Off Day Fun: Witness to Greatness
It's been a bit bitchy and a bit glum around here, so let's break up the gloom with some off day fun. There was a lot of talk this week about Kerry Wood's 20 strikeout game in 1998; for my money, it's the most dominant, incredible thing I've ever seen on a baseball diamond. Baseballs aren't supposed to move like that. Additionally we saw Gavin Floyd come really damn close to a no-hitter against the Twins with just a wicked, filthy curveball of which he had amazing command. So, here's the question: What's the most amazing thing you've ever seen, and I stress "seen" because I want eyewitnesses. Watching on TV counts, but no secondhand accounts, no "I listened on the radio"--none of that. What I'm looking for are eyewitness accounts of baseball greatness.
And this guy's 3-HR Opening Day Doesn't count.
via www.baseball-reference.com
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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The Wood 20-K game, hands down.
No performance in baseball history has been as dominant.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Ive been trying to convince friends that it was the most dominant performance...
but all they like to do is argue and pulle out the article of Wood saying he a had a big strike zone and they tryed to convince me that no hitters were better….and that clemens were better…. I need someone to write a well thought out paragraph about in an attempt to convince them.
My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th
Lets see if I can help...
..remind your friends that the 1998 Astros had one of the most fearsome lineups in the National League, perhaps baseball that year which included future HOF Craig Biggio, former MVP Jeff Bagwell, Derek Bell and Moises Alou all in the primes of the careers. They won 102 games that year and the division.
Here were the numbers for those four that year;
Bagwell .304 / .424 / .557
Biggio .325 /.403 /.503
Alou .312 /.399 /.582
Bell 314 /.364 /.490
Alou had 124 RBIs and finished third in the MVP voting.
It’s without question the most dominant pitching performance of modern times
Felix Pie must play everyday!
Not to mention that
in Clemens’ first 20 K game, he gave up 3 hits, including a homer. Kerry’s only hit surrendered was a weak dribbler that Kevin Orie didn’t exactly handle perfectly. In Clemens’ second game, he surrendered 5 hits, and in Johnson didn’t even finish his 20 K game, as it went into extras and he was pulled.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Definetly the most dominating pitching performance ever
Not only did he have 20 K’s but the only hit given up was basically an error on Kevin Orie also not to mention the fact that it was raining the entire game! I am trying to find the article but I remember about a week after that game Sports Illustrated called it the most dominating pitching performance of all time.
"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way
by ryanbrixenivy on May 9, 2008 7:25 AM CDT up reply actions
If you could find that
that would be awesome. Thx guys
My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th
I can't remember any specifics at all
(date, opponent, actual score, actual inning) but it was an April game in ‘03 I believe. Watched the whole thing on good old WGN and it was a back-and-forth affair. Cubs gave up the lead in the top of the ninth and retied in the bottom. In the tenth or eleventh, down by one, Sosa jacks and opposite field dinger to tie the game and fire up the crowd. Next batter, Moises Alou, steps up and walks the game off with another round-tripper. I was freaking, Wrigley was rocking, and even my Cardinal-loving dad was enjoying it.
Okay, "Wendy: hot and juicy redhead." Give this a try.
...Sosa jacks *an* opposite...
My bad.
Okay, "Wendy: hot and juicy redhead." Give this a try.
by neverAcquiesce on May 8, 2008 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions
That was
this game, against All-Time Swell Guy Marty Brennaman’s Reds.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Memories are a fickle thing.
I got almost all of it wrong. Thanks, though!
Okay, "Wendy: hot and juicy redhead." Give this a try.
by neverAcquiesce on May 8, 2008 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions
Naw, you just had the innngs mixed up.
The gist of it was right!
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
When Bucknor called the runner out for batting out of order...
I think that was the most animated Dusty ever got when he was with the Cubs.
Memories
I’m not saying this as a Cub fan, but Wood’s 20K game was probably the most amazing GAME I have ever seen. I didn’t realize the game was on TV, and was flipping the channels and caught it in the early innings. At first, I wasn’t thinking anything special… and then I saw how much his breaking pitches moved… so I stayed around and called a couple people. I calling my then girlfriend up and telling her I’ll see her a little later than usual… she wasn’t too happy.
There are some other special memories. Andre Dawsons last game as a Cub was special. He hit a 3 run homer that won it for the Cubs. They played the Expos and the score was 3-2. I have it on tape and cherish it…
Twins-Braves World Series where Puckett hit that home run in the bottom of the tenth. Morris pitched like a 10 inning shut out… I don’t remember if all of my facts or correct, but man, that was a great game.
Cub’s beating Expos and clinching the East in ‘89. That was the first time the club went to the playoffs after I became a fan. Ugh, Will Clark… ugh…
I saw Nolan Ryans last two No-hitters. I saw him strike Rickey Henderson out as K number 5000.
Um… man, I’ve seen a lot. I love my baseball… but Wood’s game is number one. I have never… NEVER… seen pitches move that that. Hollywood CGI couldn’t make them breaking pitches move anymore than what they where.
Forgot One
There was a game in 2003, where the Cubs faced off against the Yankees. It was Wood vs. Clemens. I remember thinking… “OK, if Wood beats the Rocket, the Cubs are going to do something this year.” Loved the game.
Great game
Eric Karros, Hee Sop Choi---good stuff.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
His breaking pitches were great
but on top of that his fastball was humming.
Greatest game I ever went to, I was exhausted afterwards. Im in the upper deck with my friend Scott. The Cubs are Cards are going at it back and forth back and forth. From about the 6th inning on, every time there were two outs in the bottom half the fans were insane on their feet and the house was pumping. Finally after 9 more innings, Sammy came to bat to lead off the 15th innings. He ended it wth a bomb. After this game I was completely mentally drained.
Secondary, Im behind home plate and Glenallen Hill wins it with a bomb (actually it was a medium fly ball, but his stare pused it over the fence.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
I ended up skipping classes...
after the first two innings to watch this feat. I was a sophomore in college (the week before finals, no less).
Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.
June 23, 1984
Ok, most of you know the details, but:
NBC declaring Willie McGee the player of the game in the ninth inning with Bruce Sutter, in his prime, on the mound for the Cardinals.
Ryne Sandberg, already 3-for-4, leading off the ninth inning with a homerun to tie a game that the Cubs had trailed 7-1 and 9-3 at 9-9.
An inning later, with Dernier on first, Sutter still pitching and the score 11-9, Sandberg connecting again to tie the score at 11-11. The entire dugout met Sandberg at the plate as if he’d hit a game-winner. (Dave Owen singled in the winning run an inning later.)
Sandberg doing that off Sutter in 1984 would be like someone doing that off Eckersley in the early 1990’s or Mariano Rivera in the early 2000’s. It just didn’t happen.
That was pretty amazing.
I don’t think people who see that really grasp what it meant for Ryno to do that to Sutter. Twice.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
I have the DVD
if anyone wants to watch…......its crazy and the picture is fuzzy
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
That's probably for the best.
Can you imagine what ‘80’s-era ballplayers in tight polyester pants would look like in HD.
/shudders. tries to beat mental image out of head.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
I've been at the ballpark for two
1. Ken Holtzman’s first no-hitter in 1969.
2. Sammy Sosa’s 63rd home run of 1998, an 8th inning, game winning grand slam into the upper deck at San Diego. He had all 6 rbi’s in a 6-4 Cubs win.
Kirk Gibson's
Pinch hit home run in the 1988 World Series. Man, that still gives me chill bumps whenever I see it again. And the way Vin Scully described it was just beautiful. I was jumping up and down in front of the tv, spilling my coke all over our new carpet. I went to bed that night fantasizing it was Andre Dawson doing that for the Cubs in the WS.
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"
BTW
That was Coca Cola I spilled on the carpet:)
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"
Man!
I taped that game and still have it. I couldn’t believe it when Gibson hit that homerun. In my opinion, it wasn’t the greatest game, but it was probably the greatest moment in MLB history.
by TheHawkRules on May 8, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions
BTW
Loved your Andre Dawson remark! Man, I so wish it was Hawk. If he did something like that, he would already be in the Hall of Fame.
by TheHawkRules on May 8, 2008 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions
When they replay that
They only let us hear him yelling “I dont believe what I just saw” but if you keep listening he says it twice in a row. The way he says it the second time is great. “I dont believe….what I just saw” You have to hear it with your own hears---you honestly believe he didnt believe it.
And Im done saying believe.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
4/13/99 in Seattle
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA199904130.shtml
This is the only one that really stands out but Ivan Rodriguez went 4-5 with a grand slam in the 1st inning and another in the 3rd.
ARam's walkoff
last summer was the highlight of games I’ve seen in person at Wrigley.
The Cubs’ playoff series win against Atlanta in Atlanta was the highlight of games I’ve seen at other parks.
I can still picture where I was on the day of Kerry’s 20K game. I was seated on our old blue couch in front of the window, watching the TV off to my left, and I saw every single pitch.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
That A-Ram walkoff...
... ranks real high on my list, too.
So does the Sandberg game.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
1996 or 97
And we took my grandmother to the game because she was moving to a nursing home soon. She had alzheimers and she was getting pretty bad.
It was the bottom of the 9th, and the Cubs had a late rally, and Ryne Sandberg beat out an infield single to win the game.
It was the last time my Grandma ever talked the Cubs with me, and it was the last time Ryne Sandberg had a game winning hit.
Not baseball related...
...but I’ll go with 11/4/2000, in Evanston, watching NU beat Michigan 54-51 in one of the greatest games (and greatest displays of offensive football) I’ve ever seen, and probably ever will see.
(Then again, when NU wins a national title in football, I’m sure that will supplant the NU-Michigan game from memory…Go Cats!)
Cubs memory? Watching live Kerry Wood battle Tom Glavine in Wood’s first home game after the 20K game. Electric atmosphere, tough pitchers duel, and Brant Brown winning it in extra innings with a walk off HR. Plus, my first game at Wrigley.
Baseball History
While a fan of no teams involved, I witnessed the following baseball history:
I was at the game against the cardinals in Yankee Stadium (with a buddy who was wearing all cardinals gear) when Roger Clemens both won his 300th game and struck out his 4,000th batter. Funny note, if i remember correctly, Roger struck out the first two batters of the game to get him to 3,999 and up came Edmonds who went down 0-2 and proceeded to hit the next pitch into the LF bleachers. Needless to say, my buddy was the only cheering.
I was also at the game when Piazza broke Fisk’s record with his 352nd homerun of his career. We got to our seats just in time to see his first at-bat in the 1st inning and he hit it out basically as we sat down.
Anyway, two pretty historic events. While not necessarily great in terms of excitement or special achievements on those particular days, those ticket stubs will be kept for the rest of my life.
Nice Post, by the way. Good reads.
Sittting in left field that hazy day when Jose Macias found waveland.....
thats gotta rank up there with the greatest clouts of all time
Chuck Norris is a Cubs fan...
Ballhawk Andy caught that one on the fly
and all he could say afterwards was… “Jose Macias? Jose Macias???”
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
1977
Yankees/Dodgers World Series. Reggie Jackson hits FOUR homeruns in FOUR consecutive at-bats—once in his final AB in Game 5, then three times in a row after walking his first AB in Game 6.
I was seven years old. My life was consumed with Baseball and Star Wars forever.
2008: The year we put it all together.
Nice.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Here's a name you weren't expecting.
Jason Marquis. That’s right. Jason freakin’ Marquis. I witnessed this game last May 9 from the back of the centerfield bleachers—a three-hit complete game shutout. And if you want to read my long-winded, overly literary take on the experience, click here.
Wow, I just realized tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of said performance. Jason would do the team a whole lotta good if he could repeat such a performance—even just once. I guess he won’t be getting the chance for a while, though…
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
I was there too
Upper deck left side. Soriano hit a lead off homer and that was the only scoring.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Ha, cool. At least you were lucky enough to see the home run!
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
I recent memory...
I’d have to say the best moment I’ve ever witnessed in person would have to be Sosa hitting a GS for #63 (to tie McGwire) in this game
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on May 8, 2008 12:14 PM CDT reply actions
And Rod Beck with the save!
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
not too impressive, but...
I saw Wood’s comeback game in 2000 when he pitched well against the Astros and jacked a HR to support his own cause. That HR may be the single most exhilirating moment I’ve had in person at Wrigley Field. (The two playoff games I’ve been to have both been losses).
Also in 98 I saw a game - I believe it was against the Braves - where Brant Brown jacked an extra inning walkoff HR.
Ben
I saw my buddy ben have 9 beers and 7 hot dogs at a Cubs game last year. Then he topped it by being in a bratwurst eating contest the next week, taking second, then buying a hot dog at the Bulls game the same night. Impressive to witness.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08
Wow, that man is a God.
Hey, let’s hope you need to make some drastic and positive changes to your Fukudometer this weekend!
Nanika Ga Okoru!
Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.
I pity your friend's colon.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
A couple instances
Sorry i can’t narrow it down
1. McGwire’s 62nd off traschel – Even though he hit it, the whole place shut down, Gracie spanked him as he rounded first, He and Sammy did Big Mac’ fake punch each other in the stomach thing, then did Sammy’s kiss blowing thing. That race was unbelieveable.
2. Sosa’s Homers in regulars/extras against the Braves in 2003 NLDS
3.Kerry’s Homer to tie it against the Marlins in the 2003 NLCS
4. 1st game – Cubs-Astros. Alou killed us, I think he went deep twice, sat 1st row behnd dugout w/dad &brothers
"This ball's got a chaaaaaance.....(YES!!! YESSS!!!!).....GONE!!! CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!"
by FutureGroundscrewMember on May 8, 2008 1:26 PM CDT reply actions
And..
any game you cant hear Pat over Ron’s Screaming YES’s. even though its second hand
"This ball's got a chaaaaaance.....(YES!!! YESSS!!!!).....GONE!!! CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!"
by FutureGroundscrewMember on May 8, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Sosa's homer
was against marlins, game one, bottom 9, 2 run shot. pretty awesome.
"This ball's got a chaaaaaance.....(YES!!! YESSS!!!!).....GONE!!! CUBS WIN, CUBS WIN!"
by FutureGroundscrewMember on May 8, 2008 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Cool story
This isn’t Cub related or really “greatness” but it is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen at a baseball field. I was at Camden Yards in 2001 or 2002, I can’t remember, and the Orioles were playing the Mariners. We had centerfield seats about 4 rows up. Great seats. Mike Cameron was the M’s centerfielder.
There were about 4 young guys in our row down a bit and they were heckling the shit out of Cameron. It was bad. Real bad. One guy said something about Cameron’s wife and kids or maybe about his family or something and Mike C. turns around and says “What the hell’s your problem?” The guy is hammered and keeps on Mike.
Cameron’s next at bat, he hits a homerun literally about 5 feet over our heads. I’m not exaggerating because you can see me on Sportscenter trying to jump and catch it. Cameron come’s back out to man his position and didn’t hear a peep the rest of the game. That was pretty damn cool.
So nobody has to see the scroll bar on my posts!!!!
Most memorable
The game that I witnessed in person that I remember the best was June 21, 2002. McGriff hit two solo bombs to beat the cards 2-1 in a day game behind jon liebers complete game.
I remember this one for a couple of reasons. I had to pick my bro up at the airport that night so i left early from iowa to go to the game, got a seat behind home about 15 rows up. It was the first time I saw my bro since he went into the Marines.
It was also the last game Darryl Kile ever went to.
So that one sticks in my mind pretty well.
Favorite game that I ever watched had to be K. Wood’s 20K game though, only one that is close is Cal Ripkens record breaking game.
I was at...
The Sandberg game, 2 near no hitters by Cubs (Chuck Rainey’s and Frank Castillo’s – sitting behind home plate for Castillo’s!) but my moment was Fergie Jenkins last complete game shutout on June 10th, 1983 (http://www.baseballscorecard.com/scorecards/fergie-1983.JPG) . I was sitting in the right field bleachers for that one. (I took off work early to go to that game). A gem by Fergie…4 K’s only 1 walk and only 4 hits(and only to 2 players, Lonnie Smith & Willie McGee both had 2 hits). I remember at one point, Lee Elia came out and it looked like he was going to pull Fergie, only to have the crowd start chanting “Fergie” Fergie”. His career was almost over at this point, but Fergie showed he still had it in him to pitch a gem.
Kasey
See the Cubs 2008 schedule (with TV schedule & game-by-game results) at http://ignarski.tripod.com/sched2008.html
Well I forgot about this one
Last year I was near Ferris Buellars seats (bullpen left field side) the whole stadium doing to tomahawk chop when they posted scores from the Brewers game.
AWESOME
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
I saw DLee take a swing at Chris Young last year
Maybe not an all time great game. But I was a few rows from the field on the third base side and got a good veiw of the whole thing. Seeing Lee’s face as he left the batters box was priceless, the dude was intense!
"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella
I once saw Hector Villanueva...
... Order THREE hotdogs from the dugout of an Iowa Cubs game… in the middle of an inning. Had the whole crowd buzzing about it.
Beautiful. That’s a witness to greatness if I’ve ever seen it.
I also saw a Fred McGriff walk off home run for the Cubs at Wrigley, which was pretty cool, but no feat like Hector’s.
Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.
DURING a game?
That’s absolutely priceless. Did he eat all of them at once?
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Yes... during a game...
My dad and I couldn’t see from where we were sitting in the nosebleeds, so he could have passed them on to some teammate in the dugout, but this was Hector Villanueva we’re talking about.
My memories would like to believe he did a Kobayashi and ate them all.
Help me Obi-ONEDEC. You're our only hope.
That's pretty good.
I can’t believe he ordered 3 at once. Hector always was a hoss, though….
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Hector's Triple
I was at the game that Hector tied a game in the bottom of the ninth with a triple.
You read that right: a triple!
I was in middle school, but watching Hector's fat-a$$ burn around the bases to save my yearly pilgrimage made him one of my all time faves.
People speculate that Hector could have had an inside-the-parker (porker?) on that one, but he was jogging to first, thinking he’d hit it out.
In old Comiskey Park
(or as we all said at the time, Cominsky Park), I have a very faint recollection of Ken Berry going up over the fence, catching the ball at the apex of his jump and then tumbling backwards over it, to rob someone of a home run. It had to have been in or around 1970. As I remember the event, he was playing left field and was switched to right just before that play. I found a reference that said it was a 5’ fence for a while, so that must have been the time.
I was about 14 at the time, so my heavy alcohol intake then and since clouds any more details.
The last good Cub to wear #21 was Al Spangler.
This is as close to great as I can get
I saw the last game that Fred McGriff played as a Padre in 1993 when I was kid. I remember they pronounced his trade to Atlanta during the game.
Wow, that’s really lame.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
oops, does this include televised games?
Because this was in person. Seen much better stuff on TV.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
I included TV games.
So, you may fire when ready, Gridley.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
If that's the case
it would have to be Randy Johnson’s perfect game against Atlanta. Flipping through the channels and caught if from about 2 inning on. That was pretty awesome.
"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion
Now as a young person I haven’t witnessed must so don’t make fun of me for this next comment. When the Red Sox hit four homeruns in a row last year on Sunday Night Baseball would be would be the best I’ve seen. Or possibly Kerry Woods homer in the 2003 ALCS. That was the loudest I’ve ever heard Wrigley.
Four homers is incredible to see,
whether it happened last century or last night.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
I was at the 1st brawl at Camden Yards and it involved Sweet Lou.
June 6, 1993. Orioles vs. Mariners. It lasted 20 minutes….started between the mound & home, moved to third base, then back to home, and finally ended over near the 1st base coach’s box. If I remember right…I think Chris Bosio broke his collarbone during it and was out for a coupla months.
Got to see Lou do the whole tossing the hat, and kicking dirt on home plate routine after the brawl too….the umps tossed out a few of his Mariners, but didn’t toss out Mussina, who started the whole thing by throwing behind the Mariner at the plate. Lou was livid.
It's a shame he isn't around any more
but I would have like to have asked Milton Altman what his greatest Cubs moment was. Unfortunately he passed away on April 30. But I imagine he’s seen just about all of them seeing as how he was 106 and a lifelong resident of Chicago. There was a nice write-up in yesterday’s Tribune. Here’s a link:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/chi-hed_altman_cmay07,0,1274302.story
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Nice
I would have liked to hear his stories too.
"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball"
brawl...
michael barrett punches Aj in the face.
no more needed
Not Cubs, not a game, but cool nonetheless...
Last year, when I still worked in the UCR athletics department, I had to call over to the baseball coach. As we talked, the coach said that Troy Percival was going to be throwing a bullpen in front of scouts. I went over to the ballpark and got there just as Percival was finishing his warm-ups. He was throwing in shorts and a T-shirt, with a beat up ball cap. There were about 12-15 scouts there, a couple with radar guns. Percy was throwing to one of the school’s catchers, a senior named Jeff Dunbar. I stood about 20 feet from the catcher, off to the side, and got to see the ridiculous break on his pitches, hear the hiss of the ball come by.
He threw about 25-30 pitches, and it was interesting to watch the scouts interact with each other, comparing notes, flashing the speed to each other after the pitches. When Percival was done, he and the scouts chatted for a few minutes. I remember them saying that he was hitting high 80’s and he reminded them that he was throwing a bullpen, and that the crowd noise and ambiance would get him fired up to the point where he would throw harder.
Afterwards, it was cool to read media reports about the bullpen session. Everything was second-hand via the scouts because the only reporter on the premises was in the baseball coach’s office, interviewing the UCR coach.
I’ve seen a lot of games, seen a lot of guys throw, but it was special to watch Percival restart his career.
In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband
Kingman game
It was Mother’s Day, May 14, 1978 (30 year anniv. is next week). I was in Dodger stadium when Kingman hit three homeruns which started the famous Lasorda rant. Kingman hit two 3-run homers and had 8 rbi. My brother and I still talk about this game especially now that my two nephews have the Lasorda rant on their computers. The game was quite amazing to witness and to get Lasorda all riled up made it even better.
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
My favorite moment!!!
Please beware this is my first post. I’d have to say that my two favorite moments I’ve ever witnessed in person was watching Mark Grace pitch in the ninth inning and being there live to see Sammy Sosa get caught with a corked bat…. Man i really couldn’t stand that guy
These come to my mind:
1) Clemente’s one-man show in the 1971 World Series.
2) Gibson’s walk-off HR in the 1988 World Series.
3) Fisk’s HR in the World Series.
4) Pucket’s walk-off HR in the 1991 World Series (Yeah, I like walk-off HR’s.).
5) The Sandberg game.
6)K. Wood’s 20 K’s. (And this is my # 1.)
You saw ALL of those?!
You are the luckiest baseball fan in the world. Hats off.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
I saw all of those too...
... and two of them in person.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
That's impressive.
I only saw Gibson’s HR, Puckett’s HR, and Kerry’s 20 K game. I wasn’t even born when Clemente went off in the WS.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
July 22 1997
Unfortunately the Cubs were on the wrong side of this one, but on 7/22/97 I saw Maddux throw an absolute gem complete game 5-hitter against the Cubs. He gave up one hard-earned run (Dunston singled, stole 2nd, moved to 3rd on a GB, scored on another GB), and was otherwise pretty much untouchable all day long. What made it such a memorable performance was he threw only 78 pitches in the game, and 63 strikes. That’s right, only 15 balls in 9 innings. I’ve never seen such an efficient and masterful performance in my life.
Box score here: http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B07221CHN1997.htm
Correction
I was wrong, it was 76 pitches, 63 strikes, so 13 balls in 9 innings. Wow.
Only one batter saw more than 4 pitches.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN199707221.shtml
What's amazing about that game...
... is that the Cubs managed five hits and a run. I don’t recall specifically, but they must have been swinging at a lot of first-ball strikes.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
September 9, 1989
The Cubs lost to STL the day before and were onlt 1/2 game up. Very tight game on an overcast day with the wind blowing in. Sutcliffe vs. DeLeon. The place was packed! Cards led 2-1 in the 8th when Dwight Smith singled to RF, Smith rounded 1st wide and Brunansky deked him and tried to throw behind him and nail him. Smith instead took off full bore towards 2nd, sliding headfirst ahead of the tag. Salazar singles him in after Hawk grounds out. It goes to the bottom of the10th when Hawk walks and brings Salazr up with 2 down. Salazar slices one down the RF line and into the corner, Hawk is chugging for all he’s worth, bad knees and all, and barely beats Brunansky’s throw home! The place just erupted. I was in the upper deck and the whole thing was shaking. I can still see Hawk rounding those bases and screaming for him to make it home. The Cubs never looked back after that and won the division.
And it was raining.
Remarkable game.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
I remember that game.
I don’t think I saw Hawk run that fast ever again. It was absolutely exhilarating to watch him come around third.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Not baseball related...
but I happened to be driving through Salt Lake City on June 14 1998 and the Bulls just happened to be playing the Jazz that day to win their 6th title. I ended up scalping a ticket for $50 (a lot for a poor college kid in ‘98) and sat up near the roof of the Delta Center. But I got to see MJ score 45 and play his last game as a Bull. Pretty cool.
Bonds 2 HR game at Wrigley last year.
It was a good spectacle just to see him crush two balls in person at his advanced age. On the first pitch from Lilly, he hit out the only ball to make it onto Sheffield all year. Later he singled in a run. Then towards the end of the game he smashed a line drive to left-center that did not begin to fall until just before it smacked the top of the bricks and rattled into the basket.
I was at that too
It was great seeing Ohmans face after the second one. Up to that point he had never given up a homer to Bonds and this was the last time he faced him.
Bwawawwa
Cubs won that game on an 8th double by Ramirez. Jackass fans also littered the field that day; idiots.
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Umm... you better sit down for this...
Bonds wasn’t the only one to hit a game homer onto Sheffield last year. None other than our own Jacque Jones blasted one out to right-center on August 14 against the Reds. According to the Southwest How Far Did It Fly promotion, it was measured at 410 ft. but seeing as how I had a street’s eyeview, I’d say it was a tad longer. Cleared Sheffield on the fly and bounced up against a fence where a mad scramble ensued. Eventually one of those pickle-bucket drummer guys ended up with it – he offered it to me for $500 but I politely declined.
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Re:
Jackass fans also littered the field that day; idiots.
Agreed. If someone throws trash on the field, they should kneecapped at the gate on the way out, so everyone knows them by their limp. Or, on a gentler note, they should have to wear a scarlet “T” around their neck to every subsequent game they attend that season.
"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07
Is it just me
Or does Tuffy Rhodes look exactly like Jacque Jones?
"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip
Not baseball but still an incredible experience
October 16th 2006. Bears vs Cardinals in Glendale. 8 guys on a golf / Bears trip. At the game we endured three quarters of abuse from some drunk Cardinal fans in front of us (we may have deserved some of it, as some of us painted our faces in Bear’s colors in the opposing teams stadium). Cardinals were up 23-3 with less than two minutes in the 3rd quarter. The “Senior” part of our group decides to head back to the resort. Four of us stay to witness one of the greatest comebacks ever and the beginning of the Devin Hester legacy! Needless to say, the Cardinals fans looked more defeated than the players. The end of that game and walking out of that stadium (probably 40-50% Bears fans) was a moment I will never forget.
"All the fat guys watch me and say to their wives, 'See, there's a fat guy doing okay. Bring me another beer." Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers Pitcher
by bloodindableachers on May 9, 2008 12:42 PM CDT reply actions
Funniest part
Outside the stadium they have giant letters for the parking lots, ie. E for east, W for west, etc. A bunch of Bears fans gathered in front of the W for a picture. A “punk” Cardinal fan jumped in front of us and I “smacked” him in the back of the head with the towel that they gave out at the game. Well, he turned around and clocked the guy standing next to me. It turned into a bit of a brawl as I quietly walked away….
"All the fat guys watch me and say to their wives, 'See, there's a fat guy doing okay. Bring me another beer." Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers Pitcher
by bloodindableachers on May 9, 2008 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions
hahahahaha
That’s hilarious!! Perfect ending to a great game!!
So nobody has to see the scroll bar on my posts!!!!
Glenallen Hill's Homer
I was at the game when Glenallen Hill smoked a ball onto the roof across the street in left field. I was sitting along the 3b line. It was rainy, cold and nasty. We were under the upper deck, so we couldn’t follow the flight of the ball off the bat. We just saw it land on the roof.
My recollection was that there was an eerie silence as he hit the ball, with the silent pause continuing as the ball bounced on the roof. It was like no one could believe what they just saw.
I was standing in the doorway of that building when GAHill hit that monster
I had a perfect view of the flight path since it was coming straight at me. First I ran up, thinking I would catch it on the fly in the middle of Waveland. Then I ran back, thinking I would catch it on the sidewalk in front of the building. Then I ran into the street again, only this time I’m turning around to put my back to the field, ready to play the bounce off the building. No one is within 50 feet of me, and I have a perfect view of the ball as it’s coming down.
And then, nothing. Ball disappears. I couldn’t figure out where it went. I knew it hadn’t gone into or broken a window. It should have just hit the building and bounced back to me. Never in a hundred years would it have occured to me that it would make it to the roof. So I just stood there, mouth agape, looking up in disbelief. Then I just started to laugh. UFB…
Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."
Ryne Sandberg Day
Not “the Sandberg Game”, but rather “Ryne Sandberg Day” in 1997. Very emotional. Very much a downer when we lost the game in the 9th as a result of a Sandberg error. That was one of those “only the Cubs” moments.
The part that made it great was that me and my college buddies went to Harry Caray’s for dinner before the long drive back to Cedar Falls, Iowa. It turned out that Ryno was having a party there. We saw what seemed like pretty much every living Cub great walk through the doors. Later, Harry held court and allowed some autographs. I didn’t have anything on me, so I had him sign my Cub jacket. He was annoyed by the request, but Dutchie talked him into doing it.
As for that jacket, my mom just got Ryno to sign it last week at a minor league game in Cedar Rapids.
Sosa and McGwire homering in the same game in 98
It was a game in St. Louis. Sammy was on the radar by this time, if I recall. Both McGwire and Sosa homered in the game. We were in the nosebleeds at Old Busch high in right field. My clearest recollection is actually of a Tyler Houston jack that looked like it was coming right at me.
The Cubs eventually lost, and I received much verbal abuse from the Cardinal fans.
BTW, I find it somewhat cowardly to talk crap AFTER the game.
A total ass-kicking, but memorable nonetheless
Tuesday, September 16, 1975 – my senior year of high school, but an extended summer vacation because the Chicago teachers were on strike. So my buddy Allan and I headed to Wrigley to see the Cubs and Pirates.
This was the game where Rennie Stennett not only went 7 for 7 (tying an NL record), but got two hits in the same inning—twice. IIRC that had never happened before.
Rick Reuschell’s line that day: 0.1 IP, 8 R (all earned), 6 H, 2 BB, 0 K.
The Pirates were up 9-0 before Don Kessinger had the Cubs first at bat.
The final was22-0.
99 No hitter
I was at Bank One Ballpark for Jose Jimenez’s no hitter in June of 1999. It was Cardinals vs Diamondback and Randy Johnson was the opposing pitcher. I was a 6th grade girl at the time and had no idea how big of a deal it was that i personally witnessed it.

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