I’m going to have to start with 1968-the St. Louis Cardinals Bob Gibson had a phenomenal season. I got to see him live in Atlanta vs the Braves. Henry Aaron was 0-4 against Gibson that night. Heck, everybody was 0-4 it seemed like. Total domination and a complete game to boot! My intent here is to get everyone to remember what they’ve seen as well as enjoy and share our growing up memories. Remember as often as suits you - even let someone else’s memories trigger more memories for you. Just thought it might be something off season that we all can enjoy.
March 1958. My dad picked me up early at school- 3rd grade. Yankees and Phillies were playing a late spring exhibition game in Jax on the way north for the regular season. I had begun getting into bsb for a couple of years and Mickey Mantle had just had two super seasons in '56 and '57 to become my hero. I knew that the Phils had Robin Roberts, but I don't think he pitched and I doubt I knew any other players on that side. However, I can still remember most of the Yanks' lineup: Berra, Skowren, Kubek, McDougall, Mantle and Bauer I just cant remember LF, although Berra and Elston Howard played there some. That might be my most treasured childhood memory and directly led to me being a diehard bsb fan- it's why you people are stuck with my rants today.
I also got to see Bill Singer, RHP for the Dodgers in 1968 as well. He was as good as anyone for a couple of seasons but unfortunately like a lot of us he had one of the bodies that just couldn’t hold up to the wear ‘n tear. The really cool thing for me about Singer was fast forward to 2007 when Alan was pitching for the NYY in AA Trenton-we were up there to get to see a couple of his starts and I met Bill Singer the scout, there to see Alan pitch. Had a great conversation with him highlighting me getting to see him pitch and then meeting him as he was there to see Alan. Pretty dang cool for an ol’country boy.
April 15, 1958. I was 10. First official MLB game on the West Coast. Giants 8 Dodgers 0. Parents took us to the game, lunch at Lefty O’Doul’s before the game (look him up—great hitter, his restaurant was a famous SF place). My dad brought his 8mm film camera, still have it on vhs—yep still have a vhs player
While I watched him countless times on TV during his career I only got to see Nolan Ryan once live. That was in the summer of 1970 when he was with the Mets, again in Atlanta vs the Braves. Man oh man— that grunt and the pop of the catcher’s mitt!
It was actually pregame. Sandy Koufax had just signed with NBC and he popped out of the visitor's dugout at the old Comiskey. I was sitting about 15 rows back and I sprinted down to get his autograph. He signed three or four and went back into the visitor's clubhouse.
My parents spent about 10 years in Kansas City from the late 80's to late 90's. Dad's company had Royals season tix about 20 rows straight behind home plant. When I would go visit we would go to games. Saw the Mariners v Royals with Randy Johnson pitching. Griffey hit one out. Also got to see Clemens pitch when the Red Sox were in town
In 1976 I was 6 years old, we moved to Milwaukee and my family went to a Brewers game. Aaron didn’t start but was on deck with two outs in the ninth. The guy who was up struck out. . Father’s Day 1988 a friend of mine and I went to NY as a high school graduation trip. We went to a Mets game, David Cone took a no hitter against the Phillies to two outs in the 8th, had Steve Jeltz 0-2 and grooved him a fastball for a single. I did see a no hitter once though, Gators NCAA regional game in 1991, John Burke. 0-0 game in the bottom of the 9th, and the gators got a 2 run walkoff home run to win it.
Memories of games at the old Comiskey. I was at the game where Dick Allen almost hit the centerfield scoreboard. Only a few players ever even hit a ball into the centerfield stands. The centerfield stands were usually (they moved home plate around over the years) 440 ft from home plate and the wall was really tall. Saw Don Mincher hit one out of the park. Only a few ever did that. Pulled the ball down the right field line and over the roof. Convinced my dad to stay through the ninth inning to see Carlos May hit a walk-off three run homer to win the game by one. But none compare to what my dad saw there. He was at the opening day game where Bob Feller threw a no-hitter.
I got to see two games in Atlanta in 1967. First I saw the Houston Astros Larry Dierker beat the Braves and then over later in the summer I got to see “Lefty” Steve Carlton with the Cardinals put it on the Braves.
It has been decades since I read Ball Four but wasn't Dierker the pitcher that would sing Rocky Raccoon in the dugout? Kind of weird for a right handed pitcher. More like a lefty.
Even though I saw Koufax several times on TV, Carlton was my longtime favorite LHP. These two and Randy Johnson are my all time favorite lefties.
I remember seeing Spahn pitch for the Giants once at the Stick. Mom was from Montreal and we were visiting family. Saw first game Seaver pitched after being traded to the Reds
The game against Furman started at 11:00 due to rain delays for Game 1 Even before a Gator stepped to bat, Burke had an ice wrap on his shoulder and wouldn't pitch extra innings. Brent "Killer" Killen's HR was a boomer into the street beyond RF. That might be my favorite adult baseball memory.
My brother lives outside of Seattle. Mid 90's I'm visiting and we go to the Kingdome to see the Mariners v A's. Late in the game Norm Charlton is pitching facing Mark McGwire. McGwire goes 3rd deck. Well over 500 feet
Yep. One of the Nasty Boys with Rob Dibble and Randy Myers. That '90 Reds team put it on the A's in the World Series that year
