential. The Boston Celtics lost just one game at home that regular season, and Sam had something to do with it.

It was game number 20 on the season for Boston. They came in 17-2. Bowie's Portland Trail Blazers were just 12-10. Another win for Boston? Not in this contest on December 6th.

Not quite. Okay, Larry Bird had 20 points, 11 boards and 7 assists. But, his field goal percentage was bad: 9-26!

The ex-Trail Blazer, Bill Walton, who took 'em all the way back in 1976/77, played 18 minutes, and scored just 2 points, turning the ball over 5 times. Robert Parish, the man Walton backed up at centre, scored just 12 points himself. Parish shot 5-11 and Walton 1-3. The man guarding them was Sam Bowie.

All Sam did was score 18 points (8-15 from the field). Jim Paxon, who's younger brother John played with MJ in Chicago, poured in 16 and fellow back court man Clyde Drexler scored 19 himself. Steve Colter and Jerome Kersey (The other player Portland took in the 1984 draft) were the surprising game-high scoring leaders in this contest. By scoring 22 each for the visitors, they helped their team to a rather stunning 121-103 blowout!

MJ sat around that year, hurt. So it was up to The Ice Man to cometh! Well, the Minnesota Iceman. George Gervin played guard that year for Chicago. In Jordan's absence, he scored 16.2 points per game. The only game, out of 6, that Chicago actually beat Boston in that season was later in December, the 17th. Chicago won at home as Gervin scored 19.

Okay, so back came Jordan on March 15th. He'd played 3 games at this point. His minutes were to be limited, so his performance wasn't like what you'd expect of him. Remember, this was years before guys named Pippen, Grant, Armstrong and Cartwright (Centre for New York in 1985/86) would arrive. On the 21st of the month, he got 20 points in 16 minutes in a loss against the Celtics. Michael was back over 20 minutes a game by his seventh game back. He got 22 points vs. New Jersey on the 28th of March. He started 4 of the next 8 games, averaging 29.8 minutes and 28.0 points per game. A nice way to close out the season.

Try as he might, he couldn't propel his team past Larry Bird and company in the playoffs. Jordan scored 49 points in Boston in the first contest of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. His big game, though, was then next one!

The Bulls had lost 123-104. They also lost game two, on April 20th in Boston. But was MJ ever on fire! 22-41 from the field and 19-21 from the line! All this for an amazing 63 points! MJ enjoyed ribbing Bill Walton over the fact that The Redhead had fouled out in this contest, even years later. Jordan also dished out 6 assists and 5 rebounds. However, here we go again, Boston 135, Chicago 131. The Celtics had a more balanced scoring. But it was MJ's second of many great scoring games in the postseason! He'd arrived!

After sweeping Chicago, it was not long after that Boston was in the NBA grand stage again: The Finals!

Waiting for them were the Houston Rockets. You see, Hakeem and company eliminated the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, needing just 5 games. Hakeem got 30 points in the clincher, making the trip to the last stage in only his second season!

Olajuwon was outstanding in his first NBA Finals. Points? 24.7. Rebounds? 11.8. Blocks? 3.2. Sampson, however, wasn't up to the task, 14.8, 9.5 and 0.8. And though it went six games, Boston ended up having an easy time in all their wins except game four (106-103), en route to their third NBA Championship of the decade.

But Hakeem had sure shown he was a force to be reckoned with. Although Jordan won three in a row from 1990/91 to 1992/93 (Beating Portland in the 1992 NBA Finals, who'd drafted Bowie because they already had a pretty good guard named Clyde Drexler), here came the big man from Lagos, Nigeria! His pal Sampson's career ended due to injuries, but the big man soldiered on. In 1993/94 it was the Knicks and Patrick Ewing that were the victims of the Houston Rockets' seven-game win in the finals. The next year, a kid named O'Neal of the Orlando Magic (Who'd beaten MJ's Chicago Bulls in the playoffs) felt the full force of Olajuwon's fury in the finals: 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and even 5.5 assists per game!

Four games, and it was all over. Shaq had 28.0/12.5/6.3 in a losing effort. His time would come, but not then. His team was swept by MJ's the next year, and the Bulls were back for another 3-peat.

Bowie wasn't quite so lucky. Beset by knee injuries even before being drafted, he hung around until 1994/95, and ending up facing Olajuwon a lot, no matter what jersey he was wearing. Although limited to just 512 games, Sam wasn't exactly the bust that so many made him out to be. On Boxing Day in 1991, now with New Jersey, Sam lit up Hakeem, outscoring him 2:1 (34-17). Sam averaged 15 points per game that year. He ended up in Los Angeles (Lakers) but didn't end up winning a ring like Jordan or Olajuwon.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Basketball-Reference.com - Basketball Statistics and History. http://www.basketball-reference.com/. Web. 16 Feb. 2017.

Bondy, Filip. Tip-off: How The 1984 NBA Draft Changed Basketball Forever. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press, 2007. Print.

Halberstam, David. Playing For Keeps: Michael Jordan And The World He Made. New York: Broadway Books, 2000. Print.

Sachare, Alex. The Chicago Bulls Encyclopedia. Lincolnwood (Chicago): Contemporary , 1999. Print.

Sure Could Have Fooled Me! 2001 French Open

All four losing men in the last eight of Roland Garros won at least two Grand Slams.


In 2001, you had Gustavo Kuerten on his way to victory over Alex Corretja of Spain. The man from Brazil ended up with his third (And final) French Open with a 6-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-0 win.

But getting was where the fun was.

The last eight also consisted of an American, a Russian, a Frenchman, an Australian, and another Spaniard. And some young Swiss.

Kuerten beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov for the third time at this stage of the French Open. The Russian went down 6-1, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. Kafelnikov had the title at Roland Garros under his belt in 1996, and went on to add the 1999 Australian Open to his name. You also had the Spaniard, Juan Carlos Ferrero (Who'd be a finalist here the next two years, winning in 2003.) in the last eight, and there beating the young Lleyton Hewitt. This was as far as Lleyton would ever get, although he matched this in 2004. Hewitt had  no Grand Slams to his name at this point, but would go on to capture the US Open that year and Wimbledon in 2002 for good measure. Those two Grand Slams were a good start to his career. But one of the other quarterfinalist would prevent him from more in the coming years.

Ferrero then lost to Kuerten in the semifinals for the second straight year. Much to the delight of the crowd, it was Frances' Sebastian Grosjean subduing the 1999 winner, Andre Agassi, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. Agassi had some pretty good results here as far back as 1989. Ran into Grosjean, who prevented the 31-year old from going any further. But Corretja then denied Grosjean a spot in the finals with a straight set win.

Finally, and as it turns out, most dramatically, Corretja was able to advance to the semis for that meeting with the home player. But the man he beat was a still a teenager and playing in his very first Grand Slam quarterfinals. A few weeks later, this young man would upend Pete Sampras in the round of 16 to advance to another Grand Slam quareterfinals.

He was just getting started. That lad, Roger Federer. Lost in the quarters of Wimbledon, too. He had to wait another 2 years before he got going. But once he did, everyone in the tennis world took notice.

References

Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History Of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia And Record Book. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.

Infosys, FedEx, Peugeot, and LeSports. "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis." ATP World Tour. Emirates. Web. 14 Feb. 2017. <http://www.atpworldtour.com/>

Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 14 Feb. 2017. <https://en.wikipedia.org/>

Common Denominator: Natasha Zvereva

"Double bageled by Graf in the 1988 French Open Finals. First player to win a set off her four years later."

That would be Natasha Zvereva. This poor lady was just a child in 1988 (Of 17 years old), as the great German Steffi Graf had all four Grand Slams and the Olympic Gold under her belt by the end of 1988. She wasn't in a giving mood that year.

Zvereva had an interesting French Open in 1988. She actually pulled off a pair of upsets. She beat Martina Navratilova in the round of 16, then took out Helena Sukova in the quarters. Nicole Bradtke was then eliminated in the semifinals. But when she won the twelve game of the third set of that match, she probably had no way of knowing that was the last game she'd win. Graf just pummeled her next. 6-0, 6-0.

Zvereva went on to the Eastbourne tournament next. The French Open was on clay, this was on grass. She had the same result, as in the finals. Navratilova beat here in straight sets, however, 6-2, 6-2. Despite two more appearances in finals that year, Natasha then forged onto a successful doubles career. Oh, she still played singles. But was unable to achieve the same kind of results she had in 1988.

By 1994, she was pretty much labelled a "Doubles Specialist." Still, she found herself in the hot Florida sun having a pretty good tournament in march of that year. Except for the last two sets.

Graf was playing some amazing tennis still by then. Her Australian Open triumph in January was too easy to talk about. At Tokyo, she beat the aging Navratilova 6-2, 6-4 in the finals. Indian Wells saw her beat Gigi Fernandez in the round of 32, Tracy Austin 6-0, 6-0, next. Then, some more domination. Steffi dropped 13 games in the next three matches, overwhelming Amanda Coetzer 6-0, 6-4 in the finals.

Delray Beach saw Sabine Hack upended for the lost of just three games in the quarters, Helena Sukova 7-5, 6-4 in the semis and finally Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario 6-3, 7-5. Okay, the sets were getting closer, but four tournaments and 22 matches in, Graf had won 43 sets (Kimberly Po-Messerli retired down 2-0 in the second set of their first round match Down Under). The opposition? None.

More the same at the Lipton (Now Ericsson) down in Miami, Florida. Graf was just sizzling in the sun! She lost 9 games in he first four matches. Lindsay Davenport lost the first set 6-0, then came close in the second. Steffi won it, however 7-3 in the tiebreaker.

So in the finals it was Zvereva. This time, no 6-0, 6-0 score. No straight sets. Natasha came out and took the initiative, winning the first set 6-4. Wow! This 28th match of the year for Graf was actually interesting! The 54th set was lost!

Graf, of course, just turned it up a notch. The next two sets went to her, 6-1, 6-2. Still. At least she'd lost a set. Surprisingly enough, Graf lost some matches that year, most notably to Mary Pierce at the French Open, Lori McNeil in the first round at Wimbledon, and finally Sanchez-Vicario at the US Open.

Still, this was another impressive display of dominance from Graf. She ended the year with 7 titles, and while not quite as dominating the next year, in terms of straight setting 'em, she added three more Grand Slams.

But for those first four tournaments of 1994, you had to ask yourself:

Was this even fair? What sport was Graf playing? Super tennis?


References


Collins, Bud. The Bud Collins History Of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia And Record Book. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: New Chapter, 2010. Print.

SAP, Dubai Duty Free, IQYI, and USANA. "WTA." WTA Tennis. Women's Tennis Association, n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2017. <http://www.wtatennis.com/>.

World Series: Did You Know?

Although one of the most prominent members of the fixing of the 1919 Fall Classic, Chick Gandil had the last RBI for his team in three games. I guess Chick knew someone was watching his every move, so he'd better come through on at least some occasions. Even if it helped his team.

Gandil's RBI in game one did little, however. Chicago was on the road, in Cincinnati and absorbed a 9-1 thrashing. Gandil drove in the run that actually tied the game, momentarily, in the top of the second. That run, however, was not only Chicago's lone tally, but unearned for good measure. Joe Jackson, of all people, had reached on an error. Gandil's hit scored him.

But in game two, which the Chicago White Sox also lost (4-2), Gandil didn't drive in any runs. Joe Jackson was on third in the top of the second, with just one out, but Gandil didn't deliver. Two innings later, Jackson was on second, and Buck Weaver was 90 feet away from the dish, at third. Gandil hit into a fielder's choice. Trailing 4-2 going into the top of the 9th, Gandil got a single to lead it off. A double play put the Reds one out away. Ray Schalk singled, but that lead to nothing, as well. Fred McMullin grounded out to end that.

The change of scenery meant Chicago needed to win at home. They did, but needed some fine pitching from Dick Kerr to win, 3-0. Gandil singled home Jackson and Happy Felsch. Gandil led off the fourth by making an out. Swede Risberg tripled and scored on a bunt single for the contest's last tally. Another two hits for Gandil.

But he was needed in the next two games as Chicago's bats went to sleep. Cincinnati won them by scores of 2-0 and 5-0. Chick had just one hit. The White Sox had three, total in each of the two losses. The 1919 World Series was best of nine, so Gandil's team was still alive.

Still, it was a tall order to come back. Game six was back in Cincinnati, and the Reds were determined to settle it. They raced out to a 4-0 lead in the sixth contest. The White scored rallied, and had a chance to take the lead in the eight inning. Jackson and Gandil drew walks, but were both stranded. Dick Kerr, as he had in game two, kept the Reds at bay (Although he allowed four runs). In the top of the tenth, Buck Weaver got it all going with a double. Jackson bunted him to third. Gandil's stroke of the ball didn't leave the infield, but Weaver crossed the plate. Down went the home team in the bottom of the frame. The 5-4 Chicago win narrowed the World Series score to 4-2.

The White Sox won game seven, as well. This time, a little bit more decisively. The final score was 4-1, but the game was never that close. Chicago raced out to a quick 4-0 lead and didn't bother looking back. But Gandil was 0-4, and could have widen the lead with some hits.

And the next game was also decided quickly, but against Chicago. It was 4-0 for the visiting Cincinnati Reds before the home team could even send one man up. And the Sox didn't make it on to the scoreboard until the bottom of the third. The 4-1 lead was soon widened to 10-1 by the bottom of the eighth. Chicago soon plated two runners, but when Happy Felsch was retired, it was two down. Gandil then was at the plate, and he rewarded with a triple, as the Reds' right fielder Greasy Neale couldn't make out where the ball was. The sun blinded him. Joe Jackson, on second, scored to make it 10-4. Gandil then scored when Edd Roush, in centre, made an error on Swede Risberg's fly. Gandil scored. 10-5.

Chicago put another two men on in the bottom of the ninth, but did not get any closer. The Reds, with this win by a margin of five runs, took the 1919 World Series 5-3. Gandil held out the following season, but joined seven other White Sox players banned for life by Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis not long after the latter's anointment. He would die in California in 1970. And probably, despite collecting five RBIs all told, never lived down the "Black Sox" label.


References


Frommer, Harvey. Shoeless Joe and Ragtime Baseball. Dallas, TX: Taylor Pub., 1992. Print, pp. 183.

Gropman, Donald. Say It Ain't So, Joe!: The True Story Of Shoeless Joe Jackson. Revised ed. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print, pp 49-124.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print, pp. 76-81.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print, pp. 84-91.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 04 Feb, 2017.

Commond Denominator: Bouchard And Raonic

"Semifinals of the Australian Open. Finals at Wimbledon. Next year, quarterfinals Down Under. Canadian"

That would be Eugenie Bouchard in 2014-15 and Milos Raonic in 2016-17. The two Canadians have really made believers out of Canadian tennis fans. Someday, Canada might get a singles grand slam under their belt. But maybe, "Not so fast," alas.

Bouchard, took the women's tour by storm in 2014. Well, at least until after Wimbledon. Storming past all opposition in the first five rounds Down Under, she beat a formiable top 10 player, Ana Ivanovic in the quarters and then finally lost to Na Li in the semifinals. Not a bad start to the season.

She didn't exactly take the pedal of the metal from there. For a while.

Some early round exits followed, but by May, she had her very first WTA title, in Nurnberg, beating Karolina Pliskova in the finals in three sets. And she had another grand slam semifinals up her sleeve!

May ended with Bouchard into the second week at the French Open. And she gave Maria Sharapova all she could handle in the semifinals, the Russian prevailing 4-6, 7-5, 6-2. Two grand slams played in 2014, and two semis! Could it get any better?

It did at Wimbledon.

Racing through her first six matches, Genie found herself, at 22, one match away from a grand slam title. Carling Bassett had reached the semifinals way back in 1984 at the US Open, but Canada finally had their first singles grand slam finalist! Alas, Bouchard was simply ushered out of the finals in swift and efficient manner by Petra Kvitova, who lost just three games. All of them, in the first set.

It seemed that here is where the wheels came of the chariot for Bouchard, however. She came back to here home, Canada, and lost in the first round in Montreal. Same in Cincinnati. She lost in the second round at New Haven. How about the year's final grand slam?

It was better than a round or two. In fact, Bouchard managed to win three matches. But instead of getting to her fourth quarterfinals (And maybe, fourth semifinals) of the year, she was simply dismissed by Ekaterina Makarova. It was straight sets again, but closer: 7-6, 6-2.

A finals appearance in Wuhan followed, and Bouchard was back on track. But only temporary. She won only one more match. Simona Halep, Ana Ivanovic, and Serena Williams just thrashed her at the WTA finals in Singapore. It wasn't pretty: 6-2, 6-3, followed by 6-1, 6-3 (Ivanovic got some revenge for the Australian Open with that straight-setter!) and 6-1, 6-1.

Oh, well. The year was over. 2015 started out pretty good for Eugenie. She only did one match worse in the Australian Open, making it 4 out of 5 quarterfinals reached at the slams. Maria Sharapova opposed her again in her fifth match there, and again Bouchard put enough enough resistance to take the second set before dropping the third.

But what has happened since to Bouchard? Struggles have followed. There's been injuries, including quite a bizarre one you've all probably heard about at the US Open. Her results really slipped at the grand slams and all over the place in 2015. 2016 was not better as her results were actually worse at the Grand Slams.

Eugenie started 2017 off on the right foot. In 2016, she'd reached the finals at Hobart. While she lost her first event this year at Brisbane (First round), Bouchard made her move at Sydney. She won three matches before eventually falling to Johanna Konta of Great Britain in the semifinals. Down Under for the year's first Grand Slam, she won two more matches before Coco Vanderwegh 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. However, Bouchard wasn't the story of Canadian tennis anymore at this point. No, someone was making some serious waves on the men's side.

Milos Raonic had fallen to Roger Federer in the 2014 Wimbledon semifinals. But when the two met at an event just before the first grand slam tow years later, the Canadian came out on top! At the 2016 Australian Open, he had Andy Murray where he wanted him: 2-1 up in sets! The Scottsman rallied from there, alas. And they'd meet again under dramatic circumstances later that year.

You see, Raonic beat that guy, Federer in the semifinals in five sets at Wimbledon, three years after falling to him. Murray awaited him in the finals. It wasn't too bad, although straight sets. The last two, went to tiebreakers that Andy managed to pull off! Murray continued his strong play that year, especially against Raonic, sadly. He beat him two more times: In Cincinnati and the Year-End Championship. But this time, Milos pushed Andy in the best-of-three match, narrowly losing a third-set tiebreaker.

So as 2017 dawned, things were looking up for not only the new #1 player in the world, Murray, but also the Canadian, Raonic. He was now ranked third in the world.

But as Brisbane, he lost to Grigor Dimitrov in the third round after beating Rafael Nadal in the second. The Spaniard was looking at a rematch at the Australian Open. This time, it was Nadal the winner of the quarterfinal encounter. And in straight sets. Nadal went all the way to the finals, losing to his great rival, Roger Federer. Both Federer and Nadal seemed to have regained their old form.

So can Bouchard get into contention in 2017? Can Raonic win a slam this year (Preferably Wimbledon, I would think!) and get the #1 ranking? Time, will provide an answer for both.


References


"Eugenie Bouchard's Tournament In Doubt." CNN.com. Cable News Network, 05 Sept. 2015. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://edition.cnn.com/2015/09/05/tennis/bouchard-injury-us-open-2015/> International Edition.

Infosys, FedEx, Peugeot, and LeSports. "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis." ATP World Tour. Emirates. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.  <http://www.atpworldtour.com/>

SAP, Dubai Duty Free, IQYI, and USANA. "WTA." WTA Tennis. Women's Tennis Association, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.wtatennis.com/>

Sure Could Have Fooled Me!

Ille Nastase was the only player to get a set off John McEnroe in the 1979 US Open. It was the first Grand Slam the 20-year old won. The match against Nastase is coming up on 40 years elapsed. But no one will ever forget it.

Ille was past his prime. He was 33 years old (And not a Ken Rosewall or Roger Federer at that age). Nastase had last finished a year in the top 10 in 1977. Clearly he wasn't going to beat the home kid in this match with 64 players left in the draw. Johnny Mac had beaten Pavel Slozil in the first round, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. But fireworks lay ahead in round two.

McEnroe didn't cause them.

McEnroe won the first set 6-4. Nastase took the second by the same score. Okay, what's the problem?

Nastase, that is.

Ille was trying to hold off the inevitable!

By stalling.

That was enough for chair umpire Frank Hammond. He defaulted Ille. But soon, Frank found himself overruled (And removed!) by tournament referee Bill Talbert. Mike Blanchard, no stranger to Ille's behaviour tactics, took over. The match resumed. So did McEnore's brilliant tennis. The last two sets were John's 6-3, 6-2.

Not only had it all calmed down, but McEnore's brilliant tennis had nothing in his way from there on in. John Lloyd was walked over in the next round. Tom Gorman fell 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in the round of 16. The quarters saw Eddie Dibbs default after just three games of play.

Jimmy Connors, the defending champion (And winner in 1974 and 1976) was next. No problem. 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. The set scores were then in the reverse order in the finals against Vitas Gerulatis, who stopped Roscoe Tanner from his second-straight grand slam finals appearance in the semis (Beating Bjorn Borg on the the way). McEnroe won this all-American finals, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.

Buoyed by his first Grand Slam, McEnroe took off from there. He had some heartbreak against Borg in the 1980 Wimbledon Finals, but took out the Swede in five sets in the US Open finals later that year. And he beat him in both the 1981 Wimbledon and US finals. Johnny Mac had arrived!

Yet oddly enough, despite impressive wins over Chris Lewis and Jimmy Connors at the Wimbledon Finals of both 1983 and 1984, John McEnroe's 1979 US Open victory was more remarkable in my opinion. Never before had he been in a US Open final. Never before had been in any grand slam final. By comparison, Ille had finished second at Rolland Garros to Jan Kodes in 1971.

And in a way, he was having some of his own tactics used against him (Not in the form of any tennis strokes, mind you) by Ille. Obviously, McEnore was the better player at that time, as I've mentioned earlier. But winning your first slam is open the toughest. John, no doubt, wanted this as well as a Wimbledon. And while the latter was two years away, John made sure to win his home event an impressive four times. Ille won it himself way back in 1972.

Nastase continued on (And we can only imagine what his behaviour was like) playing after the 1979 charade. He'd been disqualified many times in his career, but at this point, perhaps he had some leverage. He did not appear to ever accomplish anything else the rest of his playing days, which ended in the mid-1980s. He was nearly out of the top 50 by the end of '79, and never got higher than 79 in the decade to come. McEnroe pounded him into oblivion in their next three matches, not matter what Nastase did (Or didn't) do, 6-1, 6-4 in Milan in 1980, 6-0, 6-3 at the WCT Challenge Cup in Canada later that year. Finally, John beat him four years later, in 1984 in the Davis Cup Tie between United States And Romania. Not even close: 6-2, 6-4, 6-2! Their final head-to-head tally, if it matters, was 6-3 for Johhny Mac!

And McEnroe had perhaps been in a giving mood in 1979. Never again.

"Don't try and be like me, Ille!"


References


Collins, Bud, and Zander Hollander. Bud Collins' Tennis Encyclopedia. Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1997. Print.

Haylett, John, and Richard Evans. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Tennis. New York: Exeter, 1989. Print.

Infosys, FedEx, Peugeot, and LeSports. "Official Site of Men's Professional Tennis | ATP World Tour | Tennis." ATP World Tour. Emirates. Web. 30 Jan 2017.  <http://www.atpworldtour.com/>

World Series: Did You Know?

Mickey Mantle and Tony Kubek were the only Yankees to get hits off both Don Drysdale in 1963. The Los Angeles Dodger had the arms. And the Yankees, were in their back pockets.

Kubek had fanned to start game one, and Mantle could do no better than walk by the end of it. Koufax was out there pitching at Yankee Stadium, and clearly getting the better of Whitey Ford. The Yankee batters, too.

Mantle fanned in the second for the fourth K in a row by Koufax. In the bottom of the eighth, it was Los Angeles 5, New York, 0. Phil Linz batted for Stan Williams, who'd pitched three relief innings, and struck out. Kubek got an infield single. Bobby Richardson fanned. Tom Tresh hit a two-run home run. That made it 5-2. Mantle walked. But that was Koufax's third and last one he'd issue. Joe Pepitone got the home team's sixth and final hit in the ninth, the Dodgers winners 5-2.

Johnny Podres won the second contest 4-1, and this thing headed out west. The home team sent Don Drysdale to the hill, and he was on a mission of great pitching skill. Tony Kubek started the game by grounding out. The Dodgers held the Yankees scoreless in that inning, while scoring one against Jim Bouton in the bottom of the frame. That was all Don needed.

Mantle bunted for a hit to start the top of the second. Joe Pepitone was hit. The Yankees later loaded the bases when Clete Boyer, who'd gotten a hit off Koufax in game one, was walked intentionally. Bouton couldn't get the job done. Drysdale fanned him.

Kubek reached on an error the next time up, but was now 0-2. Worse still, Drysdale picked him off. Working on a one-hitter in the top of the sixth, the first batter was Kubek. This time, he singled. Bobby Richardson bunted him to second. Tom Tresh grounded out. As the score was still 1-0, Los Angeles, the tying run was 90 feet away. And Mickey Mantle was the batter. Drysdale fanned him.

Clete Boyer and Yogi Berra were retired to start the eighth inning, but Kubek kept it going with his second hit of the game, a single. He was forced at second by Richardson.

Tresh fanned. Mantle grounded out to first, and Pepitone gave it a ride to right in the top of the ninth. The Dodgers had won, 1-0.

Koufax fanned Kubek to start the fourth game, and the Yankees were in trouble again. Tresh ended the 1-2-3 inning with a K. Mantle, Howard and Hector Lopez got it to the outfield in the second frame, but none of 'em dropped in.

Pepitone and Boyer fanned in the third. Richardson hit a double in the fourth for the visitor's first hit, but he was stranded. Frank Howard hit a solo home run off Whitey Ford for a 1-0 Dodger lead in the fifth. Kubek was having no luck. He grounded back to Koudax in the fourth and sixth.

Mantle tied it in the top of the seventh with a home run, only to watch the Dodger regain the lead in the bottom of the frame. Phil Linz, batting for Ford, singled with one out in the top of the eighth. Kubek was next, and looking to help tie the game. He hit into an inning-ending double play.

Los Angeles was retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, but still carried a 2-1 lead into the top of the ninth. Richardson singled. Tresh and Mantle sadly looked at strike three, pushing Koufax's total to eight for the game and 23 for the 1963 Fall Classic.

Elston Howard reached on an error. Two on, two out. The Yankees were battlin' to the end. But on Koufax's first pitch to Hector Lopez, a grounder to Maury Wills ended it. The Los Angeles Dodgers had the sweep.

It wasn't easy to get hits off Koufax or Drysdale in 1963. New York managed just six off Sandy in game one, and six more in game four (Although Ford allowed just two hits in the finale. Bouton himself gave up just four hits himself in his game three loss to Drysdale). Drysdale finished the third contest with a three-hitter, and a shutout. The Dodgers were simply a team you needed to avoid in the World Series with Koufax and Drysdale around!


References

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 24 Jan. 2017.

World Series: Did You Know?

Phil Linz had success against both Sandy Koufax (Albeit in just two plate appearances) and Bob Gibson in his only two Fall Classics. Although with the New York Yankees in 1962 and named to the postseason, he did not play. New York beat San Francisco in seven games.

But in 1963, it was the Yankees vs. the Dodgers. Los Angeles Dodgers, now. They'd moved from Brooklyn after 1957. New York had only once lost to 'em in the World Series. 1955, Sandy Koufax's first year. The Dodgers had Koufax, Don Drysdale and 1955 World Series hero Johnny Podres on their pitching staff.

By the time Linz got a chance to face Koufax, it was too late. Linz batted for pitcher Stan Williams in game one, but it was 5-0 for the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth. Koufax fanned him, on his way to 15 on the day. The Yankees did manage to score twice that inning, in a two-run home run by Tommy Tresh. But that was it.

Wins by Podres and Drysdale had Los Angeles looking for the broom job in game four. Koufax again. This time, he only fanned 8. Whitey Ford pitched well for the Yankees, but it still wasn't enough.

Mickey Mantle hit a home run to tie the game at one in the top of the seventh, only to have the Dodger go ahead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame on an unearned run. Time was running out on New York. A lead for Koufax. Six more outs.

Linz batted for Ford in the top of the eighth with one down. This time, he singled. It was just the fifth hit by the Yankees. But Tony Kubek hit into an inning-ending double play. Hal Reniff came in to pitch the bottom of the frame, and kept the visitors within a run of Los Angeles. The Yankees got two on in the ninth, but Koufax put a stop to that, and the Dodgers had the sweep.

Linz found himself playing shortstop for all seven games the next World Series. Tony Kubek was hurt and Phil Linz batted leadoff. He was a frustrated customer in that game. New York faced St. Louis in 1964, and the first two games were at Busch Stadium. Facing lefty Ray Sadecki first in the opening contest, Linz didn't get a hit. He should have in the fourth. Ken Boyer, who's younger brother Clete played to Linz's left on the infield on New York, made a fine play on a Linz's hot shot. Phil beat the throw to first, but was called out, anyways. Linz had just one putout and assist. Worse still, the Yankees lost 9-5.

In game two, it was Bob Gibson's turn. Linz did a lot better than Bobby Richardson, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard did his first time up. He drew a walk in the top of the first. The next four hitters who I've named above? Strikeout! Gibby had it!

With two down in the top of the third, it was the visitors who got some action going. Linz singled with two down, and then Richardson doubled. All for not. It ended up being the Cardinals that scored the game's first run when Curt Flood grounded out to Linz in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice fly by Clete Boyer in the next inning got New York all even.

Linz grounded out to short in the fifth, as the game stayed tied at one. The next inning, Gibby lost it. Mantle walked. Howard lined out. Joe Pepitone was hit by a pitch, although the whole Cardinals team didn't seem to think so. A single to centre by Tresh made it 2-1, New York. The Cards went down 1-2-3 against rookie Mel Stottlemyre (9-3 on the season) in the bottom of the frame, staying right with Bob Gibson.

Gibson had to face Linz again to start the seventh. Linz singled. A wild pitch moved 'em up two bases. Gibson pitched inside to Richardson, whose bat came apart. Bobby still got a single. 3-1. Maris followed suit. Mantle grounded out. 4-1. Gibson was lifted after eight innings. Linz hit a home run off Barney Schultz in the ninth. The Yankees won it going away, 8-3.

But they needed a Mantle walk-off to win game three at home. Linz got them off on the right foot in the fourth contest, also at home. He made a fine play to start the game. The first batter, Cardinal Curt Flood, hit a ball that hit pitcher Al Downing and Linz had to hurry. He got off a great throw and nipped 'em at first. Leading off the bottom of the first, he doubled. Richardson followed suit. 1-0. Maris singles, Mantle singles, Howard singles. 3-0.

But then something amazing happened. Ray Sadecki had been pulled after facing just the first four Yankee batters. Roger Craig gave up a single to Howard, but got out of the inning without further damage. In the second, Craig fanned the side, including Linz. The Yankees got another hit and three walks off him in 4 2/3 innings, but could not score. Ron Taylor, came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth on, after Ken Boyer hit a grand slam in the top of the frame. The home run made it 4-3 St. Louis, and New York didn't get a run or a hit off Taylor.

Gibson was back for game five, and sharp. He started out by fanning Phil Linz. He got twelve more before the game was over. Stottlemyre, back for round two vs. Gibby was matching him again, even getting some K's of his own. He fanned the side in the first, and his mound counterpart a scoreless second. Mel the magnificent. Got 'em 1-2-3 in the third and fourth.

Stottlemyre started the top of the fifth with another K, this time of Dal Maxvill. Gibson hit a looper that neither Linz or Tom Tresh in left could get to. An error by Bobby Richardson on a grounder from Curt Flood to second gave the Cardinals an opening. Lou Brock slashed a single to right, 1-0. Bill White sent Bobby another one, and Linz made the putout at second. Seeing White motoring towards first, Linz made a throw that was too low. Joe Pepitone at first, took care of that problem. He made an excellent play to nab that, and the inning appeared to be over. Not so, said umpire Al Smith. That was a crucial call, for it made it 2-0, St. Louis.

Stottlemyre singled off Gibson, for the Yankees only hit of the fifth inning. Mel left after seven innings, replace by pinch hitter Hector Lopez. He'd fanned six on the day and allowed just one earned run. Hal Reniff got Ken Boyer out to start the eighth, then gave up a pair of singles. Pete Mikkelsen came in, and got into the strikeout act himself. Mike Shannon, the first batter he faced, went down on strikes. Maxvill forced Tim McCarver at second. The inning was over and St. Louis was then retired 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth, Gibson fanning. The Yankees had eighth strikeouts from their pitchers through nine innings.

The Yankees, trailing 2-0, got a man on as Mickey Mantle reached on an error. Pepitone raced to first on a ball that hit Gibson, but was called out on a close play. Again, this was crucial. Tom Tresh blasted a two-run home run to right-centre and the game was tied!

But Mikkelsen and the Yankees collapsed the next inning. Bill White walked. Ken Boyer, trying for the bunt, beat it out. White stole third even though catcher Elston Howard had him. Bluffing a return to second, White turned on the jets! White was safe third, ahead of the the throw from Linz. So now there were runners on the corners. Dick Groat erased Boyer, however, as he hit a grounder to Ken's younger brother. Clete made sure White didn't move an inch. There were still runners on the corners, but now a double play would get the home team out of this.

Tim McCarver was the batter. After getting ahead in the count 3-1, and then just following off the next pitch, Tim blasted a sinkerball over Mantle's head in right. The three-run blast made it 5-2, St. Louis. Gibson fanned pinch hitter Mike Hegan and got Linz to pop up to start the last of the 10th. Richardson singled, but Maris popped out to Boyer in foul territory to end it.

The Yankees were not pleased with this result, no doubt. Off to St. Louis, and down 3-2. In game six, they took apart the Cards' pitching staff. Linz had only one hit, although he scored a run. Mantle, Maris and Pepitone (His being a grand slam) hit home runs, making an 8-3 winner out of pitcher Jim Bouton.

Gibson was back for a third time in the winner-take-all game seven. He got Linz on a grounder to start the game. A 1-2-3 first was followed by a shaky second by Gibby. He got out of a bases-loaded jam via the K. Linz singled to start the next inning, but nothing came of that. Linz, trying to double up Tim McCarver at first in the bottom of the third, made a throwing error and the Cardinals pounced. That error scored a run. St. Louis added two more.

New York got two men on in the top of the fifth for Linz, who then appeared to have another hit. He sent a sinking shot to left. Mike Shannon made a great catch, and got Tresh way off the bag at second. Al Downing came in to pitch for the Yankees, but got rocked in the bottom of the frame. A Brock home run, a White single followed by a Boyer double. By the time the Yankees got out of that, it was 6-0.

New York came right back in the sixth. Gibby didn't escape this time. Richardson and Maris singled. Mantle went the other way for home run #18 of his Fall Classic career. 6-3.

Linz flied out in the top of the seventh, although Richardson followed with a single. Maris lined to Shannon. Ken Boyer took Steve Hamilton out of the park in the bottom of the frame. 7-3.

Mikkelsen succeeded in holding the fort in the bottom of the eighth, despite Hamilton leaving with only one out and two one. Gibson got Tresh to fan to start the ninth. The other Boyer, Clete, hit a solo home run. 7-4. Johnny Blanchard batted for Mikkelsen with Linz on deck. Gibby got a big K, since Linz had no one on base for him to knock home. Linz would also not be facing Barney Schultz like he did in game two at this stage. But no matter. Linz kept New York alive by crushing one of Gibson's out of the park to left. 7-5. Richardson popped out to end the 1964 World Series, alas.

Phil Linz didn't have much of a career, and he was always overlooked when it came time for him to play everyday. He competed for Tony Kubek's job in the spring of 1962, but lost it to Tom Tresh. When Kubek hurt himself in June of 1963, Linz had another chance, but trying to swipe third on June 7th, Phil himself was hurt. Although he played a career-high 112 games for Yogi Berra in 1964, and  faced the big guns of the Dodgers and Cards, it just wasn't in the cards for Phil Linz to be an everyday player.

Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson weren't everyday players, either. They weren't positioned players. Yet, they dominated the mound in the 1960s (And Koufax's teammate Don Drysdale was pretty good himself). You stepped in the batter's box to face them, and hoped you somehow got one to your liking. Phil Linz hit 11 home runs and .235 in his 7-year, 519 game career. After batting .262 in his first three seasons and playing on three pennant winning teams, Linz hit just .208 in the remaining four years of his career. It seems so odd that he hit 1/2 against Koufax and 4/13 against Gibson. Yes, a second-stringer hit .333 against two of the best pitchers in the 1960s in crunch time.


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 23 Jan. 2017.

World Series: Did You Know?

Devon White scored the first run, made the last putout in the field, and at the dish is game six of the 1993 Fall Classic. It was the clinching game. But Devo sort of missed out on being part of three men that helped Toronto win it in dramatic fashion that year. The Jays' 8-6 over the Phillies was keyed by Ricky Henderson, Paul Molitor, and of course Joe Carter in the last of the ninth.

With one out in the bottom of the first, White drew a walk off Philadelphia starter Terry Mulholland. Paul Molitor, who'd have plenty of big hits all game long, drove him home with a triple to right. A sac fly scored Molitor. John Olerud doubled and Roberto Alomar singled. 3-0, Toronto after one.

The Phillies tried to make a game of it, but they went down 1-2-3 in the second, managed just a walk in the third, and finally pried a run loose with two out in the top of the fourth. Dave Stewart was clearly on his game. A sac fly by Ed Sprague restored the three run lead.

Without getting a hit, Philadelphia loaded the bases in the fifth on two errors and a walk. They did not score. Devon White started the bottom of the frame by lining out. Paul Molitor hit a home run to left to make it 5-1 for the home team. Philly went down 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth.

The Phillies though, weren't about to throw in the towel. The scored three times of Stewart the next inning via a walk, single and a Lenny Dykstra (White's counterpart in centre) home run. Danny Cox came in to protect the 5-4 lead. The Phillies scored twice more off him and suddenly had the lead.

The Jays went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. White fanned against relieve Roger Mason. When he batted again in the bottom of the ninth and his team was still down 6-5, Devo was again retired. But before that, Devon White took Dave Hollins fly in the top of the ninth for the first out. After Duane Ward got Darren Daulton to ground out, Jim Eisenreich sent one White's way, and Philly was gone in order. And that led to the Toronto comeback.

Ricky Henderson got it all going with a four-pitch walk off Mitch Williams. Devon White flew out on a 3-2 pitch. But Paul Molitor not only stayed out of the double play, he singled Ricky Henderson to second. Joe Carter batted next. We all know he played "Hero" next. On a 2-2 pitch, Joe hit a dramatic 3-run home run to win the game and World Series for the Jays.

But you always noticed Devon White. His speed was unreal. He could get to anything in centre. He had a good arm. And for a leadoff hitter, he sure had power: He hit 15 home runs that year and 17 in 1991 and 1992!

White may not have played any part in the very last act of the historic 1993 Toronto Blue Jays season, but he'd come through so much that season (He hit a home run in the clincher of the ALCS, plus one off Curt Schilling in game one of the World Series) and was such a joy to watch. Dashin' Devo helped that Toronto team be truly unforgettable. And for all you stat lovers, here's Devon's Fall Classic stats: 8 runs scored, 1 home run, 7 RBIs, .292 batting average!


References


Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

Classic Hockey On Youtube! Toronto @ Chicago 3/10/68

The year of 1967/68 was one that saw the NHL expand from six to twelve teams. The "Original Six" teams played in the same division, and two of them in the hunt for the last playoff spot met in March of 1968.

Each team had made a huge trade earlier. In the '67 offseason, Chicago traded Phil Esposito, Fred Stanfield and Ken Hodge to Boston for Pit Martin, Jack Norris and Gilles Marotte. Toronto, meanwhile needed a shakeup, traded Frank Mahovlich, Pete Stemkowski, and Garry Unger to Detroit for Norm Ullman, Paul Henderson and Floyd Smith. All three of these players play in the game.

Each team had lost a goalie recently, as well. In the expansion draft of 1967, Glenn Hall was lost by Chicago to St. Louis. Toronto lost Terry Sawchuk to Los Angles. So the Chicago Blackhawks were forced to make due with Dennis Dejordy, Dave Dryden and Jack Norris in 1967/68. The Toronto Maple Leafs had a pretty good backup in Bruce Gamble for the previous two season, and would split the chores with 43-year old Johnny Bower. Al Smith, another pretty good goalie, didn't get into any games that year for the Leafs, sans the All-Star-Game (During the time when it was the defending Stanley Cup Champions vs. the All-Stars from the rest of the league. This meant Toronto, who won the game 4-3 behind Gamble and Smith, beat the best of eleven other teams). Gary Smith was also gone from Toronto.

Gamble and Bower did the job in the Toronto. Bower was his usual self and Gamble bounced back from a off-season in 1966/67. Dejordy did most of the work in Chicago, getting only a little help from Dave Dryden and Norris. However, in this game, it was the Blackhawks that got the goaltending to stifle the new-look Leafs. Norris, at one point a defenceman, stopped 'em all!

Things to look for:

1) The game is presented in colour, which is rare for most hockey games in the late 60s. All the other games I've seen (So far) from that era are black-and-white.

2) Speaking of white, notice as it is today, the home team wears dark and the visiting team wears white.

3) The first period is not shown.

4) Chicago is leading 1-0 as the footage starts.

5) Norris is playing goal for Chicago. One of only 10 games he played for the Hawks.

6) Bower is in net for Toronto, and his age is still a mystery. For the record, he was born November 8, 1924, making him 43 years old at the time of this contest.

7) Jimmy Pappin isn't with Toronto. He and coach Punch Imlach had a falling out that season, and he was traded in the off-season to Chciago, for Pierre Pilote. Pilote plays in this game, however. Pappin was playing for Rochester, the Leafs top farm team, when this March game was played.

8) Mike Walton (#16) gets a penalty shot for the second straight game for Toronto. He'd scored the previous game on one. Speaking of which...

9) This game was played on a Sunday. On the Saturday night before this, Toronto rallied from 4-0 down to beat Detroit 7-5 in Frank Mahovlich's first game back to TO.

10) Pit Martin scores into the empty net. Shortly thereafter, the broadcast ends. There is, however, another goal by Doug Jarrett. So not only do you not see Kenny Wharram's first period tally, but you only see half the game's total goals.

11) Helmets are worn by: Henderson, Mikita, Pilote, Conacher and Martin. Neither goalie wears one.

12) Ken Dryden is mistakenly named as Chicago's other goalie for this game, as Dennis Dejordy is injured and attending a funeral.

13) Brett Hull, a toddler at the time, is mentioned by Bobby Hull's mother @ 30:13! Turns out The Golden Brett is a big fan of Stan Mikita!

14) Bobby Hull's wife Joanne, is quite the artist! Amazing paintings!

15) The third period starts @ 40:13.

16) And speaking of which, Stan Mikita starts out the third period for a faceoff at centre against Dave Keon. Quite the curve on Mikita's stick, eh? Norris, by the way, was a bit of a pioneer for goalies in that he, too used a curve blade.

17) A rare time for Chicago where neither Phil or Tony Esposito is playing for the team. Tony started his NHL career in Montreal the next season, and picked up a Stanley Cup there before landing in the Windy City in 1969/70. Chicago would miss the playoffs in 1968/69, meanwhile.

18) Norris finishes with a shutout. It was his first of the season, and second (And last) of his NHL career.

19) Toronto will rue this loss as they miss the playoffs this season by just four points.

20) Kenny Wharram, who recently passed away, scores twice, although his first period marker is of course, not shown.

21) This is an afternoon game


“The information used herein was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by The Hockey Summary Project. For more information about the Hockey Summary Project please visit:

http://hsp.flyershistory.com

or

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/hockey_summary_project/”


References



CBS Sports Presents NHL On CBS. "1968 COLOR LEAFS VS HAWKS chicago TV broadcast Johnny Bower." Youtube, uploaded by Newton Minnow, 15 Jan. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yORbvADnNsg. (Game is originally broadcast on CBS 10 Mar. 1968)

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Oliver, Greg, and Richard Kamchen. The Goaltenders' Union: Hockey's Greatest Puckstoppers, Acrobats, And Flakes. Toronto: ECW Press, 2014. Print, pp. 104-108.

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