#1986 Boston Red Sox

[thenewdemocratus]

ABC Sports: MLB 1986-ALCS-Game 5-Boston Red Sox @ Anaheim Angels: Full Game

. Source:The New Democrat  Perhaps the best MLB playoff game at least in my lifetime. And the biggest choke in my lifetime at least in MLB with the Angels blowing a 3-1 series lead with the opportunity to win the American League Championship at home with their offense, defense and pitching. And they simply didn’t close the door to a team they probably should’ve beaten at least in six games if not…

[dufrau]

Do you think Nancy Wheeler would be a baseball fan? Like, maybe as sort of a "social" thing at first when she's in college and her friends like it? But she's Nancy, she doesn't NOT commit to stuff so she ends up getting very invested in it..? Idk, that's how I could picture her becoming someone who enjoys watching sports, you know? What do you think?

Also that steak is gonna be so delicious, I just know it.

I think yes, especially if she goes to college in 1986 because the Red Sox made it to the world series that year and were so close to winning for the first time since 1918 but then they blew it and it was a huge deal and I feel like everybody would have been caught up in it and that would have made Nancy a Red Sox fan and a baseball fan for life.

I dont think she watches every game or anything but she keeps up with it by reading the newspaper and she gets intense when they make the playoffs

She probably gets free tickets from her work sometimes and goes to the games alone because she doesnt know who to invite and she really just wants to eat a shitty hot dog and drink an overpriced beer and fill out the scorecard in peace anyway. In a universe where Robin eventually joins her in Boston I think she brings Robin to a game once and then never again because she is straight up BORED. They still have fun hanging out and drinking too much but they probably leave by the 7th inning and then after that Nancy goes back to her occasional solo trips to the ballpark.

And the steak was so gooooood.

[dan6085]

1. Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game in 1962: Considered by many to be the greatest individual performance in basketball history, Chamberlain scored an incredible 100 points in a single game, a record that still stands today.

2. Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup: In a quarterfinal match against England, Maradona scored one of the most controversial goals in soccer history by punching the ball into the net with his hand, a play that went unnoticed by the referees.

3. Michael Jordan's "Flu Game" in the 1997 NBA Finals: Despite suffering from a severe case of the flu, Jordan scored 38 points and led the Chicago Bulls to victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

4. Babe Ruth's called shot in the 1932 World Series: In one of the most famous moments in baseball history, Ruth allegedly pointed to the center field fence and then hit a home run in that exact spot.

5. Usain Bolt's world record 100m race at the 2009 World Championships: Bolt shattered his own world record in the 100m by running it in 9.58 seconds, a feat that many consider to be the greatest sprinting performance of all time.

6. Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics: In gymnastics, a perfect 10 is the highest possible score, and Comaneci became the first person to achieve this feat in Olympic competition.

7. Bobby Orr's Stanley Cup-winning goal in 1970: In overtime of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Orr scored the game-winning goal and then flew through the air in celebration, creating one of the most iconic images in hockey history.

8. Roger Federer's 2008 Wimbledon victory over Rafael Nadal: In what many consider to be the greatest tennis match of all time, Federer defeated Nadal in five sets to win his sixth Wimbledon title.

9. Secretariat's 1973 Belmont Stakes victory: In arguably the greatest horse race ever run, Secretariat won the Belmont Stakes by an astonishing 31 lengths, setting a world record time that still stands today.

10. Michael Phelps' eight gold medals at the 2008 Olympics: Phelps became the first person to win eight gold medals at a single Olympic Games, breaking the previous record of seven set by Mark Spitz.

11. Lionel Messi's four-goal performance against Arsenal in 2010: In a Champions League match, Messi scored four goals and led Barcelona to a 4-1 victory over Arsenal.

12. Tom Brady's Super Bowl LI comeback against the Atlanta Falcons: In Super Bowl LI, Brady led the New England Patriots back from a 28-3 deficit to win the game in overtime, throwing for a Super Bowl record 466 yards.

13. Mookie Wilson's ground ball in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series: In one of the most memorable moments in baseball history, Wilson hit a ground ball that went through the legs of Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner, allowing the New York Mets to win the game and eventually the World Series.

14. Serena Williams' 2017 Australian Open victory while pregnant: Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open in 2017, all while being pregnant with her first child.

15. Brett Favre's Monday Night Football performance after his father's death: Just one day after his father passed away, Favre threw for 399 yards and four touchdowns in a Monday Night Football victory over the Oakland Raiders.

16. LeBron James' 2016 NBA Finals performance: In a seven-game series against the Golden State Warriors, James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship, averaging 29.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 8.9 assists per game.

17. Muhammad Ali's "Rumble in the Jungle" victory over George Foreman: In one of the greatest upsets in boxing history, Ali defeated Foreman in a heavyweight championship fight in 1974, using his "rope-a-dope" strategy to tire out his opponent.

18. Wayne Gretzky's 1985-86 season: Gretzky set NHL records for most goals (92), most assists (163), and most points (215) in a single season, a feat that many consider to be the greatest individual performance in hockey history.

19. Michael Johnson's world record 200m race at the 1996 Olympics: Johnson ran the 200m in 19.32 seconds, setting a new world record and winning the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

20. Tiger Woods' 2000 U.S. Open victory: Woods won the U.S. Open by a record-setting 15 strokes, finishing the tournament at 12-under par and cementing his status as one of the greatest golfers of all time.

[baseballbybsmile]

36 Years Ago Today: Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner commits one of the most famous errors in baseball history vs. the New York Mets in Game 6 of the World Series at Shea Stadium! (October 25, 1986)

[afrotumble]

Jim Rice was a Hall of Fame outfielder/ designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox. An 8 time All Star, 2 time Silver Slugger winner and 1 time MVP, he led the AL in home runs three times and in RBI twice.

Rice batted above .300 seven times, collected 100+ RBI eight times, had 200 hits four times and 20+ home runs 11 times. Between 1975 and 1986, Rice led all major league players in hits, RBIs and total bases, as well as all AL players in home runs and runs scored. He is also the only player in major league history to record over 200 hits while hitting 39 or more home runs for three consecutive years. Rice finished his 16 year career hitting .298 with 382 homers and 1451 RBI.

Rice was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

[dhowellafisheromen]

AL returns to All-Star glory with comeback win over NL

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Speedy Jarren Duran describes himself as a player who keeps his head down, works hard and never thinks of himself as being better than anybody else.

Duran turned some heads in his first All-Star Game, hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer for the American League and being awarded the MVP trophy named after Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams.

"That's an honor. Who else would I want to try to follow in the footsteps of besides a guy like that, who is not just a great baseball player but a great human being," Duran said after becoming the fifth Red Sox player selected All-Star Game MVP. "That guy was awesome, and I'm honored to be able to have his award."

The decisive homer came in the fifth inning Tuesday night as the AL beat the National League 5-3 for its 10th win in the past 11 All-Star Games.

Pittsburgh rookie Paul Skenes pitched a hitless first for the NL, twice hitting 100 mph, and Shohei Ohtani also went deep in Texas with a three-run homer for a 3-0 lead in the third.

Juan Soto hit a two-run double and scored on David Fry’s single to tie the score in the AL third, and Duran went deep off Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene.

"It's a surreal moment. So I'm just thankful to be here," said Duran, who was one of 39 first-time All-Stars this year.

Oakland right-hander Mason Miller got the win after throwing a 103.6 mph pitch, the fastest in the All-Star Game since tracking began in 2008. Hard-throwing Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out two in the ninth for the save.

The 22-year-old Skenes, who has pitched only 11 big league games since being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft last July, became the first rookie starter since 1995 and had the fewest games played for any player to make an All-Star team. The right-hander threw a hitless first, with a two-out walk to Soto before his Yankees teammate Aaron Judge grounded into a forceout on the next pitch.

Skenes threw 11 of 16 pitches for strikes, with seven fastballs up to 100.1 mph.

"Frankly, I wish I'd had a few more pitches to do that today," said Skenes, who has a good mix of pitches to go with the hard stuff. "It's cool to bring eyes to the game."

Ohtani, who has gone deep 29 times in the first season of his record $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pulled a 400-foot drive to right off Tanner Houck. That came after the Boston right-hander allowed singles to the first two batters he faced: No. 9 batter Jurickson Profar and leadoff hitter Ketel Marte.

"I haven't really hit well in the All-Star Game, so I'm just relieved that I put the ball in play," Ohtani said. "I just focused on having a regular at-bat as if I was in the regular season."

When Ohtani went against Miller in the fifth, he struck out on an 89.2 mph slider well inside and out of the strike zone. That was after twice taking strikes on fastballs of more than 100 mph.

Ohtani’s first All-Star homer made him the first Dodgers player to go deep in the Midsummer Classic since Hall of Fame catcher Mike Piazza in 1996. Eleven days after his 30th birthday, Ohtani was an All-Star for the fourth time — his first with the NL.

Baltimore’s Anthony Santander, after taking over for Soto in right field, had a two-out single in the fifth before Duran’s 413-foot homer to right-center after he had replaced Judge in center. Duran took a 95.9 mph fastball before going deep on an 86 mph splitter.

"I knew he threw really hard so I was just praying he would throw me a first pitch fastball so I could see how hard it was. After that, I was hoping to get a pitch up," Duran said. "He happened to leave a pitch up. I happened to put a good swing on it."

The last Red Sox player to be the All-Star MVP was J.D. Drew in 2008, following Pedro Martinez in 1999, Roger Clemens in 1986 and Carl Yastrzemski in 1970.

Duran was voted by his peers as an All-Star after being the first AL player to go into the break with at least 100 hits, 10 triples, 10 homers and 20 stolen bases.

The AL has a 48-44-2 record in the All-Star Game, and had won nine in a row before the National League’s 3-2 victory last year in Seattle.

AL starter Corbin Burnes arrived in Texas the morning of the game after spending time at home with his newborn twin daughters. The Baltimore right-hander allowed a walk and then a two-out double to Bryce Harper before getting out of his inning on a comebacker by William Contreras, his catcher last season in Milwaukee.

After his underhand toss of the ball to first base, Burnes had a big smile on his face when he kept jogging and wrapped his arm around Contreras on the baseline.

Quick game

Played in 2 hours, 28 minutes, it was the shortest All-Star Game since 1988, a game that the AL won 2-1 in Cincinnati that took only two minutes shorter.

Won in both leagues

Bruce Bochy of the host Rangers became the first manager to win World Series titles and All-Star Games in both leagues. Bochy is now 2-3 as an All-Star manager, leading the NL to a win in 2011. He won the World Series three times with the NL's San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012 and 2014, then led the Rangers to their first championship in his debut season with them last year.

Up next

The MLB regular series resumes Friday when 14 games are scheduled, with Milwaukee and Minnesota the only teams that won’t play until Saturday. Philadelphia (62-34) has the best record in the majors and Cleveland (58-37) has an AL-best .611 winning percentage, though Baltimore and the New York Yankees also have 58 wins. San Diego (50-49) is set to become the first team to play its 100th game, at the Guardians on Friday night.

[optimistredsox]

30 May, DET @ BOS, 5-0, loss

I was reminiscing about Boston's victory over Detroit's truly impressive 2013 team in that year's ALCS just the other day. Tightly fought pitchers' duels and no idea whether they would be able to win. Last night had a bit of that for a time - more than the final score suggests. Some games you just accept you lost because the other team was DEALING. The Tigers dealt last night. Jack Flaherty nearly fucking no-hit us for Christ's sake. That said, in spite of being shutout and beaten, there were some pretty cool bright sides.

We didn't get no-hit. Always feel pretty good about that.

Nick Pivetta found his sweeper and had a helluva run, tying Roger Clemens (who did it in his 20k game against the Mariners in 1986) for the most consecutive strikeouts by a Red Sox pitcher with 8 in a row. That's pretty good. And he had a pretty good outing otherwise, giving up two runs on three hits and walking two. He struck out nine in total.

It could've been worse.

We don't have to face Jack Flaherty again tonight, so maybe we'll get 'em.

[wikiuntamed]

On this day in Wikipedia: Saturday, 24th February

Welcome, добродошли (dobrodošli), 환영 (hwanyeong), მოგესალმებით (mogesalmebit) 🤗 What does @Wikipedia say about 24th February through the years 🏛️📜🗓️?

24th February 2022 🗓️ : Event - Address concerning the events in Ukraine Days after recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, Russian president Vladimir Putin orders a full scale invasion of Ukraine. ""Address concerning the events in Ukraine" (Russian: Обращение по поводу событий на Украине) was a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin on 21 February 2022, announcing that the Russian government would recognise the Ukrainian separatist regions of the Donetsk People's Republic and..."

Image licensed under CC BY 4.0? by Kremlin.ru

24th February 2018 🗓️ : Death - Haukur Hilmarsson Haukur Hilmarsson, Icelandic political activist and internationalist volunteer fighter (b. 1986) "Haukur Hilmarsson (22 July 1986 – 24 February 2018) was an Icelandic political activist. He played a crucial role in initiating a movement for the rights of refugees in Iceland. He rose to prominence during the 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests after climbing to the roof of the house of the..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by OddurBen

24th February 2014 🗓️ : Death - Franny Beecher Franny Beecher, American guitarist (b. 1921) "Francis Eugene Beecher (September 29, 1921 – February 24, 2014) was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz. He composed the classics "Blue Comet Blues", "Goofin' Around",..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0? by Imago1960

24th February 1974 🗓️ : Birth - Mike Lowell Mike Lowell, Puerto Rican baseball player "Michael Averett Lowell (born February 24, 1974) is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees (1998), Florida Marlins (1999–2005), and the Boston Red Sox (2006–2010). With the Red Sox, he was named MVP of the 2007 World..."

Image licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0? by Googie man on en.wikipedia

24th February 1924 🗓️ : Birth - Hal Herring Hal Herring, American football player and coach (d. 2014) "Harold Moreland "Hal" Herring (February 24, 1924 – February 9, 2014) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at Auburn University and professionally as a center and linebacker for the Buffalo Bills in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the Cleveland Browns..."

24th February 1822 🗓️ : Event - List of Swaminarayan temples The first Swaminarayan temple in the world, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad, is inaugurated. "Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, established temples, known as mandirs (Devnagari: मन्दिर), as part of his philosophy of theism and deity worship. These mandirs are known as Swaminarayan Hindu temples.He constructed nine temples in the following cities; Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Muli,..."

24th February 🗓️ : Holiday - Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Estonia from the Russian Empire in 1918; the Soviet period is considered to have been an illegal annexation. "Independence Day, formally the Anniversary of the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi aastapäev), is a national holiday in Estonia commemorating the Estonian Declaration of Independence which was published in the capital city Tallinn on 24 February 1918, establishing the Republic of..."

Image by Unknown authorUnknown author

[liugeaux]

MLB Expansion: Why Am I Obsessed With It?

The World Series ended last week and the Rangers became the 25th MLB team to win the coveted championship. This leaves the Rockies, Brewers, Mariners, Padres, and Rays as the only teams without a "ring". (Fun fact: 1922 was the first year teams were awarded rings after winning the Series) This was just the 3rd time in MLB history that 2 expansion-era teams faced off for the title, with the other 2 being 2015 and 2019. Without a second thought this seems, at best, like a nifty little stat, but looking deeper, it's borderline amazing it took so long for two expansion teams to play each other in the Fall Classic.

First, let's define "Expansion" team. It's any team added to the league AFTER the first 16 teams. Here are those original teams.

Original 16 MLB Teams and the year they joined MLB

Chicago Cubs - 1876

Atlanta Braves - 1876

Pittsburgh Pirates - 1887

Philadelphia Phillies - 1883

San Francisco Giants - 1883

Cincinnati Reds - 1890

Los Angeles Dodgers - 1890

St. Louis Cardinals - 1892

Baltimore Orioles - 1901

Boston Red Sox - 1901

Chicago White Sox - 1901

Cleveland Guardians - 1901

Detroit Tigers - 1901

Minnesota Twins - 1901

Oakland Athletics - 1901

New York Yankees - 1903

Sure, some of these teams have moved and/or changed names a few times, but as official franchise lineage goes, these are the original Major League teams.

In a short 27 years, baseball exploded to 16 teams. Originally, they were clustered in the east, only stretching as far as St. Louis. Those teams, battled it out for 57 years before any others joined the fray. Most measurements will tell you, to this day, that these 16 teams are still the more popular of the franchises. It's hard to compete with the popularity of the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Braves, Cubs and Red Sox.

With the rise of commercial air travel, the success of the Braves' move to Milwaukee, and the ousting of the Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast, it was clear Baseball could handle teams in smaller markets all over the US. In 1961 MLB started growing by adding a second Los Angeles-based team, the Angels, and the Senators in Washington DC. The latter moved to Dallas in 1972 to become today's Rangers.

This kicked off a 37-year expansion that saw 14 teams added to the league. Teams popped up everywhere, from the southernmost tip of Florida to Canada to Seattle.

14 Expansion Era Teams and the year they joined MLB

Los Angeles Angels - 1961

Texas Rangers - 1961

Houston Astros - 1962

New York Mets - 1962

Kansas City Royals - 1969

Milwaukee Brewers - 1969

San Diego Padres - 1969

Washington Nationals - 1969

Seattle Mariners - 1977

Toronto Blue Jays - 1977

Colorado Rockies - 1993

Miami Marlins - 1993

Arizona Diamondbacks - 1998

Tampa Bay Rays - 1998

The league nearly doubled in size which, mathematically, made it harder to win a World Series. In 1969, the Mets were the first expansion team to win a title, but for the most part, the expansion teams were absent from the Series altogether. For most new teams, success did not come quickly. In fact, there have only been 14 expansion team champions since the start of the expansion era (1961). Here they are.

Expansion teams that have won a World Series

1969 - Mets 1985 - Royals 1986 - Mets 1992 - Blue Jays 1993 - Blue Jays 1997 - Marlins 2001 - Diamondbacks 2002 - Angels 2003 - Marlins 2015 - Royals 2017 - Astros 2019 - Nationals 2022 - Astros 2023 - Rangers

In 62 years of expansion, only 14 of those years have been won by new teams. If you spread the numbers out and do some math, during the expansion era (1961-2023), the original 16 teams together have had 976 eligible "campaigns" for a World Series, while expansion teams have only had 652 (that's counting each team per year they were in the league, minus the '94 strike year.) That's a 3/2 ratio for the expansion teams during the expansion era. Of course, since the new teams trickled in over the years, that stat is on a sliding scale, but I still feel like they should have had more success, faster.

For a better sample we'll need to look at all the Series played since 1998 (once all the teams were included.) That's 26 years of baseball with a 30-team level playing field. Theoretically, with true parity, 47% of the teams in the series should be expansion teams, and those teams should win 47% of the time. Let's see if that happened.

'98-'23 saw 20 expansion teams play in the World Series. That's 38%, about 9% away from true parity. That period also had 8 expansion World Series champs. That's 31%, even farther from parity. So the phenomenon that brought me to this journey, (2015 the first all-expansion team World Series) is starting to make a little more sense, but it still blows my mind that it took SO long.

I guess, given that most of the newer teams are from smaller markets with smaller fan bases and thus have a smaller cash flow, they can't afford to go out and buy who they need to fill the holes in their lineups like a bigger market can. A hard salary cap could really help in this dept. The bigger markets are also natural tiebreakers themselves. Would you rather make 20 million and play in Tampa, or make 20 million and play in LA?

If we only focus on recent memory, the last 10 years, the expansion teams have been done much better. 12 of the last 20 teams to make the World Series have been from the new batch, and they've won half of them.

More Fun Facts: The Mets and the Astros are tied for the position of most successful expansion franchises as they've both been to 5 Series and Won 2. The Marlins and the Blue Jays won both of the Series they played in, but have only made it to 2 each.

Here's where I dedicate a paragraph to the Phillies. They have been in the league since 1883 and have only won 2 championships. The only other original team to win just 2 World Series is the Guardians, but they joined the league 18 years after the Phillies. The Phils have been historically bad for a long time. If it hasn't been obvious that I'm a Braves fan, this should be the tipping point. :)

I don't think I'm trying to make a point here, maybe MLB should have a hard salary cap, or expansion teams should have found a way to be better, faster. I mean, how can you happily be a Padres, Brewers, or Mariners fan? 45+ years of failure has to create resentment towards the team and baseball as a sport. Hell, if the Braves go 2 years without winning their division, I get antsy.

Regardless of all of this, I'm just fascinated by MLB history. Seeing all these teams start trickling in through the later half of the 20th century, find their footing, and then win a World Series is like watching a child being born, grow, and become an adult. The circle of life.

[superdad71]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: For the Tom Seaver Fan.

[thenewdemocratus]

ESPN: Bill Buckner Behind the Bag

Source:The Daily Post The 1986 MLB World Series is one of the greatest World Series of all-time. Not because of the Bill Buckner error at first base in Game 6. But because it was a matchup of two great teams, the two best teams in baseball in 1986. Who played about as well as they possibly could. This was a World Series with 3-4 great games, where both teams had opportunities to win each of these…

[michaeljfoy]

Boston Sports Championships Drought

It’s been five soul-crushing years since any professional team in the Boston area has won a sports championship.

Since the turn of the millennium, Boston teams have won 12 sports championships

2001 New England Patriots won the Super Bowl

2003 Patriots won the Super Bowl

2004 Patriots won the Super Bowl

2004 Boston Red Sox won the World Series (first time in 86 years)

2007 Red Sox won the World Series

2008 Boston Celtics won the National Basketball Association championship

2011 Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup

2013 Red Sox won the World Series

2014 Patriots won the Super Bowl

2016 Patriots won the Super Bowl

2018 Patriots won the Super Bowl

2018 Red Sox won the World Series

Until 2018, we in the Boston area never went more than three years between sports championship celebrations. Now it’s beginning to feel an awful lot like the late 20th century around here.

Baseball was the first sport I learned to follow as a kid. One of my teachers was into it, and he’d frequently wheel a big TV into the classroom to watch the Red Sox during important games. They had last won a championship in 1918, but every decade or so they’d tease the local populace with a promising season — and reliably, they’d lose in gut-wrenching fashion.

In 1986 they took a 2-0 lead in the World Series, and things were looking good. Could this be the year?

Don’t be silly.

As any student of baseball history will tell you, the Red Sox went on to lose, again ripping out their fans’ hearts. The infamously emblematic play of that series was when a routine ground ball went through the first-baseman’s legs, allowing the New York Mets to win the game.

That disappointment was the final straw in my fandom. I was so soured that, even when the Sox were poised to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2004 World Series, I was at a Sarah Brightman concert instead. I was that sure that somehow they’d find a way to screw it up.

Given all of the Boston fandom’s travails of the 20th century, who in their right mind would’ve predicted the turnaround of fortunes in the new millennium. Sports championships galore!

Oddly, it started with a team that had been the laughingstock of the National Football League: the New England Patriots. Ever heard of Bill Belichick? Tom Brady? They instituted a culture of winning. They were the anti-Sox.

And then miracle of miracles happened: after 86 years of futility and misery, the Red Sox  won the World Series in 2004. I was out in western Canada for part of that playoff run. An article in the local paper there proclaimed that if the Red Sox actually won, the end of the world must be nigh.

And oh, how they won! They had been down three games to none to the hated New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. No team in baseball’s long history had ever come back from such a deficit.

What made it all the more dispiriting is that the so-called rivalry between the Yankees and the Red Sox was like the rivalry between a hammer and a nail, with the Sox as the nail.

So the Sox’s playoff run was as good as over, right?

Wrong!

I shed tears of joy when they completed their historic comeback over the Yankees. As far as I was concerned, they could lose the World Series after that, and I’d still be happy. But the Cardinals were little more than a speed bump as the Sox swept their way to destiny, winning their first World Series since 1918.

Things sure had changed on the Boston sports scene. See the list above.

Now the bad old days seem to have returned. So far in 2023

the Bruins entered the playoffs with the best regular season record in the National Hockey League’s history. And then they promptly got eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, after leading the series three games to one.

the Celtics were touted to have the most-talented team in the National Basketball Association. At least they outlasted the Bruins, waiting for the semifinals before starting their summer vacation.

the Red Sox are struggling to win as many games as they lose, but given they’ve opted out of practicing defense, that’s not too bad.

the Patriots have begun this season’s training camp after a shockingly bad offensive showing last year. Rumors are that their offensive personnel are woefully inadequate, with the possible exception of the new offensive coach.

So as they say, all good things must come to an end.

I just hope we don’t have to repeat the late-1900s.

Author’s note: Because I’m not a huge follower of basketball, I probably unfairly omitted the story of the invincible Celtics of the 1960s and their successes in the ’70s and ’80s.

The End

Live the amazement of astonishing plot twists with a FREE prequel to the upcoming…

CORD DEVLIN: From Trekkie to Elite NSA Asset

[nwbeerguide]

In collaboration with DraftKings Inc., Harpoon Brewery releases the "Get In The Game" 12-pack, featuring Rec. League

Press Release

Boston, MA, May 9, 2023 – Harpoon Brewery and DraftKings Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG) announced today the release of a new, limited edition 12-pack in time for the Celtic’s on-going run in the NBA playoffs and the Red Sox resurgence in MLB: a Rec. League Get In The Game! 12-Pack. The co-branded 12-pack, tied to DraftKings’ launch of mobile sports betting in the Commonwealth, is available now at select locations in Massachusetts.

DraftKings’ online sportsbook launched in Massachusetts on March 10, 2023 and is currently the leading mobile operator of the Commonwealth in gross gaming revenue among legal operators, according to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s monthly revenue report.

Harpoon’s ties to the local Boston community have been strong since it was founded in 1986 and given brewing permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. For this playoff season, Harpoon will have a pop-up Beer Garden on Canal Street that will be open before every home Celtics playoff game. On Tuesday, May 9th, DraftKings will be joining Harpoon before the Celtics game and will be doing giveaways and hosting a branded photobooth. DraftKings will also have ambassadors on site to help eligible customers sign up for the DraftKings app.

“We believe fans of our beer are tightly tied to the Boston sports community, which is why we’re excited to deliver this special edition packaging for our most athletic brew – Rec. League – ahead of what will hopefully be a long playoff season for the Celtics,” said Dan Kenary, Harpoon CEO and co-founder. “As another iconic Boston-based company, DraftKings was perfect for this special edition 12-pack and we believe they are well aligned with the occasions and sports moments this beer was brewed for.”

Harpoon Rec. League is made with unique ingredients like buckwheat kasha, which contains important minerals and B vitamins; chia seeds that are high in fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants; and Mediterranean sea salt that can act as a powerful source of electrolytes. Coming in at 4.0% ABV and only 120 calories per 12 oz. serving, it provides flavor and drinkability that we think you’ll love.

“Through our relationship with Harpoon Brewery, we were able to come to terms on a distinct marketing opportunity that will give DraftKings the ability to have our logo appear on one of Boston’s favorite beers,” said Jay Danahy, Head of Brand Partnerships and Ad Strategy, DraftKings. “As the leading operator in the state, we look forward to deepening our brand presence in the place we call home.”

Harpoon’s Rec. League and DraftKings 12oz 12-pack cans will be available throughout the state of Massachusetts from May through June. To find it near you, check out the Harpoon beer finder: https://www.harpoonbrewery.com/beer-finder/.

About the Harpoon Brewery

The Harpoon Brewery was founded in 1986 by beer lovers who wanted more and better beer options. When the Brewery was founded, Harpoon was issued Brewing Permit #001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, since it was the first to brew commercially in Boston after a dormant period of about 25 years. Since then, it has expanded to a second brewery in Windsor, VT. Harpoon’s line of craft beer features its award-winning IPA and seasonal beers, along with special limited releases. In 2014, Harpoon became an employee-owned company.

[dan6085]

Top 20 teams in MLB, in no particular order:

1. 1927 New York Yankees - Often considered the greatest team ever assembled, the '27 Yankees won 110 games and featured a lineup known as Murderer's Row, including Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

2. 1954 Cleveland Indians - The Indians won a then-record 111 games and boasted a pitching staff led by Bob Feller and Early Wynn.

3. 1970 Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles won 108 games and had a dominant pitching staff led by Jim Palmer and Mike Cuellar.

4. 1975 Cincinnati Reds - The Reds won 108 games and featured a lineup known as the Big Red Machine, including Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and Joe Morgan.

5. 1998 New York Yankees - The Yankees won 114 games and swept the World Series, led by a lineup featuring Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams.

6. 1939 New York Yankees - The '39 Yankees won 106 games and had a dominant pitching staff led by Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez.

7. 1986 New York Mets - The Mets won 108 games and won the World Series, featuring a dominant pitching staff led by Dwight Gooden and Ron Darling.

8. 1929 Philadelphia Athletics - The Athletics won 104 games and featured a lineup known as the $100,000 infield, including Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons.

9. 1961 New York Yankees - The Yankees won 109 games and featured a lineup that included Roger Maris, who set a then-record 61 home runs in a season.

10. 1976 Cincinnati Reds - The Reds won 102 games and won the World Series, featuring a lineup known as the Great Eight, including Johnny Bench and Joe Morgan.

11. 1942 St. Louis Cardinals - The Cardinals won 106 games and won the World Series, featuring a dominant pitching staff led by Mort Cooper and Johnny Beazley.

12. 1946 Boston Red Sox - The Red Sox won 104 games and featured a lineup that included Ted Williams, who hit .342 with 38 home runs.

13. 1995 Cleveland Indians - The Indians won 100 games and featured a lineup that included Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, and Jim Thome.

14. 1973 Oakland Athletics - The A's won 94 games and won the World Series, featuring a lineup that included Reggie Jackson and pitching staff led by Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers.

15. 1969 New York Mets - The Mets won 100 games and won the World Series, featuring a dominant pitching staff led by Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman.

16. 2001 Seattle Mariners - The Mariners won 116 games, tying the record for most wins in a season, and featured a lineup that included Ichiro Suzuki and Bret Boone.

17. 1948 Cleveland Indians - The Indians won 97 games and won the World Series, featuring a dominant pitching staff led by Bob Feller and Bob Lemon.

18. 1993 Toronto Blue Jays - The Blue Jays won 95 games and won the World Series, featuring a lineup that included Joe Carter and pitching staff led by Juan Guzman.

19. 1984 Detroit Tigers - The Tigers won 104 games and won the World Series, featuring a lineup that included Alan Trammell and Jack Morris.

20. 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers - The Dodgers won 97 games and won the World Series, featuring a dominant pitching staff led by Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

These teams were selected based on their overall success, dominance in their respective eras, and impact on the game of baseball. Each team had a unique combination of offense, defense, and pitching that made them stand out from the rest.

[racingtoaredlight]

Opening Bell: May 8th, 2023

I’m changing things up a bit this morning and bringing you some news...FROM THE PAST! 

I was doing some work in the attic of an old house and tucked away in a corner I found the newspaper pictured above. It’s the October 23, 1986 edition of the Bangor Daily News, and right there, front-page and above-the-fold, is a story about how pissed off the New York Mets are about the Boston Red Sox being cocky assholes due to their impending World Series victory over said Mets. 

SPOILER ALERT: It turned out Boston’s confidence was misplaced, as they did NOT end up winning the 1986 World Series. As a matter of fact, they rather famously lost it in absolutely devastating fashion!

Here’s a zoomed-in pic of the relevant part of the column. My main takeaway is that 1980s MLB trash talk was weird as hell. A lot of talk about “mastering” your opponents. I assume we can thank cocaine for that.

I love the Sawx, but since I was only two-years-old in the fall of ‘86 I didn’t actually get to experience either the heartbreak of my team gagging away a long-awaited championship in excruciating fashion, or the collective schadenfreude-gasm the rest of the country must’ve experienced as a result of watching a bunch of obnoxiously mouthy pricks representing the hopes and dreams of Massholes everywhere get their souls snatched in the funniest way imaginable. Either way was probably pretty neat!

[customizedjersyes]

"Jersey Chronicles: Tales of Triumph and Defeat"

Sports jerseys are more than just a uniform worn by athletes or a symbol of fandom for supporters. They carry with them stories of triumph and defeat, of historic moments in sports history that have been forever etched into the fabric of the jersey. In this article, we will explore some of the most iconic moments in sports history, as told through the jerseys worn by the athletes who made them.

The first story we will explore is that of Michael Jordan and his famous "flu game" in the 1997 NBA Finals. In Game 5 of the series between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, Jordan was suffering from flu-like symptoms and was visibly weakened on the court. Despite his illness, Jordan persevered and led the Bulls to a crucial victory, scoring 38 points and securing his fifth NBA championship. Jordan's jersey from that game has become an iconic piece of sports memorabilia, symbolizing his incredible toughness and determination.

Another iconic jersey that carries with it a tale of triumph is the one worn by Jesse Owens at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Owens, an African American athlete, competed in a hostile environment dominated by Nazi propaganda and racial prejudice. Despite the odds against him, Owens won four gold medals, setting world records in the process and becoming a symbol of defiance against the Nazi regime. His jersey from those historic games is a reminder of the power of sports to transcend politics and unite people around a common goal.

On the other hand, some jerseys carry with them the memory of defeat and heartbreak. One such jersey is that of Bill Buckner, the Boston Red Sox player who famously made an error in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series against the New York Mets. Buckner's error allowed the Mets to score the winning run, depriving the Red Sox of their first World Series title in 68 years. Buckner's jersey from that game is a haunting reminder of the "curse of the Bambino" that plagued the Red Sox for decades and the agony of defeat that can come with sports.

Another jersey that represents the pain of defeat is that of Roberto Baggio, the Italian football star who missed a crucial penalty kick in the 1994 World Cup final against Brazil. Baggio's miss cost Italy the chance to win their first World Cup since 1982 and left him devastated on the pitch. His jersey from that game is a symbol of the fine line between victory and defeat in sports, and the weight of expectation that can crush even the most talented athletes.

Beyond these individual moments of triumph and defeat, sports jerseys also carry with them the collective memories of teams and fanbases. The jerseys worn by the 1992 US men's basketball team, also known as the "Dream Team," are a reminder of the dominance of American basketball and the incredible talent that was assembled for that Olympic squad. Similarly, the green and gold jerseys of the Green Bay Packers are a symbol of the team's storied history and the unwavering support of their dedicated fanbase.

In conclusion, sports jerseys are more than just pieces of fabric worn by athletes or sold to fans. They carry with them the stories of triumph and defeat, of historic moments that have defined sports history. From Michael Jordan's "flu game" to Jesse Owens' defiance in Berlin, these jerseys represent the best and worst of sports, reminding us of the power of athletics to inspire and unite people around the world.

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