Wanna Trade???

Posted on June 27, 2012 by fenwaypark100

The Post Youk Era began at Fenway Park on Monday and after two games the Red Sox are 1-1 following a come from behind 5-1 win last night at home against the Blue Jays.

Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder...

 Big Papi and Brent Lillibridge.

Utility man Brent Lillibridge joined the Sox on Monday and last night started in centerfield going 0-2 before being pinched hit for by Daniel Nava in the seventh inning. The key to the deal, according to Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, is right handed pitcher Zach Stewart who was assigned to Pawtucket where the Red Sox hope to develope him as a starter.

Zach Stewart

Stewart was a third round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 2008.

It remains to be seen what, if any, impact these players will have in Boston. Lillibridge has value as he has played every position at the major league level except pitcher and catcher. A player with that kind of versatility is always a welcome addition. Stewart will be a wait and see commodity. As for Youk with the White Sox, it will all be determined by which Youk they get. Will it be the Youk of 2007 and eight or the Youk of 2010 and eleven? Or, God forbid, 12?

The White Sox are 1-1 in their brand new “Youk” Era.

I thought today it might be of interest to take a look at some past mid-season deals made by the Red Sox.

Mike Boddicker.

In July of 1988 they acquired Orioles pitcher Mike Boddicker. Boddicker had been a pretty solid starter for the O’s, winning 20 games in 1984. The Red Sox were battling for the top spot in the AL East and Boddiker played a key role in them eventually prevailing. He went 7-3 with a 2.63 ERA including a shutout of the Brewers in his first Red Sox start. The following year he went 15-11 and then in 1990 he was 17-8 as the Sox again won the AL East.

The price for Boddicker? These two guys.

Brady Anderson had a decent big league career hitting .256 with 210 home runs in 15 seasons. However, 50 of those home runs came in 1996 in the midst of the “Steroid Era” and leave many doubting the veracity of Brady’s season of power. The most he hit in any other year was 24 in 1999.

Curt Schilling went on to do some pretty good things with the Phillies and Diamondbacks before returning to the Red Sox via a trade in the winter of 2003.

He did some pretty good things with the Red Sox too and in December the keepers of the keys to the National Baseball Hall of Fame will make their official judgement on where he stands. A career record of 216-146, he is one of the games greatest post season pitchers going 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 19 post season starts, 4-1 and 2.06 in the seven that came in the World Series.

Perhaps the best trade the Red Sox have made in my lifetime occured on July 31, 1997 when they sent this guy,

to the Seattle Mariners for, this guy,

Derek Lowe

AND this guy

Jason Varitek.

Slocumb had 31 saves for the Sox in 1996 however he was scuffling along in ’97’ when the Sox decided to move him. Lowe had appeared in 12 games for Seattle and was 2-4 with an ERA of 6.96. Varitek was playing for the Mariners triple A affiliate in Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. He was hitting .254 with 15 homers and 48 RBI and he had never hit above .262 in three minor league seasons.

Both Varitek and Lowe have left indelible marks upon the history of Fenway Park and the Red Sox. Integral parts of the 2004 teams which will forevermore be glorified in Fenway annals, it is safe to say neither of these guys will ever have to buy another drink in Boston.

Lowe made baseball history in 2004 becoming the only pitcher to win the deciding game in a Divison Series, a Championship Series and a World Series in the same season. However before that he had already left a considerable mark on the Red Sox. He led the American League with 42 saves in 2000, added 24 more in ’01’ and then in ’02’ went 21-8 and he followed that with a 17-7 campaign in ’03’. Oh and he did throw a no-hitter to boot.

Now the other guy, well he wasn’t too bad either.

Calling it quits after the 2011 season, “The Captain” ranks as one of the most popular Red Sox of all time. He hit .256 with 193 homers and 757 RBI in 15 years behind the Red Sox dish. However his story cannot be told in numbers, it can be told in a letter.

In December of 2017 the BBWAA will find the name of Jason Varitek on their National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. I for one will be curious to see how they measure that which can’t be measured.

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 27, 2012.

Thanks Dad!

 

 

 

 

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Arrivederci Youk, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye……

Posted on June 25, 2012 by fenwaypark100

When I was a kid I knew the starting lineup of every team in the American League. Now there are a few reasons why that was the case; the widely held one at the time was that I was simply out of my mind about baseball. True!

There was also the fact that I had my “imaginary” league to consider. You see I played wallball, early 60s version, in which I was every player as well as the park announcer AND the radio play by-play guy. I was quite a busy little fellow and I had to know my stuff!

 

Brooks Robinson and Luis Aparicio were among my first non Red Sox favorite players. Aparicio was the Orioles leadoff hitter from 1963 through ’67’ and Brooks Robinson was penciled in at third base for the better part of two decades.

However, the primary reason I was able to remember all those lineups was because they simply didn’t change all that much. The lineup was the lineup, bench players were exactly that, bench players and the goal of each to team was to find their lineup and run with it.

The Hot Stove League was all about trades and only trades and the off-season would be spent waiting and hoping for that block buster deal to be made. And there were some doozies.

In the early season of 1960, the year noted author Kerry Keene calls “The Last Pure Season”, the Cleveland Indians traded the 1959 home run champ Rocky Colavito to the Tigers for the 1959 batting champ Harvey Kuenn.

 Rocky Colavitio (L) and Harvey Kuenn.

Then there was the winter of 1965 when the Orioles fleeced the Cincinnati Reds acquiring all time great Frank Robinson for pitcher Milt Pappas and change.

And in March of 1969 the Cardinals traded 1967 MVP Orlando Cepada for four-time all-star and a future MVP (1971) catcher/first baseman, Joe Torre.

Yesterday the Red Sox bid adieu to Kevin Youkilis.

Dustin Pedroia Kevin Youkilis #20 of the Boston Red Sox is hugged by teammate Dustin Pedroia #15 after being taken out of the game during the seventh inning of the interleague game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on June 24, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.

“Youk and “Pedey” embrace as Youkilis leaves the Fenway Park field for the last time as a member of the Red Sox.

It’s been a long time coming and it was necessitated by the performance of rookie Will Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks is hitting .326 with nine homers and 34 RBI.

It was a pure business decision and after all this heah baseball thing is, above all , a business, a very big business and here’s the bottom line. 

“Youk” is in the last year of a contract that is paying him $12,000,000 dollars. There is a club option of 13 million for 2013 or the club can choose to buy him out for a paltry million bucks. The Red Sox are said to be picking up about $5,000,000 of Youks ’12’ salary. Will Middlebrooks is a rookie, thus he is paid the league minimum of $480,000. 

Now part B of the bottom line goes like this, “Youk” turned 33 in March. Middlebrooks? He’ll be 24 in September.

Part C of the bottom line is the bottom line. The past two seasons, injuries have cut into Youk’s time on the field and his production. After averaging 146 games a season in 2006, ’07’ and ’08’; he fell off to 136 games in 2009, 102 games in 2010 and 120 games last year. And in 2011 his production fell off significantly.

Kevin Youkilis is a lunch pail guy. A blue-collar kid from Cincinnati, he plays the game hard and it is my sense you love him as a teammate and you hate him otherwise, a good way to be from my perspective. He is emotional, and that’s because he cares and he wants to win.

Yesterday MLB Network pundit, Joe McGrane took a shot at Youk for his propensity to complain about every called strike he ever experienced.

To be honest, that used to bug me too, however Youk outgrew that three years ago. Yet on the other hand McGrane’s compadres were talking as if Kevin Youkilis is going to provide the White Sox with much-needed pop out of the third base position. That remains to be seen but the reality is that in 2008 and ’09’, Youk hit .309 and averaged 28 homers and 105 RBI, the last two years have seen him dip to .282 with an average of 18 homers and 71 RBI; a significant drop off.

And Youk’s former teammate and current MLB yapper Kevin Millar is on record as saying the Sox are making a mistake because Middlebrooks has only had a good “couple of months”. Whether Middlebrooks is the real deal or not also remains to be seen but none of that changes the reality that he has earned the right to play. He has displaced Youkilis as the Red Sox third baseman simply because he has out played him, out produced him.

Kevin Youklis is gone bound for Chicago and a change of Sox. Yesterday, in a touching moment at the place Youk has called home for eight years, the Fenway Faithful let him know how they felt about him. And the Cincinnati Kid responded in kind.

Youk is gone, leaving David Ortiz as the last vestige of the miracle that was 2004. He was a winner and he was clutch. He hit .306 with six homers and 17 RBI in seven post season series and was at his best in his two ALCS’s, .414, 5 homers and 13 RBI.

It is yet to be determined which Youk the White Sox will get. Often a veteran player is rejuvenated after a trade and that is the hope of White Sox GM Ken Williams and his organization.

It is yet to be determined which Youk the White Sox will get, but I picked him up this morning for my fantasy team.

Arrivederci to The Greek God of Walks, and thanks, you left your impression on Fenway Park and this patron is appreciative!

 And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 25, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

And on the seventh day He rested…..

Posted on June 24, 2012 by fenwaypark100

And Marty Barrett played golf.

  • Marty was the Red Sox first round pick in the secondary phase of the 1979 draft.
  • While playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1981, he scored the winning run in the 33rd inning of the longest professional baseball game ever played.

File:BoggsBarrett.jpg

Wade Boggs greets Barrett crossing the plate in the bottom of the 33rd at McCoy Field in Pawtucket.

  • He was the Red Sox regular second baseman from 1984 through 1988.
  • In 1986 he set a record for the most hits in the Post Season going 24-60 for a .400 mark.
  • In the 1986 World Series he had 13 hits to tie a record he still holds with Bobby Richardson and Lou Brock.
  • He was the MVP in the 1986 ALCS.
  • He led the American League in sacrifice hits in 1986, 87 and 88.
  • A prototypical contact hitter, he struck out only 209 times in 3833 career plate appearances.
  • An outstanding defensive second baseman, he led the league in putouts in 1985, assists in 1986 and in fielding percentage in 1984 and 87.
  • In 1995 he won a 1.7 million dollar mal-practice suit against then Red Sox team physician Dr. Arthur Pappas.

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 24, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“It’s Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime”…..Sherm Feller

Posted on June 22, 2012 by fenwaypark100

The summer officially arrived yesterday and it was celebrated for the 107th time in the State of Alaska with an annual baseball event in the Alaska Baseball League. The Alaska Baseball League is composed of many of the elite college players in the country, predominantly from the west coast.

This might well be the best baseball tradition in all the game. It started in 1906 and since 1960 it event has taken place in the same park.

Growden Park in Fairbanks Alaska.

The first night game in major league baseball was played on May 24, 1935 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Prior to that there were some minor league games played under “artificial illumination” in the 1920s.

However in Fairbanks Alaska, the tradition of night baseball dates all the way back to 1906 and the best part is though they begin at 10:30 PM, there are no lights needed, for in the land of the midnight sun, there is no night.

The Fairbanks Goldpanners have been the host team since 1960 and the Panners are 41-11 since hosting the game every year. With a 10:30 start, the game is assured to go well past midnight and in the first between innings break after midnight, the Alaska Flag song is sung by all in attendance.

There is a Red Sox flavor to this game which has included players who have gone on to play for the Sox.

Bill “Spaceman” Lee played for the Goldpanners in 1966, ’67’ and believe it or not in 2008. In 1967 Lee was 5-2 with a 2.25 ERA and in 29 at bats he hit .483 with a homer and 6 RBI, pretty good stick for a pitcher.

The 1967 version of “Goldpanner” pitcher Bill Lee.

Lee was the starting pitcher in the Midnight Sun game of 1967 coming up on the short end of a loss to Japan’s Kumagai Gumi 10-3. However Lee was back on the hill for the 2008 game at the ripe young age of 62.

Lee pitched from 1969-1978 with the Red Sox going 94-68 in ten seasons. He won 17 games in each of the ’73’, ’74’ and ’75’ seasons.

He went six innings in ’08’ and was the winning pitcher in a 10-6 victory over the Southern California Running Birds.

A teammate of Bill Lee’s on the 1966 Goldpanner’s squad was another left handed pitcher by the name of Tom House.

Hank Aaron and Tom House.

Tom House grabbed his piece of immortality when on April 8, 1974 he was on the receiving end of Hank Aaron’s 715th career home run. He caught that historic blast in the Atlanta Braves bullpen.

Eight years earlier Tom was the most valuable pitcher for the Fairbanks Goldpanners going 15-2 with a 1.31 ERA. He struck out 171 hitters in 137 1/3 innings pitched that summer Alaskan season and in 1967 he was the Braves third round draft pick out of the University of Southern California where he was also a teammate of Lees.

Bill Lee standing in the back, fourth from left and Tom House (80) kneeling in front of him.

House and Lee were reunited in 1976 and ’77’ at Fenway Park when Tom pitched out of the Red Sox bullpen for two years.

There is another Red Sox connection with the Fairbanks Goldpanners and frankly it is a connection that is often overlooked and even forgotten and it involves this man.

Hall of Fame pitching George Thomas Seaver, “Tom Terrific”.

It is often forgotten that Tom Seaver’s career ended in a Red Sox uniform, but more on that in a minute.

In 1965 Seaver was the starting pitcher in the Midnight Sun game beating the USC Trojans (his college team)4-3. Tom pitched two seasons with Fairbanks flipping a couple of no-hitters while there.

Now back to the Red Sox, Tom was acquired by the Red Sox from Chicago during the fateful 1986 season. He pitched his last game on September 19th and a knee injury ended his season and his career. I am convinced that if the Red Sox had Seaver in the 1986 post season, they would have won that World Series.

Hmmm, I remember my Dad used to say “yea, and if the dog hadn’t stopped to S#%t he would have caught the rabbit”…..Maybe it’s time I just let that go.

Last night, in the land of the Midnight Sun, the summer officially arrived, and yes “It’s Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime” and the Sox won their fifth in a row last night at Fenway. Bring on the Dog Days!

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, summer’s first of 2012.

Happy Birthday Rach

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball, Fenway Park Other | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Will it Ever Go Away?????

Posted on June 20, 2012 by fenwaypark100

Manny Ramirez asked for, and was granted his release, by the Oakland A’s last weekend. He had been playing with the A’s triple A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

Manny had signed a deal with Oakland after his 100 game suspension, for his second “drug” offense, was cut in half by his eminence Bud Selig. (Does anyone know how and why that came about?)

On Monday Roger Clemens was released from the clutches of the Federal government when a jury found him not guilty on perjury charges stemming from his testimony before Congress regarding his use of performance enhancing drugs.

Anyway I greeted this news of Manny with a giant yawn of indifference and that made me sad and as for Roger all I can say is I was not surprised. The government’s case was weak but I also know that not guilty does not mean innocent. (Can you say OJ?)

Those of you who read this blog know that I am an old school traditional baseball kind of guy. I revel in its history and I celebrate its connection to the history of this great country. Therefore I am mindful of the role that any given player, event or team plays in light of that fabulous history. That all having been said I guess the reason for my yawn of indifference is I am mad at these guys and I also know that this is never going to go away! NEVER! And that makes me madder still. And while I’m at it, you know who else I’m mad at? The folks who run this place!

And I am also mad at the guys on Baseball Tonight and MLB Network and………. wait, I’m ranting. I guess I can sum it up by saying that I am mad at the baseball culture and how they handle or choose not to handle this whole steroid thing!

Another event took place this past week which epitomizes what upsets me the most about this whole mess. This guy,

ARod

hit a grand slam home run, the 23rd of his career and with it he tied this guy,

The Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig.

for the most grand slam home runs in a career. After his homer, Alex said all the right things; “to be mentioned in the same sentence with Lou Gehrig is an honor”, yada, yada ,yada. But you know what’s funny? In the fanfare of all the reporting of this very significant moment did anybody say anything about ARods juice use!

To refresh, ARod admitted (after he got caught) that he took roids for the three years he was in Texas (2001-2003). He claims to have been clean since joining the Yankees in 2004. Did you hear any sports anchor person on ESPN, the MLB Network or even any local broadcast say, “Oh and by the way, ARod hit three of those grand slams while he was on the juice with the Rangers in 2001, ’02’ and ’03’? Nope you didn’t. Did you hear ARod say anything like, “I really haven’t tied Mr. Gehrig yet because three of them came when I was using PHD’S? Nope! And this is what irks me no end.

 

Now, on to Manny. For the better part of 15 years this man was touted as one of the best right-handed hitters in the history of the game. Often compared to Jimmie Foxx, he was said to possess the same talent as a pure hitter with power the likes of which had not been seen for over a half century.

Jimmie Foxx hit .325 with 534 home runs and 1,922 RBI in a 20 year career. A  three-time AL MVP, he won a triple crown in 1933.

Manny had two positive tests for steroids, once with the Dodgers in 2009 and then again with Tampa Bay in 2011. His 2011 failure led to a 100 game suspension and actually he “retired” rather than deal with the consequences of that act. That suspension was inexplicably cut in half when he wanted to return with Oakland this year. I’m befuddled as to why, but I suppose that is simply above my pay grade. Are we really supposed to think that he was “clean” while he was playing in the 90s and into the year 2004 when the current testing policy went into place?

And then there is Roger! He was acquitted and good for him however as I said at the top not guilty does not mean innocence and a quick look will leave us all to our own judgement. He left Boston following the 1996 season. In the four years before he left, his record was 40-39 and his ERA was 4.35. He was, to be honest a bit on the “chubby” side and there was a thought among some that he had grown fat and happy.

He went to Toronto and the next two years he was 41-13 with an ERA of 2.33 and he led the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts both seasons. He won back to back Cy Young Awards and he also met and began training with Brian McNamee, the “alleged” administer of the roids. Clemens left Toronto for New York and Houston, won a Cy Young Award in each place and was starting to be touted as perhaps the greatest right-handed pitcher of all time!

It is also noteworthy, that testimony revealed that Roger’s lovely wife Debbie was shot in the tush by Mr. McNamee with some human growth hormone, right in the bedroom of the Clemens lovely home in Texas. Now, I’m wondering how does that work? And Andy Petite, Roger’s best buddy admitted to taking the human growth himself! Hmmmmm, sounds like a duck to me but I’ll leave that judgment to you!

Now here’s the deal, first, if you think that the roids don’t increase performance ponder this; the three years that ARod was, admittedly, on the juice he averaged 52 home runs and 132 RBI per season. “Clean” he has averaged 32 homers and 100 RBI per season! “Nuf Ced”!

So where does that leave us? Well, if a juiced Clemens is facing a juiced ARod and a juiced Manny and a juiced Barry Bonds, so be it. They’re not cheating each other so what the hell!

Hank and Willie.

However, and this is a big HOWEVER! Do not compare a juiced Clemens with the likes of Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson and Bob Gibson! And don’t compare a juiced Bonds to Babe Ruth or a juiced Manny to Jimmie Foxx or a juiced ARod to Henry Aaron or Willie Mays! That’s who these guys have cheated, they have cheated the all time greats, they have cheated history!

Now that leads us back to the stewards of history and ultimately this is where the steroid question will be answered. Should these guys be in the Hall of Fame?

I have come to the conclusion that they cannot and should not be left out. We cannot wipe out an era of baseball and these guys, cheaters of history though they be, were great players. So here is what I propose. The Hall of Fame should officially designate the “Steroid Era” in baseball. It should be so designated and so stated on each individual plaque. For example, ARod’s plaque should read, “admitted steroid use in 2001, 02 and 03. Now when Jeter or Ken Griffey JR go in, it should denote they played in the Steroid Era but they were never linked to any use of performance enhancing drugs. Fair? Not really but is it fair that Satchel Paige never got to pitch in the big leagues in his prime? No, such are the perilous paths of history!

And you know what I really hate the most about all this? A recent conversation with my son about the great year David Ortiz is having with the Red Sox and his off the cuff comment that “he’s probably on human growth”. Really? Really? I hate, absolutely hate that as much as I don’t want to think it, as much as I don’t want to even entertain it, I much as I reject it and drive it from my mind, the kid may be right! Damn I’m mad at those guys!

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 20, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Wrigley Field, “a lot like Fenway”…..Josh Sinibaldi

Posted on June 18, 2012 by fenwaypark100

Last night the Red Sox beat the Cubs 7-4 at Wrigley Field taking the series rubber match. In attendance were my son and his lovely wife.

Last night at 7 PM I received this photo and a simple message Wrigley Field, “a lot like Fenway”.

A lot like Fenway indeed and the Cubs and Sox were long-lost cousins for the better part of a century. Both teams tagged with the “lovable losers” moniker and both clubs allegedly cursed. The “curse” remains in place for the Cubbies as this year they will complete their 104th season since they last won a World Series. While the Red Sox have captured two World Series titles in the past eight years and along with it have become one of the most hated teams in baseball.

Wrigley Field is the oldest park in the National League and the second oldest park in baseball, two years younger than Fenway.

Originally known as Weegham Park, it was built by Charles Weegham the owner of the Chicago entry of the new “renegade” Federal League.

Built for the 1914 Federal League season, the first game played there was April 23rd and was won by the Chicago Federals (also known as the Whales) 9-1 against Kansas City Packers. 

April 23, 1914

Art Wilson had played six seasons with the New York Giants before “jumping” to the Federal League in 1914.

Chicago catcher Art Wilson hit the first ever home run at Chicago’s new ball park, a two run shot in the second inning off of Packer pitcher “Chief” Johnson. In fact there were nine home runs hit in the first ever series at the new park and Weegham, thinking this was way too many, had the left field fence moved back 25 feet after that first series.

Chicago Federals owner Charles Weegham.

There were some interesting innovations instituted by Weegham, among them were allowing fans to keep baseballs hit into the stands. Before Weegham’s Chicago Federals, fans would return balls hit into the stands to the field where they would be put back in play. There is an irony in this as it was the Cub fans who instituted the “tradition” of throwing opponents home run balls back onto the field. Weegham Park was also the first baseball park to build concession stands. Prior to this innovation, vendors would simply walk through the stands peddling their wares.

The Cubs played their first game at Weegham Park on April 20, 1916, the fourth anniversary of the opening of Fenway Park.

The Federal League collapsed following only two seasons and in 1916, Weegham purchased the Chicago Cubs, moved them into his new facility and in 1920 its name was changed to Cubs Park. Two years later, Weegham sold the team to William Wrigley and following the renovation of the park in 1926, it was dubbed Wrigley Field.

Like Fenway, Wrigley’s evolution to a beloved ball yard has been one which is ongoing.

It’s signature ivy on the outfield wall was planted by Bill Veeck in 1937.

The original center field scoreboard is still there and in use. It has never been struck by a batted ball, however twice it came close. The first close call was Cubs outfielder Bill Nicholson in 1948 and then a decade later in 1959, the Great One, Roberto Clemente nearly reached it.

Flags play a huge part of the Wrigley tradition, as their retired numbers are displayed in flags down the right and left field lines.

It is a flag which also informs the city of a Cubs win or loss. a win will bring a white flag with a blue “W” on it while a loss flys a blue flag with a white “L” on it.

In 1988 Wrigley Field became the last field to add lights and finally play night games, a half century after night baseball was first played in the major leagues.

I made it to Wrigley Field in 1984 however, I never got inside. A street vendor back in the day, I was peddling my T-Shirts outside on Waveland Avenue. It remains an item on bucket list, and last night I had a smile in my heart as I watched my Red Sox playing at Wrigley and knowing that Josh and Meg were there.

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 18, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball, Fenway Park Other | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“And when you talk of heroes, and I’ve had many since a lad.” Happy Father’s Day…..Raymond Sinibaldi

Posted on June 17, 2012 by fenwaypark100

A Happy Fathers Day to all you Dad’s out there. Today I re-post a tribute to my Dad. For those of you who can, don’t forget to call the Pops today. Me? I’ll pause, remember and smile.

Today I share with you the honor of being Dad’s son.

I wrote this to him for his 75th birthday!

HEROES

 I suppose that Teddy Ballgame would have to have been my first;

And learning of him at your hand, I could have done much worse.

They followed fast and furious, all of them played my game;

Runnels….

Conig

And Yaz….

Just to mention some by name.

Football game me some of them. There was…..

Tittle

Webster

Huff.

 Babe and Gino

Were among them too….

And all of them were tough.

From the parquet floor they also came…..

Russell

Havlicek,

The Cooz.

In green and white they forged their fight,

we knew they’d never lose.

The Garden ice gave me but one, the fabulous number 4, players come and players go,

There’ll never be another Orr.

The music world presented them, social comments with their songs,

The Beatles

Dylan, Joan Baez

In my eyes could do no wrong.

In ’61’ he said “the call had summoned us again”…..

He sought for us a higher place where we had never been.

In ’63’ they shot him down,

 But let it never be forgot,

That one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot.

The sixties were tumultuous, there were bus rides, sit-ins, protests.

 Martin Luther King taught us, non-violence is best.

 He marched on Washington DC to tell us of his dream,

And they shot him down too, as crazy as it seems.

Our country then exploded and our cities burned at night, who or where could we turn now to show us what was right?

Bobby Kennedy stepped forward to pick up the New Frontier.

But a bullet….. would claim him too,

 confirming our worst fears.

We stumbled to the seventies, and barely stayed in tact.

Without a clue of where to turn, to straighten up our act,

Election year 1972,

And Senator George McGovern,

Massachusetts was oh so right,

As America came to learn…..

He was the last to stand upon my pedastal called hero,

For the seventies gave us Nixon, Agnew and a significant flock of zeros.

Or maybe I’ve grown wiser, as the years have tiptoed by,

Or maybe there just are no more, I think to myself and sigh.

Alas the 1980s, which Orwell said to fear,

Twenty plus years of baseball

And Yastrzemski was still here.

In ’83’ he said goodbye,

 That final boyhood link was gone….

For at 30, I was a big boy now, it was time for movin on.

It’s March the year 2012 and I’ve snuck past 55, appreciating more with each new day what it means to be alive.

And as I sit here and reflect on heroes of the past, one stands head and shoulders over this or any class.

He never hit one over Fenway’s monster made of green, in the Senate or the White House he was never seen.

He never threw a touchdown pass or sank two from the line, and he never wrote a song before and that suits me just fine.

For he’d guide with all his wisdom, and support with all his strength, and when ere he was asked to please help out, he would go to any length.

He’s been a rock to stand on for lo so many years, and with love and understanding, he has soothed so many fears.

So when you talk of heroes, and I’ve had many since a lad, one and only one remains to me…..

 

and that’s my Dad!

Happy Birthday Papaluche, you are with me always!

And so it was, and so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, March 31, 1921, March 31, 1953, March 31, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball, Fenway Park Other | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Images of Fenway Park…..Great Idea for Father’s Day…..

Posted on June 16, 2012 by fenwaypark100

Good Morning….For all my Florida friends and followers….Today I will be at Circle Books on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.

If you are looking for a Father’s Day gift, stop by. I will be there from 1-3 PM. If you are not looking for a Father’s Day gift, stop by anyway and say hello.

If you are busy during the day, I will also be at the Barnes and Noble, 4010 South Tamiami Trail (near Best Buy) from 4-6 PM.

Stop by and say hello and if you are so inclined, buy a book for everyone you know….

Happy Birthday Beth…..Happy Birthday Paula…..

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 16, 2012.

 

Posted in Fenway Park Other | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

El Perfecto is more than a Cigar…..

Posted on June 15, 2012 by fenwaypark100

While the Red Sox bats were resurrecting themselves on Wednesday night in Miami Florida, thumping the Marlins 10-2 and winning back to back games for the first time in nearly two weeks, Giants pitcher Matt Cain was making history.

 David Ortiz went 2-2 Wednesday night with three RBI, including his 15th home run of the season.

Not only did Cain throw the 22nd perfect game in baseball history, not only did he throw the first perfect game in the 128 year history of the San Francisco/New York Giants but he struck out 14 Houston Astros on his way to immortality!

Now, what that did was equal the record, held by none other than Sandy Koufax, for most strikeouts in a perfect game. Not bad company eh?

The incomparable Koufax painted his canvas of perfection in Dodger Stadium on the night of September 9, 1965. His opponent, the Chicago Cubs, his mound rival, southpaw Bob Hendley.

I read a headline to an online article which read, “Did Matt Cain pitch the Greatest Game Ever?” To be honest, I disdain that nonsense, I mean really, how the hell can you determine something like that? I wouldn’t have a clue on where to begin to evaluate that but I will tell you this; there has NEVER been a night of pitching like there was the night of September 9, 1965 in Dodger Stadium, and I’ll give you a hint, read this headline, in totality.

Did you catch it? Let me help, the sub headline reads “Hendley Loses 1-0 on 1-Hitter.” What? He threw a one hitter and lost? That’s right boys and girls there was exactly one hit in the entire baseball game. A total of 43 hitters came to bat that night in Dodgertown, and three of them reached base, obviously all of them Dodgers.

When these two lefties squared off that night, the Dodgers were deadlocked with their arch rival Giants as they battled to represent the National League in the World Series. The Cubs were, well, the Cubs, in eighth place 16 back.

1967 Topps #256 Bob Hendley Chicago Cubs

Henley was a journeyman pitcher; he pitched for seven seasons on four different teams. His record was 48-52 and his ERA was 3.97. He fired six career shutouts and had a career high 112 strikeouts while pitching for the Milwaukee Braves in 1962. A total of three times he struck out 10 or more in a game and he threw a total of 25 complete games.

Sandy Koufax was well, Sandy Koufax. He won 53 games in 1965 and ’66’ alone on his way to a 165-87 career mark and an ERA of 2.76. He threw 11 shutouts in 1963 on his way to a total of 40 in his career. He struck out over 300 hitters in a season three times and on thirty-two different occasions he fanned 13 or more in a single game. He completed 137 of his 314 career starts including a league leading 27 in both 1965 and ’66’.

Hendley had been acquired by the Cubs on the 29th of May and had been used out of the bull pen for most of the summer. He was making his sixth start of the year and a week before had beaten the Cardinals at Wrigley Field to even his record at 2-2.

Young played 112 games in his entire career for the Cubs, 11 of them in 1964 and 101 in 1969.

Donald Wayne Young was making his major league debut that night playing center field and he was the Cubs leadoff hitter. After he popped out to second to start the game Chicago’s rookie second baseman, Glenn Beckert stepped in. Beckert was called out on strikes but not before he rifled a line drive down the third base line that was “just foul”. Koufax got right fielder Billy Williams looking as well and the Cubs were gone in the first.

Hendley set the Dodgers down one, two, three in their half of the first and the game was on. In the Cubs half of the second, Koufax recorded his third strikeout of the night getting Ernie Banks swinging on what LA announcer Vince Scully called a fork ball. (Today I think they’d call it a splitter.)

Koufax struck out Ernie Banks three times the night of his El Perfecto.

 The battle continued through the third and then the fourth with each team sending 12 men up and each team sending 12 men down and when the Cubs went one, two, three in their half of the fifth, the game was half over and both pitchers were perfect!

Johnson scored the only run of the game in Koufax’s perfect game.

Hendley’s perfect game evaporated with a walk to Dodger left fielder Lou Johnson leading off the fifth and his shutout was about to be gone as well. Sweet Lou was sacrificed to second by Ron Fairly and with Jim Lefebvre at the plate, Johnson broke for third.

Cubs catcher, Chris Krug found his way into history when his throw got passed Ron Santo at third allowing Johnson to score and giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.  Hendley was undaunted however, striking out Lefebvre and getting Parker to ground out to end the inning. His perfect game was gone and so was his shutout, yet after five innings Hendley’s no-hitter was still in tact.

It took two great defensive plays in the Cubs sixth to preserve Koufax’s march to perfection. A great pick by Wes Parker at first on a Maury Wills throw from short on the first out and then another superb play by Jim Gilliam charging in from third on a bunt by Cubs shortstop Don Kessinger. Koufax struck out Hendley to end the inning, his seventh of the game.

The Dodgers went up and down in the sixth as did the Cubs in the seventh and there were two outs in the Dodger half of the seventh when Johnson stepped in again. He looped a pop up just out of the reach of Banks at first base and cruised into second for a double. He died there when Hendley got Fairly to ground out to short.

Kuenn struck out to end Sandy Koufax’s perfect game. Kuenn made the last out in two of Koufax’s four no-hitters.

Koufax then went into total dominance mode on the mound, striking out the side in the eighth and then again in the ninth sealing his perfect game! The last five he got swinging!

Sandy Koufax hurled the sixth perfect game in modern baseball history. It was the fourth no-hitter of his career and he threw 113 pitches. And today Bob Hendley tells his grandchildren about a night in September of 1965 when he went toe to toe with one of baseball’s all time greats.

Matt Cain pitched a perfect game Wednesday, he struck out 14 batters and will forevermore be linked with Sandy Koufax. Sandy Koufax who was sometimes referred to as ‘the left arm of God”. Not bad Matt, not bad at all.

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 15, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Memorabilia, 1978 Style…..

Posted on June 13, 2012 by fenwaypark100

On Monday I wrote about the 1978 Red Sox. Today I give you some “78” memorabilia to bring back that great season.

Here’s a good place to start. Rice was in his fourth full season and had become the most feared hitter in baseball. He led the league in hits, triples, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, OPS and he became the first American League player to amass 400 total bases since Joe DiMaggio did it in 1936. no American Leaguer has done it since. He was the 1978 MVP.

BOSTON RED SOX 1978 2nd Edition YEARBOOK UNCIRCULATED

He also graced the cover of the second edition of the ’78’ Red Sox yearbook.

Carlton Fisk was on the cover of the first edition.

1978 Don Zimmer Boston Red Sox Pinback Stadium Button

The 1978 skipper Don Zimmer.

1978 Boston Red Sox Labatt's Pocket Schedule NICE!

Rick Burleson graced the cover of a Red Sox pocket Schedule for 1978. “The Rooster” was the anchor of the Red Sox infield and the American League all-star shortstop in 1977, ’78’ and ’79’.

The Captain, senior citizen and according to the October issue of Sport Magazine the Red Sox patron saint was Carl Yastrzemski. The 38-year-old “utility man” played 63 games in left field, seven in center, 47 at first base and 25 at the DH spot. He hit .277 with 17 home runs and 81 RBI.

1978 Issue of The Sporting News Jim Rice Cover Red Sox

  Rice was gracing the covers of sports publications for the entire summer. Here’s a May issue of the Sporting News.

The August 1978 edition to Baseball Digest.

He also found his way to the cover of the WSBK TV 38 pocket schedule.

The Sport Magazine cover of May 1978 featured the Red Sox left fielder who played in all 163 games of the ’78’ season.

The 1978 September issue of the Sporting News featured Red Sox all-star catcher Carlton Fisk. He hit .284 with 20 home runs and 88 RBI in 1978.

1978 Fred Lynn Boston Red Sox Pinback Stadium Button

Freddy Lynn, the first player in major league history to win the Rookie of the Year Award and the MVP in the same season (1975) hit .298 with 22 home runs and 82 RBI in 1978.

There were several versions of Red Sox programs throughout the 1978 season, this is the first edition of that historic season. Featured are top left to right, second baseman Denny Doyle, Yaz and Burleson, middle George Scott, Fisk and third baseman Butch Hobson, with Rice and Lynn on the bottom.

1978 Boston RED SOX Media Guide

The 1978 Red Sox media guide.

Dennis Eckersley was 20-8 for the ’78’ Sox after being acquired late in spring training in a blockbuster trade with the Indians.

BOSTON RED SOX Baseball Ticket, Sept. 2, 1978 Game 69

The ticket stub remains a favorite memorabilia piece of fans and has been throughout the ages. This game marks the 69th game at Fenway Park, a game the Sox dropped to Oakland, 4-3.

 

The playoff game won by the Yankees 5-4.

One of my favorite types of baseball memorabilia is the scored program. Here is one from the ’78’ playoff game.

I wrote on Monday that the 1978 Red Sox team did not choke and I will stand by that until my dying day. Did they squander their lead? No doubt. They went from four games up September 7th to three and a half back on September 16th. They sank like a rock, however, and this is a big however, from that point on they went 11-2 the rest of the way to catch the Yankees on the last day! Included in those 11 wins was eight in a row! Eight in a row when one loss would have in all likely ended it all! That, my friends is not the performance of a choking team. To say the Red Sox choked is to take away from the Yankees a tremendous summer where they went 40-16 the months of August and September, that is .714 baseball!  

The 1978 Red Sox team won 99 games. The only Red Sox teams to win more games in a season are the 1906, ’12’, ’15’ and ’46’ teams. That’s it! The 1978 Red Sox team is the best baseball team I have ever seen that did not win a pennant!

And so it is on this day in Fenway Park history, June 13, 2012.

Posted in Fenway Park Baseball | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment