The current Major League Baseball playoffs brings back memories of the most famous Fall Classic I ever attended - the 1969 World Series.
It produced one of the most starling upsets in the history of the Classic as the New York Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets captured four straight games after losing the opener.
The series had so much interest because four players in the 1966 Governor's Cup New York-Penn League champions, the Auburn Mets, played in the series. In fact, Jerry Kooman pitched two victories, including the championship one.
Other Auburn players in the 1969 series were Ed Kranepool, Cleaon Jones and Kenny Boswell.
My big shock came prior to the opening pitch of the final game. I was seated in the right field press box when I was paged to report to the main press box.
Fearing of some trouble at home, I hustled to the call. It was my friend Chuck Savage calling from Auburn to see if I could get an autographed baseball to raffle off at the Kiwanis Club auction.
After the celebration started in the New York dugout and the champagne was filling the air, Kooz informed me he had no more baseballs but Tug McGraw, who also pitched for Auburn, whose locker was nearby, handed me an autographed baseball.
Chuck said it was the highest fund-raiser at the Kiwanis auction.
McGraw did not play in the 1969 World Series but did participate in the playoffs.
But his saying, “Ya Gotta Believe” was the rallying cry for the 1973 New York Mets. It was also the cheer of the screwy left-handed relief pitcher who made millions of fans believe in the impossible, especially when he was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He struck out Kansas City's Willie Wilson to win the 1980 World Series.
Don Yaeger, New York Times best-selling author, who collaborated on a book with Tug, had this to say about McGraw: “He was a man who would rise to fame, fall from grace, battle cancer, and become a champion not just in baseball, but in life.”
Tug pitched for the Auburn Mets in 1964 and his brother Hank also played for the Auburn Mets in 1962.
Tug died on Jan. 5, 2004 of brain cancer.
The series had so much interest because four players in the 1966 Governor's Cup New York-Penn League champions, the Auburn Mets, played in the series. In fact, Jerry Kooman pitched two victories, including the championship one.
Other Auburn players in the 1969 series were Ed Kranepool, Cleaon Jones and Kenny Boswell.
My big shock came prior to the opening pitch of the final game. I was seated in the right field press box when I was paged to report to the main press box.
Fearing of some trouble at home, I hustled to the call. It was my friend Chuck Savage calling from Auburn to see if I could get an autographed baseball to raffle off at the Kiwanis Club auction.
After the celebration started in the New York dugout and the champagne was filling the air, Kooz informed me he had no more baseballs but Tug McGraw, who also pitched for Auburn, whose locker was nearby, handed me an autographed baseball.
Chuck said it was the highest fund-raiser at the Kiwanis auction.
McGraw did not play in the 1969 World Series but did participate in the playoffs.
But his saying, “Ya Gotta Believe” was the rallying cry for the 1973 New York Mets. It was also the cheer of the screwy left-handed relief pitcher who made millions of fans believe in the impossible, especially when he was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He struck out Kansas City's Willie Wilson to win the 1980 World Series.
Don Yaeger, New York Times best-selling author, who collaborated on a book with Tug, had this to say about McGraw: “He was a man who would rise to fame, fall from grace, battle cancer, and become a champion not just in baseball, but in life.”
Tug pitched for the Auburn Mets in 1964 and his brother Hank also played for the Auburn Mets in 1962.
Tug died on Jan. 5, 2004 of brain cancer.
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 1 comment(s)
Dennis Holmberg wrote on Nov 13, 2006 12:43 PM: