Saturday, October 19, 2024

World series, 1974

By RM
monday, october 14, 2024 at 11:36:00 p.m. edt

World series, 1974

Game 1, L.A.

Dodgers vs. A’s. Not an exemplary game, with so-so starting pitching, fielding errors by both teams, and little power in evidence, save for a homer by-guess who-Mr. October! Fortunately for Oakland, they had Rollie Fingers and Catfish Hunter for relief and the A’s eked out the win, 3-2. Alvin Dark was the Oakland manager, taking over from Dick Williams, who led them to victory the previous 2 years, but quit in dispute with the much-hated owner, Charlie Finley. Cary Grant was in the audience-it’s like watching footage of The Glory That was Rome! Also, we got a glimpse of Casey Stengel, wearing a stunning grey pinstripe suit, very classy.


Game 2, Sunday from L.A.

A better game today, much better pitching by Vida Blue (A’s) and Don Sutton (Dodgers), though Blue faltered at mid-point and Sutton held on till nearly the end, getting the deserved win, 3-2. There was an unusual twist provided by Mr. Finley, who was always thinking up ways to “improve” baseball: the “designated runner”! From wikipedia:

“Herb Washington was the only ‘designated runner’ to appear in a World Series. Washington was a track star with no baseball experience whom the A’s Charles Finley signed solely to appear as a pinch runner in late-game situations. His stats for 1974 were 92 games, zero at bats, 29 runs scored, 29 stolen bases, but he was caught stealing 16 times. Sure enough, with the A’s trailing 3–2 in the ninth inning of Game 2, Washington pinch ran. Just after announcer Vin Scully said that Washington better be careful because pitcher Mike Marshall has a good pickoff move, he was promptly picked off first base.”

In the audience today: Ernie Borgnine, Walter Matthau, and... Vincent Price (with a little girl I’d assume was his daughter)!

One gripe: the announcers (Gowdy, Scully, and Kubek-the latter can hardly get a word in sidewise) were incredibly annoying with their nonstop yammering, filling every moment with blathering trivia as if this were a radio broadcast. Both games were on the slow side, and the incessant talk made them seem even longer!

Still, would you rather be living in 1974-or today?

-RM


By Grand Rapids Anonymous
monday, october 14, 2024 at 11:54:00 p.m. edt

1974 was a very good year.

--GRA


By Grand Rapids Anonymous
monday, october 14, 2024 at 11:56:00 p.m. edt

Imagine 50 years from now—hell—10 years! Five?

--GRA


By RM
tuesday, october 15, 2024 at 2:24:00 a.m. edt

“50 years from now”- if anything is left- someone will be watching a digital replay of a basketball game-say, the Chicago Chimps vs. the NY Knock-‘Em-Off-ers-and they’ll see Johnny Depp in the crowd and they’ll say, “Wow! JOHNNY DEPP! Those were great days!” Thank God WE won’t be around by then!

-RM


N.S.: Today, because in 1974, I had nothing, while now, in spite of the totalitarian city, state, and country I live in, I have a beautiful family.



5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a lovely sentiment. I couldn't imagine raising a family in such a debased environment- one in which they've said openly the child belongs to the State and not the parents. At least we still have access to the culture of the past, to share with future generations- for now! I wish you luck!

-RM

Anonymous said...

YANKEES MAKE THE WORLD SERIES,OUSTING CLEVELAND,IN 10 INNINGS,5-2.

GRA:They win the best of 7 series,4-1. Can the Amazin' Mestizos provide an all NY series--the same scenario I had written about in 2020(with manager Nicholas Stix)?

It will take an unlikely comeback vs the Crime Dodgers. Unlikely,but not impossible.

--GRA

Anonymous said...

CRIME DODGERS CLOBBER N.Y. MESTAZIO'S PITCHING FOR AN EARLY 6-1 LEAD.

GRA:The Dodgers pummelled one of the Mestazio's better pitchers and drove Sean Manaea to the showers.N.Y. batting,top of the fourth,6-1,L.A.

--GRA

Anonymous said...

VIENTOS HITS A TWO RUN DINGER TO CUT THE LEAD DOWN TO THREE.

GRA:Metsizos lights up Brasier,with a man on,to make the game a little more interesting. This may become a 11-10 game.

--GRA

Anonymous said...

BOTTOM 8TH INNING:CRIME DODGERS 7 MESTIZOS 4

(GRA) Dodger relief pitching went right through the heart of the Mestizo's line-up in the top of the eighth,three up and three down,making it look like the home team has demoralized and will ultimately defeat their opponents from N.Y. tonight. The World Series beckons between the Yankees and Dodgers.

--GRA