Tag Archives: World Series

“The Catch” By Willie Mays An Alternate View

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Willie Mays 1954 World Series Catch As Seen From Center Field

Willie Mays died June 18, 2024 at the age of 93. The accolades and remembrances will pour in over the next few days. We’ll let two photos and a video serve as a microcosm of a brilliant career that writers will try to summarize but will undoubtedly fall short.

Mays was that good.

If Willie Mays was not the all around best baseball player of all-time he certainly ranks as one of the top five.

The above view of Mays’ 1954 World Series catch was taken by United Press photographer Sid Birns.

The original news slug says: Continue reading →

Classic Hollywood #155 – Spencer Tracy

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Spencer Tracy In “Now I’ll Tell” 1934

It could have been a good movie.

Spencer Tracy portrays the complexities of the man that this film was based upon.

Now I’ll Tell was written by Mrs. Carolyn Rothstein, widow of New York gambler and crime boss Arnold Rothstein. Continue reading →

1969 World Series – Mets Manager Gil Hodges Gets A Call Overturned

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No Instant Replay, But Mets Manager Gil Hodges Convinces Umpire Lou DiMuro To Overturn A Call In Game 5 Of The 1969 World Series

If Gil Hodges wasn’t considered an honest man, the Mets might not have won game five of the 1969 World Series. Continue reading →

October 8. 1956 World Series Game 5 Don Larsen’s Perfect Game

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” I Still Can’t Believe It Happened To Me,”

Don Larsen Post-game Interview October 8, 1956

Don Larsen perfect game photo International News Photos Frank Jurkoski

Immortal Pitching Yankee Stadium, New York- This sequence of three photos shows Don Larsen 1) cocking for the pitch 2) delivering, and 3) following through on the mound during his historic perfect no-hitter. Don pitched to only 27 Dodgers in posting his 2-0 victory for the books. His triumph put the Bombers ahead 3-2 in games. photo: 10/8/1956 International News Photos – Frank Juroski

For all the accomplishments that have happened in the history of baseball, there is one that has never been duplicated.

Don Larsen’s masterpiece of pitching in game five of the 1956 World Series. 27 men up. 27 men down. A perfect game in the World Series.

After The Game

With his hands still shaking after the game Larsen told reporters, ” I was so damn nervous Continue reading →

Jacob Ruppert & Joe McCarthy Before World Series Game 1 1936

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Yankees Owner Jacob Ruppert & Manager Joe McCarthy At Game 1, 1936 World Series

Good Luck, Joe
Colonel Jacob Ruppert, owner of the Yankees, autographs a baseball for Joe McCarthy, Yank manager, as a token of best wishes before the start of the opening game of the World Series with the Giants, at the latter’s home park, The Polo Grounds, New York City. photo: Acme September 30, 1936

This photograph reminds us that there used to be no playoffs in baseball.  The two best teams Continue reading →

Jump, Scooter, Jump! Phil Rizzuto In Action

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Phil Rizzuto – 1950

New York – Bob Dillinger of the Athletics slides safely back to 2nd in the first inning of game with Yanks here, 7/5 as Phil Rizzuto leaps for throw from catcher Yogi Berra. The ball went over Rizzuto’s head . Yanks won 12-8. credit: Acme Telephoto July 5, 1950

As Red Sox great Ted Williams once said the margin of difference between the Yankees and the Red Sox was very slim, but that the Yankees had Phil Rizzuto. “If Rizzuto had been in Boston we’d have won all those pennants instead of New York,” Williams said. Continue reading →

Dick Groat A Rare Star Of Both Baseball & Basketball Dies At 92

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Dick Groat Who Set Duke Basketball Records & Was National League MVP In 1960 Is Dead

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Dick Groat hitting during the 1960 World Series. photo: Marvin Newman

In 1952, when Dick Groat was 21-years-old, Duke University’s sports publicity department published an entire pamphlet heralding his achievements.

In 1950-51 Groat put up 831 points with 261 free points shattering records at Duke, the Big 5 (North Carolina schools) and the Southern Conference.

Groat, who was five feet eleven, Continue reading →

1963 Los Angeles Dodgers Ask “Who’s On First?”

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At Spring Training Five Dodgers Try Out At First Base- 1963

Vero Beach, FL – (l-r) Bill Haas, Dick Nen, Ron Fairly, Bill “Moose” Skowron and Lee Walls compete for the Los Angeles Dodgers first base position at spring training. photo: The Sporting News 1963

Of the five players shown above, 24-year-old Ron Fairly Continue reading →

Reds Pitcher Bob Purkey Has A Lot Of Balls

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Bob Purkey Holds 10 Baseballs – 1961

photo UPI TelephotoTampa, FL – Pitcher Bob Purkey of the Cincinnati Reds has another claim to fame besides the 17-11 won lost record he had with the club last year. Here he holds ten baseballs, five in each hand as the team opened spring training with batterymen reporting. photo: UPI Telephoto 2/22/1961

Holding ten baseballs is some sort of accomplishment, but Bob Purkey’s 1961 season would culminate in the Reds reaching the World Series. For the year, the six foot two righty posted 16 wins against 12 losses with a 3.73 ERA. Continue reading →

October 13, 1960 Pirates Celebrate Beating Yankees In The World Series

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Pittsburgh Pirates Clubhouse Celebration After Stunning Game 7 Defeat of Yankees

Pirates pitcher Clem Labine pours champagne into coach Frank Oceak’s mouth after the Pirates game seven victory.

One of the most dramatic World Series victories occurred 62 years ago today when Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski Continue reading →