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Category: OLD SPORT SHORTS (Page 61 of 68)

An old guy’s perspective on all sports

Old Sport Shorts: Et Tu Brewers #269

September 22, 2017 / / 0 Comments

“Et tu, Brute?”  This Latin phrase from Shakespeare expresses the surprise that Caesar felt as he was being stabbed to death.  “Even You, Brutus?” is the translation of a friend’s betrayal.  I’m sure the Brewers tonight feel like they’ve been stabbed by the Cubs the last two nights in the 10th inning.  Et tu, Brewers?  Miller Park sounded like the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, as the Cubs dealt a fatal blow, and the Magic Number is now down to 5 with nine games to go.  The Cubbies are now at least assured of a series draw with the fading Brew Crew, thanks to a Tommy LaStella walk with the bases loaded.  There is not enough beer in Milwaukee tonight to drown the sorrows of the Brewer faithful.

To get to this point, the lovable Cubs have won nine of their last ten games.  They’ve been both lucky and good, and certainly good and lucky.  These last two games have been real nail biters in a must-win series for both teams.  While the Brewers have sputtered, the Cardinals have rebounded from the recent series sweep by the Cubs.  The Cards have now won four straight and stand one game out of the Wild Card position, currently controlled by the Rockies.  These three teams will be fighting for that last Wild Card spot, with the Cubs as the spoiler.  Two more games against the Brewers and four in St. Louis still loom ahead for Chicago; not to mention the last three against the Reds.  86 victories for the year and counting, giving them potentially the worst record of the six Division Champs this season.

The Cubs have come through in Milwaukee, but the seventh and eighth innings of ballgames are their Achilles heel.  They needed five pitchers tonight to finish and seven last night.   This could be their downfall throughout the Playoffs.  The Indians are sizzling, the Cards hot, the Red Sox on a roll, and the Dodgers back on their feet, while the Cubs are just getting by.  I’m not complaining, just concerned.  The last back-to-back Champion was 17 years ago, as the Yankees claimed a three-peat.  The last National League team to do it was the Cincinnati Reds 41 years ago, while the last time for the Cubs was back 110 years.  I know the team overcame impossible odds to win it all last year, but I don’t think they have the pitching depth to pull it off again in 2017.  However, I’d love for them to prove me wrong!  Et tu!

 

Retirement is not without Hassles: Cable #268

September 22, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I finally have gotten my money’s worth out of cable this week.  I spend a lot of money on the service, but hate the thought of spending a majority of my retirement years in front of the “boob tube.”   I enjoy watching sports, so during my working years most of my time spent viewing was focused on basketball, baseball, and football.  Since I was in the television business for many years, a set or two was always on, whether someone was watching or not.  Morning news provided background noise if I wasn’t in position to monitor the stories and weather of importance.   Television screens surrounded me at the office, and when I’d get home, the news and game shows kept me entertained, as dinner was being prepared.  If we went out to eat, I usually tried to position myself near a T.V. screen.  Then, the “small screen” became a factor in filling my down time.  Television has always provided a sense of comfort, like a babbling brook in the quiet of the woods.  It is a friend, ready for my attention whenever I needed it.

Obviously, my viewing habits have changed with the extra time on my hands in retirement.  I would like to think that at least half of my time is now spent watching educational programming.  Documentaries such as the Ken Burns Vietnam War series give me a sense of history, when I’m not traveling.  I don’t necessarily watch travel documentaries, but find myself studying the areas where we have plans to visit in the future.  I’m not sure I want to make my bucket list any longer, but want to make sure that I make the most of where we do go. I’m surprised to discover a deep curiosity about war history, starting with our recent visit to Normandy, France.  Interestingly enough, it was not on my list of things to see in France, but turned out to be one of my favorite side-trips.

I’m not a proponent of war, but rather find it perplexing.  It’s a product of greed and ego, and unfortunately will always be a part of life.  I was fortunate to avoid the Vietnam war as a young man, having been raised in an upper middle class family that did not want me to serve.  My father and grandfathers felt that they had sacrificed enough for all of us, and urged me to “not even think of enlisting.”  I also had a student deferment and a high draft number, so I never really came close to being “called-up.”  Plus, as child, I was not fond of even toy guns or fist-fights, deferring to my tom-boy sister.  I did not like the idea of going back to the buzz-cut that was fashionable in grade school, and not fond of perceived military formality.  There was not a single incentive for me to join the ranks.  However, I’m more than aware that there were many others who fought that war against their will, but did not have the economic and educational privileges that I enjoyed.  I was a “Lucky Man!”  (See Post #267).

I do remember the draft lottery on July 1, 1970 and my number of 232.  I was with many of my close high school friends, as we took a break from a “friendly” football game and listened to the radio broadcast. (See Post #93).  I never got involved in the politics of the war, although a friend’s older brother was a Purdue campus officer for the S.D.S., so I was aware of the dissent.  We did not organize protests in high school or college, and vaguely remember the television news coverage.  I kept myself well insulated from the reality of the situation.  Some of my former high school classmates received draft letters, but they were mostly older kids.  There were some members of my graduating class that were killed in service, while several others were proudly accepted by the Naval Academy and West Point, but I never once expected to go to Vietnam.  I’m not sure I would travel there today, given the opportunity.  I also can’t remember a single conversation about the war, outside of the draft broadcast, with friends or family, and have never talked directly with anyone who served.

As I continue to watch the Ken Burns documentary, certainly the subject of my posts for the next week or so, I’m trying to grasp just how naive I was about the the Vietnam War.  It’s obvious that most Americans were kept in the dark about the “true story.”  I’m about to revisit the late 1960’s, the years when the war would have directly affected my life, but I’m sure I remained disengaged with the situation.  Sadly, I was not paying attention when I should have, because thousands of my contemporaries were dying while I was having a good time.  It’s embarrassing to admit such ignorance, but government misinformation did not encourage my attention.  I would like to think that we were the “good guys,” and were doing the right thing, but when it comes to war “we’re not the top species on the planet because we’re nice!”  There are no winners in war, only losers, and I’m seeing that reality throughout this impactful series. To be continued……

 

 

Old Sport Shorts: Trouble Brewing #266

September 19, 2017 / / 0 Comments

The Cubs escaped with an opening game 2-1 victory in Tampa Bay, just as the Brewers topped the Pirates in Pittsburgh and the Cardinals won in Cincinnati after needing an  extra inning.  A dirty dozen games to go for the Cubs, with nine on the road.  It won’t be easy, especially with only a 3.5 game lead on the Brewers and 6 on the Cardinals.  The Cardinals are always a worry, but the Brewers are my biggest concern.  The Cubs were five games behind them at the All Star break, despite a 5-3 head-to-head record.  However, the Brewers have rebounded with a 5-2 record against the second-half Cubs, but haven’t fared as well against other clubs.  The Magic Number is now 9, after an impressive 7-game winning streak, that will probably end this week given the level of competition.  To end the season with a 16-game winning streak, including 10 on the road would seal the Central Division crown.  However, realistically so would just winning or tying all four remaining battles.

The Cubs should win at least 90 games if they are playoff worthy, and have shown a strong finish considering they were 43-45 at the break.  A conservative projection of a 90-72 record would mean a record of 47-27 (.635) in the second half of the season.  At the same time, it would be disappointing if they dropped to .500 ball going into the playoffs, but considering the tough road schedule, and hopefully the opportunity to rest some players when the Reds come to town, mediocrity would get the job done.  The Cubs have owned St. Louis this year with an 11-4 record, but Milwaukee now has that 8-7 edge and a 3-game winning streak as we near the final 4-game series this weekend.  Winning that series in Milwaukee would settle the season score and give the Cubs playoff momentum.    The Cardinals and Reds wouldn’t really matter at that point!

Let’s hope this streak goes at least 11-straight.  The Cubbies won five straight in June, six consecutive in July, 5 more in August, and then went into September with 6 in a row.  The current September streak of 7 is the longest this year, but 11 would seal the deal.   In fact, with Cleveland stealing the Cubs 1935 record of 21 straight victories, it’s time for this team to put its stamp on history.  I think the Indians will definitely be waiting for a World Series rematch.

Old Sport Shorts: Black Sox #264

September 19, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I should feel good that the Cubs swept the Cardinals at Wrigley, exactly what they needed to do to start showing dominance in the Central.  It’s also what they should have done to the Brewers last weekend, instead the tables were turned.  All the Cubs really needed to do was win or tie all of their remaining series, but the Brew Crew was not to be denied  The Cubs are on a 6-game winning streak with 13 games left on the schedule, and about to go on a decisive ten-game road trip.  The road to the playoffs passes precariously through St. Louis and Milwaukee, and I’m on the edge of my seat.  The Brewers have two more games with the Pirates, 4 with the Cubs, 3 with the Reds, and 2 with the Cardinals, and remain 3 games out of the Division lead or two games out of the Wild Card.  The Cards may very well be out of contention after the trip to Wrigley and falling six games behind, but will play a major role in the playoff picture.  They finish the season with two games against the Brewers, but more importantly have an opportunity to seek revenge on the Cubs directly, with the four-game series at Busch.   Will they be a best friend or worst enemy?

I always worry about former Cub, Dexter Fowler, who always seems to come up big.  He hit a three-run homer to tie the final game of the series, when it looked like the Cardinals couldn’t score.  It was then former Cardinal, Jason Heyward, who put the Cubs back in front.   I did breathe a sigh of relief as Wade Davis , thinking he had given up a go-ahead home run to Fowler in the ninth, thankfully watched the ball become a routine fly to deep center.   It’s situations like this that show that the Cubs and closer Davis are vulnerable.  The only blown save he has this year was in the All-Star Game, as the Cubs sole player representative. (See Post #174).  The Cardinals, in general, make me nervous, especially Yadi Molina and Dexter Fowler.  The Cubs have four more games against them this year.

The Cubs are 11-5 in September, while the Brewers are 10-6, including a major set-back in Cincinnati with three losses to the last place Reds.  This was just before their sweep of the first place Cubs, that also cost them the services of starting pitcher, Jimmy Nelson.  The Central Division is mediocre, and yet the Cubs can’t take command.  This is what worries me about the Cub playoff chances.  They’re in Tampa Bay tonight for a Joe Madden homecoming, and can’t afford to look beyond these games to the upcoming showdown.  If they can go 6-4 on this road trip and don’t let down against the Reds, they should clinch the Division.  If they go 4-6, they may still have a shot at a Wild Card.  That depends on Colorado, and their remaining games against the Giants, Padres, Marlins, and Dodgers.  What they can’t afford is another road trip disaster, like the trip to California earlier this year.  (see Post #101).  Hopefully, they’ll leave their leisure suits behind.

Over the weekend, while I was enjoying the Cubs success against the Cards, I went to a baseball card show and was given a copy of the Chicago Daily News from September 28, 1920. That was 97 years ago, and the headline reads: “EIGHT OF WHITE SOX INDICTED.”  The paper came out just after a Sox victory over the Tigers, positioning them just a half-game behind the first place Indians, as they hit the road for St. Louis to play the Browns.  Charles A. Comiskey, owner of the team, suspended all eight players from organized baseball that day, and virtually eliminated any chance of winning the American League pennant.  Of the three remaining games, the Sox were able to win just one, while the Indians won 4 of 6, claiming the crown by a two-game spread, and eventually winning the World Series over the Brooklyn Robins.  I was aware of the 1919 “Black Sox Scandal” as part of the 1919 World Series that enabled the Cincinnati Reds to win it all, but I didn’t realize how the timing of these charges affected the 1920 White Sox team.  In effect, the gambling scandal really cost the White Sox TWO World Series Championships!

Eddie Chicotte told the jury he received $10,000 to “throw” the series and that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson got $5,000.  “It (the money) was placed under my pillow in the hotel the night before the first game of the series,” according to the article.  “Chick” Gandil, former first baseman for the Sox, reportedly acted as the chief go-between with the Rothstein gang.  Charles Risberg, Happy Felsch, Claude Williams, Buck Weaver, and Fred McMullin were the other suspended players.  The 1921 White Sox fell to 7th place in the American League standings, and it wouldn’t be until 2005 that they won another World Series.  Before the scandal, the Sox had beaten the Cubs in the 1906 Championship and beat the New York Giants in 1917 to claim the title.  Cicotte, Felsch, Gandil, Jackson, and Weaver all won rings for the Sox, but World War I cost them a chance to repeat, and the scandal effectively ended their careers.  This year’s White Sox will finish over 30 games out of first place in the AL Central, and perhaps with the worst record in baseball.

Chicago baseball is at two extremes this season, but has a history of misfortune.  I would hate to see the Cubs make headlines for a late season collapse. There’s still a chance for back-to back titles, but the Brewers and Cardinals are first to stand in the way.  On the actual 97th anniversary of the “Black Sox Scandal,” as the Cubs face the Cardinals for the final time this season, the fate of the 2017 Cubs will be much clearer.

Old Sport Shorts: Fan Cam #261

September 14, 2017 / / 0 Comments

The Cardinals won today at Busch Stadium, setting up a critical series this weekend at Wrigley.  Even with a Cubs victory against the Mets today, the Cardinals can move into at least a tie with a 3-game sweep over their rivals.  However, the “BIG” news in St. Louis happened during yesterday’s 6-0 loss.  What happened on the BIG screen was a BIG surprise.  With the fan cam on her, a woman, rumored to be a dancer, pulled up her shirt and flashed the crowd.  It may have produced the biggest roar by the crowd all day, as the Cardinals were shut-out by the bottom dwelling Reds. I’m actually surprised that this hasn’t happened before, and perhaps sets the stage for a trend.  A topless dancer by the name of “Busty Heart” was also thrown out of Busch Stadium years ago, but she never got on camera.  Chances are that in both cases too much Budweiser was involved!

I’m sure she was seeking publicity for her profession, and what better way than the BIG screen!  Apparently there is no delay on the in-house video system, since that probably takes all the fun out of seeing yourself on T.V.  It reminds me of the “fan on the field,” craze, eventually highlighted by Morganna, the Kissing Bandit.  Streakers also sought attention, hoping to appear BIGGER than real life on television, as we got BIGGER and BIGGER screens at home.  For both men and women, it provided an opportunity to magnify your possible shortcomings, because size matters.  Is BIGGER really better?  Remember the movie, “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman?”  They don’t get much bigger than that, and the Busch screen is only 32 feet high.  Look out Dallas!

On-field security has tightened up substantially because of streakers, exhibitionists, bandits, and flag burners.  Now, it will be the “Kiss Cam” that faces more scrutiny.  Until then, children hide your eyes.  In my experience, it was the Indianapolis 500 that became famous for “Show Us Your T***!!!”  I’m sure the Clydesdales were talking among themselves.  When baseball games are lopsided, the fans get restless, and high jinks like this happen.  Did a mention that “The King of Beers” might have played a role?  When offered a 16-ounce Bud or a 12-ounce Bud, most will take the BIGGER size, especially if it’s the seventh inning.  As they say in St. Louis, “This Boob’s For You!”

Old Sport Shorts: Freak Streaks #259

September 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I’m enjoying some baseball history today, starting with an early morning Indians vs. Tigers game.  It’s been a year of streaks and sweeps, as is typical with the game of baseball.  However, there have been some monumental moments in 2017, including the current 20-game winning streak of the Cleveland Indians.   As the Tribe goes for an American League record today, I’ll be their biggest fan.  I thought the Cubs were finally on a roll at the end of July, and wrote about the 1935 club that won 21 straight games.  (See Post #181)  The Indians can tie that today with a victory over the Tigers.  It only seems appropriate that the Cubs and Indians could share history today, especially since they were the two teams that everyone was talking about as the season started.  The Cubs, of course, had edged them in the World Series last fall, leaving Cleveland with a 69-year title drought and a chip on their shoulder.  It may be their turn this year!

The 1935 Cubs won 100 games, led by Hall of Famer, Gabby Hartnett with a .344 batting average.  Pitchers Lon Warneke and Bill Lee each won 20 games.  It was the last time that the Cubs were in the World Series, until their victory last year.   That team lost the World Series to the Tigers, who gained some revenge for losses in 1907 and 1908 to the World Champion Cubs.  Detroit’s Ty Cobb never won a World Series ring, but at least was alive to witness the redeeming rematch.  It was the rival Cardinals that eventually ended the 21-game streak in St. Louis.  It’s regarded as the second longest in modern day baseball, exceeded only by the 1916 New York Giants.

Some may say that the Cubs actually had the longest streak, since the Giants run was interrupted by a tie.  It was actually 14 consecutive victories, a 1-1 tie with Pittsburgh, and 14 more before the Boston Braves beat them in the second game of a doubleheader.  All 26 of these victories took place at the legendary Polo Grounds ballpark, so none were on the road!  Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson was their biggest star.  Despite this remarkable season-ending run, they would finish no higher than 4th in the National League, amassing 86 total victories but finishing seven games behind the Brooklyn Robins.  The team had also won 17 consecutive games earlier in the season, so over half of their wins were part of these two streaks.  The Boston Red Sox defeated the Robins four games to one to take the World Series crown.

As the 2017 Indians take a 4-1 early lead over the Tigers, edging closer to the 1935 Cubs standard, I’m wondering if they can challenge that 1916 record?  It would be nice to see that controversial tie as no longer a factor in the record.  Cleveland tied the American League record yesterday of 20 straight, set by the 2002 Oakland Athletics.  The “Moneyball” A’s also failed to make it to the World Series, despite 103 victories.  They lost to Minnesota in the A.L. Division Series, proving once again that long streaks and winning 100 plus games does not win World Series.  However, the 1906 Chicago White Sox and the 1947 New York Yankees, both of which won 19 straight regular season games, also won the World Series.

The “Hitless Wonders” of 1906 somehow beat the Cubs in the World Series in one of the biggest upsets of the Fall Classic.  The Cubs had won a record 116 games, but Sox pitcher, Ed Walsh, shut them down to win it all in six games.  The New York Yankees of 1947, led by Joe DiMaggio, beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and Jackie Robinson to punctuate their 19-game streak.  Going back in time, the 1904 New York Giants, who initially held the record, won 18 consecutive ballgames and 106 for the season, but no World Series was contested that year due to a dispute between the American and National leagues.  Hall of Fame pitchers Joe McGinnity won 35 games that season, and teammate Christy Mathewson accounted for 33 victories.   Finally, the 1953 Yankees matched the Giants’ 18-game mark, and went on to win the World Series.  Yankee Hall of Fame notables included Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, and Whitey Ford.  The Bronx Bombers beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, in spite of falling one-game short of 100 regular season victories.  The Yankees, who did it twice, and the White Sox are the only teams to have recorded both regular season streaks and to win it all.  Can Cleveland join them?

The Indians just made a throwing error, but maintain a 1-run lead thanks to a Jay Bruce three-run homer.  They have a 13.5-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the A.L. Central, who will probably be good enough to win a Wild Card spot along with the Yankees.  The Red Sox and Astros will fill the A.L. field of five.  While the Indians can hopefully extend their winning streak, the Dodgers finally snapped an 11-game losing streak.  This was a team that was destined to threaten the Cubs and Mariners 116 victory record, but got stuck on win number 92, after needing eight games to win just one. They’ve now lost 16 of their last 18 games but still maintain a 10-game lead over the Wild Card bound D-Backs.  They finally clinched last night to join the Nationals in the post season.  Meanwhile, the Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals, and Rockies will fight for those other two Playoff spots.  The Cubs lead in the Central has shrunk to 2 over the Cards and 2.5 over the Brewers.  All three teams won last night, but the Cubs and Cards will go head-to-head this weekend.  The Brewers who swept the Cubs at Wrigley then proceeded to get shut-out by the Pirates.  It seems that no one wants to take command of that Division, and whoever finishes second will probably not earn a Wild Card.

The Cubs play the Mets today and the Cards face the Reds, but the spotlight really belongs to the Indians.  They’ve earned my vote as the most likely to return to the World Series, especially after this record setting run.  The Cubs do not have that kind of resume to support their post season chances.  They were, however, 5 games behind the Brewers at the All Star Break, and have won or tied all of their series until the Brewers came to town.  To have Willson Contreras back behind the plate is a plus for the Cubs, while the Brewers lost starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson for the year.  Dexter Fowler will be out for a few games for the Cards with a knee contusion, but will undoubtedly return to haunt his former teammates this weekend. Perez just homered for the Indians in the bottom of the 7th to extend their lead to two over the Tigers.

It’s the top of the ninth, and the last chance for the Tigers to snap the 21-game streak.  The fans are on their feet, as closer Cody Allen puts on the finishing touches.  With the final out, the Cleveland Indians now hold the American League record, surpassing the Oakland A’s, and are tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs.  I have mixed feelings about them taking away a Cubs record, but after that World Series victory from last year, I’m prepared to make a sacrifice.   The Royals are next to challenge.

Retirement is not without Hassles: No Date #258

September 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

It’s date night and I have no date.  My wife is on a business trip to D.C., so it will probably be chicken pot pie for me tonight.  I did cook last night but had to remake the glaze for my flank steak, after burning the first batch.  The whole house smelled like burnt garlic, so it wasn’t one of my better efforts in the kitchen.  I should probably stick to the microwave, but I would really like to become more proficient with my cooking.  I don’t feel comfortable around the oven yet, and one night a week may not be enough to build confidence.  It’s been very stressful finding my way, and I’m lucky that I haven’t burnt or cut myself yet.

My wife woke me up at about 5 a.m. in anticipation of an 8 a.m. flight.  I was not motivated to run, so it was a slow process getting up.  With the cancellation of Pints to Pasta and the $250 price tag to run the Portland Half Marathon, I’m currently without a goal.  I am sitting at 3,181 consecutive days and counting on my running streak, but that only gets me out the door each morning and through the first mile.  With all those extra miles that I ran to get ready for the Hood to Coast Relay, I need to maintain this new level of fitness.  I had already run a 10-mile training run last week, and felt ready to do more distance, but the fires affected the Pints to Pasta course and they were forced to cancel.  I got a notice today for the Shamrock Run, but that isn’t until March, so I need to make a firm commitment to Run Like Hell or the Holiday Half.

I don’t plan to leave the house again today, with the exception of a couple of short dog outings.  I’m stocked-up on Diet Coke, peanut butter, and bananas so there’s really no need to leave.  i may do some more travel planning for 2018, since flights, hotels, and rental cars have all been secured for the remainder of this year.  My wife is chained to the office for budget planning in January, but in February we’ll go to Phoenix for her annual meeting.  Baseball schedules for 2018 were just released yesterday, so I’ll plan to attend some White Sox or Cubs games in L.A., Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, New York, Miami, St. Louis, San Diego, Denver, Washington D.C., and Seattle.  Opening Day is March 29th, the day we return from our overseas adventure to Amsterdam, Venice, Croatia, and Athens, part of which is a Viking Cruise.  In April, we’ll attend a wedding in Hualtulco, Mexico, and perhaps extend that weekend to include Puerto Vallarta.  There will be at least four trips into Chicago next year, a long weekend in Vancouver to see the Gardens, a French Laundry dinner, Broadway Shows, and at least two get-togethers with my grandchildren.  It will be another busy and expensive year of travel that will require a lot of planning.  While we don’t have a date tonight, there are certainly many ahead of us!

Old Sport Shorts: Veeck #257

September 12, 2017 / / 0 Comments

One of my baseball heroes is Sherm Lollar, who played catcher for the Chicago White Sox from 1952-1963 and wore number 10. He was the second best catcher in the American League in the 1950s, behind Yogi Berra of the Yankees.  Earlier this year, I wrote a letter to the Golden Era Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, hoping to spur some consideration for induction.  (See Post #5).  I’m currently reading the book Bill Veeck Baseball’s Greatest Maverick by Paul Dickson, and I ran across several references to Lollar.  On August 24, 1951 (three days before my birth), Veeck organized a promotion to give fans the opportunity to manage his team, the St. Louis Browns.  He placed manager, Zack Taylor, in a rocking chair near the dugout and provided selected fans with placards marked YES and NO, which they would hold up to determine what the Browns should do next.  Sherm Lollar had come to the team after the 1948 season from the Yankees, because manager Bill Dickey determined that Berra’s left-handed swing was more compatible with Yankee Stadium.  Lollar earned a World Series ring , despite only 11 at bats and 1 home run in 1947.  Finally in 1948, the year Babe Ruth died and Sherm’s last year in New York, he only got to play in 22 games,  The Browns got him for virtually nothing, but he was still limited to only a part-time role.

Veeck was known for his promotional stunts, including the very controversial “midget” game less than a week earlier.  He used three-foot-seven-inch, sixty-five pound, Eddie Gaedel, as a pinch hitter against the Detroit Tigers.  Because of his narrow strike zone, Gaedel easily walked. and then was replaced with a pinch-runner.  The “fan vote” event was Veeck’s much tamer follow-up, but still irked the other baseball owners.  Bill Veeck had previously owned the Cleveland Indians, taking them to a World Series Championship in 1948, so Lollar would have been part of his 1946 squad, the year he bought the team.  Veeck then orchestrated one of his characteristic “bundled deals” that sent Lollar and Ray Mack to the Yankees in exchange for Hal Peck, Al Gettel, and Gene Bearden.  Veeck re-inherited Lollar when he bought the White Sox in 1959, so their baseball paths are strongly intertwined.  In fact, a cricket promotion that Bill staged in Comiskey Park between games of a double-header with Kansas City, involved both Lollar and Luis Aparicio taking at-bats, while the crowd chanted “That’s not cricket.”  At least, they were not part of the circus show he put on the week before!

The first decision of the fan jury was to determine the starting line-up for the game.  They chose to go with Sherm over Matt Batts at catcher.  After the season, the Browns traded Lollar to the White Sox where he became a regular starter, including the 1959 World Series against the Dodgers.  It just shows how perceptive the Browns fans were in promoting him to a starting role.  According to his 1951 Bowman baseball card, he played in only 126 games in 1950 and hit .280 with 13 home runs.  In 1949, he batted .269 in 109 games.  More importantly, he made only 4 errors in 322 total chances (.988).  Defense would become his trademark, and what should have gotten him into the Hall of Fame.

Veeck added Slugger Ted Kluszewski late in the season to the 1959 White Sox team that he inherited. (See Post #118)  His White Sox lost the series to the Dodgers, despite home runs from both “Big Klu” and Lollar.  After the season, he installed what I consider to be his greatest contribution to Chicago White Sox baseball, “The Monster,” an exploding scoreboard of fireworks in center field to celebrate each home run blast. (See Post #156).  Disco Demolition Night in 1979 was Bill Veeck’s other infamous promotional contribution to Comiskey Park lore, when a stoned mob wrought havoc on the field.  Sherm Lollar died in 1977 and has yet to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, despite a lifetime .992 fielding percentage.  Bill Veeck was inducted in 1991, five years after his death.

Old Sport Shorts: Storm Brewing #253

September 10, 2017 / / 0 Comments

As Irma batters Florida, the Cubs have their own storm to weather.  Their lead in the N.L. Central is down to two games over both the Brewers and the Cardinals.  The Brew Crew got the sweep and the Cardinals beat the Pirates, so their is no joy in Wrigleyville.  The Bears dropped two potentially winning touchdowns, to add to the misery in Chicago, and the Colts are losing badly to the Rams, if anyone cares.  The only good news was a meaningless White Sox victory over the Giants.  St. Louis has won three in a row and seven of eight, face a three-game series with the lowly Reds, and have seven games remaining with the Cubs.  With the Cubs and Cards having the day off tomorrow, The Brewers can move to within a game and a half of the lead with a victory over the struggling Pirates, and then travel to Miami to see the storm damage.

The Brewers had their way with the Cubs, outscoring them 20-3 in the three-game sweep.  The Cubs had not been swept since May, and to make matters worse this was on their home turf.  They have had one of the best records in baseball since the All-Star break, but they needed put the Brewers away, and instead left the door open for a four-game storm brewing in Milwaukee later this month.  In fact, difficult trips to St. Louis and Milwaukee will determine the Central Division winner.  Second place will probably not be good enough to earn a wild card.  Who will be left when they turn off the regular season lights?

It was not a good weekend of sports for me.  The only winners on my list of favorites were the Indiana Hoosiers and the Chicago White Sox.  The Cubs, Bears, and Colts fell short…oh my! My son still hopes to see the Cubs again this year when they travel to Tampa to play the Rays, if Tropicana Park is still standing.  It will be a meaningless two-game set for Tampa Bay and must-win situations for the Cubs. He brought them luck in the game we went to together in San Francisco, but the only luck he’s wishing for now is that Irma spares his home and family. Sorry, the Cubs just don’t matter today, and they played like it!

Old Sport Shorts: Drubbing #251

September 10, 2017 / / 0 Comments

What rhymes with Cub?   Drub.  That’s exactly what the Brewers did to the Cubs yesterday – a 15-2 drubbing.  The Cubs had not lost a series since the All-Star break, and needed to continue this streak to maintain their once growing edge in the Central.  Instead, the Cubs went sixteen straight innings before scoring against Brew Crew pitching, and can only salvage a game today to keep from being swept.  Both the Cardinals and the Brewers are now within three games, a lead that was five just two days ago.  Friday Night lights did not work out for the Cubbies who suffered a 2-0 loss, followed by Saturday embarrassment.   The defending World Series champions have not shown the killer instinct necessary to put the Brewers away, and they have four more games later this month in Milwaukee.

The Cubs finish up with the Brewers today and then host the Mets and the Cardinals.  The Cardinals are easily within striking range, and so far the “Friendly Confines” haven’t been friendly to the home team.  Twenty games remain in the regular season, with half of those on the road, including four at Busch Stadium.  Hopefully, the Cubs won’t get trampled by the Clydesdales, mugged by the Mets, and routed by the Rays or Reds, as we head into the home stretch.  It’s time for a streak of “W’s” to secure a shot at the playoffs.

The Indians, who nearly stole the crown from the Cubs last year, have won 17 straight going into today, assuring their return to the post season.  The White Sox are a whopping 30.5 games behind them in the standings despite a victory yesterday over the Giants who are a league-leading 37 games out .  Houston has all but wrapped up the A.L. West, while the Nats seem to have secured the N.L. East.  The Dodgers, who were once world beaters, have now lost 9 in a row, including eight straight at Chavez Ravine for the first time in 30 years, but still maintain command of the N.L. West.  The Red Sox currently have a 4.5 game lead over the Yankees in the A.L. East, the only other division other than N.L. Central to not have a runaway leader.

Fatigue is a factor at this point of the year, so the Cubs will need to find a second wind.  The Yankees, Twins, D-Backs, and Rockies have the edge in the Wild Card standings.  The Brewers, Cardinals, and Cubs might have a role in that wild scramble, depending on who wins the Division.  Chances are good that they will beat each other up, and only one team from the Central will make the playoff field.  The Brewers have lost starter Jimmy Nelson for the season, with a rotator injury during his Friday Night lights gem at Wrigley.  Jake Arrieta remains day-to-day for the Cubs with a hamstring strain.  Maybe the rest will be good for him.

So much for baseball, as football season starts to take shape.  I knew that Ohio State was probably not worthy of a vaulted position in the standings after their performance against my Indiana Hoosiers.  The Hoosiers are improved from years past, as evidenced by their domination of Virginia yesterday, and showed that they could hold their own against the Buckeyes. However, the Ohio State loss to Oklahoma coupled with the mediocre performance against the Hoosiers should push them out of the Top 10 and threaten their chances for a playoff slot. Indiana, on the other hand, has an opportunity to win 6 games and claim a bowl bid thanks to games against Illinois, Rutgers, and Purdue to end the season.

The N.F.L. season is officially underway, after the huge victory by the Chiefs over the Patriots.  Apparently the Pats are suffering from the same hangover as the Cubs.  I’m currently watching the battle of the Hurricane victims, as Jacksonville and Houston square off.  J.J. Watt who championed the Texan’s city relief fund has apparently dislocated a finger, and the Jags have taken the half-time lead.  They will undoubtedly not return to Jacksonville tonight, as storms will ravage that city this evening.  Both of these cities will need a victory to help ease their painful losses.   Houston has been forgotten these last few days, as the media focus has shifted to Florida.

A drubbing is defined as a resounding defeat in a match of contest.  Synonyms like beating, thrashing, pounding, walloping, thumping, battering. pummeling, slapping, punching, and pelting will also describe the approaching storm.  Hopefully, the Cubs can turn the tide today against the surging Brewers.  Maybe the Pirates can salvage a game against the Cardinals and help the Cubs cause?  Three games is too close for comfort, especially considering there was the potential for an 8-game lead before the Friday Night lights set-back.  How about a drubbing the other way around today?

 

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