"Pudge" makes his entrance into the Hall...
Bruce Sutter's election into the Baseball Hall of Fame reminds us that it's that time of year, so let's recall another Hall of Fame selection made on this date just a few years back. January 11th, 2000 was the date that one of the greatest catchers to ever wear "the tools of ignorance" became a baseball immortal. It was on that date that Carlton Fisk got the phone call that every player dreams about, but few ever get...
The man they called "Pudge", a native New Englander, born in Vermont, raised in New Hampshire, caught more games than any other catcher in baseball history. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Red Sox becoming the greatest catcher in Sox history and his final 13 with the Chicago White Sox. Chosen as Rookie of the Year in 1972, Fisk was an All-Star 11 times and hit 376 career home runs. Pudge also had the record for most home runs for a catcher with 351 until Mike Piazza recently broke it...
His most memorable home run came in Game Six of the 1975 World Series, a 12th inning blast that he willed and motioned fair, the ball hitting off the left field foul pole at Fenway Park to give the Red Sox a 7-6 win over Cincinnati and making possible a Game Seven. The Reds would win the World Series but Carlton Fisk won the hearts of Red Sox Nation forever with his blast...
Oh by the way, another player was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame that January 11th day in 2000, a player who was on the other side of the field during the 1975 World Series as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Tony Perez...
More January 11 Memories...
1902) "Popular Mechanics" magazine is published for the 1st time...
1915) Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Colonel Tillinghast Huston purchase the Yankees for $460,000 (which would pay for maybe half a season for a marginal player today)...
1956) Dean Martin tops the charts with "Memories Are Made of This"...
1958) "Seahunt" starring Lloyd Bridges debuts on CBS-TV (it lasts 4 seasons before going into syndication)...
1963) The Whisky A-Go-Go opens its doors in Los Angeles (The Doors were one of many acts discovered at the club. They opened for Love in 1966. The Whisky is still doing business on Sunset Blvd.)...
1964) "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash becomes the 1st Country album to top the pop charts...
1964) U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry says this ring of fire can kill you. Terry releases a statement saying smoking cigarettes is a definite health hazard...
1965) The Beach Boys record "Do You Wanna Dance"...
1967) Jimi Hendrix records "Purple Haze"...
1970) Coach Hank Stram's Kansas City Chiefs become the 2nd former AFL team to win the Super Bowl, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans...
1973) Owners of American League teams vote to adopt the designated-hitter rule on a trial basis (the "trial" begins on Opening Day at Fenway Park when the Yankees Ron Blomberg becomes the 1st DH. The "trial" continues)...
1976) Dorothy Hamill wins her 3rd consecutive national figure skating championship...
1977) Leo Sayer is #1 with "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"...
1981) The Oakland Raiders become the 1st wild-card team to make it to the Super Bowl by beating San Diego 34-27 in the AFC championship game (they will become the 1st wild-card team to win the Super Bowl when they beat Philadelphia 27-10 in New Orleans)...
1983) Billy Martin is named Yankee manager for the 3rd (but not, last) time...
2002) Thomas Junta, 44, is convicted of involuntary manslaughter for beating another man to death at their son's hockey practice (the incident occurred on July 5, 2000)...
To ensure accuracy, multiple reference sources were used in the timeline...
Happy Birthday To...
1926) Grant Tinker...
1930) Rod Taylor...
1942) Sax player Clarence Clemons...
1946) Naomi Judd...
1952) Golfer Ben Crenshaw...
1958) The Bangles' Vicki Peterson...
1971) Mary J. Blige...
Commentary...
On July 23, 2000, Carlton Fisk was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. His number 27 (which he reversed to "72" when he became a member of the White Sox) was retired by the Red Sox on Labor Day, a fitting tribute to a man who labored behind the plate for 24 seasons...
This is the 11th day of 2006 with 354 days left in the year but only 68 days left until Spring...
