Vintage Baseball Reflections – Details, episodes & analysis

April 9, 1981 Fernando Valenzuela was forced to start opening day for the Dodgers as Jerry Reuss injured himself 24 hours before the game. 

Fernando would unleash the second greatest pitching streak in baseball history and turn the Dodger fan base upside down with is incredible performance. 

As Vin Scully would say it was like a religious experience to see what he did. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

April 8 episode is about Hank Aaron and his heroic journey through a divided Nation to take one of baseballs most treasured records. 

Aaron's story is one of perseverance and worth the listen. We take you through his childhood and bring you to the ball park on April 8, 1974 with a World Series like atmosphere. 

Enjoy the show!

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

On March 29, 1867 — Denton True “Cy” Young is born in Gilmore, a tiny village near Newcomerstown, Ohio. Young will earn his nickname for his cyclone-like pitching motion and he will win (and lose) more games than any pitcher in major league history with a 511-316 record and a 2.63 ERA over 22 seasons. Young will win 20 or more games 15 times, and top the 30-win mark five times. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America in 1937, with 153 votes on 201 ballots.

Read More about Cy Young - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/cy-young-page/

March 29th Events - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/this-day-in-baseball-march-29/

Rube Waddell - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/rube-waddell-page/

SOM Day 4 Replay - https://thisdayinbaseball.com/day-4-2020-strat-o-matic-simulation/

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 16th 2004  The Yankees lead the ALCS two games to none

over the Red Sox with Game 3 in Fenway Park. As in the first two games, the

Yankees began by scoring in the first and quickly building a 3-0 lead. The Red

Sox answered in the second inning with a leadoff walk by Jason Varitek and a

Trot Nixon home run to right field. A double by Bill Mueller, an infield hit by

Johnny Damon (his first hit of the series), and a Derek Jeter error led to two

more runs. The Red Sox led for the first time in the series, 4–3. This lead was

short-lived as ARod led off the third inning with a home run over the Green

Monster and the Yankees would build a 6-4 lead. By the end of the third, the

Sox would even things up at 6 apiece off a double by Orlando Cabrera. That was

as good as it would get for the Sox for the rest of the night. When it was all

over, the two teams combined for 37 hits and 20 extra-base hits, both

postseason records. At four hours and twenty minutes, the game was the longest

nine-inning postseason game ever played. The Yankees destroyed Boston, 19 -8 ,

amidst chants from Yankee fans  of

“Nine-teen -Eight-teen”...the last time the Red Sox won a World Series. With a

3 game to none, lead things looked bleak for the Red Sox.

October 16, 1969 - The New York Mets win their

fourth straight game from the Baltimore Orioles with a 5 - 3 triumph behind

pitcher Jerry Koosman, who throws a five-hitter, to take the World Series in

five games. In the third inning, Baltimore takes a 3 - 0 advantage after home

runs by pitcher Dave McNally and outfielder Frank Robinson. After a strong

argument by Mets manager Gil

Hodges in the bottom of the

sixth inning, Cleon Jones is awarded first base when shoe polish on the ball

proves he was hit by a pitch, and Jones scores on a home run by Donn Clendenon.

An inning later, Al Weis ties the game 3 - 3 with a solo home run, and in the

eighth, Ron Swoboda's double and two Baltimore errors give New York two more

runs and the World Championship. Clendenon is named Series MVP.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 15, 1988 - With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kirk Gibson hits a pinch-hit home run off Dennis Eckersley to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5 - 4 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Game One of the World Series. Gibson, who injured himself making a game saving catch in the National League Championship Series, never came out for game one introductions and never took batting practice spending the entire game on the trainer’s table receiving treatment with Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda checking on him between innings. Inning after inning, Lasorda checked and was given the thumbs down each time until the bottom of the ninth with the A’s leading 4-3 when the clubhouse boy told Lasorda that Gibson wanted to speak to him. ”I think I can hit for you, Skipper” was the message Lasorda heard when he arrived in the trainer’s room. Eckersley got the first 2 batters out. Alfredo Griffin was next up when Lasorda sent Mike Davis to the plate instead, with Gibson warming up unbeknownst to anyone. As Eck settled in to pitch, Lasorda sent Dave Anderson to the on deck circle.

Eckersley took notice and decided he wasn't going to let Davis hit it out of the ballpark. He worked the count to 3-2 and walked Davis. “Now get out there Big Boy” Lasorda ordered Gibson, whose appearance sent the crowd into a frenzy. Lasorda decided Gibson had two swings to try and hit it out of the park and then he gave Davis the green light to steal 2nd. With 1st base open, the A’s chose not to walk Gibson who worked the count to 3-2 and

Gibson launched the next pitch out of the park. Vin Scully’s call of the play say’s it all “"In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!"

October 15, 1970 - For the third time, the Baltimore Orioles overcome a 3 - 0 deficit to bury the Cincinnati Reds, 9 - 3, and win the World Series in five games. Brooks Robinson won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award hitting .429 and breaking the record for total bases with seventeen. Robinsons stellar fielding earned him the nickname “Hoover”.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 14, 2003 - Holding a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning over the Florida Marlins with only 5 outs standing between them and their first World Series appearance since 1945, the Cubs fall apart after a fan, sitting along the left-field foul line at Wrigley Field, tries to catch a foul ball that is about to be caught by Cubs' outfielder Moises Alou for the second out of the inning. The Cubs argued for interference, but umpire Mike Everitt ruled there was no fan interference because the ball had broken the plane separating the field of play from the stands.  The Cubs lead proceeded to disintegrate; fueling the Wrigley faithful’s ire at this fan who would have to be escorted from the park for his own safety. Lost in all of this is the error by, the usually sure handed shortstop Luis Gonzalez, that would have resulted in an inning ending double play which would have allowed the Cubs to escape the eighth with a two run lead. The Marlins would go onto score 8 runs and win the game.  The Cubs also would lose the seventh and final game of the NLCS.

October 14, 1975 - The Cincinnati Reds take a 2-1 lead in the World Series with a controversial 6 - 5, 10-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox in Cincinnati. In the 10th inning, Reds pinch-hitter Ed Armbrister attempts a sacrifice bunt and bounces the ball in front of the plate. Boston catcher Carlton Fisk, in an attempt to field the ball, collides with Armbrister and throws the ball into center field attempting to force Cesar Gerónimo at second base. Gerónimo goes to third base and later scores the game winner. Home plate umpire Larry Barnett rules there is no interference despite heated protests by the Red Sox.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 13, 1960 – With the World Series between the Yankees and Pirates knotted at 3 games apiece, Game 7 at Pittsburgh’s cavernous Forbes Field would provide one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history. In the top of the 9th, with a 9-7 lead the Pirates sent eighteen game winner Bob Friend to the mound but the Yankees would manage to tie things up. The Yankees would send Ralph Terry to the mound in the bottom of the 9th to face Pirate 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski and with a 1-0 count Mel Allen’s call of the game tells the rest:

“There's a drive into deep left field, look out now… that ball is going, going gone! And the World Series is over! Mazeroski… hits it over the left field fence, and the Pirates win it 10-9 and win the World Series!”

As the Pirates erupted, the Yankees stood across the field in stunned disbelief. The improbable champions were outscored, outhit, and outplayed, but had managed to pull out a victory anyhow. Years later, Mickey Mantle was quoted as saying that losing the 1960 series was the biggest disappointment of his career. The only loss, amateur or professional, he cried actual tears over. For Bill Mazeroski, it was the highlight.

Bing Crosby, part owner of the Pirates, was too superstitious to watch the series live. Crosby hired a company to record the game and would only watch it a day later if the Pirates won.  His tape of game 7 is the only recording of the 1960 series known to survive as television stations routinely taped over televised sporting events. The tape sat untouched for 49 years when it was found in Crosby’s wine cellar in December of 2009. On November 13, 2010, for the 50th anniversary of the series winning home run, a gala emceed  by Bob Costas was hosted in downtown Pittsburgh. The MLB Network would air the game and gala on December 15, 2010.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Oct. 12, 1972 -- In game 5 of the American League Championship Series the A’s, win 2-1 over the Detroit Tigers. The deciding run comes in the second inning with Mickey Lolich on the mound,  Mike Epstein on first, and Reggie Jackson on third when A’s Manager Dick Williams flashes the sign for a double steal. Reggie bounded down the third base line on the delayed steal as Tiger’s shortstop Dick McAuliffe  cut off the throw to second and fired it back to A’s Catcher Bill Freehan. Reggie and Freehan collided and Jackson was called safe at the plate. Sal Bando, A’s Captain, recalled that “Reggie had an unusual way of sliding. He would jump up, then leave his feet."

Whether it was the slide or the collision, this time it would result in a torn left hamstring that would force Reggie to leave the game and keep him from appearing in the ’72 World Series. Jackson is the only player to ever steal home in league championship play. After the chaos of that hard fought series Dick Williams was quoted as saying that he slept like a baby. That is, he “woke up every two hours crying”.

October 12, 1980 - The Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Houston Astros, 8 - 7, to capture the NLCS in 6 games. In the 10th inning, Garry Maddox drives in Del Unser to end a dramatic playoff series that featured four extra-inning games.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 11, 1999 -- With the American League divisional Series between Boston and Cleveland tied at two games apiece, the Red Sox send Bret Saberhagen out to face Charles Nagy. In an eruption of runs, both starters find themselves out of the game by the third inning and the game tied at 8. With the season on the line, Sox manager Jimy Williams summons his ace, Pedro Martinez from the bullpen. The electrifying move sent shockwaves through Jacob’s field since Martinez was removed from Game 1 after 4 innings due to a strained back, and all expected they had seen the last of Pedro’s incredible 1999 season. Martinez was masterful, striking out eight and walking three despite having neither his fastball nor changeup at his disposal. Throwing hiscurveball almost exclusively, Martinez and the Red Sox won the rubber match of the ALDS 12-8 in what is cited as one of Martinez’s greatest appearances. Also memorable in this game was the Indians strategy to intentionally walk shortstop Nomar Garciapara to face outfielder Troy O’Leary. Twice they walked Nomar and twice O’Leary returned the favor with a homerun driving in 7 runs for the day.

October 11, 1985, George Brett steals the show in Game 3 of the 1985 American League Championship Series. Down 2-0 to Toronto in the series, Brett drove in or scored every Kansas City run, going 4 for 4 with a single, a double, and two home runs. When Brett wasn’t busy torturing Toronto pitcher Doyle Alexander at the plate, he was mystifying in the field making a back-handed stop at third base to throw out a runner at home, and recording the final out to give the Royals a much-needed 6–5 win; their first in a series that they would win in seven games

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

October 10, 2004 The Boston Globe reports growing concern for Curt Shillings ailing right ankle. With two days to go before game one of the American league Championship series against the Yankees in the Bronx, Schilling was downplaying the injury and all but guaranteed he would make every scheduled start the rest of the way. Concerns would grow more serious with each passing game leading up to the famous “Bloody Sock” of Game 6.

October 10, 1956 - Pitcher Johnny Kucks sets down the Brooklyn Dodgers, 9 - 0, as the New York Yankees win the World Series in seven games. Yogi Berra hits a pair of two-run home runs and Bill Skowron hits a grand slam. It's the seventh and final time Brooklyn and the Yankees meet in the Series. In the future, it will take a jet, not a subway, to get these two teams together, as the Dodgers will move to Los Angeles in 1958.

October 10, 1973 - Tom Seaver hurls the Mets into the World Series for the second time in four years with a 7 - 2 victory over Cincinnati in Game Five of the National League Championship Series. Tug McGraw would be brought in for relief and the two would combine for a 7 hit performance before a crowd of 50,323 at Shea Stadium.

October 10, 1999 - The Boston Red Sox set an all-time postseason record by scoring 23 runs in defeating the Cleveland Indians, 23 - 7. The win ties their American League Division Series at two games apiece. Boston gets 24 hits in the contest, including five by Mike Stanley and four each by John Valentin and Jason Varitek. Valentin hits a pair of home runs with seven RBI, while Jose Offerman and Trot Nixon have two RBI each.

Mentioned in this episode:

Classic Baseball Broadcasts

Classic Baseball Broadcasts