SB Nation User Blog: 67MARQUEZ

Scrapbook Memories: 1989 World Series, Game 3, Part 2

67MARQUEZ — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:13:16 -0000

Scrapbook Memories celebrates the 20th anniversary of Oakland's last World Series triumph. Since the day they set foot in Arizona some seven months prior, the A's mission for 1989 was clear; a wildly successful 1988 season had ended with a thud, leaving a sour taste in their collective mouths, and a sense of unfinished business. After disposing of the Toronto Blue Jays in five hard-fought games, the A's allowed a single run to the San Francisco Giants in the first two World Series contests, putting them two victories from being crowned champions for the first time since 1974.

Just when it seemed there was nothing to derail Oakland's date with destiny, a massive earthquake shook the Bay Area a few minutes from the commencement of Game 3. While the region healed, baseball took its proper place. It would be a full ten days before the teams would again take the field at Candlestick Park. Prior to 1989, the longest delay in World Series play was six days. That was in 1911, and the participants were the (Philadelphia) A's and (New York) Giants.

ABC's Al Michaels, as told to a nationwide audience before Game 3, Part 2 (you can read the first part here):

"...And now on October 27, like a fighter who's taken a vicious blow to the stomach and has groggily arisen, this region moves on and moves ahead."

"And one part of that scenario is the resumption of the World Series. No one in this ballpark tonight- no player, no vendor, no fan, no writer, no announcer, in fact, no one in this area period- can forger the images. The column of smoke in the Marina. The severed bridge. The grotesque tangle of concrete in Oakland. The pictures are embedded in our minds."

"And while the mourning and the suffering and the aftereffects will continue, in about thirty minutes the plate umpire, Vic Voltaggio will say ‘Play Ball', and the players will play, the vendors will sell, the announcers will announce, the crowd will exhort. And for many of the six million people in this region, it will be like revisiting Fantasyland."

"But Fantasyland is where baseball comes from anyway and maybe right about now that's the perfect place for a three-hour rest."

Oakland manager Tony La Russa had kept his players' eyes on the prize by flying them to Phoenix for two days of workouts, but clearly there was a wide array of emotions (excerpt from "Three Weeks in October"):

"We showed up in Arizona and there were all these people in the stands. That really touched me. It's like somebody was saying, ‘Baseball is great. Baseball means something.' When the day was over, I felt this tugging," he said, pointing to his heart. "I had some positive vibes, but then I had another tug. A different kind. I was embarrassed. I mean, aren't we supposed to feel guilty? It confused the hell out of me. When I drive by 880, I feel a lot of emotion. Then about 10 miles down the road I'm getting full of myself. And I start feeling guilty again."

La Russa said he would tell his team before Game 3: "Be honest. If you feel good, you deserve to feel good. They're calling this the forgotten World Series, but if you play well in this situation, it will have more meaning than any other World Series that has come before. Nobody's ever been asked to do this."

Indeed.

As I recall it, when I left work with my brother John that October 27, at the same time as we did ten days before, there was a general uneasiness going home. Like, can it really happen again? The entire family gathered at Mom's for this one; with some of us attending the games in Oakland, this was the first time we were able to take in a World Series contest together. Inside Candlestick Park, there was a festive mood, like "Now where were we?" The earthquake had brought this region, hardly antagonistic to begin with, even closer. All that was needed was for the A's to actually show up. Steve Wulf, Sports Illustrated:

By the time the Series resumed, it was permissible to joke a little about the circumstances. The Battle of the Bay had become the Rattle of the Bay, and Candlestick Park was dubbed Wiggly Field by columnist Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle. Early arrivals checked out the park, and the only thing they could find awry was that the A's were missing. The team bus had been stuck in traffic on the San Mateo Bridge - the alternate route they had to take because of the damage to the Bay Bridge - and they arrived at Candlestick nearly an hour late for batting practice. "I wasn't worried," said first baseman Mark McGwire. "I'm from Southern California, so I find traffic relaxing. Besides, they weren't going to start the game without us."

The Giants might have had a chance if they did start without them. If the Series' competitive fire had been reduced to a flicker during the layoff, it took just three batters for it to light up again. Scott Garrelts twice threw high-and-tight to Jose Canseco, who was upset enough about being mired in a 0-for-23 Series skid (dating back to Game 1 of the previous season). And so the Giant woke up the giant; the slumbering, slumping Canseco, who promptly singled past the shortstop.

Then it was Dave Henderson's turn, who hit what we all thought was a home run (including Hendu, who did his little homer hop) but instead it hit off the top of the fence for a two-run double (Carney Lansford had singled ahead of Canseco). Just like that, the A's were on top.

Rickey Henderson, who had a subpar game- well, for him- in Game 3 (1-for-5, 1 run scored), did find time to double to lead off the third, and swipe third base, his record eleventh steal of these playoffs.

In the top of the fourth, Hendu led off with a shot that did clear the fence and two batters later, Tony Phillips joined the bashers with a blast of his own. Exit Garrelts, after allowing four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings of work.

The Giants came back with two runs in the bottom half to close within 4-3, but Mark McGwire kept Oakland in front with a diving stop at first and a flip to starter Dave Stewart. Then the A's put the game out of reach with four in the fifth, the first three coming when Canseco took Kelly Downs downtown and the last one coming on Hendu's second home run of the night.

Carney Lansford's home run with two outs in the sixth gave the A's five big flies on the night; not since the 1928 New York Yankees had a ball club put on such a power display in the World Series. It was Lansford (3-for-4, 4 runs, 2 RBI's), Canseco (3-for-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI's), and of course, Dave Henderson (3-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI's) who swung the biggest bats in Game 3.

Almost lost amid the parade of elephants was Dave Stewart, who was his usual stellar self. Already idolized within the community for his efforts on the field, the St. Elizabeth High grad turned in his A's cap for a hard hat during the layoff, pitching in wherever he might be needed. When La Russa looked to him in Game 3, Stew simply pitched: seven innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, eight strikeouts. Winner of 62 regular-season games from 1987-89, Stew became the first man in history to record two victories in both the League Championship Series and World Series in the same year.

The A's, as a unit, earned straight A's this evening, tacking on four more runs in the eighth and steamrolling to a 13-7 win.

Scrapbook Memories: 1989 World Series, Game 3, Part 2

67MARQUEZ — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:13:57 -0000

ABC's Al Michaels, as told to a nationwide audience before Game 3, Part 2 (you can read the first part here):

"...And now on October 27, like a fighter who's taken a vicious blow to the stomach and has groggily arisen, this region moves on and moves ahead."

"And one part of that scenario is the resumption of the World Series. No one in this ballpark tonight- no player, no vendor, no fan, no writer, no announcer, in fact, no one in this area period- can forger the images. The column of smoke in the Marina. The severed bridge. The grotesque tangle of concrete in Oakland. The pictures are embedded in our minds."

"And while the mourning and the suffering and the aftereffects will continue, in about thirty minutes the plate umpire, Vic Voltaggio will say ‘Play Ball', and the players will play, the vendors will sell, the announcers will announce, the crowd will exhort. And for many of the six million people in this region, it will be like revisiting Fantasyland."

"But Fantasyland is where baseball comes from anyway and maybe right about now that's the perfect place for a three-hour rest."

"We showed up in Arizona and there were all these people in the stands. That really touched me. It's like somebody was saying, ‘Baseball is great. Baseball means something.' When the day was over, I felt this tugging," he said, pointing to his heart. "I had some positive vibes, but then I had another tug. A different kind. I was embarrassed. I mean, aren't we supposed to feel guilty? It confused the hell out of me. When I drive by 880, I feel a lot of emotion. Then about 10 miles down the road I'm getting full of myself. And I start feeling guilty again."

La Russa said he would tell his team before Game 3: "Be honest. If you feel good, you deserve to feel good. They're calling this the forgotten World Series, but if you play well in this situation, it will have more meaning than any other World Series that has come before. Nobody's ever been asked to do this."

Indeed.

By the time the Series resumed, it was permissible to joke a little about the circumstances. The Battle of the Bay had become the Rattle of the Bay, and Candlestick Park was dubbed Wiggly Field by columnist Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle. Early arrivals checked out the park, and the only thing they could find awry was that the A's were missing. The team bus had been stuck in traffic on the San Mateo Bridge - the alternate route they had to take because of the damage to the Bay Bridge - and they arrived at Candlestick nearly an hour late for batting practice. "I wasn't worried," said first baseman Mark McGwire. "I'm from Southern California, so I find traffic relaxing. Besides, they weren't going to start the game without us."

The A's, as a unit, earned straight A's this evening, tacking on four more runs in the eighth and steamrolling to a 13-7 win.

So What Do We Do Now?

67MARQUEZ — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:22:50 -0000

What a year, huh?

My first season as a front-page writer is officially in the books, and it was an amazing- and often humbling- experience. No question, I had some very large shoes to fill. But I had two wonderful coaches in Nico and baseballgirl, for whom this has become old hat. I wish to personally thank them- and Tyler- for their patience and support this year.

On the eve of Athletic Nation's sixth birthday, I think it is safe to say that this has been the site's most trying season- and this says nothing of the team's performance on the field. I will spare you the gory details, but "meta-thread" was an all-too popular phrase around here for awhile. And just as we have become accustomed to seeing favorite ballplayers leave Oakland for greener pastures, AN lost a core group of people that had come up through the site's farm system.

But I am not here to talk about what Athletics Nation is not. Just like that little team over at 7000 Coliseum Way has done through the years, AN will rebuild and continue to reinvent itself. Maybe it's not the site you once knew and were fond of; well hell, neither are the A's, but we keep showing up. And if you feel the urge to wax nostalgic over Jennifer, do it. It's no different than getting teary-eyed over Marco. Look, I am the last guy to tell you not to talk about the past.

I don't mind looking ahead either, and I will echo Nico's sentiments about sticking around for the off-season. For many of you, this is the most wonderful time of the year, when rosterbation and speculation take over Athletics Nation.

There might be a retro piece or two from yours truly, including the conclusion of Scrapbook Memories, and the Decade in Review. If you are into that sort of thing.

And for the non-statsy, game-thread crowd, we will keep you entertained. Maybe Leopold Bloom and I will find the time to renew our DLD rivalry. (Or like Rickey working with Jemile Weeks, maybe monkeyball will come out of hiding and show us how it's done). Perhaps someone would like to take on the arduous task of bringing back the QOTM's. I know Nico has some other fun stuff planned, as do I, but why spoil the surprise?

So there will be plenty to see and do to get you through the winter. And remember, Spring Training tickets go on sale December 8...if you weren't sure what to get me for Christmas.

As for the new-look Athletics Nation, I'll leave the interior design comments for someone else. For me, it doesn't matter what the house looks like.

It's who lives there that counts.

Escape To New York: Phillies Stay Alive with 8-6 Win

67MARQUEZ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:28:46 -0000

More photos » by Matt Slocum - AP

Have a Coke and a smile, Chase.

Browse more photos »

Well the tease was on in the 9th, but thanks in part to a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Derek Jeter, there will be at least one more baseball game in 2009.

Chase Utley homered twice, the second one providing insurance the Phillies ultimately needed, and Cliff Lee, even in human form, was good enough to send this Series back to New York.

Utley joins Reggie Jackson as the only men to hit five home runs in a single Series.

See you Wednesday.

Utley Chases Down Reggie; Phillies Trying to Hold On

67MARQUEZ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:46:50 -0000

A pair of Chase Utley homeruns ties him with Reggie Jackson for most (5) in a single Series. Meanwhile, Cliff Lee does his best, well, Cliff Lee. Phillies in Phront 8-4.

World Series Game 5 Thread: Coronation or Continuation?

67MARQUEZ — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:18:28 -0000

The champs are on the ropes, they're hopes hanging by a Cliff.

Meanwhile the evilest of empires is 27 outs from its 27th conquest, or the same amount as the White Sox, Braves, Twins, Orioles, Phillies, Indians, Cubs, Marlins, Blue Jays, Mets, Royals, Angels, Diamondbacks, Padres, Astros, Rockies, Brewers, Rays, Rangers, Nationals, and Mariners...combined.

Either this thing goes back to the Bronx or for the sixth straight season a Series ends in less than six games.

Your lineups:

Lineup

New York Yankees @ Philadelphia Phillies

11/02/09 4:57 PM PST

New York Yankees	Philadelphia Phillies
Derek Jeter - SS	Jimmy Rollins - SS
Johnny Damon - LF	Shane Victorino - CF
Mark Teixeira - 1B	Chase Utley - 2B
Alex Rodriguez - 3B	Ryan Howard - 1B
Nick Swisher - RF	Jayson Werth - RF
Robinson Cano - 2B	Raul Ibanez - LF
Brett Gardner - CF	Pedro Feliz - 3B
Jose Molina - C	Carlos Ruiz - C
A.J. Burnett - P	Cliff Lee - P

How Long Before a Championship Wears Off?

67MARQUEZ — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:02:17 -0000

As the Yankees inch closer to a return to normalcy, or your whatever your cliché of choice may be, their fans salivate at the chance to stick it to Red Sox Nation once more, while celebrating the end of nearly a full decade of nothingness.

Such is life in the Big Apple, where it don't mean a thing if you ain't got that ring.

But for us less-privileged kids, what is the expiration date of a World Series win? Surely that sweep of the San Franciscans 20 seasons ago, however sweet, has lost its luster.

Bill Simmons once decided that five years was a long enough grace period, meaning five years without complaining about managerial moves, extended slumps, or tearful trades. In response to a whining Yankee fan during the 2003 World Series, Simmons penned:

So for all those ungrateful Yankee fans out there -- at least the few who can read -- put a sock in it. As one of my readers once wrote, rooting for that team is like rooting for the house in blackjack. With 26 grace periods in the bank, you should be walking around with one of those permanently dumb smiles on your face. You know how Michael Douglas looks now that he's got Catherine Zeta-Jones? That should be you. I don't want to hear another peep until the year 2053.

Not surprisingly, there were some who disagreed with the self-proclaimed Sports Guy.

Said the folks at Barstool Sports:

Since the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, Mr. Simmons has repeatedly urged Red Sox fans to embrace a five (or ten) year grace period and not be concerned about the team’s performance in the 2005 season. In this regard, Mr. Simmons is a buffoon.

Upon the final out of the World Series, Red Sox fans enjoyed an actual grace period: It was called the off-season. Mr. Simmons apparently missed the grace period from November until April because he was too busy posing for Improper Bostonian portraits and pondering how to rehash the same Red Sox championship article for the 17,000th time and passing it off as an original work.

Or joeSportsfan who had this to say when the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals stumbled out of the gate in 2007 (Simmons- or someone posing as him- replied to the story):

It's only June…we’re supposed to give them time. But they have the same amount of wins as the freaking Washington Nationals. Put them in the AL East and they’re already over ten out and we’re talking about which players to dump.

And those Royals that were so easy to mock? They just beat the Cardinals 8-1.

The grace period has officially left the building. We’re right back to where we started.

Except now I have a DVD narrated by Billy Bob Thornton.

I'm thinking it depends on the franchise- and the fan base. Like if the Rangers ever win one, their followers might be set for another fifty years. On that note, I guess it would also depend on one's age. I sincerely hope that in the year 2049, I am not blogging about the 60th anniversary of the A's last World Series win.

What are your thoughts?

Oh, and about the big AN changes coming Tuesday, a little spoiler alert: I will still be here (well, I hope), and I will still be a man.

AmA'sing (Old) Pics (Lots!)

67MARQUEZ — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:20:42 -0000

Thanks again to my friend Walter for allowing me to share these. Forget the URL, thought I would just post them all right here. The one thing worth mentioning is how radical those A's uniforms were considered back then.

Would love to hear which players are "groovy" in the eyes of the AN girls.

(Captions on top of each photo)

***

I need to research this, but that might be the Opening Day lineup from '68, the A's first year in Oakland!

And if that's the case, here's a pitch from that game. (Starter Lew Krause was right-handed.)

A's first manager in Oakland, Bob Kennedy.

Bob Locker pitched for the A's from 1970-72.

Dagoberto "Campy" Campaneris was the starting shortstop for the World Champion A's 1972-74.

Hall-of-Famer Casey Stengel managed the Oakland Oaks to the Pacific Coast League title in 1948.

The balding guy in the center is owner Charles Oscar Finley, the architect of the first A's dynasty.

And here's Charlie O., the mule. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was the bigger ass.

I can't tell what "Day" this. Could be "Hot Pants" with all the different colors down there.

Curt Blefary played 58 games in Green-and-Gold (1971-72).

Dick Green, second baseman for three World Series champions, was more than just a glove.

Hall-of-Famer Dick Williams led the A's to Series triumphs in 1972-73.

True story: A's fans once mistook my Uncle Paul for Diego Segui. He signed autographs for an hour.

Don Mincher played for the 1970-71 A's, was traded, then came back in time for a ring in '72.

One of three Alou brothers to play for the A's, Felipe was in Oakland for the 1970 season (and two games in '71).

Gene Tenace shocked Cincinnati with an MVP performance in the 1972 World Series.

Jim Roland pitched for the A's from 1969-72.

Here are two shades of Joe Rudi, starting left-fielder of three World Champions.

Mike Epstein manned first-base for the 1972 World Champion A's.

Mike Hegan also played some first for the A's from 1971-73.

Paul Lindblad had two different stints in Oakland, including Series-winning years 1972-73.

Phil Roof was the starting catcher in the A's very first game in Oakland.

Rick Monday played center-field for the A's from 1966-1971.

Rollie Fingers, pre-handlebar mustache, and MVP of the 1974 World Series.

Captain Sal Bando played third base for the A's from 1966-76.

Future A's manager Tony La Russa was a utility player in Oakland 1968-71.

Vida Blue won both the MVP and Cy Young Award in 1971.

Bonus points if you can name this Oakland Athletic. I can't.

And one for the guys: bring back Hot Pants Day, damn it!

Enjoy!

A.J. A-OK; Series Knotted at 1

67MARQUEZ — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 03:27:17 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

13 days ago: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Pedro Martinez kicks the dirt on the mound after giving up a solo home run to New York Yankees' Mark Teixeira during the fourth inning of Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) during the XXX inning of Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Browse more photos »

Well, what do you know; it's a Series, after all.

A masterful performance by New York starter A.J. Burnett (7IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 9K) gave the Yankees new life, and long balls off the bat of Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui made a loser out of Pedro Martinez, in a much-anticipated return to the Bronx.

Matt Stairs drove in Philadelphia's only run, giving the champs a 1-0 lead that would last only until Teixeira tied it in the fourth. With a chance to be the hero, Stairs struck out to end the game against Mariano Rivera, who picked up his 38th career post-season save.

So for the second year in a row the Phillies will take their split and head home in hopes of wrapping up another title.

Open Thread: World Series Game 2

67MARQUEZ — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:29:59 -0000

It's a pity party, people. I am stuck at the office. So I don't get to see Pedro resume his Daddyness against the Yankees. I don't get to see the Phillies try to make it two straight at that new and shiny stadium. And I don't get to see Alicia Keys!!

It's official; God hates me.

But hey, I don't want to bring you blessed bloggers down, too. So go ahead and enjoy Game 2 of the World Series.

And when you speak of me, speak well.

Your lineups (A.J. Burnett for NY, Pedro Martinez for the champions)

Lineup

Philadelphia Phillies @ New York Yankees

10/29/09 7:57 PM EDT

Philadelphia Phillies	New York Yankees
Jimmy Rollins - SS	Derek Jeter - SS
Shane Victorino - CF	Johnny Damon - LF
Chase Utley - 2B	Mark Teixeira - 1B
Ryan Howard - 1B	Alex Rodriguez - 3B
Jayson Werth - RF	Hideki Matsui - DH
Raul Ibanez - LF	Robinson Cano - 2B
Matt Stairs - DH	Jerry Hairston Jr. - RF
Pedro Feliz - 3B	Melky Cabrera - CF
Carlos Ruiz - C	Jose Molina - C