tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post355006452963258406..comments2024-03-29T00:38:31.950-04:00Comments on The Heath Post: Baseball Update (1971)GoHeathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11122010542579322600noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-92030521542624032772017-07-26T11:47:55.584-04:002017-07-26T11:47:55.584-04:00I am, however, thrilled to report that Oakland won...I am, however, thrilled to report that Oakland won three of four in Detroit over the weekend. Vida Blue won, to improve to 19-3 on the season, and both Bert Campaneris and Reggie Jackson returned to the lineup (though now Dave Duncan and Joe Rudi appear to be out).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-16304335214034740432017-07-26T11:46:56.768-04:002017-07-26T11:46:56.768-04:00Meanwhile, on Sunday, July 25, the Pirates were sw...Meanwhile, on Sunday, July 25, the Pirates were swept in a double-header by the last-place Padres. All of this is to say that my just-after-All-Star-break prediction for the World Series is Orioles over Giants. The A's and Pirates both have their leagues' best winning percentages, but it looks to me like Baltimore and San Francisco are the sturdier teams.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-55372588277945964692017-07-26T10:21:29.986-04:002017-07-26T10:21:29.986-04:00I just learned that Steve Hamilton was born in Col...I just learned that <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilst01.shtml" rel="nofollow">Steve Hamilton was born in Columbia, Kentucky; attended Morehead State University, and died in Morehead</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Hamilton" rel="nofollow">What an amazing career in sports Steve Hamilton had!</a> He is <a href="http://www.msueagles.com/hof.aspx?hof=139&path=&kiosk=" rel="nofollow">memorialized in at least three halls of fame and the OVC has a whole scholarship fund named after him</a>; he's <a href="http://piratepride.blue/charlestowns-steve-hamilton-to-be-honored-tuesday/" rel="nofollow">a giant deal at his old Indiana high school</a>, and he had a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/04/sports/steve-hamilton-62-floater-pitcher-for-yankees.html" rel="nofollow">lengthy, sweet obituary in <i>The New York Times</i></a>. <a href="http://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/steve_hamilton_oh/" rel="nofollow">And here's a thing where Morehead State has archived a bunch of interviews Steve Hamilton did with Reggie Jackson, Joe DiMaggio, Sandy Koufax, Brooks Robinson and a bunch of other players on baseball fundamentals.</a> Rest in peace, Steve Hamilton (1934-97).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-3477652805938440572017-07-26T09:04:52.131-04:002017-07-26T09:04:52.131-04:00So back on July 22, 1971, the Giants opened a 6-0 ...So back on July 22, 1971, the Giants opened a 6-0 lead in the top of the first and then tried to ride it out with Juan Marichal to the end. (Charlie Fox ended up starting his ace over Carrithers in the third game in Pittsburgh against All-Star Ellis.) It was 7-3 going into the bottom of the ninth, and then here's what happened ...<br /><br />— Manny Sanguillen singled.<br />— Jose Pagan walked.<br />— Gene Clines singled, loading the bases.<br />— Rennie Stennett flew out, bringing home Sanguillen and making it 7-4.<br />— Vic Davalillo singled, bringing home Pagan and making it 7-5.<br />— With first and third and one out, Fox replaced Marichal with Steve Hamilton.<br />— Roberto Clemente doubled, tying the game as Clines and Davalillo scored.<br />— Willie Stargell was intentionally walked.<br />— Fox stuck with left-handed-pitching Hamilton against left-handed-hitting Richie Hebner, and Hamilton struck out Hebner. That was huge.<br />— Right-handed-pitching Jerry Johnson came on to fly out right-handed-hitting Bob Robertson.<br />— Extra innings!<br /><br />Actually, just inning. In the top of the 10th, Ken Henderson led off with his second triple of the game, and then he trotted home for an 8-7 San Francisco lead on Jimmy Rosario’s single. The Pirates got a couple of guys on in the bottom of the 10th, but Johnson (11-4, 2.55 ERA and one of my suggested All-Stars for Sparky Anderson) held it together for the Giants victory in Pittsburgh.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-13764264571581508882017-07-22T18:16:52.044-04:002017-07-22T18:16:52.044-04:00The big game in the National League today 1971, th...The big game in the National League today 1971, though, is a rubber game between the division leaders. Pittsburgh beat the visiting Giants, 11-7, on Tuesday, and then San Francisco bounced back to win, 8-4, on July 21. It's the Giants' Don Carrithers vs. the Pirates' Dock Ellis in Pittsburgh on July 22.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-27502908670208610372017-07-22T18:15:25.699-04:002017-07-22T18:15:25.699-04:00In the National League today, the Rev. Jesse Jacks...In the National League today, <a href="https://youtu.be/Fgni4iyJjZg" rel="nofollow">the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Cubs host the Mets in Chicago</a>.<br /><br />That video is great. Jackson is talking with Ernie Banks <a href="http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1971/07/22/page/65/article/banks-ties-ott-with-511th-home-run%EF%BB%BF" rel="nofollow">the day after Banks had hit his 511th home run, tying Mel Ott on the all-time list</a>. Also, the video elicited this comment a couple of years ago: "Thanks so much for sharing this. My father is the submarine throwing righty shown warming up in the bullpen. As there is little or no film from those days still around, this was the first opportunity for many of his friends to see his odd delivery, and he got a real kick out of seeing it and sharing it with others. I showed this clip tonight at an MLB Alumni meeting and was swamped with requests from other former players to show them how to search to see if there were any uploaded films of them playing." <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tompkro01.shtml" rel="nofollow">The pitcher is Ron "Stretch" Tompkins</a>, for whom I sadly have no baseball cards.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-51476578454527424212017-07-22T17:58:00.815-04:002017-07-22T17:58:00.815-04:00The A's have an off date to travel Thursday, J...The A's have an off date to travel Thursday, July 22. They are in Tiger Stadium over the #freakinweekend.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-75920352694453133262017-07-22T17:56:02.748-04:002017-07-22T17:56:02.748-04:00The starting shortstop and leadoff hitter of late ...The starting shortstop and leadoff hitter of late for Oakland, in place of Bert Campaneris, has been Larry Brown, whom the A's acquired from Cleveland earlier this season. He apparently didn't leave the Indians on good terms, and the same is ultimately going to apparently be true with the A's. From Gregory H. Wolf's super SABR bio on Brown:<br /><br /><a href="http://sabr.org/bioproj/person/315501c4" rel="nofollow"><i>In a tumultuous offseason, Brown instigated his eventual trade to the Oakland A’s by his incendiary comments at an awards banquet. “I was unhappy about not playing, but Dark wanted me on the bench as a utility player. I loved Cleveland and was an Indian by heart,” he said. “Dark got up and said that we have a set group of starters. Well, it didn’t include me. In front of everyone, I said that unfortunately for me, Dark is the manager and I won’t get a chance to play shortstop in spring training. Nobody said a word to me in spring training.” ...<br /><br />“I went to Oakland and never was happy,” said Brown honestly. “I was an outsider on that team and never really felt part of it. I wasn’t one of the guys who came up through their minor leagues or played in Kansas City.”<br /><br />Brown replaced second baseman Dick Green, who was suffering from an ailing back, in the second week of the 1972 season. He started 44 of the team’s 45 games from April 26 to June 18, but was running on fumes physically. “My legs started hurting and I had a bad back,” said Brown, “and finally landed on the DL in mid-June.” In excruciating pain, Brown heard from Chicago White Sox third baseman Bill Melton about an experimental treatment involving the injection of enzymes made from papaya. “I had the injection in my lower back and was in the hospital for about a week,” said Brown. “Three weeks later I was running the bases and fielding groundballs. It was late August and the season was winding down and I think I am going to play. (Manager) Dick Williams told me I’ll be activated.”<br /><br />Brown’s excitement about his recovery and the possibility of playing in his first postseason was met with frustrating news. “It turns out that I am on the 60-day disabled list. I’m through for the season — I can’t play. Williams tells me I can work out with the team, but that I could also leave the team and go back to my wife and kids in Florida.” With no role on the team, no chance to play, and an invitation to leave, Brown’s fate was sealed.<br /><br />More than 40 years after the event, Brown still felt insulted by the way the A’s treated him. Despite his contributions to the team, he was not invited to the World Series. To top it off, notoriously cheap team owner Charlie Finley sent Brown a package with a faux World Series ring. Upon reading the enclosed card praising the ring as “finest quality synthetic white sapphire,” Brown called Finley to voice his objection. As with most situations, Charlie O didn’t budge. Brown wasn’t surprised by his release in the offseason.</i></a>Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-51926188900432450042017-07-22T17:43:37.271-04:002017-07-22T17:43:37.271-04:00So, in the second of Oakland's wins over Cleve...So, in the second of Oakland's wins over Cleveland, Vida Blue pitched 11 innings, allowing three runs, eight hits and no walks and striking out 11--it wasn't enough for his 19th victory, however. In fact, had it not been for Sal Bando, Blue would've lost. The A's trailed 3-1 going into the bottom of the ninth July 21, thanks to home runs by Ken Suarez and Graig Nettles, and Bando tied things with a two-run homer. Later, after Darold Knowles had come on in relief for the A's, Bando sacrificed home pinch-runner Tony La Russa for the game-winner in the 12th.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-39163315131484538452017-07-22T11:34:30.754-04:002017-07-22T11:34:30.754-04:00The '71 A's won two straight over the visi...The '71 A's won two straight over the visiting Indians July 20 and 21, and I almost totally forgot to look in on the 2017 British Open third round!Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-51489859172831987892017-07-20T12:17:35.788-04:002017-07-20T12:17:35.788-04:00Blue is back on the mound late tonight in Oakland ...Blue is back on the mound late tonight in Oakland against the Indians, and I'm excited to get BackToBaseball.com and back to winning.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-90015456242606316762017-07-20T12:15:52.066-04:002017-07-20T12:15:52.066-04:00Well, that's all great, but, since that great ...Well, that's all great, but, since that great first inning on July 16, Oakland has scored one, three and two runs in three straight losses. That's a total of six runs in 36 innings, and I don't have the new issue of <i>The Sporting News</i> to see what the heck is going on with Oakland's hitters. Bert Campaneris still is not playing, and Reggie Jackson is only pinch-hitting since the break.<br /><br />Not only that, but the last two losses were home defeats in a two-game series with the Orioles, leaving Baltimore and Oakland with identical 58-34 records. The second-place Royals have been losing, too, and now the Orioles are headed to Kansas City for a series. Oakland's American League West lead is still a safe 10 games. But, suddenly, it doesn't feel like the A's have quite matured into a legitimate challenger to the two-time-defending league champs, and that's no fun. Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-74582302357439784592017-07-20T12:07:58.137-04:002017-07-20T12:07:58.137-04:00In their first game after the All-Star Game in Det...In their first game after the All-Star Game in Detroit, the A's and the Tigers reconvened in Oakland on July 15, and the home team won, 8-7, with a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. Rick Monday homered, and then, with two out, Oakland cobbled together a Mike Epstein walk (and some Blue Moon Odom pinch running) with Dave Duncan and Dick Green singles to down Detroit. That was great.<br /><br />And then the next day, it was great again as the A's just kept on keepin' on in the bottom of the first with four runs, the big hit being a three-run double by rookie right-fielder George Hendrick. That was more than enough for Vida Blue, who gave up one hit, walked three and struck out nine for another shutout victory. Oakland won, 4-0, and <i>Vida Blue Is Eighteen And Three!</i>Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-84467134578505970962017-07-20T12:02:04.203-04:002017-07-20T12:02:04.203-04:00On the morning of July 20, 1971, I'm getting n...On the morning of July 20, 1971, I'm getting nervous about the A's. Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-71558888609010328462017-07-19T00:04:26.243-04:002017-07-19T00:04:26.243-04:00And, indeed, the National League goes quietly in t...And, indeed, the National League goes quietly in the ninth, and that's that. And that was a heck of a lot of fun. Thank you, Baseball, and thank you, TV and Internet, and thank you, YouTube user BigTMLB.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-52449423207027857152017-07-18T21:50:26.245-04:002017-07-18T21:50:26.245-04:00But then May and Chicago's Ron Santo ground ba...But then May and Chicago's Ron Santo ground back to Lolich to end the top of the eighth.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-23584946587788537432017-07-18T21:47:22.367-04:002017-07-18T21:47:22.367-04:00But there's no defense for what Clemente just ...But there's no defense for what Clemente just did--a home run into the right-center upper deck! It's 6-4.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-22467915132702356182017-07-18T21:42:37.092-04:002017-07-18T21:42:37.092-04:00Gowdy points out that "the American League ha...Gowdy points out that "the American League has gradually sifted its best defensive lineup onto the field" to protect its late lead: Munson, Killebrew, Rojas, Aparicio, Brooks Robinson, Yazstremski, Otis and Kaline, with Lolich now pitching. Only Killebrew, Gowdy says, would not be considered among the top defenders at his position. Boston's "George Scott is the top defensive first baseman, but he's not here," Gowdy says.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-30264570317366680972017-07-18T21:38:15.235-04:002017-07-18T21:38:15.235-04:00Vic Damone has a special after Adam-12 Thursday ni...Vic Damone has a special after <i>Adam-12</i> Thursday night.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-28412529309305175372017-07-18T21:37:39.226-04:002017-07-18T21:37:39.226-04:00Now here's a commercial for Schlitz where they...Now here's a commercial for Schlitz where they indicate that it's the choice beer of tuna fishermen.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-60368553975376157892017-07-18T21:34:02.024-04:002017-07-18T21:34:02.024-04:00The new National League pitcher is Houston's W...The new National League pitcher is Houston's Wilson, and he flies out Royals Otis and Rojas to open the bottom of the seventh.<br /><br /><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Wilson_(baseball)#Death" rel="nofollow">Rest in peace, Don Wilson (1945-75).</a>Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-72512987028864995292017-07-18T21:30:56.365-04:002017-07-18T21:30:56.365-04:00Still 6-3 ... seventh-inning stretch ... and here ...<a href="https://youtu.be/LmtZKF8kknk?t=2h3m15s" rel="nofollow">Still 6-3 ... seventh-inning stretch ... and here are the Seavers again.</a>Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-73875702339347335832017-07-18T21:29:54.855-04:002017-07-18T21:29:54.855-04:00And here's the kind of exotic, late-inning mom...And here's the kind of exotic, late-inning moment that made All-Star Games so great in the pre-ESPN/MLB Network/interleague-play era: Cuellar throws his crazy, looping slow curve pasts San Diego's squished-stance slugger, Nate Colbert, for Strike 2. I'd never seen Cuellar's slow curve, and I'd never seen Nate Colbert.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-83943042153199926872017-07-18T21:15:15.703-04:002017-07-18T21:15:15.703-04:00Neither of the top two American League position pl...Neither of the top two American League position players in WAR for MLB71--Cleveland third-baseman Graig Nettles nor New York left-fielder Roy White--is on the All-Star team. Here are the top guys ...<br /><br />Catcher--Freehan 4.3, New York's Thurman Munson 4.1<br />First--Milwaukee's Johnny Briggs 3.7, Powell 3.6<br />Second--California's Sandy Alomar 5.2, Baltimore's Dave Johnson 4.4<br />Third--Nettles 7.5, Oakland's Sal Bando 6.4<br />Shortstop--Belanger 4.6, Patek 4.0<br />Left--White 6.7, Buford 5.1<br />Center--Murcer 6.3, Smith 5.6<br />Right--Jackson 6.5, Baltimore's Merv Rettenmund 5.8<br /><br />The starting pitchers were Chicago's Wilbur Wood (10.9), Detroit's Mickey Lolich (8.7), Blue (8.6), Boston's Sonny Siebert (6.7) and Minnesota's Bert Blyleven (6.2).<br /><br />The relievers were Chicago's Bart Johnson (4.0), Milwaukee's Ken Sanders (3.9), Detroit's Fred Scherman (3.5), Cleveland's Steve Mingori (3.3) and Kansas City's Tom Burgemeier (3.1).Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1697242053625998558.post-51266533467964336892017-07-18T21:09:52.664-04:002017-07-18T21:09:52.664-04:00It's fun to see all these home runs.It's fun to see all these home runs.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11218278987255792995noreply@blogger.com