Opening Day, And A Look Back. 40 Years Back
Today, Tuesday April 10, 2007, we look back 40 years to that Impossible Dream Team of 1967. Some of the heroes who will be honored include Captain Carl Yastrezemski, Manager Dick Williams, second baseman supreme Mike Andrews, our greatest shortstop (ever), Rico Petrocelli, centerfielder Reggie Smith, rightfielder Ken Harrelson, who came to the team to replace the beaned, eventually fatally beaned Tony Conigliaro, and Billy Conigliaro, who will be there for his late brother, our beloved young slugger taken from us far too young. And far too soon. And so many other members of that team, the team that will live forever, will be on the Fenway field this afternoon. And we will salute them and rejoice with them.
And then the Nation turns its NOT lonely eyes to the 2007 Boston Red Sox. And THIS team of dreams. And we have plenty of them. All the pieces are there, except for the number five guy in the rotation. That will change. I promise. It's the Seattle Mariners, with Jeff Weaver pitching, against our Sox, who have Josh Beckett and his newly found curveball. I hope he can give us 7 today, or at the very least, 6. The Mariners are rested. Maybe too rested! Their entire series against the Indians was snowed out.
So, shortly after 1pm, the look back at the Impossible Dream team of 1967. And a couple minutes after 2pm, Baseball 2007 Boston Red Sox style. OUR style. Enjoy, and if you're there, congrats! You're so lucky. Wear a sweater. And for those of us planning to watch at home, enjoy the NESN HD or SD coverage, starting at 1pm. Go Josh. Go Sox. Go RSN. Go us!
posted by Peter N @ 6:40 AM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Well WE had a lovely (if chilly) opening day. In keeping with your pieces the other day, on the "feel" of the game spirit, yesterdays sun posted a great story:
Going to bat for O's
Despite a decade of losing seasons, these diehard fans keep the faith
By Tom Dunkel and Rob Hiaasen
Going, going, gone ... on 10 years of losing-season frustration, a city of disappointed souls wandering the baseball desert: tired, bloodied, sick of looking at the Yankees', Red Sox's, and Blue Jays' behinds in the standings, fearful the spineless Tampa Bay Devil Rays will rise up and haunt our dreams.
Seems the winning "Oriole Way" went thattaway. Outta here, like a hanging curve smacked over the right field wall. Yes, In Cal We Still Trust. But he's busy doing Comcast commercials these days.
Albert Belle, "Moose" Mussina, Sammy Sosa and too many others let us down. Hard. Maybe the real heroes aren't on the field. Maybe they're sitting in the bleachers or glued to a TV or poring over last night's box score in the paper. Real fans, whether dyed-in-the-wool or dreaming-in-Dundalk.
To those unbowed believers who have no doubts another American League pennant will someday fly over Oriole Park, we say ... well, we don't quite know what to say. But we wouldn't trade ya for a fistful of All-Stars."
They then descibe a handfull of lesser known fans. to read the rest go to: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/arts/bal-to.fans09apr09,1,4324516.story
BTW: Middle Relief is calling kevin Millar a "Yankee Killer", like that was a bad thing, LOL
Kevin, yours now but back then, ours, and he was a member of that 2004 Sox World Championship team. The hatred is understood.....and I am so so glad you left me the link, because I wanted to read the entire article. And thank you for being here....on most of my posts, click on the title and it will bring you to a relevant article about one thing or the other. I can't wait until our teams play each other. You have a great bullpen and a team that can it. And judging on the last couple years, you have a team than can beat the Sox. So enjoy!! I wish you the best (almost) season that there can be. And beat dem Yankees!!! Peter....and yes, Faithy, my hits went up, thanks to you! My writing, I hope, will mayyyybbbbe keep those new readers stopping back. I hope.
Thanks Faithy! Hey readers, she's the number one Oriole fan who reads this little blog filled with my thoughts. Say hi to Faithy!!!!! Peter...glad to read every one of your comments. We MIGHT be the biggest baseball fans of all the RGQers. If anyone wants to know what an "RGQer" is, ask!
They should have retired Tony C's number.
That '67 team was such a joy. And they're the only team that NOBODY has any bad feelings about, even though they lost the Series. What a fantastic fun summer that was!
Sul, we ALL know why, why, why did we lose that 7 game series against the so good St. Louis Cardinals. And it makes it easier to be able to sum up the answer to that question with two words. No debates, no nothing. Easy answer.....
He deserves these capital letters coming up................
The nastiest, the best (by far!) pitcher, of 1967, 1968....one of the all-time greatest....BOB GIBSON. He beat us 3 times in that 7 game series, a series that broke my "too young to know" heart....Lonnie, pitching on short rest (2 days!), couldn't do it.
But, oh, that final day, the one that determined the AL Champ (and there was only one team from each league to go to the Series), was a family celebration. And I remember it so well. Like it was yesterday. My Dad young, my mom fussing and spreading the love she always had for her family....wow....
Thanks, Sul. I remember it, young as I was, with my very little brother and my Dad and Mom, as a day of smiles. Of little firecrackers, the cardboard noisemakers set off by michievous Peter and his brother, in joy, happiness, sheer youthful Red Sox love as Rico caught that final out. The out the propelled the lowly (or so they said) Red Sox to the World Series! 1967. It happened!!!!!! It did. And I smile. To this day.
Sul, will you be able to watch the '67 tribute before today's home opener? I hope....and thanks.
I will have pictures up tonight from opening day. i will be in the first base grandstand snapping away. going to be a great day today.
Wow Ian...safe trip, and memories for forever!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see the pics, and I'll be tuned to NESN-HD from 1pm on.......have fun, the weather will be great, the Mairiners rusty, Josh on the mound, and, we'll see!
Have such a great time at the park....Pete
I wish I could watch from home, I'll be working. I did Tivo the festivities, though.
I'm scheduled to be at the games on Thursday (No snow, no rain...please!) and Sunday!
Soxy Lady, good job with the DVR! And I can't promise you anything weatherwise for Thursday, unless it's a night game. But the damage might have been done. Today and Wednesday.....fine.
Thanks for reading, and GO SOX. And go Soxy Lady! Pete
Have a great day, Peter!
I'm hoping to see wonderful things from Beckett today!
Yeah it's here!
Thanks Beaz...as long as you are there, I expect so much good! And thank you Carol. NESN will have to do. Ceremony and all! I know I'll get emotional. Why isn't Lonnie going to be there??
Hello, I think, Colt. Your comment was starting to stink of a ticket company's spam comment. I hope not. And I did check your profile. Not much there. If you are a true and blue baseball fan, welcome! But if you're trying to sell tickets, bye. Not to return.....
I have a good feeling about Beckett today. The official countdown is one hour, 33 minutes and 12 seconds 'till the Home Opener. Go Sox!
Kristin, your "good feeling" turned to GOLD!!!!!! That makes you pure magic........
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