RIP Vida Blue

[Jesus_Muscatel]

He's better qualified than Rube Marquard for sure and probably right in the same neighborhood as Jack Morris and several others.

Both he and Gooden had five year peak periods fairly comparable to Koufax, but Koufax's career was drastically shortened by injuries, not drugs.

Really, I don't think there were particularly any rumors that either Gooden or Blue were involved in unsavory stuff other then rumored substance abuse, which was rampant at the time and for which they were duly penalized.

I have wondered ... thanks Starman.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

If you've got two and a half hours to yourself, do yourself a favor and watch the '71 All-Star Game, with commercials.



Six players hit home runs in this game, and all six are in the Hall of Fame.

Those were the days, of the All-Star Game. The NL dominated, on account of the fact it integrated, by and large, much earlier than the American League. There were oversights, there were guys who got in on reputation, much like today ... but WINNING that thing was important.

And the National League had, in no particular order, Mays and McCovey, Seaver and Koosman, Lopes, Garvey and the Penguin, Jimmy Wynn in H-Town, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams at Wrigley, the Pittsburgh crew -- Stargell, Sanguillen and them, Mike Schmidt and "The Bull," Greg Luzinski, the Cardinals' guys ... just an amazing collection of talent.

 

[exmediahack]

When the AL won in 1983, it was a truly big deal. Atlee Hammaker was never the same.

 

[Starman]

The AL's 6-4 win in 71 was their only win in the Seventies I believe.

 

[MileHigh]

The AL's 6-4 win in 71 was their only win in the Seventies I believe.

The AL won one ASG from 1963 to 1982.

 

[Starman]

Yep, and I was there.

And I can tell my nieces I saw both Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds hit home runs, and only one counted.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_career_home_run_leaders

Of the top 10 guys on the all-time HR list, the only one I didn't see hit a home run in person was Babe Ruth.

(Update: Oops, I never saw Willie hit a homer in person. He went hitless in the ASG.)

 

[Twirling Time]

Integration never entered my youthful mind. To me, the NL was simply the "senior circuit" for some other reason.

To further the point, the early-1970s A's dynasty was pretty diverse as well.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

When the AL won in 1983, it was a truly big deal. Atlee Hammaker was never the same.

Highlighted (or lowlighted, if you're Atlee) by Fred Lynn's grand slam, still the only one in ASG history

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Yep, and I was there.

And I can tell my nieces I saw both Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds hit home runs, and only one counted.

Fairly sure I saw Bonds homer at some point somewhere, but the last time I saw him was in 2007 and I was getting a drink when he went deep. Brilliant idea, jackass!

 

[Liut]

Highlighted (or lowlighted, if you're Atlee) by Fred Lynn's grand slam, still the only one in ASG history

Remember watching on television. Comiskey Park.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Those were the days, of the All-Star Game. The NL dominated, on account of the fact it integrated, by and large, much earlier than the American League. There were oversights, there were guys who got in on reputation, much like today ... but WINNING that thing was important.

And the National League had, in no particular order, Mays and McCovey, Seaver and Koosman, Lopes, Garvey and the Penguin, Jimmy Wynn in H-Town, Ernie Banks and Billy Williams at Wrigley, the Pittsburgh crew -- Stargell, Sanguillen and them, Mike Schmidt and "The Bull," Greg Luzinski, the Cardinals' guys ... just an amazing collection of talent.

Reminds me a bit of reading Bill (Spaceman) Lee's biography. He made the '73 AL All-Star team, and said that prior to the game, AL president Joe Cronin made a speech to fire up the team because he was tired of losing.

Then Lee went to a pitchers' meeting, where the manager asked if anyone physically could not throw that night. Lee raised his hand and the manager said that Lee had thrown several days before and should be good for a couple of innings. Lee replied, "Not against these guys."

 

[Starman]

If you've got two and a half hours to yourself, do yourself a favor and watch the '71 All-Star Game, with commercials.



Six players hit home runs in this game, and all six are in the Hall of Fame.

Other than highlight clips on TWIB and other shows, and of course Reggie's moon shot, I never got to actually see that game as broadcast on teevee until about 40 years afterwards.