(I am writing this in the midst of postseason stress. Yesterday was fun ... from about the fifth inning on. But now it's over, the Dodgers won and I'll agonize through another game less than 24 hours after the first one. Maybe the NBA playoffs have it right: we need a few days to recover before the next heart attack. It's time for Cardboard Appreciation. This is the 264th in a series):
A few days ago, I was in a yank about the length of time since the Dodgers had been in a World Series, counting up the winless streak in the NLCS (currently at four straight), when I decided to relive the good old days.
I found Game 6 of the 1981 World Series and for the first time since it happened, watched it from beginning to end.
It felt strange to see the Dodgers doing so well on the biggest stage in baseball. I've experienced that feeling twice in my life, but the last time was 1988 and I've become accustomed to inevitable failure no matter how well my team is doing.
The circumstances of a game played 36 years ago were both amusing and heartening. ABC aired the World Series that year and the broadcasting team was Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer and Howard Cosell. Only one of those guys possessed a real appreciation for baseball and I am still amazed ABC let that happen (yes, I know, this is where someone will start yelling, "Joe Buck!"). But seeing all those players from my childhood brought me back to everything I first loved about the game.
ABC panned the stands just like TV likes to do now. This was the time when network TV broadcasts discovered ballplayers' beautiful wives, and there were shots of Barbaralee Monday, Diana Murcer and Cindy Howe. It also showed a couple of celebrities so Cosell could fawn in only the way that Howard could. Gerry Cooney and Marlo Thomas were at the game.
As for the game, it was played quickly back then, much more quickly than today. Not much stepping out of the batters box. Relatively few trips to the mound. The Dodgers brought in one relief pitcher -- Steve Howe in the sixth inning -- and he pitched the rest of the game.
The Dodgers beat the Yankees, 9-2, with most of the scoring being done in the fifth and sixth innings. Pedro Guerrero, just being discovered by baseball fans at the time, knocked in five runs and featured supreme confidence every time he batted.
The most controversial moment came when Yankees starter Tommy John was removed after four innings with the game tied 1-1. The cameras showed John grousing in the dugout and the broadcasters discussed it throughout the game, but I couldn't help but think about how much more significant this would have been if it happened now, how loud the noise would be. I had completely forgotten that John had been removed so quickly, leading to a collapse by the Yankees bullpen. There's no way I would have forgotten it if something similar happened today. Heck, Clayton Kershaw was removed at five innings yesterday, the Dodgers ended up winning and people still acted like the Dodgers did something wrong.
But perhaps the most interesting moment of the game, to me, happened in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers just had taken a whopping 8-1 lead and the Yankees came to the plate with Cosell yammering about wholesale changes in the offseason. Graig Nettles reached Dodgers starter Burt Hooton for a single, bringing Rick Cerone to the plate.
Cerone ended up walking on a 3-2 count. Hooton threw ball four, which was nowhere near Cerone, yet Cerone proceeded to launch his bat disgustedly toward the dugout while staring angrily at Hooton.
Cerone then trotted to first and while he was on first, started barking at Hooton. I couldn't figure out what Hooton had done to make Cerone so upset. I had to have Palmer, the only guy in the booth paying attention to the game, to explain it.
According to Palmer, Cerone was upset because Hooton had not "challenged" Cerone with fastballs. Hooton's offerings to Cerone were a mixture of fastballs and the knuckle-curveball for which he was known. Palmer, naturally supporting the pitcher, said in his usual slightly sarcastic manner that Cerone felt Hooton should be throwing fastballs so Cerone could be successful.
The incident baffled me.
"How bizarre," I thought, "this game was back then."
Is that the way ballplayers thought then -- off-speed pitches were for weakling pitchers? Today, pitchers throw four, five, six pitches and the larger the repertoire, the more impressed I am. If pitchers actually were discouraged from throwing off-speed pitches for fear of being branded "weak," then I have to say that is something I much prefer about the game today. I want each side to use everything at their disposal. Intellect and skill. Pure power can only get you so far.
Of course, perhaps Cerone's histrionics had to do with a seven-run deficit in what was a must-win game for the Yankees. Teammate Lou Piniella threw a similar fit on the bases that inning when a runner ahead of him didn't score.
Or, after consulting the back of Cerone's 1982 Donruss card, maybe it was just the last straw in a long year:
Maybe that's why Cerone is keeping his face shielded on the front of the card.
A few days ago, I was in a yank about the length of time since the Dodgers had been in a World Series, counting up the winless streak in the NLCS (currently at four straight), when I decided to relive the good old days.
I found Game 6 of the 1981 World Series and for the first time since it happened, watched it from beginning to end.
It felt strange to see the Dodgers doing so well on the biggest stage in baseball. I've experienced that feeling twice in my life, but the last time was 1988 and I've become accustomed to inevitable failure no matter how well my team is doing.
The circumstances of a game played 36 years ago were both amusing and heartening. ABC aired the World Series that year and the broadcasting team was Keith Jackson, Jim Palmer and Howard Cosell. Only one of those guys possessed a real appreciation for baseball and I am still amazed ABC let that happen (yes, I know, this is where someone will start yelling, "Joe Buck!"). But seeing all those players from my childhood brought me back to everything I first loved about the game.
ABC panned the stands just like TV likes to do now. This was the time when network TV broadcasts discovered ballplayers' beautiful wives, and there were shots of Barbaralee Monday, Diana Murcer and Cindy Howe. It also showed a couple of celebrities so Cosell could fawn in only the way that Howard could. Gerry Cooney and Marlo Thomas were at the game.
As for the game, it was played quickly back then, much more quickly than today. Not much stepping out of the batters box. Relatively few trips to the mound. The Dodgers brought in one relief pitcher -- Steve Howe in the sixth inning -- and he pitched the rest of the game.
The Dodgers beat the Yankees, 9-2, with most of the scoring being done in the fifth and sixth innings. Pedro Guerrero, just being discovered by baseball fans at the time, knocked in five runs and featured supreme confidence every time he batted.
The most controversial moment came when Yankees starter Tommy John was removed after four innings with the game tied 1-1. The cameras showed John grousing in the dugout and the broadcasters discussed it throughout the game, but I couldn't help but think about how much more significant this would have been if it happened now, how loud the noise would be. I had completely forgotten that John had been removed so quickly, leading to a collapse by the Yankees bullpen. There's no way I would have forgotten it if something similar happened today. Heck, Clayton Kershaw was removed at five innings yesterday, the Dodgers ended up winning and people still acted like the Dodgers did something wrong.
But perhaps the most interesting moment of the game, to me, happened in the sixth inning.
The Dodgers just had taken a whopping 8-1 lead and the Yankees came to the plate with Cosell yammering about wholesale changes in the offseason. Graig Nettles reached Dodgers starter Burt Hooton for a single, bringing Rick Cerone to the plate.
Cerone ended up walking on a 3-2 count. Hooton threw ball four, which was nowhere near Cerone, yet Cerone proceeded to launch his bat disgustedly toward the dugout while staring angrily at Hooton.
Cerone then trotted to first and while he was on first, started barking at Hooton. I couldn't figure out what Hooton had done to make Cerone so upset. I had to have Palmer, the only guy in the booth paying attention to the game, to explain it.
According to Palmer, Cerone was upset because Hooton had not "challenged" Cerone with fastballs. Hooton's offerings to Cerone were a mixture of fastballs and the knuckle-curveball for which he was known. Palmer, naturally supporting the pitcher, said in his usual slightly sarcastic manner that Cerone felt Hooton should be throwing fastballs so Cerone could be successful.
The incident baffled me.
"How bizarre," I thought, "this game was back then."
Is that the way ballplayers thought then -- off-speed pitches were for weakling pitchers? Today, pitchers throw four, five, six pitches and the larger the repertoire, the more impressed I am. If pitchers actually were discouraged from throwing off-speed pitches for fear of being branded "weak," then I have to say that is something I much prefer about the game today. I want each side to use everything at their disposal. Intellect and skill. Pure power can only get you so far.
Of course, perhaps Cerone's histrionics had to do with a seven-run deficit in what was a must-win game for the Yankees. Teammate Lou Piniella threw a similar fit on the bases that inning when a runner ahead of him didn't score.
Or, after consulting the back of Cerone's 1982 Donruss card, maybe it was just the last straw in a long year:
Maybe that's why Cerone is keeping his face shielded on the front of the card.
Comments
I do miss the pace of the game back then. Even though that Yankees-Dodgers World Series had been a "worst-case scenario" for me, I wouldn't mind watching some of a game like that.