The Bronx is Burning

No, he was in Pittsburgh in 1977. He didn't get to New York until 1978.

 

which led to Nettles quote on Sparky Lyle: "Cy Young to sayonara."

 

That episode reminds me of how much times have changed. McRae (at least I think it was McRae) taking out Randolph. Nettles taking out Frank White in Albert Belle fashion... Nettles and Brett beating the shit out of each other... and NOT being ejected.

I just hope that the last episode was accurate with Martin's behavior, especially with the tirade after the McRae slide and him taunting Larry Gura on the mound. If its accurate, it shows one of the most intruiging aspects of Martin. If not, it's just plain stupid.

 

The best part of tonight's episode: seeing clips from World Series day games.

 

I do miss those. They ought to have at least one each season.

 

I remember when the Pirates and Orioles played the first World Series night game, and how unusual it was. My, how times (no pun intended) have changed.

 

Watching an episode now, and was curious about something.

When did guests of honor start throwing out the first pitch from the mound and not the grandstands? Who was the first person who said, hey, maybe we should actually throw from the mound?

Miscellany reading:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_first_pitch

 

I was thinkin' the same thing, JD.

 

This might be the best production ESPN has done, and I've pretty much seen 'em all. Hour 2 of tonight's 2-episode set is on right now. Start of the World Series.

 

2 things:

1) they show a 4-year-old boy, "Jose Hernandez or Fernandez" throwing out the 1st pitch; George finds him on the street while driving around. The kid would be 34 right now. I'd love to see a feature on him 30 years later.

2) I love the part where Billy, before Game 2, is laughing like a kid while watching the 3 Stooges in his office.

 

In the trailer for this week's episode, Gabe Paul says of Reggie Jackson during batting practice, "Incredible. He's gone yard with every pitch."

Did people really say "gone yard" in 1977? Maybe my memory is bad, but I remember players in those days saying things like "He dialed 8" (which you had to do on hotel phones to get long distance). "He left the yard" and "It left the yard" preceded the shorting version of "He went yard," but I don't think I heard anyone say "gone yard" or any version of that until the late '80s or early '90s.

 

JD: I seriously doubt Paul said "He's gone yard"... that was not part of the 70s lexicon.

As for the 4-year-old kid, I don't think he exists, either. I covered Games 1,2 and 6 and do not recall that at all.
And the Joe D thing prior to Game is more ESPN fictionalization. Trust me, Joe D never in his life would have to go to a will call window to get his tickets.
In fact, Joe D had very specific and rigid "rules" about every personal appearance he made, including at Yankee Stadium. Having to "mingle" with common folks on a will call line is something DiMaggio would never allow.