Thursday, September 14, 2006

A baseball season worth remembering...

The 2006 baseball season is winding down with the playoffs set to begin in 3 weeks and there are still several teams in contention for the playoffs. Both New York teams are in, which makes for poor ratings nationally but an exciting time in the city. The last time both teams were in the playoffs at the same time, the Yankees beat the Mets in the 2000 World Series...

There have been some exciting finishes culminating in great world series in the last decade but none more so than the 1994 World Series. What a finish for the 2 teams that made it that year. It went down to the wire for both and how about that 7 game World Series, one of the most...huh, wha ? There was no World Series that year ???

I almost got ya, didn't I ? On this date in 1994 baseball commissioner Bud Selig cancelled the rest of the season. When play stopped following the games of August 11th, the Montreal Expos had the best record in the game, the Yankees - the best record in the American League and the division leaders were the White Sox, Rangers, Reds and Dodgers. The dispute leading to the strike was over a salary cap to give all teams a chance to compete on an equal level. At the time the strike was called, 34 days of games had already been missed and for the 1st time in 90 years, there would be no world series...

It was the 8th work stoppage in baseball history, the 4th in-season work stoppage in 23 years. The strike carried over to Spring Training but was eventually settled in time for a full season in 1995...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1. [1814] Francis Scott Key writes the "Star-Spangled Banner", a poem originally known as "Defense of Fort McHenry". Key had witnessed the British bombardment of the Fort in Maryland during the war of 1812. The song would become our official national anthem on March 3rd, 1931...
2. [1901] President William McKinley dies of gunshot wounds inflicted by an assassin. McKinley was 58. 42-year old VP Theodore Roosevelt succeeds him...
3. [1940] The Selective Service Act is passed by the U.S. Congress leading to the 1st peacetime draft in the U.S...
4. [1948] A ground-breaking ceremony takes place at the site of the United Nations' world headquarters in Manhattan...
5. [1968] The Tigers' Denny McLain becomes the 1st pitcher to win 30 games in 34 years (prison-bound Denny finishes the season 31-6. His career stats: 131-91)...
6. [1984] Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler host the 1st MTV Awards at Radio City Music Hall. The 1st "Video of the Year" is "You Might Think" - The Cars...
7. [1996] Mets catcher Todd Hundley sets a season record for most home runs hit by a catcher with his 41st homer (his total for '96)...
8. [1999] Sheryl Crow stages a free concert in Central Park. Other acts include Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Eric Clapton, the Dixie Chicks, Keith Richards and Sara McLachlan...
9. [1999] For the 1st time in its 28-year history, Disney World closes as Hurricane Floyd hits Central Florida...
10. [2001] The FBI releases the names of the 19 suspected hijackers who took part in the 911 terrorist attacks. At Ground Zero, President Bush uses a bullhorn to assure Americans that we will get even for the attacks...

"Happy Trails": 1982] Monaco's Princess Grace dies from wounds suffered when her car plunged off a mountain road one day earlier. Former actress Grace Kelly was 52...

#1 on this date: 1960] "The Twist" - Chubby Checker (the only song to top the charts in 2 separate runs, returning to #1 in 1962)...

#1 on this date: 1970] "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Diana Ross (her 1st solo #1)...

#1 on this date: 1974] "I Shot the sheriff" - Eric Clapton...

Premiered on this date: 1972] "The Waltons" (will have 9 year run)...1978] "Mork & Mindy" (will air until June, 1982)..."Entertainment Tonight" (still on)...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Faith Ford (42), Jon "Bowser" (Sha Na Na) Bauman (59), Joey Heatherton (62), Larry Brown (NBA coach looking for his next victim) (66) and Former Yankee and current San Diego broadcaster Jerry Coleman (82)...

Commentary...

Mickey Gensler comments on yesterday's "Will Spitzer continue his payola probe?" blog: "I wish someone would explain to me how the public gains when a large corporation is fined but no one goes to jail in a criminal case. Like you say the fine is just "chump change". The corporations make their fine back by charging higher prices for the goods. Spitzer's probe, therefore was just a publicity stunt"...

Feel free to comment on Eliot Spitzer's probe of payola like Mickey did...

Timeline Countdown: 20 days until major league baseball playoffs, 108 days until 2007 and The Mets Magic Number is now: 2

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