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.