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Post by dyf7 on Jul 6, 2018 8:53:04 GMT -5
I envision this thread being for us all, but named after Lefty. What I'd like to see, mostly, but not exclusively, is questions directed to Lefty, Knux or anyone who's attended mucho games over the years. As for example.... Hey Left, what was the most satisfying Bomber win you witnessed in person as a boy in the 50s, then, off he goes Anyone could chime in, or not, just kind of an off the wall thread for memories and musings. Anyone can ask anyone else a baseball memory/reminiscing question, or maybe other sports too. Anyway, might be fun, or not, if it bombs so be it lol. So I'll start... Hey Left, what was the most satisfying Bomber win you witnessed as a boy in the 50s
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Post by Lefteroo on Jul 6, 2018 9:35:30 GMT -5
I'm very honored you put this thread up, Rip. And I've got my answer. I'll try to recap the game, then go to Retrosheet and post it, and we can see how well I recalled it.
I believe the game was in 1960. We hosted the Chicago White Sox. Whitey Ford was on the hill, and I think he faced Juan Pizarro. The game got off to a horrendous start - Jim Landis, the Chisox CF, hit a monster HR into the visitors' bull pen in left (you may remember how far that was), and we fell behind by a few runs. Whitey just did not have it that day. It was a weekday afternoon, and as I recall my whole family went. A rare visit to the Stadium for my Mom. But my father got tix in the mezzanine, and my Mom was so afraid of heights that she ended up sitting by herself downstairs. That was a little bizarre.
I wish I could remember more details. I do seem to remember Mike Hershberger robbing a Yankee (either Howard or Lopez, definitely a righty hitter) of a HR in right field by leaping over the short wall. But I'm not 100% certain it happened in this game. I definitely saw that play at the Stadium, just not sure it was that day.
Anyhow, the Yanks trailed by three going to the bottom of the ninth. As I recall, there was a key error by SS Luis Aparicio on a routine grounder by Mantle, batting righty off the lefty Pizzaro. We had the bases loaded, and the White Sox went to change pitchers. I remember predicting that they would bring in righty Eddie Fisher to replace Pizarro in order to face Elston Howard. When Bob Sheppard announced Fisher, everyone around me was looking at the 10 year old wunderkind who had predicted this correctly. I then prognosticated that Casey would counter with Johnny Blanchard to hit for Howard. When Sheppard announced Blanchard, just as I had predicted, the people around me were laughing and asking how I knew so much. One kid, I'm guessing about 15 or so, kept asking me what the batters were going to do! He was convinced I could predict the results! Blanchard got a hit, with everyone moving up a base, and we were down only two runs. I think Skowron or Boyer then walked, and we were within a run, with the bases loaded and one out.
Hector Lopez came up. I was petrified he would hit into a double play and break my heart - but he lined a shot up the middle and into center field, right between Fox and Aparicio. Landis charged in, a great center fielder. The tying run scored from third, and here came Johnny Blanchard, world's slowest runner, trying to win it as Crosetti took a gamble. Landis uncorked a great throw, and Blanchard appeared to be a dead duck. However, the ball took a kangaroo hop (the throw may have hit the mound?), and Blanchard slid in under the tag by Sherm Lollar. Yankees win, the Yankees win!!! A great four run rally in the ninth. I'm going to post this, then try to find the game on Retrosheet. I'm sure I got some stuff wrong - but it will be fun to look it up.
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Post by Lefteroo on Jul 6, 2018 9:51:43 GMT -5
www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B04250NYA1962.htmNot bad, but I was two years off! No wonder I could make those predictions - I was 12. A few boo-boos, but I got the gist of it. I believe when Lopez flied out to right to lead off the sixth - that was the play on which Hershberger robbed him of a home run.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 6, 2018 12:39:13 GMT -5
Awesome start! You were amazing that day! Not too shabby a rally too.
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Post by NYY23 on Jul 7, 2018 10:48:47 GMT -5
Sorry Lefty, he said in the 50s. Try again! Seriously though, go again, I love reading it!
Obviously I haven't been to nearly as many games as most here. And I don't go back quite to the 50s, or 60s... or even much in the 80s, but I'll share a game that probably nobody here went to and was also my first ever game seeing the Yanks.
Summer of 1993, an exciting time for the Yanks as they really started turning a corner from the dark early 90s. As we did every year, we were visiting my Mom's family in Michigan. Like Lefty, I'll look it up afterwards, but I know I don't remember nearly the details that he did. I was 12 and given where we lived, hadn't seen many ML games at that point, maybe a handful, all either Tiger or Expos games. But I was finally seeing the Yanks, and it was kids day where we got to go on the field before the game. I honestly don't remember what we did out there, I think they had the Tiger coaches talk to us or something, but do remember seeing various Yanks throwing on the field which we walked right by, maybe 20 feet away. The highlight was seeing Jim Abbott throw, just because it was cool to watch him switch the glove up close. I also remember my Mom pointing out Denny McClain, and him turning around and saying Hi. I had no clue who he was then, but learned about him shortly thereafter.
To the game...this is where it gets fuzzy, but I'll never forget the first. Started with a bang. Boggs and James got on to start and up comes by hero, Donnie Baseball himself. He had homered the day before and I was mad that we didn't go to that game instead. Until he drilled a ball into the seats in right for a 3-0 lead. Was I in heaven. Mark Hutton started, no clue how he did. I know Mattingly had a couple more hits on the day and got robbed of another. Yanks cruised, it was never a blowout, Tigers kept chipping away then Yanks would pull further ahead. Ended something like 12-8. On the opposing side, Travis Fryman hit for the cycle, something I've seen twice (Vladdy in Montreal 2003). Paulie went deep for the visiters as well, his first year in pinstripes and hadn't moved to the 3 hole yet. I certainly went home happy that day!
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Post by NYY23 on Jul 7, 2018 10:59:55 GMT -5
www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET199307280.shtmlJuly 28, 1993 - coming up on 25 years, amazing. Mattingly's dinger was a 2 run shot, Dion had driven in Boggs with a double. Donnie went 3-4 2 runs, 2 ribs and a walk. Pat Kelly drove in 4 and had a dinger. Bernie had 2 doubles. Everyone's favorite, Tartabull had 2 hits including (which I now remember) a missle double that went off the wall in left center. Wickman picked up the win in relief of Hutton. Howe pitched and Bobby Munoz (?) finished it up. Mark Leiter, pitched 4 2/3 for Detroit. Fryman went 5-5 with 4 RBIs. Cecil K'd 4 times, ouch! The prior year I saw him go DEEEEEEEP twice there, which was pretty cool (since it wasn't against the Yanks). Also of note, 36 year old Kirk Gibson played CF for the Tigers, something I never remembered about the game. Yanks went 6-17 with RISP, the current team could learn a thing or 2 from them! Memorable game for sure, even if I didn't remember all the details. I knew then that someday the internet would come around to remind me!
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 7, 2018 14:14:20 GMT -5
Good stuff 23, thanks.
What a thrill, Donnie Baseball coming through for ya!
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Post by Skinnyhead on Jul 7, 2018 23:25:51 GMT -5
Iβm no good with specifics. But Iβll never forget old old Yankee Stadium games with my dad circa 1969-1973. He had the company box seats all the time because no one wanted them. When I see those pictures of original YS, it brings me right back.
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Post by Lefteroo on Jul 7, 2018 23:44:46 GMT -5
Great report, Andy. I'll give you some stuff from the 50's on Sunday!
This can be a great thread - I hope everyone contributes.
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Post by Knuckles on Jul 9, 2018 12:34:01 GMT -5
Complicating anything I can report here are several factors, starting with that there's very little of my memory from years ago "Left," so to speak. I also obviously wasn't a true student of the game from an early age; I just liked going, and watching on TV, having the Yankees win, and having a good time. I have 2 very sketchy memories of the fifties, as the first 2 games I attended were in 1959, this one www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B08220PHI1959.htm in Connie Mack, a trip sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, where my recollection is that it was $1 for the bus trip from central Jersey to Phillie, a game ticket, a soda, and a hot dog. My father said I had to root for the Phillies because they sponsored the trip, and so I did. They scored their lone run early but trailed almost from the outset, but even though the Giants scored most of their runs late, my impression is that one and all felt that a San Fran victory was a certainty. We were in the left field grandstand, and did not get a good look at either Giant home run. I was impressed with the size of McCovey and Mays, and the 2 Cepeda doubles were tracers down the line that I saw very well. The same year, my oldest brother brought my brother John and I to a game in Yankee Stadium. I think the Yankees won. Someone hit one out, maybe Yogi. It wasn't Mickey. We exited by walking across the field past the monuments in center field. I was in the seminary in upstate New York from 1962 through 1967, and attended no games.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 9, 2018 13:37:19 GMT -5
Complicating anything I can report here are several factors, starting with that there's very little of my memory from years ago "Left," so to speak. I also obviously wasn't a true student of the game from an early age; I just liked going, and watching on TV, having the Yankees win, and having a good time. I have 2 very sketchy memories of the fifties, as the first 2 games I attended were in 1959, this one www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B08220PHI1959.htm in Connie Mack, a trip sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, where my recollection is that it was $1 for the bus trip from central Jersey to Phillie, a game ticket, a soda, and a hot dog. My father said I had to root for the Phillies because they sponsored the trip, and so I did. They scored their lone run early but trailed almost from the outset, but even though the Giants scored most of their runs late, my impression is that one and all felt that a San Fran victory was a certainty. We were in the left field grandstand, and did not get a good look at either Giant home run. I was impressed with the size of McCovey and Mays, and the 2 Cepeda doubles were tracers down the line that I saw very well. The same year, my oldest brother brought my brother John and I to a game in Yankee Stadium. I think the Yankees won. Someone hit one out, maybe Yogi. It wasn't Mickey. We exited by walking across the field past the monuments in center field. I was in the seminary in upstate New York from 1962 through 1967, and attended no games. Early Knux, that's pretty cool. The game lasted 2:18, wow.
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Post by Knuckles on Jul 9, 2018 16:57:35 GMT -5
Complicating anything I can report here are several factors, starting with that there's very little of my memory from years ago "Left," so to speak. I also obviously wasn't a true student of the game from an early age; I just liked going, and watching on TV, having the Yankees win, and having a good time. I have 2 very sketchy memories of the fifties, as the first 2 games I attended were in 1959, this one www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B08220PHI1959.htm in Connie Mack, a trip sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, where my recollection is that it was $1 for the bus trip from central Jersey to Phillie, a game ticket, a soda, and a hot dog. My father said I had to root for the Phillies because they sponsored the trip, and so I did. They scored their lone run early but trailed almost from the outset, but even though the Giants scored most of their runs late, my impression is that one and all felt that a San Fran victory was a certainty. We were in the left field grandstand, and did not get a good look at either Giant home run. I was impressed with the size of McCovey and Mays, and the 2 Cepeda doubles were tracers down the line that I saw very well. The same year, my oldest brother brought my brother John and I to a game in Yankee Stadium. I think the Yankees won. Someone hit one out, maybe Yogi. It wasn't Mickey. We exited by walking across the field past the monuments in center field. I was in the seminary in upstate New York from 1962 through 1967, and attended no games. Early Knux, that's pretty cool. The game lasted 2:18, wow. I'm quite sure I had no sense of time.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 24, 2018 8:38:53 GMT -5
When the heavens opened and the drought was over......
was anyone there the night of Chris Chambliss' immortal swing?
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Post by Skinnyhead on Jul 24, 2018 8:45:24 GMT -5
When the heavens opened and the drought was over...... was anyone there the night of Chris Chambliss' immortal swing? Iβve told it before. I was in the Uppest Deck. 1st base side. I told my sister seconds before it happened that it would happen. We then got doused in a beer shower courtesy of a row of nuns dressed in full habit. I donβt remember much. But Iβll never forget that one.
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Post by Lefteroo on Jul 24, 2018 8:50:11 GMT -5
I remembered your story, Skin. Glad you re-posted it, and very glad you were there that night.
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Post by Knuckles on Jul 25, 2018 22:33:35 GMT -5
My brother was there. Almost got arrested for trying to make off with a strip of the ceremonial bunting.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 30, 2018 10:09:10 GMT -5
If you saw The Mick live at least a few times, describe the best you saw, at the plate and on D.
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Post by Lefteroo on Jul 30, 2018 11:06:28 GMT -5
I am having a hard time recalling a live HR in a regular season game, but I did see him knock one over the auxiliary scoreboard in RF vs. the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game in 1962. In 1958, I believe, I went to a doubleheader vs. Detroit, and Mick hit a beauty to the Yankee bullpen in RC, but Al Kaline leaped high over the wall to rob him.
Perhaps my two favorite Mantle memories from seeing him live involved pinch hit appearances. Remember the famous game in 1966 where Frank Robinson robbed Roy White of a walk-off HR with a leaping catch in RF, diving into the stands and emerging with the ball? Well, that was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader. The Mick won the nightcap with a two-run pinch double off Moe Drabowsky, as I recall.
In !968, I attended another twi-night doubleheader vs. Oakland. I wrote this one up years ago for BTB - I arrived late for Game 1 - a tough loss - we trailed 2-0 when I left home - went with my good pal Ed, who has attended a couple of BTB reunions. When we got to the Stadium, it was the 7th inning, and the Yanks had scored two in the bottom of the 6th to tie it. (We had a great chance earlier, but Roy White led off with a triple, and was thrown out trying for an inside-the-park HR - we subsequently loaded the bases that inning with two out, but failed to score). Sound familiar, Gleyber?)
I asked the lady sitting next to us how we scored the two, and she said, "It was beautiful; it was wonderful: but, I can't explain it - you'll have to ask my husband, he can tell you." I asked him, and the really elderly gentleman said, "Mantle knocked a home run over the right field fence!" It sounded awesome coming from him - especially his use of the word "knocked." Almost made up for not seeing the HR live.
We ultimately lost the game on a HR by young...Reggie Jackson!
In the nightcap, we trailed by a run going to the bottom of the 8th - we got two guys on base and Charlie Smith, the 3rd baseman was due. We were sitting behind first base, but I could see the fans on the third base side going wild, and I told Ed that Mantle must be pinch hitting. Sure enough, he came into our sight, was announced by Bob Sheppard, "Your attention, please, ladies and gentlemen, for the Yankees, batting for Smith, number seven, Mickey Mantle, number seven." The crowd went insane. And Mantle obliged by driving a ball deep into LC (batting lefty, no less) for a two-run double that won the game.
I can try to find these on Retrosheet. I'd love to find my original story on this, which includes the trip in Ed's car, which had no radio - I should scan in a batch of old stories for us some day.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 30, 2018 11:13:26 GMT -5
I am having a hard time recalling a live HR in a regular season game, but I did see him knock one over the auxiliary scoreboard in RF vs. the San Francisco Giants in an exhibition game in 1962. In 1958, I believ e, I went to a doubleheader vs. Detroit, and Mick hit a beauty to the Yankee bullpen in RC, but Al Kaline leaped high over the wall to rob him. Perhaps my two favorite mantle memories from seeing him live involved pinch hit appearances. Remember the famous game in 1966 where Frank Robinson robbed Roy White of a walk-off HR with a leaping catch in RF, diving into the stands and emerging with the ball? Well, that was the first game of a twi-night doubleheader. The mick won the nightcap with a two-run pinch double off Moe Drabowsky, as I recall. In !968, I attended another twi-night doubleheader vs. Oakland. I wrote this one up years ago for BTB - I arrived late for Game 1 - a tough loss - we trailed 2-0 when I left home - went with my good pal Ed, who has attended a couple of BTB reunions. When we got to the Stadium, it was the 7th inning, and the Yanks had scored two in the bottom of the 6th to tie it. (We had a great chance earlier, but Roy White led off with a triple, and was thrown out trying for an inside-the-park HR - we subsequently loaded the bases that inning with two out, but failed to score). Sound familiar, Gleyber?) I asked the lady sitting next to us how we scored the two, and she said, "It was beautiful; it was wonderful: but, I can't explain it - you'll have to ask my husband, he can tell you." I asked him, and the really elderly gentleman said, "Mantle knocked a home run over the right field fence!" It sounded awesome coming from him - especially his use of the word "knocked." Almost made up for not seeing the HR live. We ultimately lost the game on a HR by young...Reggie Jackson! In the nightcap, we trailed by a run going to the bottom of the 8th - we got a guy two guys on base and Charlie Smith, the 3rd baseman was due. We were sitting behind first base, but I could see the fans on the third base side going wild, and I told Ed that Mantle must be pinch hitting. Sure enough, he came into our sight, was announced by Bob Sheppard, "Your attention, please, ladies and gentlemen, for the Yankees, batting for Smith, number seven, Mickey Mantle, number seven." The crowd went insane. And Mantle obliged by driving a ball deep into LC (batting lefty, no less) for a two-run double that won the game. I can try to find these on Retrosheet. I'd love to find my original story on this, which includes the trip in Ed's car, which had no radio - I should scan in a batch of old stories for us some day. Thanks Left, good stuff, and I think you jogged my memory, seem to recall Roy getting nailed trying to stretch that one, reading about it that is.
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Post by dyf7 on Jul 30, 2018 12:14:21 GMT -5
Let's add the Hitman to the above question...... Just saw him live maybe a handful of times, but this one, www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=199107110CALwas by far the best. Got there very early, watched BP and Donnie go through his personal pregame routine, hitting off a tee etc. I walked down to the Yankee dugout, which was first base side, watched infield for awhile. A big guy next to me with a huge gold watch, yelled to Mattingly, "hey Donnie, how's honey doing? That caught Donnie's ear and recognizing the guy, he came running over, shook his hand and started chatting with him. Honey, it turned out, was Donnie's hunting dog. As far as the game went, he had 3 hits, but also a stellar defensive play which I can't do justice it was so good. But basically, he fielded a dribbler up the first base line and flipped it from his glove to the pitcher,all in one motion, not using his throwing arm....totally unreal. Best I got!
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