Followers

Showing posts with label Yankees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yankees. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Brooks the Iron Man



FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel !
 
TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Steven Tighe of Bridgeville, PA, who correctly identified Lew Krause as the Oakland A's pitcher to start the very first A's home game in Oakland April 17, 1968. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST:  IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card.  YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN. DON'T FORGET TO PUT YOUR MAILING ADDRESS IN WITH THE ANSWER SO WE CAN SEND YOUR GIFT IF YOU WIN.
================================================================
TRIVIA QUESTION: In what year did Brooks Robinson win the MVP of the Major League All-star game? 
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN: The Oakland A's pitcher who started the A's first home game in the bay area was Lew Krause. The A's opened at home in game six on April 17th, losing to Baltimore and Dave McNally 4-1
. They also lost their Road opener to Baltimore on April 10, 3-1

The fact Brooks Robinson was destined to be a Hall of Famer, is a well known fact. Few doubt he is among the best fielding third basemen ever. He was a clutch hitter and a team leader. Four times in his career he either hit above .300 or flirted with it. Six times he cranked at least 20 homers in a season in an era where 20 was considered an accomplishment. What you may not realize is that he was truly an iron man.
                         
(Brooks and Frank in the 1966 World Series)
From 1961-1968 he played in every single game of the season in four of the eight years. In 1963 he played in 161 of the 162. All five times he either led or tied for the league lead in games played. In two of those years he played in 163 games when the schedule called for 162. That in itself may be a record.

In 1961 he led the AL in at bats with 668 while in 1964 he led the league in RBI with 118. It was  his finest season batting .317 and banging 28 homers. All three were career highs. For his efforts he was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player. The team finished over .500 but fourth in the AL, 18.5 games behind the Yankees.
When 1966 rolled around and he was teamed with Frank Robinson under Hank Bauer, there was no stopping the Birds. The first World Series against the Dodgers showed complete dominance over a very strong Dodger club.

For all his cat like reactions on the field he left all of that behind on the base paths. Not built for speed he owns the record he wished he did not; hitting into four triple plays in a career, two in one season. Twice he led the league in double plays grounded into. No one said he could run, but he could field, oh how he could field. The 1970 World Series, won by the Orioles over the Reds was a Robinson clinic on fielding.

If ever there was any doubt he belonged at the top of the fielding charts for third basemen, they were erased in that series.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. Enter via the following email. Send 1) your answer to the trivia question at the top of the column, 2) your name, address and email so where we know where to send the card if you win 3) any comment you have on the column. One winner will be selected at random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book "Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"  for $15 Shipping Included 
 
Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 

Thank you to those of you who purchased my book after reading this column. 


Tuesday, June 30, 2020

The Ever So Close White Sox



FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel !
 
TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Prof. Herm Card of Syracuse, NY, who correctly answered the trivia question about the batter following Mickey Mantle in his last at bat; Roy White. This week a new Trivia Contest. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card.

I'd like to point out we've been getting increasing numbers of entries from all over the country including Sparks, NV, Louisville, KY, McKinney, TX, Berkley, MI, Grand Prairie, TX, Punta Gorda, FL, Vero Beach, FL, Los Angeles and more.

NEW TRIVIA CONTEST:  IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card.  YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.
================================================================
TRIVIA QUESTION: Who led the Chicago White Sox in home runs in 1964? 
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:
Mickey Mantle's last at bat, the subject of last week's column was a pop out. The batter to follow him was Roy White.

Oh what a helpless feeling and a lonely spot in a small corner of the world it can be when whatever you do, no matter how much you win, the baseball gods are against you. Such was one moment in time in 1964 when the red hot Chicago White Sox did everything they could but halfway across the country, one itsy, bitsy, 5-run inning, put the final nail in the coffin of the Chisox pennant hopes.

With some of the best pitching of all time, not just the AL of 1964, the White Sox were on fire. Beginning on September 22, the Sox began their run. They would peel off nine straight wins including back to back shutouts of the Kansas City A's on the final two days of the season. It did not matter.

The Yankees held a 2.5 game lead when the Sox began their run. New York would win 11 in a row until losing to Washington on September 27th. Two more wins followed by consecutive losses which gave Chicago some hope.

The Sox were led by three of the best starting pitchers in baseball and two workhorse relievers. Starters; Gary Peters (20-8, 2.50 ERA, 1.17 Whip), Juan Pizarro (19-9, 2.56 ERA, 1.03 Whip) and Joel Horlen (13-9. 1.88 ERA, .093 Whip). Relievers; Hoyt Wilhelm (12-9, 131 innings, 1.99 ERA, .094 Whip) and Bob Locker (125 innings, .094 Whip). This club did not hit much but they led the AL in most pitching departments.
The key game was the next to the last game of the season. While the Sox were shutting out KC, the Yankees were at home against Cleveland. If New York wins the season is over. If they lose to the Indians the Sox will be one game out with one to play. The Sox were not about to lose. What happened in NY mattered.

With the score tied in the bottom of the 8th at 3-3, New York came to bat against Lee Stange who had pitched a marvelous game. It looked like the eighth was going to be more of the same after lead off hitter Tom Tresh got out. A Clete Boyer single followed by a Johnny Blanchard fly out made the crowd of less than 15,000 at Yankee Stadium somewhat nervous.
Light hitting Phil Linz singled to left sending Boyer to third, bringing the crowd to it's feet. An infield single to Short by Bobby Richardson brought Boyer home with the go-ahead run, 4-3. A walk to Roger Maris loaded the bases bringing on Don McMahon who walked Mickey Mantle to bring in another run, and a two-run single by Elston Howard which made it 7-3 New York. Dick Donovan replaced McMahon and Joe Pepitone added another RBI single to make it 8-3 before Tresh, who led off the inning made the final out.

The Indians went weakly in the ninth and that put the cap on the Sox season. It didn't matter what Chicago did on the final day of the season, the Yankees had won the pennant. For good measure, the Sox fourth starter, John Buzhardt pitched a two-hit shutout and the Sox ended up a game back of New York which lost 2-1 to Sam McDowell in game 162.

The White Sox would win the same number of games in 1965 (95) but would finish in third behind the Minnesota Twins. Al Lopez managed both clubs.

TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. Enter via the following email. Send 1) your answer to the trivia question at the top of the column, 2) your name, address and email so where we know where to send the card if you win 3) any comment you have on the column. One winner will be selected at random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book "Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"  for $15 Shipping Included 
 
Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 

Thank you to those of you who purchased my book after reading this column. 

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Mickey Mantle's Last At Bat



FOR MORE GENERAL TRIVIA CHECK OUT MY YouTube Channel !
 
TRIVIA WINNER: Congrats to Dan Taguchi of Los Angeles, who correctly answered the trivia question about the fact Mike Piazza was the only Dodger player to ever hit a home run completely out of Dodger Stadium. This week a new Trivia Contest. The Prize this week: Starbucks Gift Card. 
 
NEW TRIVIA CONTEST:  IF YOU ANSWER THE TRIVIA QUESTION CORRECTLY YOU WILL BE ENTERED INTO A WEEKLY DRAWING FOR A Starbucks Gift Card.  YOU MUST ENTER VIA THE EMAIL AT THE END OF THIS COLUMN.

================================================================
TRIVIA QUESTION: This column is about Mickey Mantle's last appearance. After Mantle popped out to shortstop, who followed him to the plate? HINT: He wore no. 21. 
 
ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:
Mike Piazza hit one of just five homers completely out of Dodger Stadium, and the only Dodger to do it. The others are Wilver Stargell (2), Giancarlo Stanton and Mark McGwire. Piazza hit his 478 feet in 1997. Stargell's remains the longest at 506 feet.

(I am writing this column today for my best friend Mary A., who I grew up with playing endless games of wiffle ball into the dusk hours, and who is celebrating his xxth birthday today. Maybe we are so close because he's just two days older than me. I can't forgive him for being a Yankee fan just like he can't forgive me for being a Pirate fan but it sure made for lots of great names in our line-ups as we became the Mickey Mantle and Bill Mazeroski of Wiffle Ball in his back yard.)


It was 75 degrees with a slight breeze at Boston's Fenway Park at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon on September 28, 1968. The Red Sox were taking the field and the New York Yankees were coming to bat. Not everyone knew this was going to be the last time the great Mickey Mantle would put on a uniform and play for the team where he belonged. He belonged in history.


The great center-fielder who succeeded Joe DiMaggio way back in the early 1950's had been relegated to first base in recent years. His legs shot, his speed non-existent and his powerful bat carrying less oomph than ever. Years of drinking, injuries and battling had robbed the Mick of his prowess. Those who were not fans said he was only known for "arguing with the umpires," while those who watched him admired his great talent.


The Sox sent ace Jim Lonborg to the mound in this next to the last game of the regular season. The Yankees were long out of the race and would finish fifth. The Red Sox would finish fourth, four games ahead of the Yankees.

Lonborg, the 22 Game winner and Cy Young Award winner the previous season was struggling too. He was trying for win no.7 against 9 losses. The Red Sox won the pennant in 1967. This was 1968. This was the year Carl Yastrzemski came off his Triple Crown season when he hit .326 to win the batting title with the lowest average ever, .301. It was The Year of the Pitcher.

Mantle had battled injuries in his final season. This was nothing new. He was oft injured almost to legendary status. This year however, he was going to play in an amazing 144 games for the second year in a row. This after the 1966 campaign when he was limited to barely more than 100 games. It wasn't a bad season for any player. But Mickey Mantle wasn't just any player. He was The Mick. He'd bat 547 times, belted 18 home runs but only hit .237.

On this Saturday he started at first base and batted third behind Horace Clarke and Jake Gibbs. Clarke led off the game with a walk. Gibbs followed with a fly out to left. With Mantle at the plate. The Mick, batting left handed against the right handed Lonborg, then hit a weak pop up to shortstop Rico Petrocelli in short left field. The next batter also got out.

That was it, the last at bat for Mantle, Before he could hit a second time, Andy Kosco came into replace him. In the 8th inning Kosco belted his 15th home run of the year to make it 3-2 Red Sox. Joe Pepitone would also homer and in the end the Yanks bested the Sox 4-3. Longborg went all the way to lose it, Lindy McDaniel picked up the win in relief.


The final out recorded when Petrocelli grounded out to shortstop Tom Tresh who tossed it over to Kosco at first. That home run by Kosco was also his last as a Yankee. Over the winter New York shipped him off to the Dodgers for pitcher Mike Kekich. So Petrocelli not only ended the game but caught the final ball ever hit by Mickey Mantle.

For Mantle it brought an unceremonious end to an illustrious career. His final stat line:

18 years, 536 Home Runs, 1509 RBI, 1676 Runs Scored, and a lifetime .298 Batting Average. He hit .300 or better 10 times and made the All Star team in every year but one. The lone season he didn't make the team was 1966 when he played only 108 games. He even made it in his final season. A three time MVP he led the league in homers four times and in 1956 won the Triple Crown, batting .353. Twice he eclipsed 50 homers and in 1961 would likely have beaten Roger Maris and Babe Ruth for the single season HR title, but an illness ended his season early despite his 54 homers.

While The Mick was an extraordinary player, on this day though he was just ordinary and when it came to Mickey Mantle, ordinary was better than most, but not good enough for him. So it came to an end. Only 25,534 people saw that game at Fenway and no doubt most of them didn't realize they were watching the end of an era.


TRIVIA CONTEST; After reading this column you can enter the weekly trivia contest for a chance to win a Starbucks Gift Card. Enter via the following email. Send 1) your answer to the trivia question at the top of the column, 2) your name, address and email so where we know where to send the card if you win 3) any comment you have on the column. One winner will be selected at random each week based on correct answers with the odds being based on the number of correct entries.  Please cut and paste or enter the following email into your email system.
                             SEND YOUR ANSWERS TO; brillpro@gmail.com  
 ==========================================================
Need to get out of a baseball hitting slump, or a golf swing slump? Order my new book "Beating the Slump; An athlete's guide to a better career." See it on Amazon for only $5.99. That is for the Paperback, you can also order Kindle on that link. You can also order paperback copies directly from me via the email below for my other books.

You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book "Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"  for $15 Shipping Included 
 
Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 

Thank you to those of you who purchased my book after reading this column. 

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

The New Stadiums of the 1960's


TRIVIA QUESTION: What was the cost of Dodgers Stadium when it was built?  

ANSWER TO TRIVIA QUESTION IN THE PREVIOUS COLUMN:When the 1967 Angels acquired Don Mincher they also picked up 1B/OF Len Gabrielson for insurance. He only played in a few games before being shipped across town to the Dodgers for the Super Minor Leaguer of the Century, Johnny Werhas. Werhas played half of his major league career in 1967 for the Angels, finishing with a lifetime record of 198 AB's, two homers and .173 BA in 89 career games. Gabrielson would have a couple of his best years with the Dodgers before finally retiring after the 1970 season.


In case you were counting there were a total of 11 new Major League Baseball Stadiums making their debuts in the 1960's. It seems pretty remarkable when you consider until 1960, there were only 16 big league teams in existence. Granted, of the 11, five were built directly for their new expansion teams, three were built as those expansion teams grew older and more profitable, and three were built for teams who moved from other cities. Only one, Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis was for a long term existing team.
                                                                (Busch Memorial)
New stadiums needed to be constructed for expansion teams. Colt Stadium was the place debuting for the Houston Colt .45's while Jarry Park became the new home of the Montreal Expos. The expansion San Diego Padres played their home games in Jack Murphy Stadium.
                                                                   (Dodgers Stadium 1962)
When the Braves fled Milwaukee for Atlanta the new park was Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium. The Giants saw the opening of "the Stick" which was Candlestick in San Francisco a couple of seasons after leaving New York. Dodgers Stadium broke ground in 1959 after the team moved from Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The club occupied the new ballpark starting in 1962.

It would be a couple seasons before the expansion Mets moved into newly constructed Shea Stadium and then came the ninth Wonder of the World; The Houston Astrodome in 1965 for the Astro's who changed their name from the Colt .45's. 


                                                                  (Shea Stadium 1964)
The situation with Robert F. Kennedy Stadium (RFK) in Washington and Texas Arlington is a little convoluted. The original Senators moved to Minnesota, so the new Senators, an expansion team, moved into the new DC Stadium (later named RFK after Kennedy's assassination). They stayed there until they moved from Washington to become the Texas Rangers in Arlington. While the Rangers did not come into existence until the 1970's, the stadium was actually built in the 1960's, so we must include it in the list. The new Washington Nationals would eventually play at RFK decades later. 

There were a lot of firsts. The biggest of which was the first indoor domed stadium; the Astrodome. It was the kind of stadium the Dodgers Walter O'Malley wanted to build in Brooklyn and which would have kept the Dodgers in New York. When he couldn't get it, it sealed the deal to moved to Los Angeles. 
                                                                     (Houston Astrodome)
The Astrodome truly was a wonder. It opened the door to something new; synthetic turf or Astoturf due to the lack of sunlight.  But you could play without the mosquitoes which plagued Colt Stadium, and you could actually play in rain and cold weather. Below is a list of stadiums opened in the 1960s.

Arlington
Atlanta Fulton County
Colt 1962
Astrodome
Jarry Park 
Shea 1964
Busch Memorial 1966
Jack Murphy 1967
Candlestick 1960
RFK 1961
Dodgers Stadium 1962
 

"SPECIAL OFFER"
You can get a signed paper back copy of the above book
"Tales of My Baseball Youth - a child of the sixties"
for $15 Shipping Included 
Use PayPal to brillpro@prodigy.net or contact us at the same email for other payment. 
 
Thank you to those of you who purchased my book after reading this column. It has been appreciated. You can click on the link above (my childhood photo) to see how to purchase this book; "Tales of My Baseball Youth; a child of the 60's."

Also: Please check out our new Western Short Film. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iron-gun-western-feature-film/#/


Please share this blog with your friends and colleagues and leave a comment at the bottom of the blog if you have one. Thank YOU VERY MUCH!! Please pick up a copy of my book "Tales of My Baseball Youth; A Child of the 60's" at www.bobbrillbooks.com, or on Amazon.