Bastardo.
I am enjoying the holidays. Taking time off from writing and thinking. Generally practicing my video game skills and refining my cocktail craft making, and you have to go and make back to back posts.
Prior to the holiday I had been working on a draft of a post about Luther, the Great Reformation, spirituality, ceremony and the such; but so much for that.
Instead I share one of my highlights of this joyous holiday season, offseason baseball program watching. In particular watching classic Dodger Games on the MLB.
I love the classic Dodger games. These games in particular were from the 1965 World Series, the first game was Game 4 of the series at Dodger Stadium featuring Jim “Mudcat” Grant versus Don Drysdale October 10, 1965. Some observations:
First of all what a great World Series program. That is what we need today, more integration of our space program in baseball publications.
The game was broadcast on NBC and I loved how it featured early instant replay, aptly titled “NBC Instant Replay.” Thankfully this was before they introduced the NBC peacock. So all you had was a funky NBC logo. But I was surprised they had replay that far back. No slow motion but replay none the less. Another interesting thing was how long they kept with certain shots, not the quick rapid fire jump shots you see today. In fact I wonder when the last time NBC hosted a MLB game on their airwaves.
The game was interesting because it featured Drysdale after he had been shelled in game one; which he pitched because Koufax was sitting it out due to Yom Kippur. He got beat up in the first game but he came back strong in this one.
His fastball didn’t look super intimidating, it looked decently fast and it had good movement, but not overpowering. But mixed with his curveball it was wicked.
When they threw it back to the infield after a pop fly and they threw it around the horn they went short stop, second, first, catcher, third to pitcher. When did the first baseman get cut out of the action? I would love to see them go back to this style.
Drysdale labored at times, kept leaving the ball up in the zone.
This was also shortly after the introduction of helmets. Maury Wills didn’t wear a helmet, probably thought it would slow him down.
Fourth inning in the game Drysdale gets Killebrew 0-2. Tried to sneak a fastball over for strike three, Harmon murdered it, just obliterated it. Harmon was a monster, one of those guys who put all of his effort into every swing. Actually kinda like Manny except instead of twirling he dropped to a knee. But the Killer was a big guy, and Drysdale challenged him and lost.
A few innings later Drysdale left another fastball up and Tony Oliva and he put it in the seats. Who did Alston start warming up in the bullpen? Lefty ace Ron Perranoski. Classic. He K’d Killebrew after Oliva. Ron stayed in the pen.
The announcers split time in the broadcast. Vin Scully split broadcast time with Twins announcer Ray Scott; both at the time good journeymen announcers. Vin was of course good, but had not developed the stories that he has today. More of less just good quality play by play. Peppered throughout the early innings of the game they played prerecorded audio interviews with players and managers. Old school but fun.
Wes Parker was 25 years old and looked like a kid. I look at James Loney now and only hope that we get the same career out of him that we got out of Parker. Loney already has better numbers at his age. Only thing is that Parker stopped play after 9 seasons and at age 32, why such a short career?
Old Dodger Stadium was beautiful. They even commented on how tall it was behind the plate with six different levels behind home plate. They has some extra patches of grass near the batting boxes too, which looked classy. No last names on the uniforms though.
Attendance 55,920.
Game three was a record attendance of 55,934.
During the game third base was knocked loose. How was it secured? A metal loop in the ground, in which a leather belt which was attached to the base was strung through and then buckled on the other side of the base. The bases were attached to the ground with leather belts….wow….and there were buckled on the bases….and they were fashioned out of canvas….not the foam monstrosities we have today.
A lot fewer trees in the ravine at the time. Pavilion looks the same though, no blacked out seats in center. Also no big speaker system in center field, and I couldn’t tell how they were using the Diamond Vision Screen, it was always blank when they showed it.
Bottom of the 7th, Dodgers ahead2-6, Drysdale 0-2 with two strikeouts lead off the inning. You would never see that today.
Starting pitcher for the Twins was “Mudcat” Grant, whatever happened to cool nicknames like that. Seems like everything now ends in “Rod”.
By the way Drysdale struck out again to lead off the inning, I guess you just don’t pull him.
He started 42 games that year and finished 20 of them. Insane today.
Only saw him throw behind a guy’s head once.
You could hear the Organ being played in the background in between innings. No Beatles music there.
Killebrew had big legs.
Koufax pitched game 7 on two days rest. I guess there was a lot of questioning going on as to whether this was a good idea or not. Hey if I am Walter Alston and I have the best left hander of all time willing to pitch for me, I would go with him too.
Game 7 was in Minnesota, Bloomington to be specific. In October it was 60 degrees at game time.
Jim Kaat pitching for the Twins….guy had a 25 year career as a pitcher, impressive.
Umpires still wore ties back then, I want that brought back.
Third base coach for the Twins…….future hall of famer (I think) Billy Martin.
Koufax delivery quick and smooth.
He wears his hat tilted up just a little bit.
His fastball didn’t seem to have a lot of movement , pretty straight and angled down, but he placed it well. Worked the corners, threw a lot of high strikes which
I would not have expected.
Apparently Koufax threw more fastballs in Minnesota because their mound was more flat then Dodger stadium without the break that allowed him to pull down on the ball.
In the first inning Koufax walked 2 in a row, Drysdale got up in the pen. Roseboro and Wills go out to the mound talk to him for a little. Wills seems in control as team captain. Next guy goes down with the big bender.
I regret that Koufax was only pitching in 2 days rest because I am sure he was tired, but he threw plenty of balls or strikes on the corners that the batters just fouled off.
I saw a batters interference call in game 7. Never would of expected that, but he swung, stepped over the plate while Roseboro was throwing down to second. Don’t see that much of that either.
Billy Martin almost got tossed for arguing with the ump about Koufax’s pick off move. Martin was just as fiery as a couch.
Koufax had a little nubber to the pitcher in his second at bat. He ran that thing out all the way, you would never see that today.
For the rest of the game Koufax kind of just kept the Twins off balance, I wouldn’t call him dominating, but his pitch placement was good enough that rarely did anyone get good wood on the ball. He gave up one good fastball that got hit to the fence. I wish I could have seen him in a more dominating performance where he was K’ing people left and right. Even Vinny noticed his curveball wasn’t working for him; but it was still great to see him at the peak of his career. But I suppose that is what makes him one of the greats, you don’t have your best stuff by far, but you go out and throw a three hit shutout to the AL champs.
Koufax manned up though, bottom of the ninth. He has already struck out 8, he gets Oliva to ground out. Killebrew just grounds one by Wills at short with a pitch he left up. He then strikes out the next two for the win and the series.
Bonus footage: younger Vin Scully reporting from the Locker room after the victory. No swimming goggles to be seen.
I love this sport and I love my team and all the tradition that goes along with both.
February 18th can’t you get here any sooner!
P.S. Your thoughts on Hazel Mae?
