Long-Time Fan Here....
Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:41 pm
Every once in awhile I see some World Series games replayed on ESPN Classic, supposedly showcasing the the best of the best (REALLY tired of seeing the damned Yankees so showcased, which they seem to always be whether there was any real drama in their series vs whomever or not...)
As a long time Tiger fan, what really burns my butt...though I may have missed it...I've never seen the 1968 Tigers/Cards series replayed.
This is a series that had everything: the dramatic move of Mickey Stanley to SS, where he hadn't played since HS, so Al Kaline could start in the outfield; a putative duel between two of the most dominant pitchers in the game in Bob Gibson and and the last 30-game winner in ML history, Denny McLain; the baserunning magic of Lou Brock; the Tigers coming back from a three games to one deficit to win in seven; crucial and unexpected fielding and baserunning errors by the usually slick-fielding Cardinals and Lou Brock; the emergence of a previously relatively unsung hero in Mickey Lolich, who won three complete games and gave up only five runs in the wole series, plus defeating Cards ace Bob Gibson in the seventh and decisive game, and actually hit the only home run of his ML career in this series; and as icing on the cake, the Tiger's revered aging star Al Kaline batting a brisk .379 with 2 home runs and 8 rbi for the series...
How could any World Series provide more surprises and drama than that? Yet I never hear this series listed among the all time great World Series played...all we ever hear about is the filthy Yankees against someone...
Comments please...
As a long time Tiger fan, what really burns my butt...though I may have missed it...I've never seen the 1968 Tigers/Cards series replayed.
This is a series that had everything: the dramatic move of Mickey Stanley to SS, where he hadn't played since HS, so Al Kaline could start in the outfield; a putative duel between two of the most dominant pitchers in the game in Bob Gibson and and the last 30-game winner in ML history, Denny McLain; the baserunning magic of Lou Brock; the Tigers coming back from a three games to one deficit to win in seven; crucial and unexpected fielding and baserunning errors by the usually slick-fielding Cardinals and Lou Brock; the emergence of a previously relatively unsung hero in Mickey Lolich, who won three complete games and gave up only five runs in the wole series, plus defeating Cards ace Bob Gibson in the seventh and decisive game, and actually hit the only home run of his ML career in this series; and as icing on the cake, the Tiger's revered aging star Al Kaline batting a brisk .379 with 2 home runs and 8 rbi for the series...
How could any World Series provide more surprises and drama than that? Yet I never hear this series listed among the all time great World Series played...all we ever hear about is the filthy Yankees against someone...
Comments please...