World Series – Game 7

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Tonight will be the 37th Game 7 in World Series History.  Of course, that includes a Game 8 in the 1912 World Series between the Red Sox and the Giants in a 9 game series.  There have been some memorable Game 7’s  in the not-so-distant past.

In 2014, Madison Bumgarner of the Giants delivered a pitching performance for the ages throwin five shutout innings in relief (on two days’ rest no less) to clinch the Giants’ third championship with the longest save in postseason history.

In 2011, the Cardinals capitalized on their amazing comeback win against the Rangers in Game 6 – who were twice one strike away from the champagne shower – to secure 11th WS title.  But Game 6 was the memorable game in that series.

In 2001, the Diamondbacks stunned the baseball world by defeating the Yankees 3-2 in Game 7.  The game featured an epic battle between starters Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling, but was decided when Yankees future HOF closer Mariano Rivera appeared human for a brief moment. Tony Womack tied the score with an RBI double, and Luis Gonzalez’s bloop single won it.  Randy Johnson got the save mowing down the Yankees in the 9th inning on zero days rest.

In 1997, in a Game 7 the Indians pray is not repeated tonight, the upstart Marlins won their first championship in only their fifth season. Craig Counsell hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to tie the score and scored the winning run on Edgar Renteria’s 11th-inning walk-off single.

Red will be happy for whichever team breaks its long drought tonight. As with most fans, Red just hopes the game will be exciting.

The First World Series

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The first World Series was played in 1903 when the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League challenged the Boston Americans of the recently formed American League to a nine game challenge dubbed the World’s Championship Series.  The upstart Boston team took the title with a 5-4 record while winning the last 4 games.  The American League had formed in 1901 after the National League contracted from 12 to 8 teams.  The new league had raided the NL taking away such stars as Cy Young and Jimmy Collins.  In September of 1903, the two clubs decided to play the series.  It was perhaps intended to be a one off event as witnessed by the fact that no series was played in 1904.  But by 1905, the leagues determined it was a good idea and participation by the respective pennant winners became mandatory.

The 1903 games were played at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Park in Boston and Exposition Field in Allegheny.  Game three topped attendance with over 18,000 fans present.  Bill Dinneen of the Pirates pitched four complete games winning three.  The immortal Cy Young had a 2-1 record for the series.   Both paled in comparison to Deacon Phillippe who pitched five games with a 3-2 record.  They don’t make ’em like that anymore.

Patsy Dougherty of the Americans was the only player to ever hit a leadoff inside-the-park World Series home run until 2015, when  Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar did it in Game 1.

 

Today in Texas History – October 28

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From the Annals of the Buffalo Soldiers –  In 1880, Apache warriors killed seven soldiers from the famous black Tenth United States Cavalry known as the Buffalo Soldiers.  The soldiers had been defending settler’s in Hudspeth County.  The attack was one of the last episodes in what came to be known as Victorio’s War.  Chief Victorio, who was considered one of the fiercest of the Apaches, had led his followers away from the San Carlos Reservation in 1879 to return to Fort Stanton.  From there he led a campaign of terror across New Mexico, Texas and Mexico.  Most of the fighting ended when his camp was overrun in October. Victorio was killed along with many of his warriors and some women and children.

Today in Texas History – October 27

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From the Annals of the Founders –  In 1806, Juan Seguín was born in San Antonio.  Seguin was an early opponent of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and participated in the Battle of Bexar which drove Mexican forces out of San Antonio in 1835.  He was commissioned as a Captain in the regular Texas army and joined William B. Travis at the Alamo.   He escaped death in the final battle only because Travis sent him through the Mexican lines to carry his famous “never surrender or retreat” letter.  JS got the letter through and returned with men to reinforce the crumbling mission only to find that it had already fallen.  He continued to serve and after the revolution became the only Hispanic Texan in the Senate of the Texas Republic and later served as mayor of San Antonio.

Two Texas Judges Leave GOP – Will the Trickle Become a Flood?

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In the past two weeks, two Texas judges have said, “Enough” to the Tea Party dominated Texas GOP.  First Terry Jennings of the First Court of Appeals in Houston switched to the Democrats.  According to Jennings:

 “The Democratic party- and the Democratic party alone- presents our country with a positive and optimistic vision for the future of all Americans, not just a select few.”

Then this week, Judge Lauren Parish of the 115th Judicial District which serves Upshur and Marion Counties returned to the fold.  Parish had served as a Democrat but changed teams as those  rural counties turned more and more red.  Parish cited her Christian values in making the decision to return to the Democratic Party.

“The Grand Old Party of Lincoln no longer exists today. The current Republican Party has abandoned all the principles instilled in me by my parents, my church and my community.

I was brought up to respect my fellow man and to respect authority, to love my neighbor, to help those who cannot help themselves, and to help build people up not tear people down.

I see no way of reconciling my Christian beliefs with the manner in which the Republican Party is conducting itself. That is why I feel compelled to stand up and come back to the Texas Democratic Party.”

Almost too predictably, the Republican powers that be in Upshur County are now contemplating suing Parish after she issued an order making it easier for prospective jurors to do their civic duty.  Parish ordered the court house to be opened at 7:30 on jury days with the metal detector operating.  That got up the hackles of the Tea Party controlled county government and the county commissioners have hired an Austin law firm to investigate whether to sue Parish.

Red doubts that this signifies a larger trend.  It may be that some RINO judges in Harris County join Jennings in abandoning the GOP ship, but it seems unlikely right now.  If the Democrats sweep in November, Red may be singing a different tune.

 

Red’s NFL Picks – Week 8

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Red tried for perfect mediocrity last week – and failed going 3-2-1 – thanks to the Seahawks/Cardinals field goal fest that ended in a tie on Sunday night.  So old Uncle Red is 19-22-1 nearing the half pole.  It’s enough to make a man vote for a Libertarian. Well, almost enough.

Sure Bet Pick of the Week – Bengals bonk OTNAs. Red thinks that the London games should be reserved for exciting teams like the Jaguars, Titans and Browns.  The majority of the English fans don’t know any better – in fact,  most of them have become Jaguars fans by virtue of simple familiarity and lack of taste.  Real games between teams that might just have a chance at making the playoffs should be played in a hard cold driving rain in the heartland with only the hard-core faithful hanging in there until the two-minute warning and missing work on Monday with a nasty head cold.  But the NFL in its wisdom, has chosen to put a game of some actual importance in the English capital this week.  (Does England even have a capital?) Red thinks the Bengals are a steal giving up 2.5 and would still take them at -3.  The over/under at 47 to 48 is more problematic.  Both of these teams need a win here.  The OTNAs can keep pace in the NFC East with a win and an Eagles victory over the hated Cowboys (see below).  The Bengals keep playoff hopes alive with a win as the Stealers and Ravens are taking on water. Cincinnati 24 Landover, Md. 23.

Underdog Pick of the Week – Bills beat up Patriots. Long-time reader Timmy asks, Red, how can you pick against the Pats?  Doesn’t that violate the laws of physics and risk ripping apart the space-time continuum as we know it?  Well Billy, Red is what is known in these parts as a self-proclaimed, part-time, semi-professional prognosticator and ordinary mortals like yourself, Danny shouldn’t question those of us who are bold enough to make foolish predictions for all to see on a weekly basis. You got that, Larry?  In other words, shut your pie hole, Willy.  Let Red do his thing and at the end of the season when you have lost all your lunch money for the spring, then you can come crying to Red. Seems like Red is forgetting something.  Oh yeah.   Orchard Park 30 New England 17.

Rivalry Game Pick of the Week – Vikings victimize Bears. Despite the end of perfection at the hands of the Eagles last week, the Purple Power still are at the top of the NFL heap after 7 weeks.  They will slide down the pile a bit as the season progresses, but not this week.  That’s because they face the Bears who are bemoaning the loss of Brian Hoyer.  The sign reads “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here” when you are down to mourning the loss of Brian Hoyer.  These teams have faced each other every year since 1961 when the Vikings stunned the Bears 37-13 in the first game in franchise history at Bloomington.  The Vikings lead the series 57-51-2 and the teams have met but once in the playoffs – a 35-18 Bears victory in 1995. Minnesota 31 Chicago 3.

Texas Franchise Pick of the Week – Texans take out Lions.   Last week Red wrote, “The Texans don’t need to win this game [against Broncos], but they do need to look like an actual NFL team – something that has eluded them in road games this season.”  Three field goals and less than 200 yards passing does not resemble a “an actual NFL team.”  So why pick the Texans now?  Well, for one, Red will be in attendance at NRG on Sunday and he hates to pick against the Texans when it might just ruin an otherwise pleasant Sunday afternoon watching modern-day gladiation in person. For two, the Texans will have to beat a real professional football team at some point this season (Red’s so-called “Quality Win”) – almost every team does that.  Well, they beat the Chiefs you say.  Fair point.  Maybe the Texans have already had their Quality Win for the season if the Chiefs don’t fall apart down the stretch.  And it all begs the question of just how good the Lions really are?  Red thinks not that good.  Matt Stafford is having an MVP runner up kind of season so far.  But that usually means disaster is about to strike in Motown.   While all the focus is on the failure of Ock Brosweiler and the huge gamble the front office took on him, Red thinks that the key this week is to take pressure off the pathetic offense with an aggressive defensive scheme that gets after MS –  a tough but doable proposition even without JJ in the lineup.  Whitney Mercilus needs to take over and make this “his defense” and make MS his personal bitch this week. Houston 24 Detroit 1.

Prime Time Pick of the Week – Eagles edge Cowboys.  A true Cowboy hater can dream, can’t he?  Red needs something to make this nightmare of a successful Cowboys campaign come to a halt.  Amazingly, the Eagles can take the lead in the NFC East with a win on Sunday night.  This is what the experts call a “pivotal game.”  This is what Red calls a “stupid pick” as witnessed by the fact that Red has so much faith in this pick, he is playing Blake “the Bumbler” Bortles over Carson “Is a Rookie, Plays Like Rookie” Wentz in his big money fantasy league this week. Philadelphia 23 Arlington 20.

Shit Bowl Pick of the Week – Jets jump all over Browns. Among the many teams that have made Red’s list this season, the Jets are near the top.  Red really can stand anything about the entire Jets organization, and yet he called for them to make the playoffs this season.  And how have the Jets paid old Cousin Red back?  By stinking up northern Jersey – and Red can tell you from personal experience that something has to really reek before it you can get a whiff of it over the ambient level of stench in that part of our fair country.  It seems just a matter of time before Bryce Petty is pulled off the end of the bench to finish off this worst of all possible seasons for the Jets.  Meanwhile back in the heartland, that the Browns are living down to expectations is hardly news.  It seems just a matter of time before the Browns are calling up Johnny F. Football and saying, “Please come back, all is forgiven. We still love you.”  Loyal readers know that nothing please Papa Rad more than to have a true Shit Bowl to complain about.  Well, Uncle Red is happy this week.  Please make sure your seat belts are fastened and your tray tables are in their full upright position lest ye attempt to leap from a moving plane while attempting to watch this colossal crap contest. New Jersey 33 Cleveland 15.

Murder at the World Series

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In honor of the Fall Classic, Red will be posting something about  the World Series every day.  Today’s entry comes from a particularly odiferous made for TV movie called “Murder at the World Series.”  Red remembers watching this with a group of friends back in 1977 mainly because it featured scenes shot in Houston in and around the beloved Astrodome.

Other than that, MATWS has little to offer.  The basic plot is that an aspiring but psychopathic baseball player tries out for the Houston Astros and is rejected.  He tries to get revenge by undertaking a series of kidnappings and plotting to bomb a World Series game at the Astrodome.  His plans go awry when he sort of falls for one of his kidnapping victims.  He intends to let her go, but ends up killing her when a bomb planted in his van goes off.  He either gets captured or killed – Red doesn’t remember because this is some awful tripe masquerading as actual entertainment.  The MFTVM is notable in featuring Joachim “Where’s My Head” Andujar as the starting pitcher for the Astros and the late great Bob Allen as a sportscaster.  Red can’t imagine that this is ever showed anywhere, but if perchance it is, the only reason to watch is to see what the Astrodome looked like in its glory days – including the movie credits being displayed on the big light board in centerfield.

And finally, as Red’s old buddy Scooter said at the conclusion, “You know it had to be fiction because the Astros won the World Series.”

 

Today in Texas History – October 26

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From the Annals of the Great War –   In 1944, Major Horace S. “Stump” Carswell, Jr. was killed in action in China.  Carswell, a native of Fort Worth, had enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps after Germany invaded Poland.  After extensive training, he entered the Pacific Theater of Operations in April 1944, as pilot and operations officer of the 374th Bombardment Squadron of 308th Bombardment Group of the 14th Air Force.

On his last mission, Carswell was flying a B-24 Liberator on a single-aircraft sortie against a Japanese convoy in the South China Sea.  He scored two hits on an oil tanker after making a successful second low-level run over the now-alerted convoy.   His co-pilot was wounded and the B-24 had two engines knocked out, a third damaged, a leaking hydraulic system, and a punctured fuel tank.  Despite the damage, Carswell managed to gain enough altitude to reach land, where he ordered the crew to bail out. Eight did, but the bombardier’s parachute was damaged and he could not jump with the others.  Carswell stayed with the bombardier and the wounded co-pilot, and attempted to land the badly damaged craft but was unsuccessful. The aircraft crashed against a mountain, and all three aboard were killed.

Carswell was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for giving “his life…to save all members of his crew” and for “sacrifice far beyond that required of him.” In 1948,  Fort Worth Army Airfield was renamed Carswell Air Force Base.

Did Michael Lee Call the 2016 World Series for the Cubs – in 1993?

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There is a heated debate swinging about whether Michael Lee – Mission Viejo High School Class of 1993 called the Cubs as the winner of the 2016 World Series as part of his yearbook photo tag 23 years ago.  Internet sleuths are trying to verify whether this is real or a hoax.

Frankly, Red doesn’t see it as a big deal.  Good for Michael Lee if this is his 15 minutes of fame.  And if it is a hoax, it’s a pretty good one.

The real story would be if Lee put down some serious cash with a London bookmaker on the Cubs winning the Fall Classic 23 years in advance.

 

Today in Texas History – October 25

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From the Annals of the Fall Classic –  In 2005, the Houston Astros faced the Chicago White Sox  in the first World Series game ever to be held in Texas. The game was also notable for being the longest in World Series history at 5 hours and 41 minutes and actually ended the next day on October 26th.  Many other records were set or tied in this marathon. The teams combined to use 17 pitchers (nine for the White Sox, eight for the Astros), throwing a total of 482 pitches, and walking 21 batters (a dozen by Chicago, nine by Houston); 43 players were used (the White Sox used 22 and the Astros used 21), and 30 men were left on base (15 for each team) – all of which were WS records. One tied record was total double plays, with six (four by the Astros, two by the White Sox).  Scott Podsednik set a new all-time record with eight official at-bats.

The Pale Hose defeated the Astros 7-5 on their way to a series sweep.  All four games were close with two 1-run and two 2-run wins for the Sox.  As it stands, it will be the only World Series to be played between these franchises as the Astros have since moved to the American League.