Sports Talk

I saw him play a few times as a kid
GaGambler 205 reads
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I was born in SF and raised in the Bay Area, but I was pretty young during his playing years. I do have memories of freezing my ass off in Candlestick in the middle of the summer though.

I only saw him play twice, in the twilight of his career with the Mets in '72 and '73.  He hit lead-off in both games, and stole two bases, and scored a run.  Also saw in 1971 Hank Aaron hit #606 off Nolan Ryan.  Saw Mickey Mantle hit a HR off Whitey Ford during the 1973 Old Timers Day at the old Yankee Stadium.  Saw the Yankees win today 8-2 against the Red Sox at the new Stadium...so I am a happy camper.  First game this year!

I saw him several times on TV in the 60's, back when we only had one televised game a week, the Falstaff Game of the Week with Pee Wee Reese and Dizzy Dean. No one could butcher the English language like Dizzy. "Don't fail to miss next week's game" was one of my favorites.

Saw him on TV many times in the 50's and 60's-The most complete ball player I ever saw-great defensively, speed, hit for average and power-He usually led off in the all star games-and loved to play-
loved Dizzy and Pee Wee-I think Dizzy was often in the Falstaff-one of the big sponsers-He had great stories-players often 'slud' into 3rd-My fav Diz story was when the camera was on 2 lovers in the outfield bleachers-Diz says, ''Isn't that sweet-he's kissing her on the strikes and she's kissing him on the balls.''  There was a momentary silence and then you heard the crew crack up in the background...they quickly went to commercial.   lol   Thanks for a good memory, Sailor-

GaGambler206 reads

I was born in SF and raised in the Bay Area, but I was pretty young during his playing years. I do have memories of freezing my ass off in Candlestick in the middle of the summer though.

Actually was at Shea Stadium when I saw Willie, same with Hank Aaron in'71 during a Cub Scout field trip against the Braves.  Same with Mantle in' 73, although that was a field trip with a NJ bar my late dad got us tickets to see.  

During my lifetime, three Yankee walk-offs...first in '69 against the Angels.  Rudy May had a 1-0 shut-out going into the bottom of the 9th, but Yanks got men on, and Bobby Murcer hit the two run double down the RF line that won it.  I was 9.  Similar in Aug. '83.  Dave Righetti took a no-hitter into the 7th, but Geoff Zahn matched zeros.  Angels scored in the top of the 9th, then Ken Griffery Sr. drove in the tying and winning runs with two outs in the bottom of the 9th with a similar shot.  23, just graduated from college, and at maximum energy!  The '83 pennant race in the AL East was one of the better ones, but fell short in the end... :(

But the best walk-off was in Aug. 2000 against the A's...Andy Petitte vs. Barry Zito, the latter of which was a rookie who impressed the daylights out of us.  Game went back and forth, but A's held a one run lead into the bottom of the 9th.  Jason Isringhausen came in to close things thing down, but Bernie Williams led off the inning by hitting a drive to right that snuck into the RF seats to tie the game.  Bern, baby, Bern!   Bedlam!   Next up was David Justice, who ripped a bomb into the right center field bleachers that won it!  We danced to "You make me want to Shout!" afterwards, before the Yankee anthem by Frankie afterward.  Considering that it was work field trip/group outing that got mentioned on the scoreboard, an unforgettable night...   Plus that, we won in the end...three-peat!

The great games you were actually there to witness in person last a lifetime!

Never saw him play in person, but did see him on TV a couple times.

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