Because
that would have meant a Tigers-St. Louis Cardinals matchup in the World Series
beginning Wednesday. Considering that part of a World Series coverage includes
a historical review of all the other times the two teams have played each
other, we invariably would have been able to review 1934.
THAT
WAS THE World Series between St. Louis and Detroit in which Tigers fans –
outraged at the way Cardinals star Joe Medwick was kicking their behind on the
field – started pelting him with fruit and vegetables and pop bottles, then
turned to hot dogs and newspapers when they ran out.
The
situation became so bad that then-baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Landis ordered
Medwick removed from the game – which the Cardinals won anyway.
I
still think Medwick’s after-game response was one of the funniest (and honest)
things I have ever heard from a ballplayer’s mouth – he said he understood why
Tigers fans were upset, but couldn’t comprehend why they had brought all those
fruits and vegetables to the ballpark in the first place. It would have been
fun to relive.
But
we’re not going to get those reminisces. Instead, we have 1946 (Enos Slaughter’s
unbelievable game-winning run scored from first base), 1967 (when pitcher Bob Gibson “owned”
the Red Sox) or 2004 (when the momentum of defeating the New York Yankees in
the American League playoffs enabled Boston to defeat a superior Cardinals ballclub in the World Series).
NOT
AS FUNNY as Medwick’s moment. But I have to admit to not being offended by a
Boston-St. Louis matchup, particularly because it means that the ball clubs
with the best regular-season records in the American and National leagues
respectively actually went on to win their league championships.
It
really will be the two top ball clubs playing for the championship of U.S.
baseball (what would constitute a real “World” Series is a subject best written
about for another day).
There is a part of me who doesn’t mind when a pair of traditional ball clubs
makes it to the World Series. An Atlanta-Tampa Bay matchup in the World Series
(which could have happened) just doesn’t have the same “aura” about it! What
would a reincarnated Ty Cobb think?!?
Besides,
it doesn’t directly involve Chicago – the World Series rarely does.
THIS
COULD BE the year that Chicago Cubs fans wind up rooting for Boston, because there’s
no way that they’d think of rooting for their arch-rival in St. Louis to win
yet another championship.
Meanwhile,
Chicago White Sox fans will be watching the performance of Red Sox pitcher Jake
Peavy, and will likely tear their hair out of their heads if he winds up being
spectacular. A Cy Young Award winner for the San Diego Padres and potential
World Series star for the Red Sox who got paid big bucks by the White Sox for
injury-prone seasons on the Sout’ Side.
Would
Sox fans prefer it if the Cardinals knocked Peavy on his keister for a game or
two?
Or
will this World Series follow the trend of other World Series played in recent
years – nobody outside the home cities of the two teams involved cares much?
 |
| Nobody attending Wednesday night's World Series game is getting into the ballpark for $1.20 |
IF
SO, IT would be a shame. Because this still is for a championship, and the next
week to 10 days could wind up creating moments that will be remembered
forevermore.
At
least during those times in the future when there is a rain delay and somebody
thinks that past highlights shown on the stadium video boards will help pass
the time.
Although
somehow, I doubt it if anyone in Boston or St. Louis brings fruit and
vegetables to pelt their least-favorite player on the opposition. Medwick’s
memory will likely remain unique!
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment