Popcorn Ball...A team, a town and a title

Late February and early March is always a special time for small towns in Southern Illinois.  This was especially true in the seventies and eighties.  High school basketball in Illinois, the Original March Madness, held a special place on the calendar if your school had a chance to make a deep run to Champaign. 

Pinckneyville had the long-storied history.  Lawrenceville had the names and the fiery coach during a decade of dominance and all of them had their gyms.  Gyms with a capacity often larger than the town population, yet filled for each game.  Facilities built for basketball, not P.E. classes.  Atmospheres that would rival even our neighbors to the east in Indiana. 

2023 brings the 50^th anniversary of a team often forgotten outside of the southern part of the state.  It’s easy to over look a town of a thousand residents that almost disappears when the corn is high.  A town whose high school no longer exists and who’s main employer, Blevins Popcorn, left several years ago.  For many years it was called The Popcorn Capital of the World.  For one special year in 1973, it was the basketball capital of Illinois.

Ridgway, located in Southeastern Illinois, was your typical Midwest small town in the early seventies.  A high school with two hundred students and a downtown with a local drug store, a small movie theater, two grocery stores and three churches. It was, and still is a successful farming community.  A community that loved its basketball and one that was very proud of its popcorn heritage.    

Ridgway’s high school gym was one of a dozen gyms in Illinois designed by Ralph Legeman in the middle of the century. Most of the gyms were in the southern part of the state and his design had three basic traits.  A seating bowl that was below ground level.  A design for spectators who arrived late who could sit in the top rows without disturbing those sitting in the lower rows and lastly each gym or fieldhouse had a slanted, tent like roof.  The gym in Ridgway had a capacity of about 1,300 fans not including those that could stand on the biggest nights.  It wasn’t uncommon for residents outside of the school district to go watch the better teams in the area from year to year and gyms were almost at capacity each night. 

Ridgway had some key returnees from the previous season and the ’73 team had a roster of players that grew up playing basketball and other sports together as kids.  Coach Bob Dallas had been at Ridgway for a few years with some talented teams and players, but prior to 1972 Illinois only had one class for basketball, and it was dominated by the larger schools upstate.  1973 marked the second year of a two-class system.  A change that had basketball crazy fans in the southern part of the state very excited.

Coach Dallas commanded respect and discipline on the court.  His players had roles and if you couldn't fill that role, he would find a player that was willing to do so.  He had coached one of the most prolific scorers in the state, Ron Stallings(2,643 points), a few years earlier, but never had multiple options to score like this team and they were all underclassmen on the 71-72 team.   

The 1972-73 season started off against Enfield.  A poor third quarter was a key factor that resulted in a loss for the more talented Eagles.  A loss that left many fans, especially the parents of the players, very concerned after a strong finish to the 1972 season.     

A motivated group of players and hard-nosed coach served noticed to the other teams in the area that the opening loss was an awakening.  The Eagles reeled off twenty-three wins in a row, including a title in the highly competitive Eldorado Holiday Tourney, beating Eldorado 41-39.  Despite their 23-1 record in the regular season, Ridgway was never ranked in the Associated Press’ Class A Top 16 poll, nor was any school in Southern Illinois except undefeated Vienna.   It appeared that the lack of respect for the schools in the south was vey real heading into a much anticipated regional in Ridgway and another showdown with Eldorado.

The Eagles captured the regional championship at home with a with a hard-fought 59-56 win over arch-rival Eldorado.  Regional tournaments can often be the stumbling block for the top teams in the state, but Ridgway moved on to the sectional at Norris City.

Norris City felt like home as it was only fifteen miles away and a gym almost identical to Ridgway’s.  The Eagles beat Carrier Mills 68-62 before facing Waltonville for the sectional championship.  A balanced offensive attack with four starters in double-figures, Mike Dixon's nineteen points leading the way, helped Ridgway hold off a stubborn Waltonville squad to secure a sectional title and a date in the super-sectional.

On Tuesday, March 13 at a sold-out SIU Arena in Carbondale, Ridgway and Pinckneyville battled for the right to head north to Champaign for the IHSA state tournament.  It was a tense, well-played game that matched two similar teams against each other.  Danny Stevens’ clutch free throw with just seconds left in the game gave the Eagles a 57-56 win and their 29^th consecutive victory. Mike Dixon lead the scoring with twenty-eight points with Brent Browning and Danny Stevens adding thirteen and eleven points.  The Eagles would now represent all of southern Illinois against the rest of the state. 

Many small towns in the Midwest have bandstands in the center of town.   In Ridgway the bandstand was used for Popcorn Days every September and other events throughout the year.  In 1973, the bandstand was the gathering place for fans to show their appreciation to the players and coaches before sending them north to Champaign.

The next few days saw a flurry of ticket requests coming from all over the area and Ridgway was well represented as the final eight teams in Class A took the court at Assembly Hall on the campus of University of Illinois.  Eagles fans dressed in blue and gold, with most of them wearing their homemade popcorn themed corsages.  The little school from the south was the talk of the tournament all weekend. 

Ridgway was the smallest school in Champaign that weekend competing against schools that had three times more students in two of it’s three games, yet the color scheme inside Assembly Hall greatly favored the Eagles. 

Petersburg (PORTA), and their star forward Kevin Washington, was the first test in Champaign.  Washington got his points along with twenty-seven rebounds, but the rest of the state got a glimpse of what everyone in the southern part of the state had watched for the last two years as Brent Browning torched the Blue Jays for forty-five points.   Dixon’s twelve points, Stevens eleven points and Dennis Pearce’s eight points helped Ridgway win a high scoring affair 85-79.  Washington’s twenty-seven rebounds is still an IHSA tournament record for any class and at that time, Browning's 45 points was a tournament record as well.   

"I've never seen a player pass up more open shots then Brent, just to try and get shorter shot or a layup. And he is a really good at it!" said long-distance sharp shooter Mike Dixon about his high scoring teammate.  

On Saturday morning, Ridgway faced another tall task as 6-8 senior Jack Sikma and St. Anne stood between the Eagles and a chance at a state title later that evening.  The game was never in doubt from the beginning as Coach Dallas’ swarming defense never let St. Anne’s offense get on track on the way to 73-51 blowout in the semifinals.  Browning followed up his 45-point performance on Friday with twenty nine points to lead the way.  Dixon added twenty-two points as Ridgway earned the right to play for the Class A championship later that evening. 

Popcorn fever was in full swing at Assembly Hall and the Eagle bandwagon continued to grow.  The small town team that was well coached and hustled from tip-off to the final horn had won the hearts of the other fans attending throughout the weekend and even the Chicago media covering the tournament.

Ridgway watched the Kaneland Knights take care of a very talented Venice team, following their semi-final victory to set up a St. Patrick’s Day matchup between the small school from the south against the big school from the north. 

Kaneland was a west-suburban Chicago high school of almost seven hundred students that had its own story to tell. The Knights entered post-season play with a 12-11 record before rattling off eight straight wins to reach the final.  The Knights featured a front line of 6-5 Kirk Pressey and 6-6 Bill Sambrookes along with a smothering press after scoring.  

With almost 12,000 fans in Assembly Hall and a state-wide television audience ready to crown a champion, Ridgway jumped out to an early lead that they maintained throughout the game building up leads of six and eight points. Leads of that size were different in the seventies with no three-point arc to assist with comebacks and a different style of basketball overall.   As Ridgway’s talented shooters went cold, Trailing 46-37 heading into the last eight minutes, Kaneland whittled away at the lead getting it all the way down to one point, 50-49 late in the fourth quarter. The key play of the game happened with just over one minute remaining.  On a sideline inbounds play in front of Kaneland's bench, Browning picked up Stevens getting behind the defense and streaking towards the basket, gave him a perfect pass to allow Danny to convert a layup to increase the lead to 52-49. Missed free throws that could have iced the game, kept tensions high for both fan bases but Ridgway emerged with a 54-51 victory and the IHSA Class A Championship.  

Ridgway’s “Big Two” again led the way with Dixon’s twenty points and Browning with eighteen.  Browning and Dixon combined to average forty-nine points a game in Champaign.  Browning led the tournament with 105 points.  Ridgway finished the season with thirty-two consecutive wins and a record of 32-1.

While Dixon and Browning got most of the headlines, the Eagles title run wouldn’t have happened without with out key moments and games from other players.  Danny Stevens was the point guard every team wants to have. Stevens ran the offense and always seemed to hit clutch shots and key free throws in the biggest moments.  Dennis Pearce, who often played against centers taller than him, was the steady center who made things happen down low on offense and defense.  Mike Fromm, always being where he was supposed to be and locking down some of the best players on opposing teams and consistently in double figures for rebounds, played a huge role on this team. Fromm's roll was perfect for a team that had four players who could score on any given night. Jeff Drone, who earned the name “Super Sub Drone” was that stabilizing force coming off the bench.  Drone’s eight points against Waltonville in the sectional final all seemed to come at critical moments of the game to help the Eagles advance.  And no great team is complete without the hardnosed group that comes off the bench, who pushes the starters in practice every day.  Jim Doyle, John Cross, Martin Duffy, Don Wathen, and Tony Cox set the tone in practice, with some of them playing key roles in the Eagles return to Champaign the following season. 

The following day, the celebration continued at the hotel and breakfast, but what was about to happen over the next few hours is what made this title so special.  Word got back to the school administrators, long before cell phones, that towns located on the route home wanted to show their appreciation to the Eagles players and coaches, by being a part of the parade route.  A parade that started forty-five miles away in Benton, IL as the team got off Interstate 57 to head home.  Residents of Benton, Thompsonville, Galatia, Raleigh and even arch rival Eldorado waited in town squares and along main streets just for the chance to welcome home the conquering heroes. 

Eventually the convoy of cars and pep buses found its way back to the high school gym for a final celebration with the hometown fans.  What a celebration it was. 

The winning streak would reach 36 to start the 1973-74 season and the Eagles made a return trip to Assembly Hall with a chance to defend their title.  Ridgway lost to Ottawa-Marquette in the Elite Eight 50-47 to finish 29-3.  

Fifty years later, this title still means a lot to the community of Ridgway and the players involved in this journey.  While Coach Dallas  (772 wins) has passed, along with Don Wathen, John Cross and Mike Fromm, this group left a lasting impact on a little town and the surrounding communities that is still felt today.  The gym is falling in and popcorn production hasn’t happened in years and Dinger Bats resides in the old Jones Store building, but they will always be the 1973 Class A State Champion of Illinois.

"When we get together, it's like we never left and no time has passed."  Brent Browning (2020)

My dad, Buddy Viniard, was the Superintendent at Ridgway at this time.  He also coached many years prior before coming to Ridgway so my view point of this team was pretty unique.  I was the 5 year boy allowed to retrieve balls along the baseline during warm ups.  I was the kid, that was by my dad's side throughout this season and then next to him in the locker room and on the floor, before we moved in 1974.  I was the one hanging my nerf hoop off the door in the Holiday Inn playing against Stevens and Drone (they never let me win by the way!).  50 years later, I'm the grown up kid that still feels like this is one of the greatest stories in IHSA basketball history.  I hope you enjoyed just a small part of this historical run in March of 1973.  

It was just a simple smile. Or was it?

In today's world of rushing around, political division, political correctness and feeling tied to our technological devices, sometimes we forget to see the smiles that take place each and everyday in our lives.

I am unabashedly a proud father of two sons.  They are both active with multiple activities and very smart.  More importantly, they are healthy.  Grayson is our youngest and for most of his early life he spent it watching big brother (Sam) play hockey and baseball up and down the East Coast.  He was a trooper through it all.  Hot dusty baseball fields and cold hockey arenas never bothered him and as we learned later, he was taking mental notes on how big brother played.

Grayson, or G-Man as we call him, is built differently than Sam and had no interest in sports until he was almost five years old.  Sam, was playing hockey out of the womb and wiffle ball at six months. The contrast between the two is easy to see, yet they are very much alike.  Once G-Man showed some interest in playing T-ball, it was game on, literally.

I've never really asked him, but I would have to assume that G-Man has to feel he is in a long shadow being cast by big brother when it comes to baseball, but he's only nine so who knows.  Sam is talented and has had a lot of success even though he is only fourteen. I have always tried to coach Sam when I could and I've been very careful to turn him over to coaches who have to be held to a high standard when it comes to baseball.

When I realized Grayson was really interested in playing and getting better, I knew that I would want to coach him too. Having him learn the right way, knowing that we were not having anymore kids and knowing that the opportunities to coach him were going to go away sooner than I cared to think, were all driving factors, but at the end of the day I love teaching kids the sport that I love so much. Especially our two sons.

G-man is pretty gifted athletically and soccer is the sport he has a chance to really excel at, but he is pretty good at baseball too.  He is usually one of the top 3-4 kids on his team and no one can catch him when it comes to running.  No one!

Through t-ball and coach/kid pitch, the first four years he played, he always ended the season a better player than when he begin and he was a good teammate.  That's all you can ask for.   Our little league team last year finished their season undefeated and he was a huge factor in that success.  It earned him a spot on the 8u All-Star team (that I was asked to coach) that would play in a local tourney and that honor produced a smile that was pure and honest joy.  For the parents out there, you know the smile I am talking about.  The "I did it, big brother didn't do it for me, I'm an All-Star too!" smile that I hope all little brothers and sisters get many times in their life.  It reappeared a few days later when the all-star uniforms came in.

Soccer provides those same smiles but it's just different.  The soccer field is his happy place where he knows he can play with anyone and the confidence level is much higher.  Although he is still good at baseball, his confidence level doesn't compare, so when there is a level of achievement reached, it seems to mean just a little bit more in baseball.

This past winter, he has been working out with a 9u travel team.  I have my own thoughts about travel sports, but that's for another day. He is not on the roster, but he does practice with them each weekend just to get time with kids that are pretty good players too.  G-man isn't ready for a full travel team yet, but this has been good for his skill development and honestly, he could play on this team without question.

Since he has not ever played with these kids nor does he go to school with them, he has felt like an outsider when it comes to practice and he is often nervous and hasn't really shown his true skill set to the coaches running the practice.  It's been a fine line for me having him do this and see him tense up, but in the end, I think he will be better for it.   At the end of the day, it still has to be fun for him.

Each Saturday morning since the holidays, I have taken both boys to a local indoor facility, mostly with the intention of getting Grayson some swings with his new bat.  Tee work, soft toss then hitting off Sam with some live pitches.  We also do some infield work.  Sam has been a big help with this part of Grayson's learning curve. It's a fun hour each Saturday and they love doing it.

This past Sunday, G-Man was only going to be able to attend sixty of the ninety minute practice, which was simply just a hitting and fielding day.  G hit well from the time he stepped into the cages. Great tee work and then he hit live pitches like he was hitting off Sam during our Saturday sessions.   Hitting went long and I was afraid the he would not get to do some of the infield drills that the other half of the kids were doing. These were the same drills he had been doing the previous two weeks with Sam and I.  About half the kids were not doing them well, but I knew Grayson would do them well if they switched stations before we needed to leave.

As Dan was telling the new group of kids what the drill was, the clock was ticking.  The first two kids did the drill poorly which caused Dan to explain and show them the proper way again.  We had to get going.  G-man looked disappointed that he didn't get a chance.  I said "Go take one before we leave".

Dan agreed.

The ball was hit to him. A medium speed grounder. He didn't sit back but charged up on it and fielded it like he had done it a thousand times. Made a perfect on the run throw and there it was...that "I just did what I was supposed to do, when others weren't doing it and showed them I could play" smile. He left the the cage like Joe Namath leaving Super Bowl III but not quite as obvious or arrogant. The smile stayed on his face until we got to soccer practice.  He couldn't wait to tell big brother about it and I couldn't wait for him to share it with my wife.

The little boy in him, brought out the little boy in me.  I will never forget that ten second span of perfection that gave him more than he probably realizes right now but an experience that I know he will build off of for the rest of his live.  What did I get?  I got the smile and it was the best.

September 28, 2011

Most baseball fans recall September 28, 2011 as one of the best, single nights in the history of the sport, and who could blame them.  It was truly an extraordinary set of circumstances involving so many teams and scenarios with an ending that even the best writers in Hollywood couldn’t have scripted. 

As September approached, with only one wild-card spot available in each league at the time, the playoff spots seemed set in stone without much hope of late season drama to look forward to.  The American League division leaders were the Red Sox, Tigers and Rangers and the Yankees holding down the Wild Card spot, but only 1.5 games behind the Sox for the A.L. East.  The Tigers and Rangers held secure leads over their second place rivals and the nearest wild card contender to the Yankees was 7.5 games back (Tampa).  The National League was eerily similar. The Phillies, Brewers and Diamondbacks all holding command leads in their respective divisions and the Braves had a 9 game lead over the Cardinals for the Wild Card spot.  The only drama seemed to be between the Red Sox and Yankees deciding the East and the Wild Card. 

As the month played out, the N.L. leaders continued their winning ways without working up a sweat on their way to division titles, but the Braves started to falter and the Cardinals caught fire.   The Red Birds seemed to be winning in magical ways while the Braves looked like a second division club and jinxed with every game they played.   That stretch included a Cardinals sweep of the Braves in early September and then the Braves losing five of six in the last week to set up a final game against the Phillies while the Cardinals were in Houston. 

The American League almost mirrored the N.L. as the Tigers and Rangers also ruled their divisions without much of a challenge, but the A.L. East was getting interesting.  The Yankees and Red Sox had flip flopped and were clearly heading in opposite directions, but still not much fear of the Devil Rays (yes I called them Devil Rays, get over it!) catching the Sox for the wild card.  Well this is baseball and these are the Red Sox, and never say never as they lost six of seven to the Devil Rays over a nine day span to suddenly make things interesting and put Tampa right in the middle of the playoff chase.  The Red Sox would finish the last two weeks of the season with a 4-9 record including losing four of six to the last-place Orioles heading into the final game in Baltimore. 

September 28 brought with it the ultimate stage for baseball fans around the country, even those who didn’t have a dog in the fight.  The Cardinals and Braves were tied for the N.L. Wild Card and the Red Sox and Devil Rays were tied for the A.L. Wild Card.  Pop the popcorn and line up the T.V. sets next to each other because this was baseball nirvana with the following line up of games that had playoff implications:

Cardinals @ Astros  – an afternoon game giving the ‘Birds an advantage should they win

Phillies @ Braves – Phillies had nothing to play for and Braves everything to play for

Red Sox @ Orioles – Win and hope for some help from the Yankees to win the Wild Card

Yankees @ Devil Rays – Rays need a win to stay even and hope for a one game playoff

The last three games all started around the same time adding to the excitement, and each one trying to top the other on the drama-meter.  The Cards won easily in Houston to put the weight of the world on the Braves while they relaxed in unison in the visiting clubhouse of Minute Maid Park awaiting their travel plans

·         The Braves would take a one run lead in to the ninth and their all-star closer on the mound with hopes of forcing a one-game playoff with the Cardinals to determine the wild card winner.

·         The Red Sox would take a one run lead in to the ninth and their all-star closer on the mound and also a 77-0 record when leading after eight innings.  A win puts them in the temporary lead to win the wild card and at a minimum forces a one game playoff for the wild card spot

·         The Devils Rays, trailed the Yankees 7-0 in the eighth inning…..then scored six in the eighth to trail by one also heading into the ninth inning

Then it really got interesting….

Kimbrel, for the Braves, blows the save and the Phillies tie the game.  The Devil Rays were down to their last out, down a run to the Yankees when Dan Johnson goes yard to tie the game.  Dan Johnson, who had not had a major league hit since April, ties the freaking game. The Braves/Phillies were headed to extra innings as were the Yankees and Devil Rays.  The Sox/Orioles game seemed to drag on despite the low scoring affair while the other two games of importance moved along much more quickly. 

As those two games moved on into the twelfth innings, the Sox blew a chance for some insurance runs in the top of the ninth by not capitalizing on a bases loaded, one out situation.  Still 3-2, the Sox headed to the bottom of the ninth.  Papelbon cruised through the first two batters and needed just more one out to put it away.  At the same time the Yankees had runners on first and third with no outs threatening to go ahead in the twelfth.  I remember looking at the clock and thinking “The Red Sox might actually pull this out and get a reprieve from the baseball gods.”  Comebacks in 2004, 2007 and almost again in 2008 gave me hope that the baseball gods were done punishing the Sox and their fans.  It was exactly midnight. 

This is what happened in the next five minutes.  The Orioles Chris Davis Doubled, Nolan Reimold Doubled (tie game now), Robert Andino singled, Orioles win.  Just as quickly as that…no joking.  Robert Andino now occupied a spot reserved previously for the likes of Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone and Ray Knight.  Robert Andino had three huge hits in the last eight games, all late in the game, all against the Red Sox.  I then switched the channel to root for the Yankees (yes those words came out of my mouth) and hoping they had scored to gain the lead.  Within one minute of realizing it was still tied, Evan Longoria homered to win the game.  It was 12:05 a.m.  Rays in, Sox out, go outside to throw up, back inside to find the nearest adult beverage and back outside to listen to the silence of the night. 

Minutes later the Braves lost in thirteen innings to at least share the debacle that was the great collapse of 2011, but at that point, it really didn’t matter.  As it turned out, Chicken and Beer in my man cave might have been a more appropriate post-game meal following the reports involving certain Red Sox players and their retreat to the clubhouse during games to enjoy KFC and Sam Adams during the September Swoon that produced a 7-20 record.    

Red Sox fans might finally be able to look at September 28, 2011 in the same light as other fans, but it took a full 730 days to let that bitterness go and move forward.  That seems like a short time considering I was bitter about Bucky Dent for 26 years, give or take a few days.  This year’s team, no matter what the outcome is, helped erase that bitterness of 2011 and 2012, with its clutch hitting, high five city and of course the beards and the bonding.  Boston Strong and go Sox!

And that's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......

Mid-Summer Classic Memories

The Major League Baseball All-Star game always brings back some great memories whether it was when I was little, or years later when I worked in baseball and I was able to attend a few Mid-Summer classics. 

I was fortunate enough to be in Fenway Park, July 13, 1999 when they introduced the All-Century team followed by the Ted Williams tribute and his first pitch.  Words simply cannot describe those moments and the scene at Fenway. The greatest living players all assembled in one place and Teddy Ballgame creating one last memory in Boston….just plain AWESOME.   All of that was then followed by possibly the most dominant starting pitcher performance in many years as Pedro Martinez tore through the NL striking out five of the six batters he faced including Barry Larkin, Larry Walker, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Jeff Bagwell.  Only Matt Williams made contact off “Petey”.  The rest of the game was fun, but never matched the fireworks from the pre-game ceremonies and the dominant pitching.  Nomar’s standing ovation when he came out of the game was pretty cool though. 

In 2000, I was able to take my dad to the game in Atlanta.  Seats were not great, but we were in the ballpark for the home run derby and then the game. It was all about being able to take dad to the event and sort of repaying him for all of the games he had taken me to as a kid.  Walking around fan fest, enjoying the different activities and taking dad across the street to the spot where Aaron hit 715 was much more fun than the derby and the game, but it is always fun to be at these games.

One of my fondest memories of the all-star game was in 1983, thirty years ago and long before I ever dreamed of working in baseball, let alone attending multiple all-star games.  The Hamilton (IL) Pony League team was local force on the field, pretty much dominating most of the local teams in the tri-state area of Illinois, Southeast Iowa and Northeast Missouri.  We had two solid pitchers, good hitters and great defense.  I was the starting centerfielder.  Ed Ray put together a pretty good group of kids and we had fun and won a lot of games. 

Unfortunately, we were scheduled to play on the night of the ’83 All-Star Game that was being played in the old Comiskey Park in Chicago which is where the first all-star game was played fifty years earlier on the same date.  Our game, in Kahoka, MO about 30 miles away, started late afternoon so I was hoping to get back in time to see the game, but realistically knew  I not would get to see much of it. 

As our game ended with us beating them pretty easily, we made our way back home.  Since Coach Ed’s son Jon was one of my best friends, I had traveled to the game with them along with Chad Gilpin who was just as good a friend and our catcher.  The three of us were not only good baseball players, but we loved the history of the game too, so as soon as we got into the car we immediately turned the game on the radio. Honestly, I was one of those kids who enjoyed listening to games on radio (still do by the way) and this was waaaaaayy before smartphones, laptops and the internet so it was radio and t.v. as our options and we were in the car so radio was our only option and that was fine with me.

The game had started as we headed towards Keokuk to get dinner and then across the bridge home to Hamilton.  Please remember this was thirty years ago and some of my game facts may be off but this is a recount of my memory of the broadcast and the conversations in the car.  The American League had not won many games in the previous 20 years despite equal talent. This was back when this game was still all about the pride of the league you played in and didn’t determine any post-season home field advantage. 

I think Dave Stieb started for the AL, but don’t recall who started for the NL.  I clearly remember Atlee Hammaker, who was having a great first half for the Giants, came in to pitch the 3^rd inning and Jim Rice was leading off for the AL in the bottom of the third.  Rice was my man.  To this day #14 has always been my favorite player, followed by Lou Brock and a few others.  He was the most dangerous hitter of this era of baseball.  He followed Fred Lynn in the American League lineup, who now played for the Angels after roaming the Red Sox outfield with Rice for seven years previously.  They were known as the Gold Dust Twins when they came up in ’75 and combined to have two of the best rookie seasons on record.

As the third inning started, we were hoping to get back to Hamilton to see the game, but as anyone who lived in Keokuk or Hamilton at that time knew, all schedules were dependent on the bridge that connected the two towns.  An old, narrow low-level bridge that spanned the mighty Mississippi and it had to be opened for barge traffic and then closed to resume car traffic.  It was part of life dealing with the bridge and all of its unique qualities good or bad.

As fate would have it, there was a grain barge coming out of Lock and Dam 19 and the Ed Ray mobile did not have Speed Racer Mach 5 super powers to help us navigate this poorly timed event.  The bridge swung open, the cars stopped and we continue to listen to the third inning as it unfolded.  The conversation between the three youth of us and Coach Ed, was just as memorable as the other events that were happening simultaneously.  AL vs. NL, Rice is better than Andre Dawson, Willie McGee should have been starting, etc. just to name a few of the debates.  Typical banter among kids and adults who loved America’s National Past Time.    

Rice started off the now famous 3^rd inning by homering off Hammaker to left field.  The radio broadcasters described it as a ball that never got more than 20 feet off the ground but was hit so hard that it carried easily over the left field wall at Comiskey.  I was crushed not being able to see it, but video later proved their description to be very accurate.  Hammaker completely unraveled after that as it seemed everyone and their dog got a hit off the all-star pitcher.  As bad as he was pitching, I remember him intentionally walking Robin Yount to load the bases and pitch to Fred Lynn.  Jon, Chad and I couldn’t believe that he would put another man on base to face one of the better hitters in the game, but it did set up a Lefty vs Lefty situation and I am sure Hammaker was looking for any advantage he could get at that point.  Quite honestly I was also shocked that Hammaker was still in the game at this point and I don’t recall if there was anyone warming up for NL.  The announcers seemed just as stunned as we were, but now the bases were loaded.

Fifty years of all-star games and there had never been a Grand Slam…never.  Each year during the game, the T.V. broadcast would always make note of that fact.  The radio guys were now doing the same song and dance and we were anticipating some all-star history as the water traffic in front of us slowly eased out of the locks heading south down river further delaying our ability to visually see what was happening on the Southside of Chicago.  None the less, the radio description was awesome and our lifeline to history.

Fred Lynn proceeded to hit that historical first Grand Slam as he socked a Hammaker pitch over the right field wall to put the American League in total command and in position to win their first game in years.  His slam was a big deal at the time and is still the only grand slam in the history of the MLB All-Star game. 

I am sure that the people in the car line behind us must have wondered what we were listening to as the three of us in the back seat of the car erupted with excitement and then calmed down so that we could hear the broadcast and crowd noise in the background as Comiskey once again enjoyed baseball history.  

We made it back home to watch the rest of the game, but honestly it was all pretty anti climatic at that point.  We were merely watching to see replays of Lynn’s dramatic slam and of course I couldn’t wait to see the replay of Rice’s home run which started it all off.  Hammaker’s career was never the same after that game unfortunately. 

That car ride experience with Coach Ed, Jon and Chad contained many more memories than I am sharing with you since this post is already longer than expected.  Memories that were made even more special with Jon’s passing in 2005.  Jon’s family was my family too and the three of us young boys spent numerous hours watching, playing and discussing the game of baseball.  I don’t know if kids today do anything like that anymore, but we sure did and I am thankful for that time during my youth. 

Enjoy the All-Star game tonight and that's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......

P.S.  Last week during the Atlantic League Minor League All-Star game in the stadium that I helped build (not physically build) and promote for the Blue Crabs when they started up, my oldest son Sam provided me with another all-star moment by throwing out one of two first pitches for the game.  Roger Clemens was the other first pitch by the way.     

Credit Where It Is Due

Certain athletes come along that take the game to a new level and carry the league on their shoulders, but I still can’t find a way to like them.  It can be their personality, something they did or simply the uniform they wear.   We all have them.  You will never hear me criticize their skill or importance to the league they play in and where they stand in history.  I just don’t like them.  Jeter, Bird, Magic, Isaiah, Knight, Swann, etc.   Over the years history may change some of that (Example Magic Johnson) but in most cases, the dislike carries on. 

Bryce Harper falls into this category for me.  He plays for the local MLB team (Nationals) and is quite possibly the best pure talent to come along since Ken Griffey, Jr.  He plays the game hard and understands its history.   It is nice to have him and other young stars on the Nationals so close to us so that Sam can see them play and hopefully Grayson too. 

Maybe it’s the taunting of opposing pitchers, or the WWE style eye-black and quite simply maybe it’s the arrogance shown in certain situations.  All of which could be by products of immaturity as he is only 20, but still old enough to know that he was wrong by most standards.  There is a part of me that thinks he might agree.

Yesterday, Harper scored some big points with me.  Not that he cares or needed to do anything of the sort. It just happened.  

My oldest son Sam has a lot of my traits especially when it comes to sports.  One of my favorite things to do as a kid and later on during my years of working in baseball was to just simply watch batting practice (B.P) before each game.  Sam loves to do this as well.  Since last year we have been to ten Nats game either at home or in Boston and we have been lucky to watch Harper impress the crowds during B.P.  

As we were headed to Nats Park in a driving rain storm, Sam duly noted that with it 1)being a Sunday,   2) a getaway day (the day that the visiting team leaves town) and 3) a lot rain, that we most likely wouldn’t get to see B.P.  Smart kid he is.  Still, we had many bright spots to look forward to with the rain leaving and Bryce Harper bobble heads waiting for us and two seats at the Red Porch for a little pre-game meal , but the prospect of missing batting practice bummed him out a little bit.  As we entered and secured the highly sought after promo item, that is already going for $100 on eBay, we quickly noticed the batting cage and “L” screen were sitting in their proper locations, ready for batting practice.  Amongst the clouds was a little ray of sunshine for the boy!

Harper is currently on the disabled list and hasn’t played in more than three weeks so the thought of him taking B.P. never entered my mind especially with his scheduled re-hab dates coming later this week at Single-A Potomac.  It was clear that the whole team was not participating, and looked to be only four players hitting.  One of them waiting his turn… a lefty in a black t-shirt that clearly was Bryce Harper.  Over the next twenty minutes Harper put on a display of spraying base hits all around the outfield and sent the crowd into a frenzy with more than a dozen “no-doubters” to all parts of the outfield stands including one ten rows up in the second deck in Center Field.

Harper clearly didn’t need to take batting practice on this wet, humid day and with him still nursing a sore knee, part of the leg that is critical to a hitter especially one like Harper who generates so much torque with his swing.  But he understood that this crowd bought tickets several weeks ago to watch him, then they stood in the rain waiting to receive a seven inch resin replica of him with a head that bobbles.   There he was paying respect to the fans when most athletes would have taken the easy way out and played it safe.  Good for you Bryce Harper, good for you. 

I don’t know for sure if that is why he did it, but I am pretty it played a part and for that I applaud him for his efforts and I am sure a few thousand fans feel the same way.  You won’t find me running for president of the Harper fan club, but that went a long way with me and I hope, for Nats fans, that he stays in D.C. for many years.   

That's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine ......

By the way, regarding the bobble heads we have in our house ….one of the funniest things Sam has ever said was following the earthquake in 2011 and we were on vacation…..”The one time that the bobble heads would have been fun to watch and we missed it”   

Thanks Dad

This week has been full of some special moments that you can only enjoy as a son and then as a father.   It will also be a little bittersweet because this week also should have been the 45^th birthday of my best friend who was taken to soon.  The one common thread that completes this circle is baseball.

American sports history is full of stories where father’s play catch with their son’s in the backyard and I am happy to be one of those lucky kids who is just a small chapter of that history book.  Not everyone is as fortunate.   Not only did my dad teach me the game of baseball, he took me to my games, he took me to major league games including treks across the state of Missouri to see my beloved Red Sox take on the Royals (when the Royals were good by the way) and of course to games close by at Busch Stadium.    Although basketball was his sport, he knew plenty about baseball and I thank him for the love he instilled into me. 

From there I took it upon myself to also learn the history of the game and most importantly learned the little details of the game itself by playing all of the time.  I even collected baseball cards before it was big business which also taught me great math skills,  I turned that love of baseball into a nice career of working in baseball when I couldn’t play any longer. Some of my fondest memories come from those sixteen years of working in baseball and moving from Illinois to Iowa to Kansas to Ohio to North Carolina/South Carolina to Florida to Iowa and now Maryland working my way up the ladder (and few other odd jobs in between).    Saying I was fortunate would be an understatement.  I worked for teams that won championships, as well as teams that were horrible.  I saw players who became stars and phenoms when they were teenagers in the minors.   I worked for coaches who used to be MLB players that I watched as a kid and my final job was working for Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson.  I even became friends with a future Heisman Trophy winner who spent his summers playing baseball.    

None of the above was said to brag about my fortunate job perks, only mentioned to show the impact that baseball has had on my life.   This week I was able to take Sam to a post season game between the Nationals and Cardinals which by itself would have been enough.  Especially since the kid loves baseball too.  He is also a magnet when it comes to getting baseballs, pucks or footballs at sporting events and yes he was given a baseball by Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly.  That one ball made the pain of an 8-0 loss for the Nats seem not so bad to seven year old. Father and son enjoying an awesome October afternoon at the ball park, is pretty special.  

Well it’s get better, because tonight, I get to take my Dad to the deciding Game 5 of the same series between the Nats and Cards.   Baseball has allowed me to have access to certain things and also to games that we were not able to go to as a kid and tonight is just one more way to say thanks to my dad for my love of baseball and for always taking me to the game I have loved for forty plus years.   As a neutral fan, it really doesn’t matter to me who wins tonight because it’s all good, but this Red Sox fan will be pulling for the Nats much to the chagrin of my Cardinal loving family and friends.   To see him excited about going and texting his friends that he will be at the game tonight makes me smile.    

Jonny Ray, I wish you were still around for many reasons, because if the Nats win tonight, you and I would have been hangin out at Game 1 of the NLCS on your birthday.  Keep up those Cubbie conversations up there in the sky with Santo and Caray.   Thanks to fellow Illinoisan Jayson Werth for giving us a Game 5 to attend! 

By the way, Joe Kelly's number for the Cardinals is #58 which also happens to be Sam's hockey number....(insert Twilight Zone music)

That's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......

OctoberFest

 

Not everyone knows that traditional OctoberFest events actually happen in September per their origins in Germany.  With that said, my version of OctoberFest will be referring to the month of October and the Major League Baseball post-season.    No slight to good beer and hot females in short skirts as that can be mixed into the conversation as well! 

There are two really great times of the year if you are a sports fan.  Two periods of time where you can get just about any flavor you prefer, with the exception of soccer because I do not acknowledge that sport so it will not be mentioned further. 

In the March-April time period you have March Madness ( yes I am allowed to use that term legally since I am from Illinois), Spring Training/beginning of the MLB Season, NHL playoffs getting ready to begin along with the NBA playoffs.  Not to mention spring college football games and the NFL Draft.

In September-October, College Football and the NFL are in full swing, the NHL and NBA are just getting started and the MLB Post-season is upon us.  For the gear heads out there, you also have NASCAR finishing up its chase and every two years, golf has the Ryder cup drama.

Although I remember baseball playoff games prior to 1975, it was Oct 21 of that year that really left a lasting impression on how much the post-season really means.  If that date doesn’t ring a bell with you, maybe Carlton Fisk waving a ball fair in Game 6 against the Reds will help.    It is easy for many people of my generation and the generation prior to say that moment left an impression on them, but since it is my blog, here is my story.

By the time the fall of 1975 had rolled around, I was already a very young Red Sox fan who was enjoying the success of the Boston Nine that year. Especially the success of their two rookie outfielders named Fred Lynn and Jim Rice who were enjoying historical first years.  Combined those two with the veteran Yaz and some other young players like Carlton Fisk, Dwight Evans, and Cecil Cooper, I was all about being a Sox fan much to the chagrin to my Cardinal loving family….and I didn’t even really know about the painful history that came with this new found love.  One final thought. How can you not love a team that has shortstop whose nickname is “Rooster” and whirling dirling pitcher nicknamed “El Tiante”?

The Sox and Cincinnati Reds rolled through their respective league championship series against defending champ Oakland A’s and Pittsburgh Pirates, to claim their pennants and move on to what would be a historical series that put baseball back at the forefront of American sports.  Both teams swept their series and featured average pitching, but great offense and defense.  Cincy was known as the “Big Red Machine” and was the favorite to win even though the teams seemed to be pretty evenly matched on paper. 

For five games, the two squads full of future hall of famers played close, pressure packed games including three one-run games with the Reds taking a three games to two lead heading back to Boston.   Then came the rain and bad weather.  I don’t recall if it was three or four days, but to me it seemed like it was about ten days before game six rolled around.   When it was determined that the next game would be played it fell on Oct 21^st, the day my family was supposed to celebrate my brother Scott’s birthday (Whose birthday was actually on Oct 22^nd) by going out to get pizza with some family and friends, there was a deflating feeling of not getting to see the game played.  Keep in mind this is before ESPN, cell phones and social media.  One Channel on TV or Radio….that’s it.    

As only a 7 year old could do, I begged and pleaded to let me stay home and watch the game as it might be their last.  Games didn’t start as late back then and being in the central time zone was also bonus so I was intent on doing what I could to see this game.  All of the statements below were said with the saddest face I could come up with 

·         “I will mow the yard for the rest of my life”

·         “it’s not really his birthday so do I have to go?”

·         “it might be six months before I get to see them play again”

·         “Scott has a ton of birthday’s left, I can miss one can’t I?”

And it worked!  Hello babysitter and welcome to Game of 6 of the 1975 World Series!!!!!!!

By the time the family got home, the game was in its late stages, not looking good for the Sox, but not quite over although doomsday looked inevitable and the fat lady was warming up her opera voice.  I was fearful that dad would say “Mark it’s late and they are losing so it is time to go to bed.”  and quite honestly, I would have agreed with him.  I wasn’t sure I wanted to see the Sox lose.  But he didn’t say anything at all.  I Iaid still on the couch trying not to bring attention to myself hoping he had just forgotten about me as I continued to watch.  

Thanks to Bernie Carbo, I could not lay still any longer.  His pinch hit three-run blast over Cesar Geronimo’s head in centerfield tied the game and sent me flying off the couch.  Then I realized that this might be a long game and my pending bedtime appointment would ultimately win out over watching a baseball game.   Wrong again little Mark Viniard, as dad said since I had stayed up this long that he and I would keep watching what seemed to be a classic baseball game.  And watch we did and oh how right he was!

I am not gonna a lie, it was a struggle for me to keep my eyes open as the game went on.  I tried all of the tricks that kids try when they have sleep overs and want to stay up all night.  Cold Water on the eyes…Well it was really just cold water on the eyes as that is the only trick I knew at the time.  But I do know that I was wide awake when Fisk hit a ball that my dad said was going foul but all of the fans in Fenway Park were going crazy and then I went crazy.  Still alive, one more game, one more night of classic fall baseball and a memory that seems like it was yesterday. 

The Sox lost another close one in Game 7 in what was one of the best world series ever played, and yes I was a sad that my team didn’t pull it out.  One feeling I remember though was how proud I was of them for how hard they tried and that they did their best.  And that is all really anyone can ask of their teams.  I wasn’t jaded and focused on another historical loss in the postseason, quite honestly I didn’t know any better.  But I did know that baseball in October was about as good as it gets. 

In years that followed, especially living close to St. Louis, there were a lot of post-season memories and historical broadcast calls that I will never forget:

·         Reggie Jackson hitting three home runs in the clinching game of the World Series in 1977

·         Rick Monday’s home run against Montreal  in the deciding game of the Division Series

·         Ozzie Smith’s walk off homer in 1985 (followed by Jack Clark’s blast the next day)

·         The NLCS and ALCS in 1986 (later chronicled in a great book called One Pitch Away)

·         Painful, but Games 6 and 7 of the 1986 Series

·         Kirk Gibson in 1988

·         The Reds beating the mighty A’s in 1990

·         Kirby Puckett in 1991 and the entire 1991 series.

·         The Giants and Braves both winning 103 games in 1993 and my boy Solomon Torres being given the ball to try and win the NL West in only his 5^th start as a big leaguer.  Can you imagine winning 103 games and not going to the playoffs!

·          Joe Carter’s walk off series winning blast in 1993

And so many more in the last 20 years including the #1 and #2 moments of all….being down 3-0 to the Yanks before winning four straight and then sweeping the Cardinals (sorry Viniard Family….not!) for the first world series title in 86 years for the Sox.

The fall always has heroes like Cody Ross, David Eckstein and David Freese and you never know when any one player will step up to make his mark in the history books.  Enjoy the ride, enjoy the games and if your team is playing in the post-season, get plenty of rest and Rolaids and take time to enjoy the playoff run your team is making.   I also recommend Sam Adams Octoberfest beer. 

By the way here is a link to the book I mentioned above about the entire 1986 post season.  It is a good read.... http://www.amazon.com/One-Pitch-Away-Players-Championships/dp/0028608461  

That's what it is in the world of the Sports Grapevine .......