Uniforms

Oh those 70’s and 80’s. Remember these!

Father-Son Night

August 31, 1990
Seattle King Dome, Seattle, WA


They used to play baseball together as father and son in their backyard. Then Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. got to play together in a bigger venue.

The Griffey’s became the first father and son to play on the same team in the majors on August 31, 1990, helping the Seattle Mariners to a 5-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. It was a memorable and moving night both fans and for the Griffey’s as Ken Sr.'s wife, Birdie, watched from the stands.

''I wanted to cry,'' Griffey Jr. said after the game. ''It was his day,'' he said, referring to his father.

Griffey Sr. gave his son reason to be proud. They made a bet on who would get the first hit, and the 40-year-old Griffey won dinner from his 21-year-old son with a first-inning single. Griffey Jr. then followed with a single and both Griffey’s eventually scored.

Then in the sixth inning, Griffey Sr. threw out Bo Jackson at second base, who was trying to stretch a single into a double. Griffey fielded the ball off the wall and threw a strike to second base.

''I'd have been mad if anyone else had thrown me out, but it was a piece of history,'' Jackson said. ''Those Griffey’s were messing with me.''

A Season to Remember

In 1985 Ricky Henderson was traded to the Yankees. That year he led the league in runs scored (146) and stolen bases (80), was fourth in the league in walks (99) and on-base percentage (.419), and had 24 home runs while hitting .314. He also won the Silver Slugger Award, and was third in the voting for the MVP award. His 146 runs scored were the most since Ted Williams had 150 in 1950 and he became the first player since Lou Gehrig in 1936 to amass more runs scored than games played.

Henderson became the first player in major league history to reach 80 stolen bases and 20 home runs in the 1985 season. He matched the feat in 1986, as did the Reds' Eric Davis; they remain the only players in major league history who are in the "80/20 club."

Roberto Clemente - "Remembered"

The following poem was written by Juan A. Pérez in memory of Roberto Clemente.

Roberto was the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder from 1955 to 1972. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico and died on New Year's Eve at the early age of 38 while on a mission to help the victims of an earthquake in Nicaragua:

The Game's True Leaders

He played the game of childhood dreams with humble grace of mountain streams.
He learned so early through his time the selfless purpose of his life.

His human pride, his elegance, not in a hundred years surpassed.
From far away gave us a gift, too valuable to leave adrift.

Some saw the game as being the end he knew the end and played, he played!
When in the face of human pain some wasted time, he ran and helped.

For all who saw and didn't know they were in front of royal grace, a modest place
where rivers wed saved us a wall of right field fence.

On holidays of cheer and joy when smiles abound for girl and boy, there is a town
down by the sea where grown men cry on new year's eve.

Remind me game of boyhood dreams that men of grace knew how to play.
The game's true leaders learn early in time the selfless purpose of their lives.

1970 All-Star Game - All-Star Collision

July 14, 1970 - Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

Although the game is supposed to be an exhibition, Pete Rose only knew how to play one way: full speed. With the game tied 4-4, Rose came barreling home and bowled over catcher Ray Fosse giving the NL the win and Fosse permanent shoulder damage. (Did anyone ever think that Rose may have had a bet on the game and was desperately trying to score? Just a thought……)

1980 World Series, Game 6 - Charlie Hustle Saves the Day

October 21, 1980 - Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

With one out in the ninth, the bases full and the Phils on top, 4-1. Tug McGraw induced Frank White to hit a foul pop near the Philadelphia dugout, and catcher Bob Boone camped under it. The ball popped in and out of Boone's mitt — the Royals' hopes rose for a fleeting moment — but first baseman Pete Rose, also giving chase on the ball, was there to snatch it out of the air.

1992 NLCS, Game 7 - Dramatic Ending

October 14, 1992 - Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, GA

The 1992 NLCS ended in dramatic fashion, as in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, with Atlanta down 2-1 and the bases loaded, the Braves' Francisco Cabrera cracked a two-run single that scored David Justice and Sid Bream. Bream famously slid to score the Series-winning run, beating the throw by Pirates left fielder Barry Bonds. As a result, Atlanta won the series in seven games to advance to their second straight World Series.

1986 ALCS, Game 5 - "Hendu"

October 12, 1986 - Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, CA

The California Angels were playing at home and were in firm command of the best-of-seven series, 3 games to 1. The Halos held a 5-2 lead going into the ninth inning and were three outs removed their first-ever trip to the World Series, but Boston was able to plate two runners on a home run by former Angel Don Baylor, closing the gap to 5-4.

When Henderson stepped to the plate, there were two outs and a runner on first base (catcher Rich Gedman). On a 2-2 count with the Red Sox down to their final strike in the series, Henderson, who had entered the game as a replacement for an injured Tony Armas, hit a drive off pitcher Donnie Moore that kept the Sox alive.

"The pitch . . . To left field, and deep, and Downing goes back. And it's gone! Unbelievable! You're looking at one for the ages here. Astonishing! Anaheim Stadium was one strike away from turning into Fantasyland! And now the Red Sox lead 6-5! The Red Sox get four runs in the ninth on a pair of two-run homers by Don Baylor and Dave Henderson." — Al Michaels, ABC-TV.

Henderson began to jump for joy, even running backwards for a few steps, while making his way down the first base line as he watched the ball sail over the outfield fence, having just smacked possibly the most stunning clutch homer since Bobby Thompson in 1951. The home run also saved Henderson from possibly being a scapegoat, after Bobby Gritch’s sixth-inning warning track fly ball deflected off his glove and over the wall for a two-run home run that gave the Angels a 3-2 lead. The ball hit the palm of Henderson's glove an instant before his wrist hit the fence, dislodging the ball and sending it over the fence. The Angels were able to tie the score up at 6-6 in the bottom of the ninth, but in the 11th inning, Henderson hit a sacrifice fly that would prove to be the margin of victory. Still down 3 games to 2, the Red Sox returned home to Fenway Park for the final two ALCS games, where they defeated the devastated Angels 10-4 and 8-1 to win the series.

He went on to hit .400 in a losing cause as the Red Sox were defeated in the 1986 World Series (which had its own historic drama) by the New York Mets in seven games. Henderson hit two home runs in that series. On a sad note, Donny Moore, the pitcher who let the game away ended up committing suicide as he was not able to deal with the devastating loss.

1988 World Series, Game 1 - Kirk Gibson makes like "The Natrual"

October 15, 1988 - Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

The Dodgers trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, facing the future Hall of Famer, Dennis Eckersley. With a runner on, Tommy Lasorda sent in a hobbled Kirk Gibson to pinch hit. In a scene straight out of Hollywood, the reigning NL MVP delivered with the game-winning two-run homer in his only at bat of the World Series.

1978 A.L. East One-Game Playoff - Bucky's Blast

October 2, 1978 - Fenway Park, Boston, Mass

The Red Sox led 2-0 in the seventh when an unlikely power source added to the Curse of the Bambino. With two on, Bucky Dent shocked crowd with a 3-run homer. That gave the Yankees the lead and the win.

2003 NLCS, Game 6 - Bartman (Dam it Bartmen, you are no Maier…)

October 14, 2003, Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

You think it was tough being a Red Sox fan before they won a few Championships recently? They hadn't won since 1912. The Cubs haven't won since 1908! (Because of the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 the White Sox hadn't won since 1906 until they won in 2005 - Chicago's had it tough).

The Cubs sat just five outs away from their first World Series appearance since 1945. The Cubs had a 3- 0 lead over the Marlins in the eighth inning with their young stud Mark Prior pitching a gem when Luis Castillo sent a fly ball to foul territory in left. Cubs left fielder Moises Alou leaped for the ball but it was tipped by lifelong Cubs fan Steve Bartman. Instead of the third out, the Cubs collapsed and the Marlins went on to win the game and the series.

2001 ALDS, Game 3 - Derek's Fabulous Flip

October 13, 2001 - Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, CA

With the Yankees down 0 games to 2 versus the Oakland Athletics in the 2001 American League Division Series, and holding on to a 1-0 lead in Game 3 and with an A's runner on first base, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina served up a high fly ball to deep right field to the A's Terrence Long.

With Oakland's Jeremy Giambi about to round third, Yankees right fielder Shane Spencer retrieved the ball and threw home. The throw sailed over the heads of both cut off men . With Giambi nearing homeplate, Jeter ran across the field, and nearing the 1st base line, caught the ball off a bounce and shovel passed it behind himself to his right to catcher Jorge Posada, who promptly tagged the back of Giambi's knee, a fraction of a second before his foot hit homeplate. The Yankees later went on to win the series in 5 games

1996 ALCS, Game 1 - Jeffrey Maier Steals One For the Yanks

October 9, 1996 - Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY -

The Yankees were behind the Orioles 4-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. The then-12 year old Jeffrey Maier reached over the fence separating the right field stands and the field of play and deflected a deep fly ball hit by Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter. The Yankees went on to win the game and series. Oh, and that's Jeffrey playing college baseball for Wesleyan College in 2006. How old do you feel now?

"The Catch" - Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS

October 19, 2006 – Shea Stadium, Queens, NY

Given the time of the game, the score and the magnitude of the game, it will be ranked among the greatest grabs in postseason history.

Chavez’s running, leaping grab of Scott Rolen’s drive well above the left-field wall kept Game 7 of the NL championship series tied in the sixth inning. Chavez also was able to throw the ball back to first base to double off Jim Edmonds to end the inning.

But there was nothing Chavez could do to stop Yadier Molina’s two-run, ninth-inning homer into the bullpen, which gave the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-1 victory over the New York Mets and a trip to the World Series.

Hammerin' Hank - 715

Monday, April 8, 1974 -9:07 p.m. - Atlanta Fulton County Staduim, Atlanta, GA

Hank Aaron became the owner of the most hallowed record in sports as he slammed his 715th career home run, surpassing Babe Ruth.

At the age of 39, Aaron managed to slug 40 home runs in 392 at-bats, ending the season one home run short of the record. He hit home run number 713 on September 29, 1973, and with one day remaining in the season many expected him to tie the record. But in his final game that year, playing against the Houston Astros (led by manager Leo Durocher, who had once roomed with Babe Ruth), he was unable to hit one out of the park. After the game, Aaron stated that his only fear was that he might not live to see the 1974 season.

Over the winter, Aaron was the recipient of death threats and a large assortment of hate mail from people who did not want to see a black man break Ruth's nearly sacrosanct home run record. The threats extended to those providing positive press coverage of Aaron. Lewis Grizzard, then editor of the Atlanta Journal, reported receiving numerous phone calls calling them "nigger lovers" for covering Aaron's chase. While preparing the massive coverage of the home run record, he quietly had an obituary written, scared that Aaron might be murdered.

Aaron received an outpouring of public support in response to the bigotry. Babe Ruth's widow, Claire Hodgson, even denounced the racism and declared that her husband would have enthusiastically cheered Aaron's attempt at the record.

As the 1974 season began, Aaron's pursuit of the home run record caused a small controversy. The Braves opened the season on the road in Cincinnati with a three game series against the Red. Braves management wanted him to break the record in Atlanta, and were therefore going to have Aaron sit out the first three games of the season. But Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ruled that he had to play two games in the first series. He played two out of three, tying Babe Ruth's record in his very first at bat off Reds pitcher Jack Billingham, but did not hit another home run in the series.

The team returned to Atlanta, and on April 8, 1974, a crowd of 53,775 people showed up for the game — a Braves attendance record. In the 4th inning, Aaron hit career home run number 715 off L.A. Dodgers pitcher Al Downing. Dodgers outfielder Bill Buckner (of later fame of his own) nearly went over the outfield wall trying to catch it, but the ball landed in the Braves bullpen, where relief pitcher Tom House caught it. I’m sure everyone remembers the cannons being fired in celebration, while two white college students sprinted onto the field and jogged alongside Aaron as he circled the base paths. (Aaron later admitted that his first thought was that they were trying to murder him.) As the fans cheered wildly, Aaron's mother ran onto the field as well. At 9:07 p.m. on Monday, April 8, 1974 the long ordeal was finally over. Good for him.........

'75 World Series, Game 6 - Fisk Pushes It Fair

October 21, 1975 - Feway Park, Boston, MA

In the bottom of the 12th inning of a 6-6 game, Carlton Fisk looked to extend the World Series to a seventh game. Fisk blasted a long fly ball toward the Green Monster, that danced with the foul line. The Red Sox catcher slowly made his way up the first base line, waving at the ball to stay fair. The ball hit the foul pole sending Red Sox nation into a frenzy.

I Am The Greatest!.....

May 1, 1991 - Oalkand Alameda Coliseum, Oaklan, CA

On May 1, 1991, the same day that Nolan Ryan threw his 7th no-hitter Henderson broke one of baseball's most famous records when he stole the 939th base of his career against the New York Yankees, one more than Lou Brock.

The Rickey of the 80's and 90's was the Manny of today. With Brock looking on from the field, he proclaimed, "Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest."

No. 7 for the Ryan Express

May 1, 1991 - 1, 1991 - Arlington Stadium, Arlington, Tex

On Arlington Appreciation Night, Nolan Ryan pitched his seventh no-hitter on May 1, 1991, striking out Roberto Alomar of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final out.

On this same date, Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brock's career stolen base record by stealing his 939th career base. However, Henderson's achievement was somewhat overshadowed because Ryan, at age 44, set a record that same night by throwing the seventh no-hitter of his career, striking out Roberto Alomar of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final out. Coincidentally, Ryan's second baseman in his first two no-hitters had been Alomar's father, Sandy Jr.

Edmonds' Catch for the Ages

June 10, 1997 - Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City , MO

Top of the fifth inning. Two men on, tie score. David Howard at the plate. Edmonds, in center field for Anaheim, was playing shallow. Howard lined a shot to straightaway center. Edmonds turned his back and took off running, then dove, fully extending his body horizontal to the ground, and caught the ball over his shoulder. He landed on the warning track, a few feet from the wall.

"That was one of the greatest plays ever," veteran umpire Dave Phillips told the Kansas City Star. "That made Willie Mays' play look routine."

Clemens Throws Bat at Piazza, Game 2, 2000 World Series

Sunday, October 22, 2000 - Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

The "Subway Series" in 2000 had its share of plotlines, but one of the dominant stories, was Clemens and Piazza. When the two had last faced off in July of that year, Clemens was accused of head-hunting when he drilled Piazza in the helmet. Clemens was pitching Game 2, and the face-off was highly anticipated. After two quick Clemens’ strikeouts, Piazza strode to the plate. On a 1-2 count, Clemens hummed a fastball inside, which Piazza fouled-off his hands, shattering his bat into three pieces. The barrel of the bat landed between the mound and first base, where it rested until Clemens ran over and picked it up (later saying that he thought it was the ball), and threw it over the first base line and into foul territory, directly in the path of Piazza. A confused Piazza turns towards Clemens, yelling at him "What's your problem?" The two would get close to one another, but Clemens refused to acknowledge Piazza, and the situation eventually deescalated. Piazza grounded out on the next pitch, while the Yankees would go on to win the game, 6-5, and the series, 4-1, but the Clemens-Piazza fight remains the most memorable moment from the Subway Series.

Bill Buckner's Error, Game 6, 1986 World Series

October 25, 1986 - Shea Stadium, Queens, New York

The visitor’s locker room had already been covered in plastic, in preparation for the celebration. The scoreboard in Shea Stadium had even accidentally flashed a message, congratulating Boston on their 1986 World Series victory.

Entering the bottom of the 10th inning, the Red Sox were leading 5-3, and after two quick outs, the title was seemingly inevitable. Three straight singles from the Mets made it 5-4, but still, all Boston needed was one out for their first World Series win since 1918. But then Bob Stanley uncorked a wild pitch, allowing the Mets to tie the game at five. Mookie Wilson followed, and hit a slow-bouncer down the first-base line, and it looked like, finally, the Sox were out of the inning, and onto the 11th. All Bill Buckner had to do was field the ball and toss it to first…

For nearly 20 years, Buckner was vilified and, perhaps unfairly, marked as the goat of the 1986 World Series.

Joaquin Andujar's Meltdown - Game 7, 1985 World Series

October, 27 1985 - Kaufman Stadium, Kansas City, MO

The 1985 World Series was not a good one for pitcher Joaquin Andujar. Andujar had won 21 games for the Cardinals that year, but he couldn’t replicate that success against the Royals in the Series. In Game 3, Andujar lasted just four innings while giving up four earned runs as the Royals won the game, 6-1. He would appear once more in Game 7, with the Cards already down 9-0. Having gone through four pitchers already, the Cards sent Andujar out in relief. After giving up an RBI single, things got a little chippy. He began to argue with home plate umpire Don Denkinger about balls and strikes, and then manager Whitey Herzog was ejected. But on the very next pitch, Denkinger called a ball, and that set Joaquin off. He charged Denkinger and had to be restrained by three of his teammates. Andujar was of course thrown out of the game, but his terror didn’t end there. Once he was banished to the clubhouse, he took a bat and destroyed a toilet. Because of his outburst, he was suspended for 10 games the following season.

Loma Prieta Earthquake

Game 3, 1989 World Series

October 17, 1989 at 5:04 p.m. local time, San Francisco, CA

The 1989 World Series was billed as the "Battle of the Bay" between the Oakland A's and the San Francisco Giants. Never did anyone think that the geographical features of the region would be so prominently displayed. Shortly before Game 3 began at Candlestick Park, the 6.9 magnitude Lorna Prieta earthquake struck. It was the first major earthquake in America to be broadcast on live television. At the time the quake struck, Tim McCarver was narrating highlights and Al Michaels cut in to say "I'll tell you what -- we're having an earth--," and at that point the feed from San Francisco was lost. Fans in the stadium were heard cheering "Let's play ball," shortly afterwards, as the damage at the stadium itself was minimal. A power outage forced the game to be postponed, however, and the damage to the rest of the bay area was far greater than a mere power outage.

In total, the quake killed 63 people throughout northern California, injured 3,757 more and left some 8,000-12,000 people homeless. The Series would not resume for 10 days, the longest delay in World Series history, after which the Oakland A's won in a sweep. At the conclusion of the series, out of respect for the earthquake victims, the Athletics weren't allowed to celebrate the victory with champagne. Years later, Al Michaels admitted that if the earthquake had lasted much longer than 15 seconds, he would have been killed.

Bo Breaks......

Best pure athlete I've ever seen, hands down. "WORLD CLASS." He should have been an Olympian in something. What a shame we didn't get to see more. The breaking the bat over his knee only added to his legend. (Now it's just vogue when someone does it.) He broke a bat over his head too (Haven't see anyone else try to copy that....) In a world where we scour the world to find professional athletes, he was a two sport All-Star in both MLB and the NFL. If he had more time, I'm sure he could have chosen just about any sport he wanted and been world class at it.

Move over Lou....2131.....

September 6, 1995 - Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltomore, MD

And so it was that on September 6, 1995, before a packed house at Oriole Park at Camden Yards ("The House That Cal Built"), Cal Ripken, Jr. passed the magical mark established by the heroic and tragic Gehrig nearly 60 years before. When the game became official after the top of the 5th inning, Ripken took a well-deserved victory lap around the park and into the record book.

Ripken would go on to play 2,632 straight games before removing himself from the lineup before a game with Gehrig's old team, the Yankees, in late September of 1998. Ripken retired after the 2001 season, having cemented his place among baseball's immortals.

Bronx Bedlam......

October 14, 1976 - Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

The Yankees had not been in a World Series in twelve years. Entering the bottom of the ninth inning in the final game of the 1976 American League Championship Series, the Bronx Bombers found themselves tied with the Kansas City Royals. If they could score just one run, they would return to their first Fall Classic since Mantle and Maris were active players. If not, they would be forced to play into extra innings and risk going home for the off-season.

First Baseman Chris Chambliss led off the inning, and smashed the first pitch offered by Kansas City reliever Mark Littell over the right-center field wall, winning the pennant for the Bombers and touching off bedlam at the Stadium.

Thousands of fans vaulted over the dugouts and walls and celebrated on the playing field. It was pandemonium. Chambliss reached second, then dodged hordes of fans in trying to reach third, then proceeded to make a beeline towards the safety of the clubhouse as the area around home plate and much of the field was covered by a mass of humanity.

Some time later Chambliss was escorted back out onto the field to touch home, or at least the area where it had been. The game and Series were over and the Yankees had reached the top of the AL once again while the Royals were sent packing for a long, cold off-season in Kansas City.

The Healing Begins..........

September 21, 2001 - Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY

The Mets take on the Braves in the first game played in New York after the attacks on 9/11. Mike Piazza, emotional in his support of the police and firefighters, hits a two-run homer in the eighth inning for a 3-2 win.

"I'm just so happy I gave the people something to cheer," Piazza said. "There was a lot of emotion. It was just a surreal sort of energy out there. I'm just so proud to be a part of it tonight."

"These people are great," he said. "New York has been so strong through all this. I feel so sad. I met two kids today who lost their fathers. "I'm glad to give people a diversion from the sorrow, to give them a thrill. If the season ends tomorrow, we're all winners, because we didn't give up," Piazza said.

"Shot Heard 'Round the World"

For those of you old enough to remember, at 3:58 p.m. E.S.T on October 3, 1951 Bobby Thompson hit the "Shot Heard 'Round the World". And if you are old enough to remember, you remember just where you were and what you were doing. As a result of the "shot", the Giants won the game 5–4, defeating the Dodgers in their pennant playoff series, two games to one. It is also referred as the most famous case of sign-stealing in baseball. Thomson's homer, and the Giants' victory after overcoming a double-digit lead in the standings by the Dodgers in the weeks preceding the playoff, are also sometimes known as the Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff.

Perhaps the most famous baseball call ever....... by Russ Hodges.......

"Bobby Thomson... up there swingin'... He's had two out of three, a single and a double, and Billy Cox is playing him right on the third-base line... One out, last of the ninth... Branca pitches... Bobby Thomson takes a strike called on the inside corner... Bobby hitting at .292... He's had a single and a double and he drove in the Giants' first run with a long fly to center... Brooklyn leads it 4-2...Hartung down the line at third not taking any chances... Lockman with not too big of a lead at second, but he'll be runnin' like the wind if Thomson hits one... Branca throws... [audible sound of bat meeting ball]

There's a long drive... it's gonna be, I believe...THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT!! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! THE GIANTS WIN THE PENNANT! Bobby Thomson hits into the lower deck of the left-field stands! The Giants win the pennant and they're goin' crazy, they're goin' crazy! HEEEY-OH!!!'' [ten-second pause for crowd noise]

I don't believe it! I don't believe it! I do not believe it! Bobby Thomson... hit a line drive... into the lower deck... of the left-field stands... and this blame place is goin' crazy! The Giants! Horace Stoneham

has got a winner! The Giants won it... by a score of 5 to 4... and they're pickin' Bobby Thomson up... and carryin' him off the field!"

John Kruk vs. Randy Johnson.....

July 13, 1993 - Camden Yards, Baltimore, Maryland

With two outs in the top of the 3rd inning, the Phillies John Kruk strolled to the plate to face-off against the American League's Randy Johnson, a hard-throwing lefty with a nasty slider. Johnson's first pitch, a fastball, sailed right over Kruk's head, noticeably spooking the Phillies first baseman. Kruk might as well have been sitting in the dugout for the remainder of the at-bat, as he was stepping out of the batter's box seemingly as Johnson went into his wind-up. Funny stuff.

Rose-Harrelson.....

October 8, 1973 - Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows, NY

During the third game of the NLCS, with the Mets leading 9-2, shortstop Bud Harrelson objects to the way Pete Rose upended him on a double-play ball. Rose objects to Harrelson's objection, and the two are soon throwing punches and rolling in the dirt. The Mets won the series in five, but Rose got a measure of revenge with a game-winning homer in the 12th inning of game four.

Reggie Jackson's Monster Bomb.....

July 13, 1971 - Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

During the 1971 All-Star Game, life imitated fiction when Mr. October transformed himself into "The Natural." Reggie Jackon's moonshot in Tiger Stadium off a Dock Ellis slider not only landed on the roof; it turned off the lights. Striking a transformer over 100 feet above the field, it's projected distance was 530+ feet and remains one of the longest homeruns ever hit.

Rim Shot!

Opening Day - April, 4th 1988, Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Canada

Darryl Strawberry hits two home runs, the 2nd one off the rim of lights just below the orange fabric roof, about 160 feet above the ground where no fair ball had ever been hit.

Tag.........

Game 4 of the 1982 World Series

Saturday, October 16, 1982 - County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In the second inning a deep fly ball to the warning track hit by Tommy Herr was caught by Ben Oglivie. Willie McGee tagged up from third and Ozzie Smith tagged up from second. Smith didn’t stop at third and scored on the play! It remains the only known documented tag-up of two bases (with no error being recorded) in MLB history.

Pine Tar Incident.......

July 24, 1983 - Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

The Royals were trailing 4-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth and U. L. Washington on first base. George Brett connected off Yankee reliever Rich “Goose” Gossage for a two-run home run and a 5-4 lead. As Brett crossed the plate, New York manager Billy Martin approached rookie home plate umpire Tim McClelland and requested that Brett's bat be examined. Earlier in the season, Martin and other members of the Yankees had noticed the amount of pine tar used by Brett, but Martin had chosen not to say anything until the home run. One of the Yankees, third baseman Graig Nettles, recalled a similar incident involving Thurman Munson in a 1975 game against the Minnesota Twins. According to Nettles' autobiography, Balls, Nettles claims that he actually informed Martin of the pine tar rule, as Nettles had previously undergone the same scrutiny with his own bat while with the Twins.

With Brett watching from the dugout, McClelland and the rest of the umpiring crew inspected the bat. Measuring the bat against the width of home plate (which is 17 inches), they determined that the amount of pine tar on the bat's handle exceeded that allowed by Rule 1.10(b) of the Major League Baseball rule book, which read that "a bat may not be covered by such a substance more than 18 inches from the tip of the handle."

McClelland searched for Brett in the visitors' dugout, pointed at him, and signaled that he was out, his home run nullified and the game over. An enraged Brett stormed out of the dugout to confront McClelland, and had to be physically restrained by Kansas City manager Dick Howser and his teammates. (As one commentator stated, "Brett has become the first player in history to hit a game-losing home run.") Despite the furious protests of Brett and Howser, McClelland's ruling stood.

The Royals protested the game ("TAR WARS!" blared a New York Post headline), and their protest was upheld by American League president Lee MacPhail. MacPhail (who coincidentally had once been the Yankees' chief executive) ruled that while the bat was illegal, it didn't violate the "spirit of the rules." He added that the bat was not "altered to improve the distance factor," and that the rules only provided for removal of the bat from the game, not calling the batter out. The reason for the restriction on pine tar on bats is not because the substance gives a batter an unfair advantage, but because contact with baseballs would render the balls unusable, thus requiring more balls to be used in a particular game.

MacPhail ordered the game resumed with two out in the top of the ninth inning with the Royals up 5-4. He also ruled that Brett was to be ejected for his outburst.

The Yankees made one last appeal, but to no avail. On August (a scheduled off day for both teams), the game was resumed from the point of Brett's home run, with about 1,200 fans in attendance. On paper the scoring of the incident reads as follows: a home run for Brett, on the play Brett, Gaylord Perry, Rocky Colavito, and manager Dick Howser were ejected, game suspended with two outs in the top of the ninth.

A still furious Martin symbolically protested the continuation of the game by putting pitcher Ron Guidry in center field and first baseman Don Mattingly at second base. Mattingly, a lefty, became the majors' first southpaw second baseman since Oakland’s Gonzalo Marques a decade earlier; there has been one only lefty middle infielder in a big-league game since That Bosley in 1987.

Before the first pitch to Hal McRae (who followed Brett in the lineup), Martin challenged Brett's home run on the grounds that Brett had not touched all the bases, and maintained that there was no way for the umpires (a different crew than the one who worked July 24) to dispute this. But umpire Davey Phillips was ready for Martin, producing an affidavit signed by the July 24 umpires stating that Brett had indeed touched all the bases. An irate Martin continued to argue with the umpires and was ejected from the game. As he exited the umpires announced that the game was being played under protest by the Yankees. Yankees reliever George Frazier struck McRae out to finally end the top of the ninth, twenty-five days after it had begun. Dan Quisenberry then got New York out 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the Royals' 5-4 win.