Memories Of The IMPOSSIBLE DREAM Season. The 1967 Boston Red Sox-Part Two.........Sgt. Pepper And His Band, 60 Years After He Taught Them How To Play!
It's Friday, and that means more 1967 memories of that special season.....1967, courtesy of my friend, Jay T. Here is his second installment of 1967 magic. You can acess part one by going back in the archives to May 25th. Thank you Jay, and I'll be back with a quick word afterwards. Take it away, Jay!
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As I said earlier, before 1967 I had no "favorite team". All any kid had was Mickey Mantle and the Yankees, and I wanted desperately to be different and HATE the Yankees. I did not want to like a team that won all the time. (To this day I hate the Celtics, the Montreal Canadiens and the Green Bay Packers, all of whom dominated their respective sports back in the 60's).
It isn't like I went looking for a team.......I just knew I didn't like the Yankees. So as that famous season unfolded it really was the last thing I expected. The Red Sox were always at the bottom of the league and there was no reason to think 1967 would be any different.
As I think about the players on that team and their young inexperienced manager, Dick Williams, it truly didn't appear there would be anything to look forward to. Yes, we had Yaz, but at that time there was even controversy around him...the feeling was that he got preferential treatment and that the other players may not have liked it too much. We had Tony C, but he was in the news (before the events of August 22) for his social life as well as his play on the field.
Rico, Reggie, Jim Lonborg, George "the Boomer" Scott all went on to some notoriety as players but prior to 1967 there really wasn't much to show as the Sox STUNK!!
They did have a Connecticut connection...opening day starter Gary Waslewski.
Who knew what was to come that summer for the Sox and for a young baseball fan named Jay?
(to be continued next week here at Peter's Red Sox Forever)
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Peter here, and we ALL know what transpired that magic year, but it's been a long time since I've read such memories written like they happened just a few months ago instead of 40 years ago. Nice work Jay, and I, as well as my readers, will look forward to your piece next week. If any of you have any comments or questions for Jay, just leave them in the comment section. He'll be on the lookout....that I promise you.
And on an anniversary note, it was 60 years ago today that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. 20 years later, on June 1st, 1967, he and his bandmates released their self-titled album SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND, and the face of music began its change. Thank you Sgt Pepper and the band. Billy Shears always held a special place near my heart.
Oh, click on the title for a nice article about our write-in candidate for the All Star first base position....Kevin Youkilis. And please leave any thoughts or comments or recollections for Jay in the comment section. Thanks, and have a great June. No June swoon THIS year for our Sox.
posted by Peter N @ 6:22 AM
29 comments
29 Comments:
I hope you enjoyed this part two of the 1967 phenomenon that was our Red Sox, so long ago, but just like yesterday to me. Any comments for Jay would be so so nice! Thanks...Peter
I hope you enjoyed this part two of the 1967 phenomenon that was our Red Sox, so long ago, but just like yesterday to me. Any comments for Jay would be so so nice! Thanks...Peter
I repeated this comment because sometimes the first one is obscured by the post title. Your comments to jay? Wow...that'd be so great!!!
Jay - I wasn't born yet, but those Sox prior to '67 sounded like the Devil Rays!
Peter - I will have a Diet Dr. Pepper today in Sgt. Pepper's honor!- lol.
they were bad for more years than the Devil Rays have even been around but that's a pretty good analogy...thanks for the comment!!
Thanks Carol! And I salute you! And jayspay, there'll be more comments to come!!!! Great post..
Thanks for the recollection, Jay. For years back then I followed the team by checking the box scores to see what players had a good game. There was never the fun of seeing what the team was doing in a pennant race ... until 1967. That was a most exciting time for Red Sox fans to be involved in an exciting race and to actually win the league! Jay, I really like your perspective. Keep up the good work and I will be anticipating your next entry.
Peter, it's so much fun to remember back to all those things going on that summer and the Beatles were a big part of it for me. With the end of the Beatles touring and the prevalence of pot in their lives, their most famous album was the astounding result. Paul said he got the Sgt. Pepper's idea for escapism. They were tired of being the 4 little mop top boys and living within those parameters. The name came from other bands that were popular then, like Dr. Hook's Medicine Show & Traveling Circus or as John paraphrased it "Fred And His Incredible Shrinking Grateful Airplanes".
I appreciate the thought, Wichita !!
Hey Soxfan in Wichita, FYI...if you care about the Royals...there's a kid in your farm system that's a pitcher from my town of Berlin, Ct. named Ryan DiPietro...keep an eye on that name!!
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, you hate THE CELTICS?????? I don't know if this relationship can continue. It sounds like irreconcilable differences... :-)
Yup, gotta confess...hate the Celtics. Actually probably feel sorry for them but don't feel too bad I'm an Atlanta Hawks fan so hopefully I can get your pity right back Ha Ha!!
By the way, Peter has always had a tough time with my dislike for the Celts too!!
BFW, I agree...I can't wait for part 3 from Jay T. Wow, that rhymed!
And as I remember, and I DO, in John's thoughts post-Beatles, he called the Pepper LP a total Paul idea. He was right, but then, at the last 7 minutes of the 38 minutes and 19 seconds (yes...that was Sgt. Pepper's running time, approx.), Paul and John combined like the brothers they were right until the end, two songs...the result was A DAY IN THE LIFE. MAGIC!!!! I read the news, oh boy, THAT day, kid that I was, and I was confused, confounded, and happy with Pepper. It was over my head when side two started with George's Within You Without You......but now I (we) know! Jay, you see what you get posting something on June 1........I'm just kidding, and I, just me but probably SO many others, cannot wait for your weekly magic.
And BFW, the music world as we knew it (Sul??) started to change with RUBBER SOUL, and then...the...REVOLVER changed EVERYTHING!
Suldog...My teams in each sport are the Red Sox, the Detroit Red Wings, the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia Eagles..keep in mind I have always turned to the downtrodden teams...in the 60's all of these teams were pretty bad. There are actually stories that go along with why I like each time but it is the same premise as becoming a SoxFan.
Jay, I don't really give a lick about the Royals, but I'll keep an eye out for the DiPietro kid. The Royals AA (Apathy Abound) club is leaving Wichita this year ... room for a Red Sox farm team out here?
And Peter, you hit the nail on the head. Rubber Soul holds special fondness in my heart and it showed the beginning of change in the Beatles and the music world.
BFW, nothing has been the same since. Pot? Hell yes, they started smoking in mid-stride HELP, from '65. That's why they insisted that the film HAD to be in color. But then, more magic, bigtime. Late '65-RUBBER SOUL, late '66-REVOLVER. And then, Pepper. After that, until Sir George Martin pleaded, and he did or he would have washed his hands completely from everything Beatles, the band, and after the Spector disaster that was LET IT BE, four Beatles and one George Martin came together in the SAME fu****g studio. What happened? ABBEY ROAD. I felt so lucky...the first Beatles album that I could drive MYSELF to pick up! As Bruce said, "Growin' up!" We ALL have...which brings me back to jayspay. Hey Jay. Keep those 1967 memories coming....for all of us!
Was I long-winded? A little, but I'm smiling! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and 2 of 3 from those Yankees will be JUST FINE!!
TO JAYSPAY....more 1967, please!!! I know it's me, so you don't think this counts as a REAL comment, but I'm just like every other proud member of RSN, and a reader of this goofy guy's blog. And more memories of '67 will make me so happy! My readers, thank you for stopping by.....it's Friday, so I know so many of you are on the go, but I HAVE FAITH! Always and forever......Peter, thanking Jay once more. As we ALL do!!!!!!
J:
I've been a Celtics fan forever - since about 1964. Same with Sox. If I follow hockey at all, which I used to do but rarely do now, it was the Bruins. Patriots now, and Patriots then, but I was a huge 49'ers fan starting in 1978 (before they had won anything at all) up until they lost Montana/Rice/Lott. My favorite player was Steve DeBerg! As he went from team to team to team, that team would have my allegiance, also. Same with Doug Flutie.
Suldog, I know it's a bit unusual to not go with the teams in my area but so be it. I have to say that I was very happy for the Pats when they won their 1st Super Bowl (as they too weren't very good for a long time) but obviously that feeling wore off when they broke my heart a few years ago (Eagles fan remember). I've been a devoted Eagles fan since 1961 when thru a connection of my fathers I met and had dinner with Hall of Famer Tommy McDonald and also met Sonny Jurgensen before he was on the Redskins.
Old Celtics....beside the obvious...Satch Sanders, Jim Loscutoff, Larry Siegfried, oh yah, my brother went to FSU when Dave Cowens was there.
Gotta say ...still hate 'em though.
Hopefully, you can see past that cuz I think we are still kinda kindred spirits!!
Peter, I guess I was wrong...many, many more insights into my memories of the Cardiac Kids to follow!!!!
Jay - I think you would get along with a mother/daughter duo from Pepperell, MA who were in the Nashua Telegraph last week. They are die-hard Devil Rays fans, also due to the fact that they are downtrodden. I guess you like what you like!
P.S. I was happy to hear that I made a good analogy - Thanks!
Jay...I have a detailed and tough to follow comment regarding your last comment....YAY! P.S. That was it!
Carol, hi, and we're coming up on Fenway Park, Timmy Wakefield, and PLAY BALL time!
Jay, no Celtics tonight, thank goodness....and if the Sox win tonight, they will (prediction...warning warning!) SWEEP. That's a big "if."
And now I know what it's like to be on the treadmill at the same time as we lost power. I was holding on, though. I'll call it a "learning experience," for lack of anything better. But OUCH.
Can't wait for tonight, and your part 3 of 1967 treasured memories next week. GO SOX. And remember my so-called prediction.....and tyhanks Sul and carol and all my blog budies...what a lucky guy I am!
And for some reason, my spelling suffered. be well...everyone! And go, Timmy. Lassie is waiting!
I like this Peter. Good to hear from you.
Thanks Coral...believe it or not I read your every new blog post. It's just that sometimes I don't have anything to say in the comment section. I know, I know. That's hard to believe. Great to hear from you.
And readers, Coral's blog IS on my link list. it's called "West Coast College Student...." check her out!
To any Beatle fan...seems like just the other day 4 mop-topped lads from Liverpool came on Ed Sullivan and turned the world upside down. Very sadly only 2 are left now but what unbelievable memories I have..."Hey, mister hope we didn't hurt your field"
He's me grandfather...isn't he clean"
And that, if me memory serves me right, is from "A HARD DAY'S NIGHT." Mr. Jay...care for a mindbender?" John's words...always.
And those were Paul's words in the film....
I'm very clean!
Very nice piece again. I wasn't born yet either but heard about it from the family.
i led my saturday salute with this.
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